List of historic properties in Florence, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
List of historic properties in Florence, Arizona
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Main Street of the original town-site of Florence. The town-site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 26, 1982, reference #82001623.
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Location in Pinal County and the state of Arizona
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This is a list of historic properties in Florence, Arizona, which includes a photographic gallery of some of the remaining historic structures and monuments. Included are photographs of properties identified as once belonging to Adamsville, a small farming town, which was destroyed by a flood in 1990. Considered a ghost town by historians, it is part of Florence. Also, landmarks such as Poston Butte and the Tom Mix Monument are included.
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Florence
Florence was founded on the southern boundary of the Gila River by Levi Ruggles, a veteran of the American Civil War. The town is sixty-one miles southeast of Phoenix, in the Pinal County of Arizona, United States. Florence, which is the county seat of Pinal County, is one of the oldest towns there and is regarded as a National Historic District with over 25 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many of the historical properties have been identified as such by the Florence Historic District Advisory Commission. A property identified by the commission as one with a significant historical value is then nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historical Places. However, the local government does not have the ability to deny a demolition permit. Therefore, the owner of a property listed in the National Register of Historic Places or considered as historical by the Florence Historic District Advisory Commission may demolish the historical property if he or she so wishes. The following properties have either been demolished or destroyed:
- The Devine, Ed and Lottie House – 1200 Central St.
- The P.C. Warner House – 310 3rd St.
- The Ballou-Foreman House – 500 8th St.
- The Encarnacion Avenenti House – 203 Butte St.
- The James & Mary McGhee House – 330 Butte St.
- The Moorehouse/R.H. Dairy Complex – S. Park St. (before Duran St.)
- The Encinas/Cordova House – 500 Butte St.
Images of the remaining structures of Adamsville, a ghost town, are also included. Adamsville was a farming town founded in 1870 by Fred Adams: the town had stores, homes, a post office, a flour mill and water tanks. In 1900 the Gila River overflowed and destroyed most of the town. Those who survived the flood moved to the town of Florence.
Also pictured and listed are historical artifacts that are on display and which can be found in the Pinal County Historical Society and Museum. These artifacts are related to the early history of the town, including some items related to infamous people who were imprisoned in Florence's Arizona State Prison. Among the monuments pictured are the pyramid-style tomb of Charles Debrille Poston, known as the Father of Arizona, and the Tom Mix Monument at the site of the silent film star's death.
The Florence Bridge
The historic Florence Bridge was originally built in 1885 over the Gila River. It was rebuilt in 1909 and is the third oldest Arizona Territory bridge still in use in Arizona. The bridge was designed by J.B. Girand, Arizona's first territorial engineer. The Gila River served as a part of the border between the United States and Mexico until the 1853, when the Gadsden Purchase extended American territory well south of the Gila River. The Florence Bridge, which is described by the United States Department of the Interior as one of the most important river crossings in the state, is eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Endangered properties
The Arizona Preservation Foundation is an agency which identifies critically endangered cultural resources of major historical significance to the state. n 2012, the foundation identified the following properties in Florence as endangered:
- The Adamsville Ruins.
- J. N. Denier Tenement House.
Buildings
- Historic buildings
(National Register of Historic Places )
(Florence Historic District Advisory Commission.)
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The E.N. Fish and Co. Store Building was built in 1867 and is located at 420 Quartz St. The mercantile firm of E.N. Fish & Co., with Joseph Collingwood as partner and local manager, opened Florence’s first store in this building in 1868. Listed as historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Second E.N. Fish and Co. Building was built in 1874 and is located at 520 Main St. The second site of the E.N. Fish & Co. Mercantile Store became the Joseph Collingwood & Co. Store and Wells Fargo Office in 1877. As chief produce buyer, E.N. Fish & Co. was responsible for providing the economic foundation of the town’s early success as an agricultural trading center. The firm played a role during Florence’s mining booms by extending credit to the Silver King Mine. The west wing contained hotel rooms and an office. A saloon and dining room were in the south wing. From early statehood until the mid-1940s, the west wing contained dwellings and became the American Legion Post headquarters in 1944. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Charles Rapp Saloon Building was built in 1875 and is located at 361 Main Street. Chicago-born Charles Rapp advertised the building as featuring an "Elegant Club & Reading Room in Connection with the Bar." The building was the first location of John Keating’s famous "Tunnel Saloon" from 1886 to 1888. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Silver King Hotel was built in 1876 and is located at 24 W. 6th St. The building was an L-shaped adobe building with a gable roof and walls that were not plastered. The hotel was built for William Long, a partner in the Silver King Mine. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The First Pinal County Courthouse was built in 1876 and is located at W. 24 Ruggle St. Levi Ruggles designed and built this adobe building in 1878. The local "Vigilance Committee" stormed the sheriff’s office in this building in 1888, dragged two men from their cells and hanged them in the corridor of the jail. It served as a courthouse. Since then, it has functioned as a hospital, health center, home for the elderly, and a museum. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 30, 1974, reference #74000461.
