Desert Harmony

Desert Harmony

The Early Days

The first settlers in Mesa were probably the Hohokam Tribe, who constructed canal systems to make living on the dry land possible. Their probable ancestors, possibly including the Tohono O'odham, remain in the area.

In the late 1800s, Spanish missionaries and soldiers traveled through the area, and several groups of Latter Day Saints pioneers settled nearby. Eventually, residents from other areas of the Phoenix valley moved into Mesa and the population grew on its own.

Mesa was founded in January 1878 by Mormon pioneers and its population is still roughly one-tenth Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates one of its oldest temples in Mesa and the city is still a hub for Latter-day Saints residing in the Phoenix Metro area.

Desert Sands Golf and Country Club #8

In 1968 Desert Sands Golf Course was established and it was designed as a private country club complimented with a residential community. The course since has been upgraded extensively and made available to the public. In the years that followed, residential districts were set up and sometime around 1976 homes were beginning to be constructed in the Desert Sands Golf and Country Club #8 area, which now lies between 78th and 80th Streets and Southern Avenue and the Superstition Freeway.

In the late 1970’s , Desert Harmony only had a few homes built in the community. It was accessible only from Southern Avenue, which was a two-lane road that ran through a wash and ended at 80th Street. When it rained, the inhabitants of Desert Harmony found it difficult to get through the flooded wash and often had to wait until the water subsided in order to get in and out of their homes. Southern Avenue between Sossaman and Power did not exist, although some people found that a small, dirt road could be used - if they wanted to risk their vehicles

In order to get to Desert Harmony, one had to use Broadway or Baseline Road then turn onto Sossaman Road (76th St). This area between Southern and Baseline was mostly farmland or orchards. Baseline Road was mostly a long, straight, narrow 2-lane rural road back during this time that seemed to be a substitute for a race track. It was lined with fields and the occasional convenience store and Gas station.

In early 1981, the Superstition Freeway only went to Gilbert Road. It later went to Val Vista Road, and then to Power Road People of this area thought that was a great improvement. The area really thought it was a big thing when the Freeway finally made it to Sossaman.

Improvements Galore

Inhabitants of the late 70s and early 80s did most of their shopping on Main Street [Apache Trail] and also at Basha's at Power and Broadway.

In the mid-to- late 80s, the City of Mesa annexed this area. The Superstition Springs Mall was not built until 1990 and was remodeled in 2002. This made a major change in the shopping pattern of the area.

In the 90s many more improvements happened to the area. Southern Avenue was altered and widened through a series of projects done by the City of Mesa, the drainage channel was transformed in stages as well and eventually covered by road on the north side of Southern.

In the Desert Harmony community improvements such as the upgrades to the street lighting and fire hydrants were put in place. On the southern side of the community, near the freeway, the trees and land was cleared for new housing and a retention basin.

In the Spring of 2008, the name of the community changed from Desert Sands Golf and Country Club #8 to Desert Harmony because this area was Desert Sands and the southern portion of the tract was Harmony Manor by their respective developers. The two sections were merged as one neighborhood.

Links

LASR.net - Desert Sands Golf and Country Club
Superstition Springs Center (PDF File)