Commercial Saloon, Park Avenue, Clifton

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ARIZ,6-CLIFT,20-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Associated with commerce in Clifton and the development of Clifton. Description: This brick building is among several commercial structures along Park Avenue, and was built in the Commercial style. The building is brick with a low-pitch gable roof and a parapet at the southwest front. The original storefront has been entirely infilled with modern masonry. The front parapet has three false window openings. A new entrance has been made in the southeast side of the building. A large garage door also appears at the southeast side. Two small windows and a single door appear at the northeast back The southeast side and southwest front of the building have been sheathed with stucco. History: This one story brick building was constructed ca. by Salvatore Sirianni.

Its first use was as a public hall but by the need for drinking establishments in Clifton had increased to the point that Sirianni converted it to the Commercial Saloon. In later years it saw use as a movie theater, which accounts for its present appearance with an Art Deco facade. Most recently, it has served as a warehouse for the El Rancho Distributing Company. Salvatore Sirianni was an early Clifton businessman and a leader of the strong Italian community in the town. Salvatore passed away in but his sons Thomas and Luis took over operation of the saloon. The building was converted briefly to a theater for "moving pictures" in but soon returned to use as a saloon.

With the advent of prohibition in Arizona in Thomas and Luis Sirianni converted the building into the "Commercial Lodging House and Billiard Hall." In the late twenties Frank Martin acquired the building and changed its use back into a motion picture theater. Known as the "East Side Theater," the building was used by Martin until the Frank Martin, a former mayor of Clifton, got his start as the collection agent for the Arizona Copper Company store. In recent years the E! Rancho Distributing Company has used the building as a warehouse.1 Sources (endnotes): 1 - Copper Era April December August 1); May 4); Interview with A.V. Fernandez, former Mayor of Clifton, December Arizona business directory. COMMERCIAL SALOON HABS No. AZ-189 (Page 2)