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The Jean Avenenti Building was built in 1886 and is located at 289 Main Street. Italian immigrant Juan Avenenti purchased this property in 1886 from Frank M. Griffen. Previously, it had belonged to Florence pioneers Levi Ruggles and Charles Douglas. Avenenti, a grocer, butcher and rancher, built the present structure for a meat market. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The John Nicolas Saloon was built in 1889 and is located in 46 E. 11th St. Designed by prominent Arizona architect James M. Creighton, this is the oldest standing fired-brick building in Florence. French-born rancher-farmer John Nicholas moved his saloon to this building soon after its construction in 1889. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Second Pinal County Courthouse was built in 1891 and is located in 135 Pinal St. The Courthouse is the most important architectural landmark in Florence and the most outstanding surviving example of the American-Victorian Style in Central Arizona. The building was designed by Arizona architect James M. Creighton, who was among the Territory’s first architects. Three notorious women were presented before this court. They were Pearl Heart, Eva Dugan and Winnie Ruth Judd. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in August 2, 1978, reference #78000568.
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The Popular Store/ Mandells Dept. Store Building was built in 1915 and is located in 291 Main St. It belonged to C.G. Powell’ whose "The Popular Store," were specialists in ready-to-wear clothing. Kaufmann Mandell purchased the building in 1919 and operated the Mandell’s Department Store. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
Houses of religious worship
- Historic Houses of religious worship
(National Register of Historic Places )
(Florence Historic District Advisory Commission.)
Houses
Among the notable residents of Florence whose houses are considered historical and have been preserved are the following:
- Pauline Cushman (born Harriet Wood), an American actress and a spy for the Union Army during the American Civil War
- John Clum, an Indian agent, editor and publisher of Florence’s first newspaper.
- Dr. William Harvey, known as an "Angel of Mercy", during a smallpox epidemic. He was on scene at the aftermath of the Pete Gabriel-Joe Phy shootout of 1888.
- Emma Monk Guild, educator who was the first Florence principal. She is known as one of Arizona's mothers of education.
- Richard E. Sloan, Arizona’s last Territorial Governor.
- Truman Randall, the sheriff who in 1889 captured Pearl Heart, the first woman to rob a stagecoach.
- John Keating, a Florence town councilman and who later served as mayor of Florence. He was owner of the "Tunnel Saloon", site of the Pete Gabriel-Joe Phy shootout of 1888.
- George Brockway, the first mayor of Florence.
- Thomas Fulbright, lawyer who wrote a book titled "Cow Country Counselor". He was involved in the cases of Winnie Ruth Judd and Eva Dugan.
- Historic Houses in Florence, Arizona
(National Register of Historic Places )
(Florence Historic District Advisory Commission.)
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The Ruins of Levi Ruggles House. The house was built in 1866 and the ruins are located in Ruggles St. between Quartz and Willow Streets. American Civil War veteran Levi Ruggles, the founder of Florence, came to Arizona Territory in 1866 as a U.S. Indian Agent. Recognizing the agricultural potential of the valley, he found an easily fordable crossing on the Gila River and surveyed a townsite here. In 1869, he built his first family home. With the aid of Governor R.C. McCormick, he secured a post office in August of the same year. Ruggles held numerous public offices including that of Territorial Legislator. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Jesus Martinez House was built in 1875 and is located in 321 Bailey St. In 1886, Pinal County converted part of the building into the first County Hospital. It had six beds. Each had a horsehair mattress and a wool blanket. By 1890, the house was used as a meat market, store and residences. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Ross/ Fryer-Cushman House was built in 1876 and is located in 364 N. Grant St. Roderick Ross, one of Florence's first blacksmiths, W.C. Smith was the second owner. Pauline Cushman (born Harriet Wood), an American actress and a spy for the Union Army during the American Civil War and her husband Jere Fryer, later purchased the house. Tom Mix was a tenant there in the 1930s. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Walker-Oury House was built in 1877 and is located in 255 Ruggles St. John D. Walker was an agent and physician to the Pima Indians at Sacaton. This building was used as courtroom and county offices during his terms as justice of the peace, county surveyor and probate judge. Walker was an early investor in the Vekol Mine and wrote the first Pima grammar text. Here Pauline Cushman, a Union Army American Civil War spy and actress, wed Jere Freyer. The building was purchased (1886) by Granville Oury, delegate to the Confederate Congress, Arizona territorial legislator and attorney general, district court judge, and delegate to the U.S. Congress. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The John Clum House was built in 1878 and is located in 180 N. Granite St. The home was built by John Clum, an Indian agent, editor and publisher of Florence’s first newspaper, the Arizona Citizen. He also was the founder and editor of the Tombstone Epitaph and was Tombstone’s first mayor. This building appears to have housed the Citizen’s office and press. A later owner, William Guild, built the telegraph line from the Silver King Mine to Casa Grande. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Harvey-Niemeyer House was built in 1880 and is located in 250 (once 1613) S. Main St. Physician William Harvey was known as an "Angle of Mercy" during a smallpox epidemic and was on scene at the aftermath of the 1888 Pete Gabriel-Joe Phy shootout. Later resident Charles Niemeyer was Clerk of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors for 25 years and also served as local postmaster. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1986, reference #86002627.
