AJO CONTEST RESULTS
February, 2012
Sharlot Hall Award Recipient 2008
Jessie Ruth Gilpin, with Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett (left) and
Museum Director John Langellier. Jessie Ruth Gilpin, the 94-year-old
author, historian and fiddler whose parents founded the town of Paulden, has
been honored as the 2008 recipient of the Sharlot Hall Award for valuable
contributions to the understanding and awareness of Arizona and its history.
The award presentation took place at Sharlot Hall Museum’s annual membership meeting on Thursday, June 18 on the Museum grounds. Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett, the meeting's keynote speaker, presented the award to Gilpin and congratulated her on her life achievements.
In accepting the award, Gilpin said, “I would just like to say thank you to everyone who had a part in choosing me, and to Mary Leavitt who nominated me for this award. I had no idea it was going to turn into something like this. It's a thrill of my life, especially with Ken here. I knew Ken when he was just a little guy, not very old. I was good friends with his mother and dad. I'm very happy to have gotten this award tonight.”
Gilpin, much like Sharlot Hall, came to Arizona as a young girl and soon became deeply rooted in the State’s history. Her parents founded Paulden, which consisted of a grocery store, café, gas station, garage, cabins, and a post office where she ultimately served as postmistress for some 17 years. She and her husband Lionel Gilpin raised their four children in Paulden.
Her interest in the area’s ranching history inspired her to author Paulden Pioneer Family and Ranching History, detailing the lives of her parents and other early settlers of the area. Gilpin’s second book details memories of her most interesting life. Over the years, she has played key roles in bringing a fire station to Paulden and a municipal swimming pool to Chino Valley.
At age 94, she remains active in community events and the preservation of local history, and continues as a cornerstone of the Arizona Old Time Fiddler’s Association. An accomplished musician, Gilpin has won many awards over the years in state fiddling competition.
2009 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
LIVING FIDDLER
Jack Darland
DECEASED FIDDLER
Charlie Worthen
(Not Pictured)
LIVING ACCOMPANIST
Norm Long (Pictured)
Marshall Racowsky
NON-MUSICIAN
Edith Cone
NON-MUSICIAN
Ed Johnston
NON-MUSICIAN
Linda Darland
FIDDLE LESSONS
Josephine Thomson from Camp Verde is giving Suzuki Method fiddle lessons. For more information give her a call at 928-567-6478
Last Updated
February 28, 2010