Neighborly Notes honors Flagstaff History and landscapes

By Lisa Rayner, FNN Director

Three Flagstaff artists volunteered their time to create the artwork appearing on the Flagstaff Neighborly Notes bills. 

"View of the Peaks from Buffalo Park," on the front of the 1-hour note, and "Dry Lake," on the front of the 1/10-hour note, were drawn by Eliza Walbridge.

The San Francisco Peaks are the central feature of our local bioregion and a biological treasure. Buffalo Park is dear to the hearts of many local residents, due in large part to the spectacular view of the Peaks available from the park.

The Dry Lake volcanic cinder cone, located in Southwest Flagstaff near Woody Mountain, is one of the area's few seasonal wetlands. Dry Lake is an important home and water resource for hundreds of endangered species, some of whom live only within the Dry Lake crater and other local wetlands. The Save Dry Lake activist group worked hard to preserve the crater from development into a golf course community.

"Desegregating Flagstaff," on the front of the 1/2-hour note, was drawn by Robert Heller. The picture honors the mid-1950s efforts of Black educator Wilson Riles, his wife Louise Phillipes Riles and Platt Cline.

The Riles encouraged local efforts to desegregate Flagstaff schools and public establishments. In the 1950s, Wilson was the principal of Flagstaff's Dunbar school and Louise was a teacher there. The Riles' were highly respected community members and many people followed their lead in desegregating Flagstaff. In fact, the Flagstaff school board decided to desegregate Flagstaff schools even before Brown vs. the Board of Education lead the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the national bam on desegregation in 1954.

Platt Cline, then managing editor and publisher of the Arizona Daily Sun, a highly respected and influential community member himself, joined the Riles' effort by convincing white business owners to desegregate their establishments.

On the backs of all three Neighborly Notes denominations appears the beautiful carved sandstone scrolls that encircle the Raymond Building doorway, 9 North Leroux Street in historic downtown Flagstaff. The Raymond Building was built of local Moenkopi sandstone in 1911. The building is currently occupied by Zani Futons & Frames.

Local artist and activist Michael French spent countless hours creating the Note's sophisticated graphic design.