Central City in Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast

In Memory of the Crew of the U.S.S. Arizona (BB39)

January 18, 2010

1. U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Marker Plaque

In Wesley Bolin Memorial Park, Arizona State Capitol Concourse.

Click on Photo for easier reading of text.

Inscription.

U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast. In Memory of the Crew of the U.S.S. Arizona (BB39). The upper 26 feet of the mast before you is the top portion of the main mast of the U.S.S. Arizona and is known as the signal mast or "pig-stick". The battleship U.S.S. Arizona (BB 39) was sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The superstructure above the waterline was removed soon after the attack. Admiral Earnest H. King, Chief of Naval Operations, sent the signal mast to his hometown of Lorain, Ohio. Commander Edwin C. Keyes, a close friend of Adm. King commanded that naval armory in Lorain. He had the mast modified and erected at the armory to be used for training purposes. The Navy added the yards (cross pieces). Allen Permach of Lorain Steel Fabricators, made the other modifications including the 36 ft. length added to the botton of the Arizona's original 26 ft. mast. The vertical shaft represents the 1177 crewmen who gave their lives on that "Day of Infamy". The yard stands for all those who served aboard., The Arizona's modified signal mast was used until the armory was razed in 1980. It was offered to the city of Lorain, but was refused. In order to save the mast from destruction, Cdr. Keyes obtained authorization from the Navy for Brenne H. Donofrio, a naval engineer to take possession of it. Nick A. Donofrio, the father of Brenne H. Donofrio was a close friend of Adm. King and Cdr. Keyes, and had been honored by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Navy for having donated several important inventions to the Navy during World War II. The mast was moved to Brenne H. Donofrio's property where it was stored for 10 years., Robert Manzetti, a retired rairoad engineer from Ohio, learned of the mast while visiting his daughter who lived near Lorain. Mr. Manzetti and Dr. Earl L. Field, a professor at Arizona College of the Bible and both residents of Glendale, Arizona formed the U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Committee. The Committee purchased the mast, transported it to Arizona and erected it here in Wesley Bolin Plaza. It was dedicated and donated to the State of Arizona on December 7, 1990. All funds and work on the mast came from private donations., "I was told to be very careful in its installation as it was valuable to the men who gave their lives defending it" Allen A. Perhach, U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Committee Robert Manzetti - Earl Field James Walker - Calvin Brice - Michael Aicone, Grateful Acknowledgement to Adobe Sandblasting - Almond and Stephens Architects - The Arizona Republic (newspaper) Arizona College of the Bible - Arizona Sign Assoc. - Central Arizona Trophy Dealers Assoc. - Karsten Manufacturing Corp. KTSP-TV Ch. 10 - Martin Bergan - Port-A-Fab Wielding - Snow and Assoc. Engineering R.J. Carli Engineering - Swift Transportation Co. - Thos. Manzetti Painting Humana - Arizona Skilled Building Trade Unions and Apprentices, Governor Rose Mofford

The upper 26 feet of the mast before you is the top portion of the main mast of the U.S.S. Arizona and is known as the signal mast or "pig-stick". The battleship U.S.S. Arizona (BB 39) was sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The superstructure above the waterline was removed soon after the attack. Admiral Earnest H. King, Chief of Naval Operations, sent the signal mast to his hometown of Lorain, Ohio. Commander Edwin C. Keyes, a close friend of Adm. King commanded that naval armory in Lorain. He had the mast modified and erected at the armory to be used for training purposes. The Navy added the yards (cross pieces). Allen Permach of Lorain Steel Fabricators, made the other modifications including the 36 ft. length added to the botton of the Arizona's original 26 ft. mast. The vertical shaft represents the 1177 crewmen who gave their lives on that "Day of Infamy". The yard stands for all those who served aboard.

