Historical Society, Copa Seniors partner to raise money for history museum

The Maricopa Historical Society is partnering with the Copa Seniors to host a pancake breakfast Saturday to raise money to build a museum to preserve the many artifacts collected by historical society members.

The breakfast will be held 7 to 10 a.m. at O’Shays Pub & Grill on North John Wayne Parkway. The cost is $6 per person for two large pancakes, coffee or milk. A raffle with prizes donated by local businesses will be held. Tickets are three for $5 or seven for $10.

Historical society board member Pat Brock said many members are storing artifacts in their homes.

“We need a secure area for our huge collection of Native American baskets and pottery and one of the largest collections of Arizona books,” she said.

The society also has back issues of “Arizona Highways” magazines and artifacts from the Maricopa Wells and Maricopa Junction eras, she said. In the days of the Old West, Maricopa Wells was one of the most important relay stations along the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line.

Along with keeping the artifacts safe, the society wants a place where the public can see them.

“We would like to display them and tell the story of Maricopa,” Brock said. “We want to let people know they live in a historic town.”

The society has raised $20,000 so far for a museum, and there is still a long way to go before construction can begin, Brock said

Two special guests serving pancakes will be Maricopa City Councilman Alan Marchione and the city’s recreation coordinator, Maria Billingsley.

Brenda Hermanson, fundraising chairwoman for the historical society, said she is grateful to O’Shay’s owners Ted Schroder and Shay Deverse for allowing the society and Copa Seniors to use their restaurant.