1940s
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Fire destroys nearly all of Desert
Mission in 1942.
The William Wrigley Recreational
Building survived the 1942 fire
and became the focal point for
children's activities in Sunnyslope.
Many children swam in local
irrigation canals to cool off in the
hot Arizona summer until 1947,
when Desert Mission built a
community pool that served the
Sunnyslope community until
1958.
Aileen Robinson Sonderman and
Ellen Ekelund Cooke break
ground for the new Roy Brooks
Outpatient Clinic.
Volunteer dentists provided
dental services to Desert Mission
children beginning in 1929.
Desert Mission, as concerned for
the well-being of ailing patients
as for their medical care,
provided many activities for
patients and their families,
including lawn checkers.
Bertram L. Snyder, MD became
head of the Desert Mission clinic,
and eventually became the first
chief of staff for John C. Lincoln
Convalescent Hospital.
1940s - Arizona's open space and weather made it an ideal training ground for servicemen. Many returned to the area following World War II, fueling Arizona's growth. During this time, Sunnyslope residents began building a modern community including streets, schools, businesses and various service organizations.
1940 - The first prescription pharmacy was opened in Sunnyslope, making it no longer necessary to depend on motorcycle service from the drug store at Central Avenue and Indian School Road.
1941 - On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
1941 - Desert Mission's Model Cottage was built as a convalescent home for patients through the generosity of the Washington, D.C. branch of the Knights of the Round Table.
1942 - On March 6, 1942, a fire started by a spark in the pump house destroyed all the buildings at Desert Mission except the library and Wrigley Recreational Building. The loss of property was estimated at $22,000, but there were no deaths or injuries. Despite a $16,000 insurance settlement, building materials were not available due to World War II. Desert Mission's board of directors decided to undertake a drive for money to be used when materials finally did become available. The herculean task of rebuilding inspired admiration across the nation. The drive raised an additional $30,000.
1943 - Phoenix plumbing contractor Roy Brooks donated $15,000 in memory of his son for construction of a clinic building at the Desert Mission. Due to World War II, it took four years for the final building to be constructed.
1944 - U.S. forces invaded Normandy on June 6, D-Day.
1944 - Dr. Fred Holmes retired and Bertram L. Snyder, MD, a Phoenix chest specialist like Holmes, agreed to head Desert Mission's clinic.
1945 - World War II ended, precipitating the Baby Boom. Servicemen who had trained in Arizona and fallen for the sunshine brought their families back to Arizona. Many settled in Sunnyslope.
1945 - Vice President Harry S. Truman became President of the United States upon the sudden death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
1945 - The United Nations was established.
1946 - The Desert Mission Convalescent Home was built to provide lodging and care for needy persons. Although John C. Lincoln gave generously toward the construction of the home, it was several years before he permitted the facility to bear his name.
1946 - First clinical tests of the use of the newly discovered antibiotic streptomycin for treatment of tuberculosis are performed.
1946 - McDowell Osteopathic Hospital opened with 30 beds.
1946 - Cattleman E. Ray Cowden was elected as president of the Desert Mission board of directors, succeeding John C. Lincoln, who had held that post for 15 years.
1947 - Bell Laboratories invents the transistor, the key component needed to develop programmable computers.
1947 - Roy Brooks Outpatient Clinic was completed, replacing the former clinic in Osborne Cottage. Inside the clinic was a room outfitted with a dental clinic.
1948 - Motorola arrived in Phoenix, spurring high-tech industrial growth.
1948 - Herbert F. Hancox was appointed superintendent of the Desert Mission.
1949 - The Desert Mission board of directors deeded approximately five acres of land at Hatcher Road and Second Street to the Sunnyslope Presbyterian Church. Operation of the Desert Mission and the church were separated, each forming its own board of directors.
1949 - A community swimming pool was constructed as a gift from Helen C. Lincoln and Phoenix Salvage Company. Other building projects, including a permanent baseball field for the local Desert Mission softball team, were financed by donations from various benefactors and from the sale of Desert Mission stamps.
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