2026 Florence Home Tour Program

FROM THE FRONTIER WITH LOV E !

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historic home TOUR 2026

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520-868-3520 CINDY L. SiLLS, BROKER/OWNER HELPING BUYERS & SELLERS SINCE 1999 150 N. Main Street | Florence, AZ 85132

4 0 TH A N N U A L TOUR 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The 40th Annual Florence Historic Home Tour program is produced and printed by:

Mayor’s Welcome ............................... 2 2026 Homes & Buildings .................... 4 Today’s Events ..................................... 5 Historic Florence................................... 6 Architectural Styles . ............................ 8

Local Office: 190 N. Main St., Florence, AZ 85132 Main Office: 200 W. 2nd St., Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Home Tour Property Listings . .......... 10 Map ................................................... 25 Tram Stops ........................................ 26

Donovan M. Kramer Jr. | Co-Publisher, Editor Kara K. Cooper | Co-Publisher, Advertising Director Brian D. Kramer | Director of Digital

Local Flavors ..................................... 28

Zoe A. Cooper | Creative Advertising Manager

Some Unusual Stories of Love & Valentine’s .......................... 29

www.PinalCentral.com

Historical Heartburn . ......................... 32 Photos Courtesy of the Town of Florence & Michael Joseph Baca/ Casa de Baca Studios

Those producing this publication hereby acknowledge and thank those individuals and organizations for their contributions. ©2026 Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any format or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. The information in this publication has been gathered and carefully compiled to ensure maximum accuracy. However, because completeness cannot be guaranteed, the Town of Florence and Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors.

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

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mayor’s welcome Friends and Visitors, Welcome to Florence, Arizona! It is a joy to host you for the 40TH Annual Historic Home Tour – a remarkable milestone celebrating four decades of preserving, sharing, and honoring the heritage that makes our community so special.

This year’s theme, “From the Frontier With Love!”, brings a fitting touch of warmth and history to Valentine’s Day weekend. As you explore Florence’s most cherished homes and landmarks, you’ll discover stories of resilience, craftsmanship, and community that span more than a century – stories rooted in the frontier era and carried forward with care and pride.

For forty years, homeowners have opened their doors and hearts to showcase Florence’s past in a personal way. We remain deeply grateful for their generosity and their commitment to stewarding these treasures so future generations can experience the town’s living history.

Throughout the tour, we invite you to take your time, learn something new, and enjoy the atmosphere of our downtown. Historic plaques, informational displays, and helpful volunteers will guide your experience, while our trolleys make it easy to navigate the tour route.

Before you head home, I encourage you to visit our Historic Downtown District, where local shops, restaurants, and vendors are ready to make your day even more memorable.

Thank you for celebrating this milestone year with us. Whether this is your first tour or your fortieth, we are grateful for your interest in Florence and hope you leave with a deeper appreciation for the stories – and the love – preserved in our community’s historical heart.

Warm regards,

KEITH EATON Mayor of Florence, AZ

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2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

16 HOME th

On Today’s Home Tour!

Se rv i n g F l o r e n c e & Pin a l Co unt y f o r o v e r 1 30 y e a r s .

check out the thursday edition of the casa grande dispatch for all of the latest florence headlines.

Support local journalism & subscribe today! (520) 423-8685 L oca l O f f i ce : 190 N. Ma in Str e e t, Flor e nc e | ( 52 0 ) 8 68 -58 9 7

ready to subscribe?

Take One

Western Pinal County Worship Guide EVENT CENTERS • FLORISTS • JEWELERS PARTY PLANNERS • OTHER RELATED SERVICES

2025 – 2026 Published By

C a l l (5 2 0 ) 4 2 3 - 8 6 8 5 o r g o o n l i n e to PinalCent ral.com to ac tivate your home deliver y of the Casa Grande D i s p a t c h, P i n a l Wa y s M a g a z i n e o r y o u r P i n a l C e n t r a l .c o m d i g i t a l s u b s c r i p t i o n t od a y !

D i r e c t- m a i l e d t o o v e r 6, 40 0 F l o r e n c e h o m e s monthly!

