Ever wonder about the old houses you see around Cottonwood? The fourth annual Cottonwood Historic Home and Building Tour is your chance to satisfy that curiosity.
The event, hosted by the city of Cottonwood and the Cottonwood Historic Preservation Commission, takes place Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Transportation will be provided between the Old Town Center for the Arts and the tour stops. Tour participants may also choose to walk or drive to the tour stops. The tour is not handicapped-accessible.
“The tour will include several diverse homes and buildings that are part of the foundation of Cottonwood’s commercial and agricultural community,” Historic Preservation Commission member Felicia Coates said.
Coates has been part of the planning committee for the home tour since its beginning.
Docents and exhibits will provide a history of the buildings and information about the people who lived and worked there. Homes and buildings featured this year will showcase Cottonwood builders and craftsmen who used local materials.
Manufacturers of rusticated cement block, Angelo Fornara, Guido and Alex Mariani, supplied the building blocks for the Cottonwood Council Chambers — on the National Register of Historic Places.However, their finest work may be one of their family homes built in the American Foursquare architectural style, on this year’s tour, according to Glenda Farley, author of the Verde Heritage blog and the historian-researcher for the buildings on the home tour.
“The creative use of river-washed rock became popular at Cottonwood after the construction of the Yavapai County Upper Verde Justice Court in 1929 and famed architect Leslie Mahoney’s Cottonwood Community Civic Center, built by the Works Progress Administration in 1939.
“The one-of-a-kind stone house of Luther White, still largely in its original condition, features the work of local builders and craftsmen who installed built-ins and a unique fireplace. The story of the family, their property, which includes an adobe building and well, and the home will be part of the tour.”
This year’s tour also includes stops at Carrollton, an 1890s Wild West community; Smelter City Iron Works, founded in 1917; Old Town Cottonwood; and the former Verde District Dairy site.
Tour tickets are $20. Kids under 12 get in free. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at cottonwoodhometour.org, in Old Town Cottonwood at the City Clerk’s office or at merchants posting notice of ticket sales.
Tickets are available on the day of the event at the tour headquarters, Old Town Center for the Arts at 633 N. Fifth St. Proceeds from the tour go toward preservation of landmarked properties in Cottonwood via the Cottonwood Historic Preservation Commission’s small grant program.
Questions may be sent to cottonwoodhometour@gmail. com. Individuals who would like to volunteer for the event can also inqure at the same address.
