Tailor Shop, Park Avenue, Clifton

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ARIZ,6-CLIFT,16-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Associated with commerce in Clifton and the development of Clifton. Description: This one-story brick commercial building is one of several side-by-side along Park Avenue. Typical of many others in Clifton, it is of the Panel-Brick Commercial style. The building has a flat roof with parapets. The west front parapet, and the portion of the south parapet which is visible from Park Avenue, is decorated with a corbelled cornice with brick dentils and inset panels. The entry is recessed, forming a small porch and includes an off-center entry.door flanked by a storefront window. The rear of the building has an entrance door flanked by two double-hung windows. History: This one story brick building was constructed ca. as a tailor shop. It was originally constructed by Mr.

Crawford whose tailor shop was heavily damaged in the December flood. The Arizona Copper Company leased the building to several tailors over the years and in later years Phelps Dodge leased the building to barbers for a barber shop.1 A mining town such as Clifton had a strong need for tailors to repair clothes that often received heavy use. In the days before people purchased ready to wear clothing in many different sizes at department stores, the local tailor served an important need in the community by altering clothing to fit. In W.E. Kelly purchased the Clifton Tailor Shop from Mr. Crawford. Kelly re-painted and remodeled the interior of the building. By George O'Connell had purchased the Clifton Tailor Shop. One year later he sold the shop to Trinidad Vasquez.

In later years Frank Springer of the Fashion Barber Shop took over the building for use as a barber shop. In L. C. Brock leased the barber shop from Springer. In the late twenties and thirties, the building was converted to use as a beauty parlor for women. Operators included Berdina R. Ward and J. W. Smith.2 Sources (endnotes): 1. Sanborn fire insurance maps, Arizona Copper Company base map; Copper Era December 2 - Copper Era August (I, 3: 2); May (I, i: 2); October (I, 3: 1); March (t, 5: 3); January 2); February 6); April 6). TAILOR SHOP HABS No. AZ-185 (Page 2)