P h ot o: Mic ha el Joseph Ba c a / C a sa d e Ba ca St udio s o f t h e H i s t or i c Cla r ke H ouse, home of the Florenc e Remin de r & Bl ade -Tribune

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2026 homes & buildings PROPERT Y LISTING

We suggest visiting the sites listed in PINK PRINT first today as these locations are open to the public, today only. Today’s guests can return to Florence throughout the year to see the other historic buildings listed on this tour!

H o m e To u r HQ

Jaques Square | 291 N. Main Street 1. Jacob Suter House (1913) (Late Transitional) 270 N. Pinal Street

9. Woman’s Club of Florence (1929) (Spanish Colonial Revival) 231 N. Willow Street

2. Brunenkant Bakery (1889) (American Victorian) 291 N. Bailey Street

10. Smith Brickyard/ Windmill Winery (1887) 1140 W. Butte Avenue

3. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church (1912) (Mission Revival) 221 E. 8th Street

11. W.Y. Price House (1911) (Late Transitional) 188 S. Willow Street

4. Chapel of the Gila (1870) (Mission Revival) 255 E. 8th Street 5. Carmen Michea Rental Residence (1886-1889) (Sonoran and Spanish Colonial Revival) 240 E. Ruggles Street 6. Silver King Hotel (1895) (Early Transitional) 440 N. Main Street 7. First Pinal County Courthouse/ McFarland State Historic Park (1878) (Early Transitional) 24 W. Ruggles Street 8. 1st E.N. Fish and Company Store (1868) (Sonoran and Early Transitional) 420 N. Quartz Street

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12. Florence High School (1916) (Spanish Colonial Revival) 1000 S. Main Street 13. Pinal County Historical Museum (1968) 715 S. Main Street 14. First Presbyterian Church (now Desert Hope Presbyterian) (1931) (Spanish Colonial Revival) 225 E. Butte Avenue 15. The Second Pinal County Courthouse (1891) (Spanish Colonial Revival) 135 N. Pinal Street 16. William Clarke House (1884) (Late Transitional) 190 N. Main Street

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today’s events F E B R U A R Y 14 TH

erformance by Los Pequeños P Ballet Folklorico Jacques Square 1:00 p.m.

inal County Open Space P and Trails Animal Meet and Greet 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Performance by The Solitary Man - An Acoustic Guitar Soloist Downtown Historical Main Street 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. aint Your Partner P 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Valentines Dance: 21+ (FREE EVENT) Florence Community Center and Viney Jones Library 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

SAVE THE DATE:

41st Annual Historic Home Tour Saturday, February 13, 2027

eatured Women of Arizona F 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

A b o ut J aq u e s S q uar e | 291 N . MAI N S TR EET This square was created in 1984 and is named of Spanish-born Father Dominic Jaques who served the Assumption Catholic Church from 1934 to 1957. Jaques, wearing his monk’s robe and sandals, often worked 80 hours a week serving the State prison, the POW camp in Florence as well as the church. As a chaplain at the prison, he met with condemned prisoners.

His interest and love for his fellow man was evident in his work with the prisoner of war camp in Florence. To better serve the German and Italian prisoners, he learned to speak their languages. He died in 1964 and is buried in Barcelona Spain.

• Unique shopping • Delicious dining • Great value

• Friendly folks • Fun events

Find It All

With the Chamber!

Visit us online for upcoming events, local business directory & more!

It’s a Western State of Mind!

520-868-4496 | 24 W. Ruggles St., Florence florenceazchamber.com

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welcome

TO HISTORIC FLORENCE

Arizona became a territory under the signature of Abraham Lincoln in 1863. When the Civil War ended two years later, the U.S. Calvary came to protect the new territory from bandits and Apache incursions. Farmers soon settled on the banks of the Gila River to raise cattle and hay utilizing the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People’s irrigation canals to water the thirsty desert. Families from Mexico moved north to escape wars in northern Mexico as settlers came from the east seeking fortune and adventure. So began Florence. Florence boomed in the 1870’s as wagonloads of ore from the Silver King Mine passed through town. Single men swarmed to work the mines and spend their money in Florence, while cowboys from local ranches celebrated payday here as well. Multiple establishments such as the Nicholas and Tunnel Saloons served these men who would quench their thirst, gamble, and enjoy female companionship.

