510-512 South Convent Avenue (House), Tucson

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ARIZ,10-TUCSO,30/13-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Hidden by a vood slat fence, the architectural qualities of this long adobe house are not visible from'the street. Prob- ably one of the earliest nouses on the block, the adobe is exposed, and the adobe wall bounding the property to the south is actually the remnant of a former dwelling. The structure shows Anglo elements (probably later additions) through its corrugated metal gabled roof and attached front porch. The house occupies an isolated situation on the blocl with a wide driveway separating it from its northern neigh- bor:, and a vacant lot to the south. -" PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: possibly pre-1880. 2. Architect: None known. 3- Original and subsequent owners: See chain of title below. .

Part of Lot 7, Block 2Ul, parcel Deed, March 12, recorded in Volume 10, page Corporate Authorities of the Village of Tucson to Theodosia Martinez. Deed, August 20, recorded in Volume 8, page Sheriff and Tax Collector to Chan Tin Wo. Tax Deed, September 30, recorded in Volume 2k, page Tax Collector to Territory of Arizona. Tax Deed, August 25, recorded in Volume 2k, page 21 Tax Collector to Territory of Arizona. SOUTH CONVENT AVENUE HABS No. AZ-73-13 (Page 2) Deed, May 26, recorded in Volume 63 s page 38. Felipe and Guadalupe Salazar Hernandez to Manuel and Clotilda Avalos. Deed, November 16, recorded in Volume page 29. Manuel R. and Clotilde M. Avalos to W. R. Matilda McKelvey. I9M Deed, October IT, recorded in Volume page Estate of Walter R. McKelvey to Matilda McKelvey.

Deed, August 9, recorded in Volume page Matilda McKelvey to Beecher Thompson, Adm. for half interest Deed, August. 9, recorded in Volume page Minnie E. Wilhite to Beecher Thompson, et al. Deed.. June recorded in Volume page 27- H. Lee to S. Lee, et al-.for half interest. Deed, February 18, recorded in Volume Ul91, page Lee, et al to Beecher Thompson. Deed, January 11, recorded in Volume page V. C. Howard, Adm. for Thompson to R. J. Hiller. h. Builder: Unknown. 5.

Alterations and additions: Originally built as a single-family residence, this dwelling was converted to a duplex between and Two frame porches replaced a frame addition at the rear befroe and 3 more frame additions further modified the rear of the building between and The structure was reconverted to a single-family residence, probably in the B. Historical Events and Persons Connected with the Structure: Because of a lack of historical records the building date and builder of - this house are indeterminable.

The dwelling may be pictured, however, on an aerial photograph of Tucson, taken from nearby Sentinel Peak in It is probable that Teodosia Martinez, a housewife, lived here in the late Manuel Avalos, a" barber, owned the property from to but does not appear to have resided there for more than five years. Tucson City Directories show a number of tenants from to For background information, see Barrio Libre (Barrio Historico) (A2.-73) - SOUTH CONVENT AVENUE HABS No. AZ-73-13 (page 3) PABT II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural characters This low profile adobe building has a simple rectangular mass with a hip roof. It is partially hidden behind a high wooden fence at the front property line. The building is- currently undergoing rehabilitation. 2.

Condition of fabric: Generally good as it is undergoing re- habilitation. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: The building measures north to south along its east front and east-to-vest, plus-a frame addi- tion extending west from the building along the north side. 2. Foundations: They appear to be of stone. 3. Wall construction, finish and color: The exterior walls are of mud adobe with mud mortar; the walls were stuccoed, but the major- ity of the stucco is missing. h. Structural system, framing: The adobe bearing walls support a roof system of rafters. 5* Porches, stoops: A shed-roof porch extends across the entire east front. The porch is attached (i.e., not an extension of the roof structure of the main house).

The porch columns are simple square timber units with a stucco wrap. A shed-roof porch extends from the south end to the frame addition on the west rear of the house. 6. Chimneys: The only chimney element is a stove pipe located on the rear (west) slope of the roof. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The present main entrance is situated on the the north side of the building near the west end. The open- ing has wood framing members as do all openings in the build- ing. The entrance doorway contains a four-panel door. The former main entrance is located on the east front facade. It it closed over with shutters. b. Windows and shutters: The windows are of wood and are double hun^ with a variety of pane compositions ranging from one-over-one to one-over-six.

Openings on the east front are covered with louvered shutters. SOUTH 'CONVENT AVENUE HABS No. AZ-73-13 (Page k) 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: The "building has a simple low hip roof cov- ered -with corrugated metal. b. Cornice, eaves: Exposed rafter ends create the eave line. The gable ends are framed and vented. The adobe walls carry- only as- far as the eave line all the way around the building. C. Description of the Interior: 1. Floor Plan: Entrance to the building is on the north side; it gives access to a large room which extends from the north to the south end of the building. This room appears to have been three separate rooms as spur walls mark the position of interior parti- tions of adobe.

To the east of this room are two rooms, each accessible from the major room, but not interconnecting in them-, selves. There are framed storage rooms to the we-st of the building along the north side. 2, Flooring: All floors are of concrete except for the raised portion in front of the entrance door, which is of wood..__ 3- Wall and ceiling finish: The interior of the building is being rehabilitated and the walls and ceiling are unfinished at this time. k. Openings: Since the building is undergoing work, all openings are unfinished. Door frames are of wood boards; the doors are paneled. 5. Mechanical systems: a. Heating: There is a fireplace in the large rooms along the west wall; a second fireplace is situated in the southeast corner of the northeast room. b.

Lighting: The building has electric service. c. Plumbing: Plumbing exists in the kitchen, located at the south end of the large room. Bathroom fixtures are in the frame addition to the rear. D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: The building is located on the west side of South Convent Avenue, near the intersection of West Street. It is situated about llfeet back froir, the curb. The property is enclosed with fencing of a variety of materials, in- cluding wood board, chain link, and corrugated metal. SOUTH CONVENT AVENUE HABS Ho. AZ-73-13 (Page 5) There are a number of wood sheds on the property, and a number of trees are scattered about the rear yard. Prepared by: Prof. Robert C. Giebner Project Supervisor Professor of Architecture v University of Arizona July PART III.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Old views: Sentinel Peak Photograph, Arizona Historical Society. B.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ARIZ,10-TUCSO,30/13-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Company maps, Tucson City Directories, Tract Books, Pioneer National Title Insurance Company (Microfilm, Recorder's records) Oral Interviews: Adelina Flores, % W. Kennedy Street. PART IV,

Project Information

This project vas undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) of the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Serviced National Architectural and Engineering Record (NAER) in cooperation with the Tucson Barrio Association, Inc. 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 EABS, and Kenneth L. Anderson, Principal Architect, the project was 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 (Birginia Tech); and Comprehensive Employ- ment and Training Act (CETA) Summer Youth Employment Program Interns: Maria Arriola (Tucson High School): Ernest Cota; Lupita Lopez (Tucson High School); and Anna Trinidad. Photographic records were made for HABS by David J. Kaminsky, Photo- grapher, Roswell, 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.