Come celebrate the restoration of the Fairbank Schoolhouse on Saturday, M arch 31, as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Friends of the SanPedro River (FSPR) herald a new beginning for this historic structure. The schoolhouse, located within the BLM's San Pedro Riparian NationalConservation Area, is reopening after a multi-year renovation effort will now serve as a museum, information center, and gift shop operated by FSPR volunteers.

The dedication will include an exciting day of activities for the whole family. The fun begins at 7:30 a.m. with a two-mile birding and nature walk long the San Pedro River. Exhibits and demonstrations of horseshoeing, cattle roping, and branding will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tours relating the history of Fairbank will be led throughout the day. Reenactments of an attempted 1901 train robbery will be staged at 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Families can enjoy donkey and buggy rides from noon until 2:00 p.m. lour-mile hike to Grand Central Mill and Cemetery begins at 1:30 p.m. Kids can grind corn using a Native American mano and metate. Gray Hawk Nature Center will be on hand with its live critters. Musical entertainment will include the Arthritis Brothers String Band and Buena High School Band. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. after which the schoolhouse officially opens for public tours. Partners in the project will be recognized for their roles in the restoration. The project was largely funded through Federal Highway Administration Enhancement Grant that was administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Fairbank was an important transportation hub in the early 1900s, serving as both a rail and stage stop during the heyday of Arizona's mining boom. The last class was held at Fairbank Schoolhouse in 1944. Now, 63 year

later, some of its former students will return to admire the restoration. This won't be their first visit though, over the past several years, those who attended school here in the 1930s and their relatives have attended annual Fairbank Reunions to share memories and photos. The BLM has compiled much historical information from their recollections to enable a more accurate restoration of the schoolhouse. The March 31 ceremony will mark a new beginning for the schoolhouse as a museum, information center, and gift shop operated by the FSPR. "The Fairbank Schoolhouse provides an excellent location," said Laura Mackin, FSPR bookstore manager. "It's the perfect place to focus on the history of Fairbank and surrounding ranching and mining towns such as Tombstone." For more information the center's hours, contact FSPR at 520-457-3062.