Homes and commercial buildings were constructed of sun-dried mud brick known as adobe and shaded by cottonwood trees growing along the small ditches of flowing water. The sounds of Mexican music could be heard on many evenings in this small desert oasis. Single men from Boston, New York, and Ohio found the señoritas who had been educated in Mexican convents very enchanting. Descendants of the resulting marriages still live in town. Eventually, eastern Victorian ladies ventured west to live on the frontier. Mrs. Estella Colton relates in her memoirs how horrified she was to learn that on hot summer nights, she was expected to sleep on a cot in the street clad only in her nightgown. Only a path down the center of the street was left for late bar patrons to make their way home.

The good people in town finally demanded law and order. Florence became the County Seat in 1875 of the newly created Pinal County, where a new adobe courthouse and jail were built (now McFarland State Park). That didn’t stop citizen vigilantes from storming the courthouse believing two jailed men were murderers and hanging them from the ceiling joists. While miners and cowboys whooped it up and the ex-sheriff and his deputy shot it out on Main Street, the more tranquil citizens tried to bring civility, culture, and religion to Florence. There were always dances at the courthouse or musicales at Mrs. Clarke’s new house. Townsfolk worshiped at the Chapel of the Gila or gathered for services at the adobe courthouse.

Florence is home to McFarland State Park, Pinal County Historical Museum, Florence Aero Modeler Park, Charles Whitlow Rodeo Grounds, a quaint historic downtown, and the final resting place of Charles D. Poston, the Father of Arizona, at the summit of Poston Butte.

There are several signature events that occur in Florence each year. In addition to the Historic Home Tour, other events include: the Road to Country Thunder, Jr.

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2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

Parada Parade, and the Oldest Youth Rodeo every Thanksgiving weekend. December brings Florence Hometown Holidays, a light parade and holiday tradition cherished by all.

Once you’ve completed the Home Tour, we invite you to extend your journey on the Heritage Trail by visiting our diverse array of shops, businesses and restaurants to see all Florence has to offer.

We hope you enjoy the 40th Annual Florence Historic Home Tour!

Than k Yo u To O u r 2 0 2 6 H o m e To u r C o m m i tt e e M e m b e r s Cathy Adam

Barb Kelly

Chris Reid

Maricella Benitez

Steven Gallagher

Lynn Smith

Sophie Dessart

Larry Pfeiffer

Kyle Wright

Copper for the USA. Opportunity for Arizona.

florencecopper.com @florencecopper

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

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architectural styles IN FLORENCE

SONORAN ST YLE | 18 6 6 – 19 5 0 High plastered adobe walls typical to Spanish Colonial and Mexican architecture E arth and timber flat roof construction methods of the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People and Pima Indians Built flush with the property lines with rear gardens Stone foundations and narrow tall windows and doors with wood casings

E A R LY T R A N S I T I O N A L S T Y L E | 1 8 7 1 – 1 9 4 7 D iffered from the Sonoran Style by the addition of verandas running the length of the structure Pitched roofs with the roofing running parallel to the street

L AT E T R A N S I T I O N A L S T Y L E | 1 8 7 8 – 1 9 4 9 Square-shaped structures with front yards Hipped, pyramidal or mansard shaped metal or shingled roofs

AMERICAN VICTORIAN ST YLE | 18 8 5 – 192 2 Similar to structures built in the Eat Relied on imported prefabricated materials such as columns, lintels and cornices Walls are brick and any roof style is appropriate

AMERICAN BUNGALOW ST YLE | 19 0 8 – 19 5 0 W hereas the Sonoran Style is unique to the Southwest, the Bungalow Style is unique to this time period in the United states Located on the center of the lot Made of brick with large wood shingle roofs and large porches

M I S S I O N R E V I V A L S T Y L E | 1 9 11 – 1 9 4 2 Adapted from Spanish –Colonial churches ins California Brick, stuccoed walls with tiles gable roofs between ornate and parapet walls

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2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

in memoriam

O F J E N N I F E R E VA N S

The 2026 Home Tour committee would like to dedicate this year’s tour to the Memory of Jennifer Evans.

J E N N I FE R E VA N S July 15, 1969 – September 18, 2025 Jennifer was the Florence AZ Main Street Program Manager for 13 years. During that time the Main Street Program ran the Historic Home Tour from 2000 through 2013. The Main Street Program is a volunteer organization in programming and projects that helped the long-term effort to revitalize Florence’s historic downtown commercial district. After her tenure with Main Street, Jennifer worked for the Town of Florence as a Management Analyst for 11 years focused on economic development and then primarily managing federal grants for the Town.

