Winstonia Aldridge and son Aubrey Aldridge, Jr., in their East Jefferson Street home in Phoenix, March 2013

Story and photo by Rod Grimes

Arizona Black History (as with any history or historical perspective) is essentially straightforward with basically an accurate documentation of people and dates. In Arizona however, it appears that the further in time you go back, the interconnectedness between events and families becomes even more obvious.

In the December 31 issue of the Arizona Informant, Michael Dean in the Dean’s Duffers sports column, referenced Mr. A. C. Aldridge as a founding member of the Desert Mashie Golf Club of Phoenix. Dean found a newspaper article from the 1982 Phoenix Gazette about the 34th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament sponsored by the Desert Mashie Golf Club of Phoenix, which was accompanied by a photo of A.C. (Aubrey) Aldridge.

This prompted me to search the archives as well, as I also remembered A.C. Aldridge as being one of the early principals at Paul Laurence Dunbar School in the late 1920’s. This is in itself a significant fact of Arizona Black History, as Dunbar School was built primarily for Blacks and opened in 1925/26.

When you speak with some of the senior members of our community such as Garfield Hamm amongst others (who attended Dunbar School in the late 1920’s and 1930’s) they will also tell you that A.C. Aldridge married the daughter of Dr Winston Hackett who had opened the Booker T. Washington Hospital in 1921. Dr. Hackett’s daughter Winstonia was a teacher at Mary Bethune and Dunbar Schools as well. And to further this interconnectedness, A. C. Aldridge’s mother-in-law Arya Hackett, (Winstonia Hackett-Aldridge’s mother) was also the publisher of the Arizona Gleam – an early Arizona Black newspaper.

In March of 2013, and with the assistance of an Aldridge family friend, Pleas Moore, I had the pleasure of meeting Winstonia Aldridge along with her son, Aubrey Aldridge, Jr., at their East Jefferson Street address. We had a very nice visit, and we were able to spend several hours together. I spoke with Aubrey just last week who informed me that Mrs. Aldridge is doing well, and still has that beautiful smile seen in the photo.

Over the weeks ahead, we will continue to look at Arizona Black History, and the myriad of connections they present. We also encourage the community to submit suggestions on what historic event, person or family you would like us to review. The Black History of Arizona is rich and full of strong individuals and substantial accomplishments. If we don’t record and celebrate these people and events, our children and grandchildren will be severely under-served.