Prince Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, South Convent Avenue & West Seventeenth Street, Tucson

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ARIZ,10-TUCSO,30/40-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This structure with its high hipped roof was built as a church in and housed two different black congrega- tions until the The exposed "brick was plastered over in the before its sale to an artist who con- verted it for use as a studio. The height of the build- ing and its four large arched, grilled windows make it a dominant anchor at the southern end of S. Convent Ave, 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. Block Lot 13, arh. 31- - Deed, May 29, recorded in Volume 52, page J. V. Raven and Jeff McNeil to Trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church et al.

Deed, September 8, 19U2, recorded in Volume page The Prince Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church et al to Casimira R- and Angelita Bravo. Deed, November 10, recorded in Volume page Estate of Casimiro Bravo to Angelita Bravo et al. Deed, January 31 recorded in Volume page Estate of Angelita E. Bravo. Deed, July 23, recorded in Volume page Lopez et al to Bravo et al. Deed, April 11, recorded in Volume page 5U. Figuerva et al to Bravo et al and T. Amarillas. PRINCE CHAPEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HABS No. AZ-T3-U0 (Page 2) h. Builder: Juan Vindiola. 5- Alterations and additions: A fire in partially destroyed this structure, but it was- rebuilt. The original brick was plas- tered over in B.

Historical Events and Persons Connected -with the Structure: The Prince Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, on the corner of S. Convent Avenue and W. Street, was the second black church in Tucson. The congregation, composed of a number of black families from all over Tucson, met in a private home until they -were able to raise the necessary funds to build this church in Juan Vindiola, the builder, was a laborer vho lived in the Barrio. When a fire destroyed part of the structure in the congregation met at the nearby Drachman School while repairs were made. In "the Prince Chapel A. M. E. congregation built a nev church at Stone Avenue and W. Street, a block away.

The building continued to be used as a black church, the Faith Temple congregation meeting there from and the Revelation Baptist Church from I96O-I967. In an artist purchased the building and converted it for use as a studio and residence because of the large -windows and availability of light. # PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION (.See Significance, above, and Barrio Libre (Barrio Hietorico) (HABS No. AZ-73) for site plan and historical background essay.) PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Sanbora Fire Insurance Company maps, 191*U 5 Tract Books, Pioneer National Title Insurance Company (Recorder's records on microfilm). Tucson City Directories, Tucson Daily Citizen, "House Can Be a Home After Being a Church" by John Bret-Harte, July 8, p. 10.

Oral Interviews: Norman Preston (one of the original members). Adelina Flores; 56 W. Kennedy St. Eliazar Herreras, E. Waverly. Prepared by: Ann E. Huston Project Historian, Maureen L. Gerhold Assistant Project Historian Historic American Buildings Survey September I98O PRINCE CHAPEL AFRICAN METHODISE.EPISCOPAL CHURCH HABS No. AZ-TS-^iO (Page 3) 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 .N 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 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 Arriolu (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, Rosvell, New Mexico.

Editing and final preparation of the documentation was carried out in 198I in the HABS Washington Office by William Joseph Graham, Architect, and Lucy Pope Wheeler, Writer/Editor, of the professional staff. # #