Jennifer was a US Naval Veteran.

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2026 home tour PROPERT Y LISTINGS

WHILE VISITING THESE SIGHTS ALONG THE HERITAGE TRAIL, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FLORENCE CAN BE FOUND ON POSTERS WITHIN MAIN STREET’S PLANTERS. DETAILS ON SOME OF THE PROPERTIES MAY CONTAIN STORIES RELATING TO LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS. THEY WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED IN DARK PINK IN HONOR OF VALENTINE’S DAY.

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J ac o b S ut e r H o u s e (19 13) 270 N. Pinal Street

This house was built for the Swiss-born tinsmith Jacob Suter, his wife, and five children. He had a natural ear for music and his whole family performed as the Suter family orchestra. The Suter family later moved to Globe where Mr. Suter was a business partner with future Arizona Governor, George P. Hunt, in the hardware business. It is constructed of adobe brick and wood floors, porches, and full setbacks. Today, the building is home to the Pedro E. Guerrero Arts Center.

Look up and see the widow’s walk. Traditionally found in coastal areas for wives to watch their sailing husband’s ship’s return, it is not known if Mrs. Suter stood there watching for Mr. Suter to walk home from his tin shop.

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B run e n kant B ake ry (18 8 9 ) 291 N. Bailey Street

This structure was originally built for a grocer and baker, Conrad Brunenkant, who came to Florence in 1889 after the closing of the Silver King Mine. His “City Bakery” building opened in April 1890 with a free dance. Brunenkant’s son, Alvin, ★ SELL ★ TRADE BUY grocery continued a family business on the ground floor into the 1930s and also served several terms Jewelry · Electronics · Tools as the town’s mayor. The building continued to · Laptops · Movies · Cameras house a grocery store into the early 1960s. · Musical Instruments · Videos The second floor of the building was initially Games Systems Guns(1890-1892) & Ammo used as Doctor & Albert Adler’s·office then as hotel rooms (ca.1898-1910), and from 1914 until after 1941 as headquarters for the local chapter of the “Alianza Hispano Americana,” a fraternal order. After some years of remaining vacant, the structure was rehabilitated in 1973 and later served as the Town Library, Chamber of Commerce, and Visitor Center. In 1984, it was used for the movie Murphy’s Romance and represented the town hall for the fictional Town of Eunice.

CASA GRANDE JEWELRY & PAWN

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Corner of Pinal Ave. & McMurray Blvd.

Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9 - 5, Closed Sundays

@CGJewelryPawnShop

· Jewelry · Electronics · Tools · Laptops · Movies · Videos · Cameras · Musical Instruments (520) 836 - 7774 · Games & Systems

1326 N. Pinal Ave. of PinalAZ Ave 85132 & McMurray Blvd.

368 & 374 N. Main St.,Corner Florence, • 520-233-1619 Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9 - 5, Closed Sundays CG Pawn 2-3-26 Buy Sell Trade @CGJewelryPawnShop Candy Shoppe #234846

Thrift Store

Florence Home Tour 2026 2/3 (1) Jackie 1/4 Pg H (5” x 1.75”) FULL COLOR

Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm Saturday 9am-3pm

bam 2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

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A s s um pt i o n o f th e B le s s e d Vi r g i n M ary C hu r ch (19 12) 221 E. 8th Street

Completed in 1912, this is probably the best and most imposing example of Mission Revival Style in central Arizona. Mission Revival is an architectural mode that originated in California in 1887, in response to the new appreciation for the State of California’s Hispanic heritage. The first structure on this site burned in 1893. This 1912 building was constructed under the direction of Father Henry Heitz, who was the last of a long line of French-born priests in Florence. Note the pressed tin ceiling.

The date 1912 is significant because the Territory of Arizona was trying to convince Congress that it deserved statehood. This building was a move away from adobes, demonstrating that Arizona was progressive in both politics as well as architecture.

