Fimbres House No. 1, 509-513 South Meyer Avenue, Tucson

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ARIZ,10-TUCSO,30/17-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This Early Transitional Sonoran style building was construc- ted in two separate phases: forming the original struc- ture, and the two attached dwellings added about 20 years later. The transom windows and gable roof exhibit influences of Anglo design standards. The structure, because of its isolated situation, and rehabilitation for commercial pur- poses, is a dominant feature of the South Meyer Avenue street- scape. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: None known. 3. Original and subsequent owners: See chain of title below. Part of Lot 3, Block 2Ul, parcel 17' Judgement, December 8, recorded in Volume kk, page 6l5 Heirs of Samuel McClatchy to F. Fimbres. Deed, September 23, recorded in Volume page Feliciano Fimbres to Julia de Fimbres.

Deed, April k, recorded in Volume page Estate of Julia de Fimbres, Gregorio Fimbres, Adm. to Manuel Valdez. ii :*; i*^iJW; tJ_*=y*i-U>ki^ff,-&Ai, FIMBRES HOUSE #1 SOUTH MEYER AVEMJE HABS No. AZ-T3-1T (Page 2) Deed, December 31, recorded in Volume page Manuel Valdex to Manuela Valdex Garcia, et al. Deed, January 23, recorded in Volume page Manuela Valdez Garcia, et al, to Felix M. Valdez. Deed, July 1, recorded in volume U799, page Felix M. Valdez to T. R. Rollings. h. Builder: Feliciano Fimbres. 5. Alterations and additions: The original structure, 509 S. Meyer Ave., was built as a family residence "between Two apartments were added on the south side of the "building in The building was converted for commercial_ use in.the A frame stable at the rear property line in had disappeared by B.

Historical Persons and Events Connected with the Structure: The name Fimbres has been associated with this section of South Meyer Avenue since when the City Directory lists a Santos Fimbres. The builder of this house, Feliciano Fimbres (probably related to Santos), lived here with his family until the late Fimbres, a laborer and wagon driver, lived across the street, at 506 S. Meyer until he built this dwelling, around Feliciano and Julia Fimbres had seven children. Two of them, Julia and Gabriel, lived in the apartments that Feliciano added at S. Meyer Avenue. Julia Fimbres (the daughter), married Jesus Sanchez and lived next door at S. Meyer Avenue, also constructed by Feliciano Fimbres Jesus and Julia Sanchez died in and but their daughter, Evangelina Cota, still occupies S.

Meyer with her family. The property at S. Meyer passed out of the Fimbres family in and has been rented by a succession of short-term tenants since that time. The dwellings were converted for commercial use after by-a service agency for the handicapped. Prepared by: Ann E. Huston Project Historian, Maureen L. Gerhold Assistant Project Historian, Historic American Buildings Survey September A & to2*i&j&sita <*ri,-** iiS-.^-^A-^A ^j^^_^j^v-:jrfi ^ .<^&^>*ift-fi^ FIMBRES HOUSE #1 SOUTH MEYER AVENUE HABS No. AZ-T3-17 (Page 3) PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: This building is an example of the Early Transicional adobe "building found in the Barrio. It has a gable roof, and the flush-fronted building is situated at the front property line.

' - . . - 2. Condition of fabric: Good; rehabilitated. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: The building measures north-to- and .36 ,_-9-Mwe t-to-east-along-.-its north side. 2. Foundations: Inaccessible. 3. Wall construction, finish and color: The building is constructed of mud adobe with a stucco surface, painted white. h. Structural system, framing: The adobe bearing walls support 21 x 6" wood ceiling foists and a light frame wood rafter system. The walls of the east addition have parapets. 5. Porches, stoops: There is a wood wheelchair ramp giving access to The floor level is one step up from grade. 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The west front has three doorways provid- ing access to each of the front rooms. The north doorway,#509, has a .

six-panel door; the center doorway,#511, has a six-panel door topped by a transom. The east rear door of has a five-panel door. b. Windows: Windows are of wood sash with one-over-one lights with pin stops. The surrounds are of 5^ flat board trim. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: The west portion of the building has a low gable roof with its ridge running north-to-south. It is cov- ered with gray rolled asphalt roofing. The additions to the east have parapetted walls and flat roofs. b. Cornice, eaves: The rafter ends are exposed at the eaves. . "- -- - - if- n^fir'---^^''^-.---'.- **: /*& : tJ.-Ji-.ViataiJi'^j. i>.^ ^-^i-Jt--n^U~S^A^-.< -. t-it.p^g>r FIMBRES HOUSE #1 SOUTH MEYER AVENUE HABS Wo. AZ-T3-1T (Page h) B. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plan: The building has two separate units.

The unit to the north is entered via the center door on the west front. Access is into a hall which extends to the east. To the north of the hall is a room providing access into a large room along the north side which has "been subdivided with a partition. To the south of the hall is another room which provides access to an interior room to the east. This room and the hall provide access to a room across part of the east rear. The unit to the south is entered directly from the street with a major room. Two additional rooms fall in line to the east in a shot-gun fashion. 2. Flooring: trick floors: 3. Wall and ceiling finish: In the north unit, the hall and the two southern rooms has exposed 6" ceiling joists and 1" x 6" wood plank ceilings.

The remainder of the rooms have plastered ceilings. The southern unit has plastered ceilings in the west and east rooms; the central room has exposed joists and plank ceiling. The walls are plaster on adobe, painted. . - --. - ~- k. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Most interior doors have been removed. Remaining doors are either five-panel type or have new hol- low core flush surface. The doorways have plank board jambs and soffits, with 5V1 flat board surrounds. 5. Special features and trim: There is a 7" flat board baseboard molding, 6. Hardware: Standard hardware is employed. 7. Heating: There is a gas wall heater in the second room on the south side of the north unit. 8. Electricity: Electricity has been provided. 9. Plumbing: Modern plumbing has been installed. D. Site: 1.

General setting and orientation: The building faces west on S. Meyer Avenue. It sits flush with the front and side property lines. 2. Landscaping and enclosures: There is no development along the three sides. The rear (east) yard is enclosed with a metal grate fence. . a: J iM.-/ !Si***H',.'lc!i:iWU( .TitMfii, iij .* ii ^-> iija Ss* L* a>^tftiiHS & u] iE i ffiil i ~i ml ^ih^Vi^rii^tteiiMiTrriii FIMBRES HOUSE #1 SOUTH MEYER AVENUE HABS No. AZ-73-17 (Page 5) PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Building slip, Pima County Assessor's Office. Sanborn Fire Insurance Company maps, Tract Books, Pioneer National Title Insurance Company (Microfilm, Recorders records). Tucson City Directories, Oral Interviews: Evangelina Sanchez Cota, S. Meyer Ave. Felix Fimbres, k62 E. St. Eliazar Herreras, E.

Waverly Prepared by: Prof. Robert C. Giebner Project Supervisor Professor of Architecture University of Arizona July PART IV.. PROJECT INFORMATION: This project was 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, 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 HABS, and Kenneth L. Anderson, Principal Architect, the project was completed during the summer of I98O 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 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 Graham3 Architect, and Lucy Pope Wheeler, Writer/Editor, of the HABS professional staff.