Riding into Tucson from New Mexico in 1947 one could not help but be impressed by the majestic Catalina mountains and the bright blue Tucson sky. The 105 degree weather was also impressive; cars were not air-conditioned in those days but every auto had a dripping water bag hanging from its front bumper. Those who crossed the American prairie after World War II definitely felt like pioneers.

 Many immigrants who moved to Tucson in the '40s were military men who had been stationed at Davis Monthan and fell in love with the Old Pueblo, parents to whom the dry desert climate had been recommended for their asthmatic children, or adults plagued with arthritis.

Following WWII, housing was very scarce; who could forget living in a converted chicken coop for several years?  Employment was also a big problem. Teenage babysitters made 35 cents an hour, and there were few other jobs available to teens. Adults also found making a living a problem.
On the bright side, newcomers were pleasantly surprised to find that Tucson had been a viable community for several hundred years, mostly populated by Indians and Hispanics. By 1948 we had three thriving synagogues - Temple Emanu-El, Anshei Israel and Young Israel, several kosher butchers, a variety of Jewish organizations, a community symphony, local theatrical groups and the University of Arizona. Tucson had always been the cultural star of Arizona and there was always a great feeling of personal pride in our community.

Three large department stores were owned by Jewish families (Steinfeld's, Levy's and Meyerson's White House), as well as several large furniture stores and many other miscellaneous businesses. 

Tucson was an American community, where students from various ethnic and religious groups got along well. Nowhere was this more evident than at Tucson High School during the '50s, known as "The Golden Years."

Although I had no experience of anti-Semitism in school or otherwise, there was a mild anti-black feeling in the city. In the late '40s the elementary and junior high schools were still segregated; they were desegregated in the early '50s without incident.

My mother was a typical housewife, enjoying PTA activities and serving on the Roosevelt school board with artist Ted DeGrazia, who wasn't well known at the time. My dad, after trying several different occupations, got his state contractor's license and built small red-brick housing tracts on the west side. George Miller, who later became mayor, worked for him.

My brother and I settled into the ebb and flow of Tucson life. He became a Bar Mitzvah in traditional Tucson style: nothing like the extravaganzas today, but a very simple house party held on a Saturday night.

You couldn't help but feel part of the Tucson community. Even though there were 50,000 people by 1950, it seemed as if everyone knew one another. Any small infractions of the rules were immediately reported to your family.

There were many organizations for Jewish children. A small building on South Plumer housed the Jewish Community Center, where weekly dances were held. The JCC was used for community meetings and even presented traveling Yiddish theatre productions.
B'nai Brith had an excellent youth program; almost the entire Jewish teenage population belonged to one of the BBYO chapters.

During these formative years, Meyer and Rebecca Rutz arrived in Tucson. A wonderful addition to the community, the Rutzes started the Arizona Post, which became a great asset to the Tucson Jewish population. They were always amenable to publicizing all the local Jewish activities.
Mr. Rutz began a Sunday morning radio program called The Jewish Hour that almost every Jewish family listened to. He related national, international and local news and he played Hebrew and Jewish records. The Arizona Post also sponsored a bowling league, which received a lot of publicity in the paper.

Tucson in the '40s and  '50s was a wonderful place to grow up and helped lay the foundation for our ever-growing, and I hope, improving city.

Lori Olshansky Sobel graduated from Tucson High School and received several master's degrees from the University of Arizona. She served as a board member of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and the Stone Avenue Temple.