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C hap e l o f th e G i la (1870)

255 E. 8th Street

This last remaining mission church is a prime example of adobe construction. Notice the cottonwood beams (called vigas) with the saguaro ribs spread across. The use of native plants and materials was an early example of ‘green’ building techniques. Saved from the wrecking ball, the restoration was completed through joint efforts of the Town of Florence, the Diocese of Tucson, and other public and private funding in the early 1990s. The first priest ordained in Arizona was Florence’s French-born Father Edouard Gerard, who founded several churches in Arizona, including St. Mary’s in Phoenix.

In nearby Adamsville, a traveling photographer named Carlo Gentile bought a captured Yavapai young boy named Wassaja from the Pima for thirty dollars in 1871.

Gentile had him baptized at the Chapel of the Gila. Renamed Carlos Montezuma, he was the first Native American student at the University of Illinois and the first male Native American to receive a medical degree. He became a renowned doctor in Chicago and until his death fought for the rights of Native Americans. He is buried at the Fort McDowell Indian Cemetery.

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2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

440 N. Main St. Florence, AZ

(480) 489-7009

Sandwiches Salads & Fudge

“Come in and roll with us.”

Florence Fudge Shop Flor Home Tour 2026 Sandwiches Salads & Fudge #233768

INCENSE HOOKAH PAPERS WRAPS GLASS VAPE

Florence Home Tour 2026 (x) John 1/2 Pg (5” x 3.75”) Full Color bam

LOST MARY GEEK BAR OFF STAMP FOGER RAZ AND MORE

Welcome to the historic Town of Florence smoke shop!

One stop shop for all your tobacco-vape needs. We are a small family-owned business established in historic downtown Florence, in honor of my Dad, Poncho, who passed unexpectedly 03-07-2024 from malpractice. We sell tobacco products, nicotine products, vapes, E-cigarettes, smoking accessories & more.

Thank you for visiting & God Bless.

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

Poncho’s Smoke Shop 2-3-26 Come In and Roll With Us

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C ar m e n M i ch e a R e ntal R e s i d e n c e (18 8 6 -18 89) 240 E. Ruggles Street

Originally a simple Sonoran adobe (squared off, flat-roofed), this home was remodeled in the 1940s with Spanish Colonial Revival details such as the raised parapet front wall, stepped-down roof line on the sides, and two red tile porticos over the front doors. In 2012, the kitchen was remodeled, and the exterior was refinished with true lime plaster. This home is part of an enclave of properties owned by the Carmen and Jean Baptiste Michea family, clustered in the northeast portion of the Florence Historic District.

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S i lve r K i n g H o t e l (1895)

440 N. Main Street

Originally an unplastered 1876 L-shaped adobe with a gable roof, the hotel was built for William Long, a partner of the Silver King Mine. The building was renamed the Florence Hotel in 1890. After fire destroyed a portion of the building around 1895, it was replaced by a two-story brick building. The building complex was the social focus of Florence for many years, providing “modern” overnight lodging, a saloon, a ballroom, and the finest dining room in town. Adjoining the hotel is Padilla Park. Along the edge of Padilla Park are signs describing the story behind the hundreds of upside-down glass bottles buried beneath the park.

The Arizona Republic of May 14, 1904, reported the marriage of Miss Tillie Miller to James Horton, presided over by the Reverend Henry Heitz at the Reverend’s home. “The happy couple was escorted to the Florence Hotel and ushered into the bridal suite after a rousing reception from a number of the bride’s friends.”

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Fi r s t P i nal C o unty C o u rth o u s e/ M c Far land S tat e H i s t o r i c Par k (1878) 24 W. Ruggles Street

When Pinal County was created in 1875, the township of Florence was selected as the county seat. Records show that in 1877, the county purchased Lot No. 67 for $1,100 as the site for the courthouse. Colonel Levi Ruggles, who had earlier surveyed and laid out the Townsite of Florence, drew up the plans for the courthouse for $25. On November 23, 1877, a bid of $2,700 for construction was accepted. The building was completed in March of 1878. Building plans called for a courtroom, jury room, Sheriff’s Office, jail, and three other offices. Both Joseph Kibbey and Richard Sloan, who served as Territorial Governors, tried and heard cases here as attorneys before entering politics.

After the 1891 Second Pinal County courthouse was built, this structure served as a hospital, public health buildings, a welfare office, a nursing home, and the Pinal County Historical Society in 1963. Former Arizona Governor Ernest McFarland and his wife Edna purchased the building and donated it to the Arizona State Parks Board for use as a museum in 1974. They had long-time connections to Florence. McFarland State Historic Park has been open to the public in this restored courthouse since 1979.

