Holbrook’s Navajo County Historical Society recently hired Carol Windsor as its new director. Windsor, a retired teacher of 25 years, owns a ranch between Show Low and Concho and has been a history buff all her life, with a focus on Western Americana and Native American culture. Although she began in the position with the Historical Society in July, she’s hit the ground running; working with volunteers to develop and expand exhibits. Completed in 1899, historic building first served as the county courthouse and jail until 1976, and has been the site of many notorious trials, and housed many criminals in its basement jail cells. In 1983, the building was dedicated as a museum. The 124-year-old building operates as an official Arizona Office of Tourism information center, houses the office of the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce and is the site of the Navajo County Museum, which is also operated by the Historical Society. Sherry Reed (who Windsor calls her right-hand woman), Louis Jeffers, Diana Thomas and Yolanda Canaday all work as volunteers at the museum and assist Windsor with all that goes into running it. “I’m really excited about the new projects we have at the Holbrook Historic Museum, and I love working with all my volunteers,” stated Windsor, adding that she’s extremely grateful to the Society’s previous director, JoLynn Fox for all of her hard work and the wealth of information she imparted. The historic courthouse holds some of the broadest collections of the region’s history, which the Historical Society is now expanding upon. Some new exhibits in the works are a Petrified Forest exhibit, as well as exhibits on African American and Hispanic history and culture from the area. Windsor also stated that next year the Historical Society plans to create a display of the Santa Fe Railroad, complete with a HO scale model train that was donated to the museum. A building as old as the courthouse requires regular upkeep. In 2020, through assistance from the city, county and donations from the public, a new roof was put on the building but recent concerns include termites. Windsor said that it’s estimated that the cost to rid the building of the destructive insects is approximately $8,500, a cost not available in the organization’s coffers so will likely have to be funded by Navajo County, which owns the building. The museum is free to the public, although donations are appreciated. It is open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and is located at 100 E. Arizona St. For more information, visit their website at holbrookazmuseum.org.
