500-502 South Convent Avenue (House), Tucson

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ARIZ,10-TUCSO,30/12-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This Late Transitional Sonoran adobe building stands out from its earlier flush-fronted rowhouse neighbors to the north. Its set back and isolated situation, hipped roof with gablets, and porch with turned posts establish its Anglo character in contrast to the adjacent Sonoran adobes to the north. The residence was built by a local carpenter, Francisco Valenzuela. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: . 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: None known. 3. Original and subsequent owners: See chain of title belov. ' Part of Lot 5* Block 2Ul, parcel 27- Deed, February 21, recorded in Volume k2t page Julia Zeckendorf to Albert Steinfeld. Deed, March lU, recorded in Volume 53, page Albert and Bettina Steinfeld to Trinidad Barcla. Deed, January 22, recorded in Volume page 1*7 . D. M.

Garcia to E. J. Abodeely. Deed, October 9, recorded in Volume page Bertoglio to Jacome, SOUTH CONVMT AVENUE HABS No. AZ-73-12 (Page 2) k. Builder: Francisco Valenzuela. Valenzuela was a local carpen- ter who lived on W. Kennedy between S. Main and S. Meyer avenues, 5. Alterations and additions: This structure was "built originally as a duplex and lias had no additions. A small adobe and frame garage in the rear yard has been demolished since B. Historical Context: This house was built for the Garcia family of i+96 U98 S. Convent Ave. by a local carpenter named Francisco Valenzuela.

The Garcfas rented the duplex to a number of tenants, most of whom were Southern Pacific Railroad employees, until they sold the property in The prop- erty is now owned by David Jacome, a descendant of the family who started Jacome1 s Department Store, one of the first and largest depart- ment stores in Tucson. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: This building is an example of__the Late Transitional phase of Tucson architecture. It is built of the traditional adobe material but displays Anglo planning concepts, with the building isolated on its site, and Anglo building form with its hip roof and front porch. 2. Condition of fabric: The building is boarded up at this time.

There has been a fire at the rear of the house- While the walls appear to be structurally sound, there has been some deterioration, and the roof has holes, opening the interior to potential for further deterioration. B. Description of Exterior: 1.- Over-all dimensions: The house measures north-to-south along its east front and Ul'-lO" along its north wall. In addi- tion there is a 6f-l"-deep porch along the east front. 2. Foundations: There is a rock foundation. It is the variety of volcanic rock quarried at Sentinel Peak (known locally as "A" Mountain) west of the city. 3. Wall construction, finish and color: The walls are of thick mud adobe with stucco painted white. k. Structural system, framing: The adobe bearing walls support a lightweighttruss system.

The wood floor joists are carried on the foundation walls and provide for a crawl space. SOUTH CONVENT AVENUE HABS Uo. AZ-T3-12 CPage 3) 5. Porches, stoops: The house has an open porch on the east front which, extends the full -width, of the "building. The roof of the porch is an extension of the front hip roof slope and is finished at either end with a hip. Thefloor is of concrete slab construc- tion. There are three turned wood posts. 6. Chimneys: There are three chimneys. All are of brick. Onex chim- ney is located at the center of the building near the rear vail. The others are at the north and south walls respectively, almost one third of the way back from the front of the house. 7. Openings: a.

Doorways and doors: For this double .house there are two front entrances and two rear entrances. The entry doors are located at the center of the east facade, flanked with a window to the outside. The doors are recessed about 6". Both doors have a large glass panel, topped by a wood panel and over two wood panels. The doorways have a transom. The rear doors are no longer in place. b. Windows: The windows are of double-hung, weighted, one-over one wood sash. The east facade has two windows, one for each unit. The north and south walls each have three windows, pro- viding light to each of the three rooms. The west rear room formerly had two windows, now removed. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: The building has a hip roof covered with wood shingles.

The east front slope is extended to cover the porch. The ends of the porch roof turn to create a hip. b. Cornice, eaves: The rafter ends (2" x U") extend beyond the walls by about 1'\ the sheathing is exposed. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plan: This building is a double house, having two simple shot-gun plans. Each unit is three rooms deep, probably having having the typical layout of living room, bedroom, and kitchen to the rear. 2. Floorings: Floors are of 3^ Douglas Fir set atop joists above a crawl space. 3. Wall and ceiling finish: The walls are of plaster on adobe. Inter- ior partitions are also of plaster on adobe and measure The ceilings are of wood lath and plaster in the front two rooms each side and are of 3^ v-groove boards. Ceilings are in height.

SOUTH CONVENT AVENUE HABS No. AZ-73-12 (Page k) h. Openings: Doorways are surrounded -with. Greek Revival trim. Doors are -wood with, four panels. Windows have similar trim. 5- Decorative feat-ares and trim: The Greek Revival trim has 5 3/V flat hoard Jamb hoards with 5" head trim with a crown molding. The 9" "baseboard has a quarter-round top and toe strip. There is a picture rail at above the floor. The wood ceilings in the kitchens have edgehoard trip. 6. Mechanical equipment: The building is without plumbing, elec- tricity, or heating. The house has a kitchen, but no bathroom. D. Site: General setting and orientation: The house is loca'ted on the west side of South Convent Avenue. Xt is set back from the street about being at a slight angle to the street.

There is a front yard of about 91 deep across the front of the house. Two sidewalks link up the street sidewalk with the porch. The porch is at grade level, The rear of the building has a large open yard defined by a wood and corrugated metal fence. Landscape: There are two Chinaberry trees in the front-yard. The rear yard is undeveloped. Prepared by: Prof. Robert C. Giebner Project Supervisor Professor of Architecture University of Arizona July PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Building Slip, Pima County Assessor's Office Sanborn Fire Insurance Company maps, 1909a 19^o\ Tract Books, Pioneer National Title Insurance Company. Tucson City Directories, Oral Interviews: Adelina Garcia Flores, 56 W. Kennedy St. Sliaaer Herreras, E. Waverly. Prepared by: Ann E. Huston Project Historian Maureen L.

Gerhoid Assistant Project Historian Historic American Buildings Sur^ September I960 SOUTH CONVENT AVENUE EABS No. AZ-73-12 (Page 5) PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION This project vas undertaken "by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) of the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service's National Architectural and Engineering Record (NAER) in cooperation with the Tucson Barrio Association, Infc. Funds for the project were provided by the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office and the Arizona State Office of Economic Planning and Development. Under the direction of Robert Kapsch, Chief of NAER, John Poppeliers, Chief of "HABS, and Kenneth L. Anderson, Principal Architect, the project vas completed during the summer of at the HABS field office in Tucson, Arizona, "by Robert C.

Giebner, Project Supervisor (Professor of Architecture, University of Arizona); William Joseph Graham, Project Foreman (University of Maryland); Ann E. Huston, Project Historian (California State University, Sacramento); Maureen L. Gerhold, Assistant Historian (Pennsylvania State University); Student Architects Scott Marshall Dolph (University of Arizona); Carol Jean Lemon (Washington State Uni- versity); and Harrison Adam Sutphin (Virginia Tech); and Comprehensive Employ- ment and Training Act (CETA) Summer Youth Employment Program Interns: Maria Arriola (Tucson High School); Ernest Cotta; Lupita Lopez (Tucson High School); and Anna Trinidad. Photographic records -were made for HABS by David J. Kaminsky, Photo- grapher, Rosvell, New Mexico.

Editing and final preparation of the documentation was carried out in in the HABS Washington Office by William Joseph Graham, Architect, and Lucy Pope Wheeler, Writer/Editor, of the HABS professional staff.