DAIRY GOAT TOURS

Enjoy a guided tour of our unique Dairy Goat Ranch and visit our new Ranch Store!

Call or Text 928.246.7865 for Goat Tour Reservations.

Come and cuddle the new baby goats Meet our goats and sample our wide variety of goat products.

Soap • Lotion Cheese • Fudge 5950 N. Majestic Eagle Way Florence, AZ 85123

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1 s t E .N. Fi s h and C o m pany (18 6 8)

420 N. Quartz Street

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. A second store was built on the property

by Levi Ruggles. The first Florence post office was housed in this building with Thomas Ewing as postmaster. Collingwood later succeeded him. The property has passed through several owners, one of whom was Charles G. Mason, one of the four original owners of the Silver King Mine. Building additions from 1867 to 1888 included a U-shaped complex, wood shingles and later metal gabled roofs updated these Sonoran adobe structures. The buildings housed the second Wells-Fargo Office and the San Carlos hotel, which operated into the 1920sRecent modifications serve as residential units. Portions of these buildings are among the oldest in Florence. Look for the current owner’s carpentry work.

Legend tells that a woman by the name of Frenchie ran a “cat house” in the hotel.

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W o man’s C lu b o f Flo r e n c e (19 2 9) 231 N. Willow Street

This Spanish Colonial Revival style building is a fine example of the work of architects Lescher & Mahoney (successors to Lescher & Kibbey) of Phoenix. The firm designed three other buildings in town including the Florence High School. The architectural drawings were prepared in 1928 and the construction by Arizona State Prison inmates was completed in 1929. Material and construction costs were $9,420. The women held dinners, bazaars, musicals, concerts, and tea parties to raise money along with a subscription drive to fund the building. It is the second-oldest women’s club in Arizona. It was an outgrowth of the Village Improvement Club founded in 1897.

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S m i th B r i c kyard/ W i nd m i ll (18 87 )

1140 W. Butte Avenue

This site was the original location of the Stone Brickyard circa May 1887. It was acquired by George Eaton in September of 1887. It was then sold in 1906 to George Smith and his family. Bricks from this brickyard were used to construct many of Florence’s homes, commercial buildings, the Second Pinal County Courthouse, the Catholic Church of the Assumption and the First Presbyterian Church of Florence.

During the busiest times, Smith family had 50,000 to 100,000 bricks in two to three kilns at any given time. To fire one kiln it took 100 cords of wood which was gathered in the surrounding desert by area residents.

Former owner Eaton was a founding member of the 1888 Florence branch of the Good Templars. Good Templars was a secret society for the promotion of total abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages.

Ironically, in recent years, recent owners Harold and Katie Christ had developed the site as the Windmill Winery, wedding venue/event center and wine tasting room. They incorporated remnants from the brickyard into the property’s design in addition to moving and restoring a 1910 dairy farm barn from Wisconson to the site.

Arizona’s Hidden Gem in Historic Downtown Florence.

Quality framed fine art, reasonable prices.

As seen on Arizona Highways TV

Website

casadebacastudios.com Local Artist: framed art, jewelry, wood-turning, gourds and more.

Great gifts, charcuterie boards, t-shirts, magnets and postcards.

315 N. Main Street, Florence, Arizona 520-233-1981 Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4pm

Please call or stop by to inquire about our portrait work.

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

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W.Y. P r i c e H o u s e (19 11) 188 S. Willow Street

William Price arrived in the Arizona territory in 1883 and owned the Florence Mercantile Company, one of the leading commercial institutions of its day. Price also had vast land holdings in the area producing crops and raising cattle. He served two terms on the Florence Town Council, served as Pinal County Treasurer and was a driving force in the San Carlos irrigation project.

Price and his fiancé Bogi Bartleson had an interesting tale of love. Bogie replanted a cottonwood sapling struggling to grow outside of town.

Bogie’s care helped the tree to survive. Later in time, Price proposed to Bogie under this very tree. As a couple they stood up for several marriages in town as best man and maid of honor. Unfortunately, Bogie contracted tuberculosis and died in 1902 before she and William could be married. She was buried in her wedding dress in the A.O.U.W Cemetery.

