The Montezuma Valley Historical Society (located in Ranchita) began in 1992 as an organization that conducted lectures and collected items of historical interest.
One of its members donated the one room schoolhouse on skids that used to migrate the seven miles between Ranchita and San Felipe from the turn of the 19th century until the 1930s. Each year, depending on which community had the most kids, a mule team would drag this schoolhouse to its chosen destination.
The MVHS restored this landmark as a small museum with vintage student desks, shelves, and a small library. Now they ask folks to donate items of historical interest such as relics from the old military outpost that operated when Ranchita was called Veruga.
Today the society has a new mission, it is now a community services organization that rents a building in Ranchita which it refurbished and made into a community center and meeting hall staffed by volunteers. The grand opening was June, 2001.
Activities at the center range from musical groups and stained glass classes to children's crafts. The society operates a lending library and book exchange. They have a counseling program staffed by Dr. Meili O, a Ph.D. who has brought together other licensed professionals who make their services available--sometimes free, sometimes discounted.
The society also sponsors a school tutorial program at Warner Springs School. As Dr. Michael Pinto, president of the society notes, Ranchita has virtually no services. "We are asking the community, 'What do you need?'
The society has started an oral history program. It hopes to participate in a special foundation grant linking people together with high speed internet access provided by line-of-sight microwave. The society meets on the second Saturday of the month, 1pm, at the community center. Each Saturday it sponsors a social where people drop in and talk and celebrate that month's birthdays.
The society publishes a free monthly newsletter mailed to everyone in the community--Ranchita/San Felipe Community Notes--where you can find news of the local fire department and some historical notes.
The society is a 501(c)3 charity and donations are tax deductible. Officers are President Michael Pinto, Ph.D.; Vice President Dr. Cy Contrad, Ph.D.; Secretary Dr. Meili O; and, Treasurer John Shick, MD.
