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Fort McDowell Presbyterian Church in Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Fort McDowell Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 18412 Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 Phone: 480-836-1442 Fax: Church Email: Website: Office Hours: Worship Services Church Programs Sunday Christian Education Pastoral Staff Clerk of Session Leonardine Walker Statement of Purpose/Mission Statement/Greeting: Mission Yearbook - July 6, 2008 Ft. McDowell Presbyterian Church Fort McDowell Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest in the community. To understand its history, we need to look back at the history of Fort McDowell. In the 1800s, white settlers from the East were arriving rapidly. In response to heightened tensions between the Indians and settlers, the U.S. Military built Fort McDowell in 1865. The Yavapai people were among the tribes squeezed by the soldiers and settlers. In the 1870s, Yavapais were rounded up and forced to march to the San Carlos Reservation, leaving behind the weak and the sick. In 1902 the Yavapais were given 40 square miles as a "reservation." The first superintendent of Fort McDowell and Yavapais living on the new reservation built the Presbyterian Church in 1906. The superintendent had stone masons split common metamorphic rock mined from local sand pits to make the high walls for the rectangular shaped church. Its strong walls have needed only minimal structural repairs since 1906. In 1929, the brush arbor was built behind the church for outdoor services and camp meetings. Today the church stands tall, beautiful, and ageless within the community. Driving Directions - Interactive Map From 202/Red Mtn. Freeway - Go north on 87/Country Club Drive East for 12 miles past Shea Blvd. intersection. Turn left onto Fort McDowell Road. (You will see the big casino sign and will be truning just before crossing the Verde River Bridge.) Go 4.5 miles (past the casino and tribal offices, other churches and recreation center.) When Fort McDowell Road ends, turn left on Fort Loop Road and you will see the church straight ahead. From 51 or 101 - exit east on Shea until intersecting Hwy 87/Beeline or Payson Highway. Turn left on 87 continuing for a short distance then turn left on Fort McDowell at the casino, just before the Verde River Bridge. Go 4.5 miles on Fort McDowell to the end. Turn left on Fort Loop Road and you will see the church stratight ahead.