Spring 2026
Over the course of several weeks, 22 history students at South Mountain Community College put their research into action. Informed by coursework content, these student researchers conducted field work on 18 different historically relevant properties south of the Salt River. Their field work included site visits, interviews, reviews of completed oral histories, and archival research. Students also gathered or took photographs for publication. These students then drafted several proposals for the City of Phoenix’s Hispanic Heritage Property Survey. The previous HHPS was conducted in 2006. Current efforts to update the survey are underway, and thanks to the work of SMCC students and faculty, will now emphasize more properties south of the river.
Student-highlighted sites included:
- Corona Ranch
- Del Monte Market
- El Rincon Latino Record Store
- Holy Family Church
- Los Dos Molinos
- Ocotillo Library
- Pete’s Fish and Chips (on Central)
- Poncho’s Mexican Food and Cocktails
- Precision Auto Parts
- Rays’ Feed Store
- Rodriguez Insurance
- Rosita Fresita Neveria Café
- South Phoenix Market
- South Plaza
- South Mountain Community College
- South Mountain High School
- Summer’s Fruit Barn
- Sunland School
Reflecting upon the experience, students wrote,
It is important to study local history in a class, because unless you are actively seeking to learn history in education or in a museum, then there is no other way we would know anything about our history.
~ Rachel DeMark
By growing up in South Phoenix and going to school outside of my city, I never got the chance to learn about the history of where I live. Now, going to community college right next to where I grew up, I am allowed the opportunity to research establishments that were right down the road from where I live and have a new found appreciation for their history. I think it is important to learn about local history in a class like this because it allows for us to form new opinions and appreciation for things we may have had no thought about before coming into a class like this, which is beneficial to us, our communities, and our cultures.
~Vienna Betancourth
About leading the project, Dr. Summer Cherland said,
It is incredible, inspiring, and sometimes maddening to know that the historic properties south of the Salt River are just now getting their due. Learning that the City of Phoenix is looking directly to the students at South Mountain Community College to help them improve tells me that SMCC is leading the charge for reclaiming and preserving the history of South Phoenix.
South Phoenix Oral History Project 