List of historic properties in Mesa, Arizona explained

Settlement Type:Town
List of historic properties
in Mesa, Arizona
Mapsize:150px

This is a list, which includes a photographic gallery, of some of the remaining historic structures and monuments in Mesa, Arizona. Mesa is a city in Maricopa County located east of Phoenix. Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson.

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Brief history

The early Mormon pioneers founded a settlement which they named Utahville. They soon renamed their settlement Lehi. They rebuilt the ancient canals that the Hohokam tribe had built, and the area became successful as an agricultural haven. On March 5, 1877, the pioneers built a fort using adobe bricks which they named "Fort Utah" to protect their families and fields from the Apaches who attacked them. In 1886, the town Post Office name was changed to Zenos. In 1889, the Post Office Department finally allowed the name Mesa City. There was a flood in Lehi in 1891, which destroyed Fort Utah and carried away acres of valuable farmland in low-lying areas.[1]

There are numerous historical properties in Mesa which have either been listed in the National Register of Historic Places or on the list of the Mesa Historic Properties. The city's Mesa Historic Preservation Program facilitates public knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the city's historic past.[2] [3] [4]

The city of Mesa cannot ultimately prevent private owners of the properties from demolishing them. Before a structure in a historic district or landmark can be demolished it must receive approval from the Historic Preservation Officer. A permit of demolition will be provided if the property represents an immediate hazard. Other requests will be held for a period of six months, during which the Historic Preservation Officer will look for possible reasons to save the structure. The structure may be demolished if by the end of the six months no plan to save the structure has been established [5] [6]

Included in this list are the historic properties located in what once was Williams Air Force Base. The base was formerly a training base for the United States Army Air Forces, which later became the United States Air Force. The base closed in 1993. Part of the base was annexed by Mesa and part by the city of Phoenix. The area in which the base was located has been converted into a civilian airport called the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and an educational campus anchored by the Arizona State University and Chandler-Gilbert Community College.[7] On May 19, 2016, the "Falcon Field World War II Aviation Hangars" were listed in the National Register of Historic Places,[8] Images of some of these properties with a short description follow:

Old Fort Utah

Buildings

The following buildings and houses of religious worship which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and/or the Mesa Historic Properties are pictured in this section with a brief description of the same.[5] The Arizona Museum of Natural History was actually built where the city hall, jail and courthouse were once located. The museum kept the 1884 Territorial jail cells and has them on display.[10] Also, pictured is the 1926 Town Center Clock located at the NE corner of W. Main and Macdonald. This clock was originally across the street at 61 West Main but, was moved to this corner in 1932. The clock mechanism has been updated.

Houses of Religious Worship

Houses

The following is a brief description of the houses pictured in this section.

Southern Pacific 2355

The Southern Pacific (SP) 2355 was built in 1912 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The heavy 4-6-0 "Ten Wheel" steam locomotive was retired from service in 1957. It is now on display at Mesa's Pioneer Park.[14]

Williams Air Force Base

Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force (USAF) base, located in the city of Mesa. It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993. Williams was the leading pilot training facility of the USAF, supplying 25% of all pilots.[15]

The following are the images of the remaining structures of the historic base with a brief description of the same.[5]

Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum

The Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, a.k.a. Airbase Arizona Aircraft Museum, was established in 1978, in Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona. It is the 10th unit of the Commemorative Air Force and the home of one of the largest Commemorative Air Force units in the world. On exhibit are World War II artifacts, helicopters and classic American and foreign combat planes, many of which are the last remaining warbirds of their kinds. The propeller in frint of the building is one of four which was installed on a B-29 Super Fortress.[16]

Among the historic aircraft's and artifacts pictured are the following:

Mesa Grande Ruins

The Mesa Grande Cultural Park contains the excavated remnants of a large Hohokam public and ceremonial mound that was occupied from approximately 1100 to 1450. It is located at 1000 N. Date St. The Mesa Grande Cultural Park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1978, reference number 78000549.[34] The following is a brief description of the images posted.

