05/24/2026
We are so excited, the CV Hist Soc finally found a photo of Chino Valley's first store, the Valley Center Market. At Paulden's Centennial Celebration I met cowboy and musician Monk Maxwell who was born and grew up in the area. He put me in touch with his sister Carla who sent us this photo. Looks like this might have been taken when they were widening Hwy 89.
Henry Peters, who had had a store at Jerome Junction, was the first operator-owner. Following him were Mrs. Harry Fisher, Perry, Hanna, Paul Toci, Bill Lunsford, Ken Hall, Al Huff, Virgil & Dorothy Maxwell, and Harry Ferrell. A fire destroyed the Valley Center Market in 1974. Harry Ferrell rebuilt it as Buckaroo Roundup following the fire. It was there a long time until it became the office of Famers Insurance.
Wonder what the big barn was in the background.