Join Us For Happy Hour!

Florence’s Best Mexican American Breakfast & Dinner 505 N. Main St. 520-868-4784 lidiascocina.com

Come To Our Drive Thru and Save $2.00 on any entrée.

There’s something for everyone!

“Happy” hour – Monday, Thursday and Friday from 2 - 5 pm Open hours 8 am - 8 pm Daily

#1 entree Rice & Beans $10.99

#2 entree Rice & Beans $13.99

(Select any one from Cheese Enchilada, Beef Enchilada, Chicken Enchilada, Beef Taco, Chicken Taco)

(Select any two from Cheese Enchilada, Beef Enchilada, Chicken Enchilada, Beef Taco, Chicken Taco)

Below Special rates will be available on 12th February 2026 only.

Margaritas $6.99 / Draft Beer $ 2.99 / Bottle Beer $1.99 18

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

Raw Honey Varieties: Wildflower Mesquite

Citrus Cat Claw

Cotton

Infused Honey:

We offer pure, local Arizona honey harvested with care and respect for our bees.

Our infused honeys combine raw honey with natural flavors for a unique twist.

Vanilla Honey Chocolate Honey Cinnamon Honey Ghost Pepper Honey Lavender Honey

Specialty Bee Products:

Live Observation Hive

Creamed Honey Bee Pollen Beeswax Beeswax Candles Gift Packs

Experience beekeeping up close with our live exhibition Hive, where you can safely watch bees at work.

Where to find us Honey Store: 10970 E Adamsville Rd, Florence AZ 520 738 6868

clarkbees@gmail.com Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-3

Clark Bees Flor Home Tour 2026 We #235708 Florence Home Tour 2026 (1) Zoe 1/2 Pg H Full Color bam

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

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Flo r e n c e H i gh S ch o o l (19 16)

1000 S. Main Street

“Old Main” offers visitors a rare opportunity to step inside the heart of Florence’s educational history.

Established in 1871, the Florence Unified School District is one of the oldest in Arizona, and Old Main stands as a tangible reminder of the community’s long-standing commitment to learning.

This historic site traces the remarkable evolution of FUSD, from an enrollment of just 64 students in 1873, to the construction of Florence Union High School in 1915, and decades of growth that shaped generations of students. Within these walls, milestones unfolded: the first ninth-grade class, the first graduating class of five students in 1917, and the expansion of academic offerings that mirrored the growth of the town itself.

Historical displays and timelines highlight key moments, including the district unification in 1976, and the eventual transition of the original Florence High School building, which served the community until 1989. The story preserved here and documented in part through local interviews and a master’s thesis by longtime educator Janys Hellman, reflects not just buildings and dates, but the resilience, pride, and progress of Florence.

Visiting Old Main is more than a stop on the tour—it’s a chance to connect with the roots of public education in Florence, honor those who came before, and better understand how the past continues to shape the future of the community. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a former student, or a curious neighbor, Old Main offers a meaningful glimpse into Florence’s enduring story.

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P i nal C o unty H i s t o r i cal M u s e um (196 8) 715 S. Main Street

The earliest established historical museum in Pinal County. This private non-profit brings to life the stories of Florence. See displays of cactus furniture, the shootout at the Tunnel Saloon, the Second Territorial Prison, the Junior Parada Rodeo, and more. Don’t miss Tom Mix and Gene Autry’s connections to Florence as well as outdoor exhibits of farm equipment, the original Alex Gay blacksmith shop, and a homesteader’s cabin. Then visit Maverick the stuffed Mountain Lion.

14

Fi r s t P r e s byt e r i an C hu r ch (n ow D e s e rt H o p e P r e s byt e r i an) (19 31) 225 E. Butte Avenue

An example of Mission Style, the first church services were held in this building on Easter Sunday 1931. The 1888 church services were originally held in the First Pinal County Courthouse (now known as McFarland Stare Historic Park). Revered Isaac Whittemore, the first minister of the church, also became the first custodian of the Casa Grande National Monument having worked diligently to have Congress make the ruins the nation’s first prehistoric reserve in 1892.