City of Mesa Cemetery

The City of Mesa Cemetery is a historic cemetery which was established in 1891 and is located at 1212 N. Center Street. Among the many notable citizens of that city which are interred there are the four founding fathers of Mesa:[35]

Further reading

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.lenroberts.com/history_mesa_arizona.shtml History of Mesa
  2. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/az/Maricopa/state.html National Register of Historic Places
  3. http://archive.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130208mesa-historic-homes-prog.html Check out Mesa’s historic homes
  4. http://www.mesaaz.gov/planning/MesaHistoricPropertyRegister.aspx Mesa Historic Properties
  5. http://www.mesaaz.gov/planning/MesaHistoricPropertyRegister.aspx Mesa Historic Properties
  6. http://www.mesaaz.gov/planning/historicpreservation.aspx Historic Preservation
  7. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=64500053}} National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic Resources of Williams Air Force Base, Arizona ]. Jim . Woodward . Patsy . Osmon . Chris . Richards . amp . 1995.
  8. reference #16000266
  9. http://www.lenroberts.com/history_mesa_arizona.shtml History of Mesa, Arizona
  10. https://arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/explore-the-museum/exhibitions/fun-with-history Fun with history
  11. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/contributor/2016/01/21/mesa-history-2016-mesa-home-tour-gives-glimpse-past/78875654/ Mesa Walking Tour
  12. http://archive.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130725grain-silo-reminder-mesas-agricultural-roots-history.html Grain Silo Reminder of Mesa’s Agricultural Roots History
  13. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/chandler/city-to-honor-tibshraeny-family-with-new-historical-kiosk/article_f2905f5e-c6b0-531d-893a-4ae9a8f60d12.html East Valley Tribune
  14. Web site: SP2355 History . Save Our Train! . 2013 . Miller, Nancy . 4 May 2019 .
  15. Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
  16. Web site: Military Aviation History Museum . Arizona Commemorative Air Force Airbase. March 3, 2019.
  17. Web site: C-47 Skytrain "Old Number 30". Commemorative Air Force. March 3, 2019.
  18. Web site: C-47 Skytrain. Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. March 3, 2019.
  19. Web site: C-45 Expeditor. Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. March 3, 2019.
  20. Web site: Douglas A-26 Invader. www.aviation-history.com. March 3, 2019.
  21. Web site: Douglas A-26C Invader, WWII Twin-engine 3-crew Mid-wing Light Attack Bomber, U.S.A.. www.skytamer.com. March 3, 2019.
  22. Web site: Douglas SBD Dauntless. The National WWII Museum – New Orleans. March 3, 2019.
  23. Web site: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 PFM – The Museum of Flight. www.museumofflight.org. March 3, 2019.
  24. Web site: Eddie Rickenbacker's Nieuport 28. National Air and Space Museum. March 3, 2019.
  25. Web site: Nieuport 28 C.1 – The Museum of Flight. www.museumofflight.org. March 3, 2019.
  26. Web site: A rare bird: The 'Hot Stuff' PV-2 Harpoon. May 14, 2014. www.aopa.org. March 3, 2019.
  27. Web site: B-25 Mitchell Bomber. Airplanes of the. Past. www.airplanesofthepast.com. March 3, 2019.
  28. Web site: B-25 Maid in the Shade. Commemorative Air Force. March 3, 2019.
  29. Wheeler 1992, p. 53.
  30. Web site: P-51 Mustang Survivors – MustangsMustangs.com. www.mustangsmustangs.com. March 3, 2019.
  31. Web site: P-51 Mustang – Facts, Specifications, & History. Encyclopedia Britannica. March 3, 2019.
  32. Web site: S-55/H-19/HO4S/HRS Helicopter . Devine . Vinny . November 2012 . Sikorsky Product History . Igor Sikorsky Historical Archives . 7 July 2015.
  33. http://www.austinmemories.com/page6/page6.html "RAF SE 5 – SE 5A."
  34. https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/mesa/archaeological-park-at-the-mesa-grande-ruins-opens Archaeological park at the Mesa Grande Ruins opens
  35. http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2009/09/09/20090909mr-pioneers0909.html Monument honors Mesa's Founders