The Arizona's modified signal mast was used until the armory was razed in 1980. It was offered to the city of Lorain, but was refused. In order to save the mast from destruction, Cdr. Keyes obtained authorization from the Navy for Brenne H. Donofrio, a naval engineer to take possession of it. Nick A. Donofrio, the father of Brenne H. Donofrio was a close friend of Adm. King and Cdr. Keyes, and had been honored by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Navy for having donated several important inventions to the Navy during World War II. The mast

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was moved to Brenne H. Donofrio's property where it was stored for 10 years.

Robert Manzetti, a retired rairoad engineer from Ohio, learned of the mast while visiting his daughter who lived near Lorain. Mr. Manzetti and Dr. Earl L. Field, a professor at Arizona College of the Bible and both residents of Glendale, Arizona formed the U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Committee. The Committee purchased the mast, transported it to Arizona and erected it here in Wesley Bolin Plaza. It was dedicated and donated to the State of Arizona on December 7, 1990. All funds and work on the mast came from private donations.

"I was told to be very careful in its installation as it was valuable to the men who gave their lives defending it" Allen A. Perhach

U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Committee Robert Manzetti - Earl Field James Walker - Calvin Brice - Michael Aicone

Grateful Acknowledgement to Adobe Sandblasting - Almond & Stephens Architects - The Arizona Republic (newspaper) Arizona College of the Bible - Arizona Sign Assoc. - Central Arizona Trophy Dealers Assoc. - Karsten Manufacturing Corp. KTSP-TV Ch. 10 - Martin Bergan - Port-A-Fab Wielding - Snow & Assoc. Engineering R.J. Carli Engineering - Swift Transportation Co. - Thos. Manzetti Painting Humana - Arizona Skilled Building Trade Unions and Apprentices

Governor Rose Mofford

Erected 1990 by U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications

U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, February 13, 2010

2. U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Marker

Marker is by the bench just south of the Signal Mast.

• War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1873.

Location. 33° 26.888′ N, 112° 5.628′ W. Marker is in Phoenix, Arizona, in Maricopa County. It is in Central City. It can be reached from West Washington Street. Marker is located at Wesley Bolin Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1501 West Washington Street, Phoenix AZ 85007, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert

and in the Tohono O’odham Nation.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Gadsden Purchase,

and Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Arizona World War II Memorial (a few steps from this marker); The Arizona Korean War Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Father Albert Braun O.F.M. (within shouting distance of this marker); Arizona's U.S.S. Arizona Memorial - In Memory of the Gallant Men (within shouting distance of this marker); Jewish War Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away); Navajo Code Talkers (about 400 feet away); Arizona's Pioneer Women (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Phoenix.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Memorial to Arizona Confederate Troops (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Additional keywords. Battleship Row, Day of Infamy, Tora Tora Tora, Patriotism, Battleships

U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Marker Plaque - Close-up Relief Art image. Click for full size.

January 18, 2010

3. U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Marker Plaque - Close-up Relief Art

U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast image. Click for full size.

January 18, 2010

4. U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast

Arizona's U.S.S. Arizona Monument Aerial View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by USGS/Terraserver/Google Earth, circa January 1, 2007

5. Arizona's U.S.S. Arizona Monument Aerial View

The Signal Mast, Time Capsule, Anchor and Casualty Memorial are pointed out in this image.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, February 13, 2010

6. U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast

View north from sidewalk just south of mast.

The Wesley Bolin Memorial Park and Old Capitol Dome/Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, January 18, 2010

7. The Wesley Bolin Memorial Park and Old Capitol Dome/Museum

Due West from the U.S.S. Arizona Signal Mast Marker The old State Capitol is a museum. The impressive U.S.S. Arizona punch bowl and silver service is displayed inside. Them ol' boys knew how to drink in style.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2010. This page has been viewed 5,373 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 18, 2010. 2. submitted on February 15, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3, 4. submitted on January 18, 2010. 5. submitted on January 19, 2010. 6. submitted on February 15, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 7. submitted on January 18, 2010. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.