 I interviewed 87
year-old Ruth Cosgrove, one of my classmate’s great-grandmothers, whom has
lived in Arizona since 1959. Her and her husband arrived in Phoenix from
Minnesota. She remembers the day clearly, a smeltering 110 degrees July
day. During the day at the hotel, it was too hot to go out to the pool
and enjoy. Then as night fell, Ruth and her husband bundled up as the
temperature had dropped significantly. She proclaimed, “this doesn’t
happen any more, too much pavement and building”. Ruth’s biggest
complaint is Phoenix’s growth and taking of the desert ground. In Hits
and Misses: Fast Growth in Metropolitan Phoenix, it is documented from
1993 to 1998 the urban boundaries are moving out one-half mile every
year. Though in certain parts of the urban circle the growth is much
faster.
Before
purchasing their home in South Phoenix, Ruth and her husband lived in
Central Phoenix. They were displaced due to a highway being built. The
City of Phoenix gave them a reasonable amount of money for their home.
They decided on South Phoenix because they wanted to be near the desert,
plus the residential areas were inexpensive. In 1971 they moved into
their three bedroom home on Desert Lane and 12th street, the
cost of the home was $25, 000. When they moved in Baseline was a simple
country road and most of the surrounding area was desert.
Ruth has
never had one issue with crime. She has also never seen any problems with
ethnicity tension or racism. She doesn’t know or speak with her neighbors
too much, but there doesn’t appear to be any neighborhood animosity. At
the same time everyone tends to keep to themselves. Some of Ruth’s family
members have been concerned for her living in South Phoenix, but she
refuses to move. She comes off as being proud and cares covertly for the
area.
Upon the topics
of environment her only concern is “we don’t have enough desert ground”.
She is shocked how quickly developments are built. She discusses that
developers are putting little effort into the homes being built. And the
steadfastness of their creation scares her as they scoop up the country
ground.
My classmate
Jeremiah Isbell and I interviewing Grandma
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