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The Emma Monk Guild House was built in 1880 and is located in 171 Willow St. Emma Monk Guild taught school in Florence off and on from 1885 to 1897 and was the first Florence principal. She also taught in Red Rock, Casa Grande and was an instructor at the University of Arizona Preparatory in Tucson and a principle at Clifton. She is considered one of Arizona's mothers of education. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The William Clark House was built in 1884 and is located in 190 Main St. This house was built for Silver King mining engineer William Clarke and his wife Ella. The house later served as the residence of Richard E. Sloan , Arizona’s last Territorial Governor. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The John Keating House was built in 1888 and is located in 234 Willow St. John Keating was a pioneer stage driver. He served in the Territorial legislature, Florence town councilman and mayor of Florence. He was owner of the "Tunnel Saloon", site of the 1888 Pete Gabriel-Joe Phy shootout. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Joseph Spinas Rental House was built in 1913 and is located in 221 Bailey St. Joseph Spinas, a prominent cattle rancher, was born in Switzerland. With his two brothers, he built one of the first irrigation ditches in the Florence area on the north side of the Gila River. Listed as Historic by the Historic District Advisory Commission.
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The Thomas Fulbright House was built in 1925 and is located in 75 Matilda St. Thomas (Tom) Fulbright wrote a book titled "Cow Country Counselor". He was involved in the cases of Winnie Ruth Judd and Eva Dugan. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 4, 1996, reference #96001955.
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9th, Willow and Central Street. According to the late A. W. Gressinger, president of the Pinal County Historical Society, Levi Ruggles was buried in the premises of his second house which was located at 9th St., between Willow Street and Central Ave. in 1889. The house itself was on the southwest corner of the lot, with much if the rest of the land occupied by fruit trees. By the time Ruggles died in his home in 1889, he had lost his wife, the former Cynthia Tharp, and three of their children years earlier. Their tombstones vanished and a developer built an apartment complex over their graves.
Adamsville Ghost Town
Adamsville was a farming town founded in 1870 by Fred Adams. The town had stores, homes, a post office and a flour mill and water tanks. In 1900 the Gila River overflowed and wiped out most of the town. Those who survived the flood moved to the town of Florence. The inscription on the marker reads as follows: “In the 1870's, a flour mill and a few stores formed the hub of life in Adamsville, where shootings and knifings were commonplace, and life was one of the cheapest commodities. Most of the adobe houses have been washed away by the flooding Gila River”. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, reference #10000114.
- Adamsville Ghost Town
(National Register of Historic Places )
Pinal County Historic Society & Museum
The Pinal County Museum was founded in 1959. The current building where the museum is located was built in 1970 and houses exhibits of early Native-American artifacts, day-to-day early pioneer life in Florence and prison Artifacts.
- Pinal County Historic Society & Museum
Monuments and memorials
- Monuments and memorials
(National Register of Historic Places )
(Tom Mix Memorial)
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The Tombstone of Josephus “Joe” Phy, who died in the Tunnel Saloon Gabriel-Phy shootout of 1888. The inscription on the tombstone reads: “In Memory of Josephus Phy Born May 22, 1844; Died June 1, 1888.” “Farewell dear brother we mourn your loss” It is located in the Florence Cemetery at Salazar Road.
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Pyramid Tomb of Charles Debrille Poston, known as The Father of Arizona, due to his efforts lobbying for creation of the territory. Poston was also Arizona Territory's first Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. The tomb is located on Primrose Hill, renamed Poston Butte.
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Tom Mix Monument. Location where Tom Mix, a megastar of the silent film industry, died in 1940. The inscription reads as follows: “Jan. 6, 1880 – Oct. 12, 1940. In Memory of Tom Mix whose spirit left his body on this spot, and whose characterization and portrayals in life served to better fix memories of the Old West in the minds of living men” The monument is located in Arizona highway 79 about 20 miles from Florence, Az.
Images for kids
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Bridge in Florence, Az. over the Gila River.