He was an outspoken advocate for the civil and water rights of the Native American population. Ernest W. McFarland purchased the land for a new church in 1930 for $900 at this site. Prison trustee labor, known as the “Preacher’s Gang” was used in the construction of the building. The massive 1889 copper bell, which sits in the columbarium today, was cast in New York State in 1889, shipped here by rail and wagon. It was stolen in 2010 but recovered, found in a ditch south of town.

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

21

15

S e c o nd P i nal C o unty C o u rth o u s e (189 1)

135 N. Pinal Street

The Pinal County Courthouse is the most important architectural landmark in Florence and the most outstanding surviving example of the America-Victorian Style in central Arizona.

The goal of the County Supervisors was to build an “impressive” courthouse, as a symbol of a bright future. The building was designed by Arizona architect James M. Creighton, who was among the territory’s first architects. The original clock tower is only a painted clock face due to budget constraints. The stairway leading to the upstairs courtroom was fabricated in San Francisco, shipped to Florence in pieces, and then assembled inside the courthouse. In the 1980s, the Boards of Supervisors planned to remove the cupola from the roof, but there was so much public outcry, they decided to forget the idea.

Two notorious women were tried in the second-floor courtroom. In 1899, Pearl Hart was tried and convicted for robbing a stagecoach. She was sent to Arizona Territorial Prison in Yuma to serve a five-year sentence. Her accomplice, Joe Boot, was sent to Yuma for 30 years. Winnie Ruth Judd, the infamous ‘trunk murderess’, had her sanity hearing in this courthouse in 1933.

COINS & COLLECTIBLES BUY • SELL • TRADE Great Selection • Fair Prices Free Coin Appraisals

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2 2 2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

i ll i am C lar ke H o u s e (18 8 4) 16 W 190 North Main Street The William Clarke House is an excellent example of the later transitional style of architecture; a blending of Sonoran walls, elegantly detailed Anglo-Victorian entrance porch louvered bay window, and interior exposed adobe walls. In front of the home were large olive tress, lilac bushes and a climbing rose bush on a trellis by the front door. The interior was furnished with an impressive array of Eastlake Period furniture including a square grand piano used by Clarke’s wife, who taught music lessons. Now the offices of the Florence Reminder and Blade Tribune newspaper, the building was renovated and restored by Donovan & Ruth Kramer of Casa Grande Valley Newspaper Inc. It is said the home was built as a wedding present for Clarke’s new bride, Ella who had come to Florence to help with her sister Mrs. Guild’s babies and ended up marrying William Clarke who built the nearby Clarke house.

Arizona’s last territorial governor, Richard E. Sloan, resided here during the time he served as Pinal County District Attorney from 1885 to 1888.

It is said he carried his wife over the threshold on their honeymoon there.

Some in town yused to refer to the house a the ‘honeymoon cottage’.

PINAL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

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2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

23

Historic Home Tour 2026 4

8

7 8 6 7 3

5 5

1

9 10

16 Windmill Winery ( 10)

6

2 1 2

11 11 10

11

7

8 9

12 Florence High School 2 4 2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

8

137

5 3

2

N

3 4

15 Tram Route

10

Historic Home

14

Historic Building Parking #

Tram Stop Tour Headquarters Restroom

2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

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2026 tram stops HISTORIC HOME TOUR

Stop 1

Stop 8

291 N. Bailey Street

1000 S. Main Street

Brunenkant Bakery

Stop 2

Second Catholic Church of the Assumption 221 E. 8th Street

Stop 3

Carmen Michea Rental Residence 240 E. Ruggles Street

Stop 4

1st E.N. Fish and Company

Florence High School

Stop 9

Pinal County Historical Museum

715 W. Main Street

S t o p 10

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church 225 E. Butte Avenue

S t o p 11

The Second Pinal County Courthouse 135 N. Pinal Street

420 N. Quartz Street

Stop 5

Woman’s Club of Florence 231 N. Willow Street

Stop 6

Smith Brickyard/Windmill Winery

1140 W. Butte Avenue

Stop 7

W.Y. Price House

188 S. Willow Street

Unlisted properties are within walking distance from Home Tour Headquarters at Jaques Square. The trams will not stop at these locations.

We suggest visiting the sites listed in PINK PRINT under the home listings on page four of this booklet.

These locations are open to the public today only. The other historic buildings are available to see throughout the year, so we would love for today’s guests to come back and visit Florence!

2 6 2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

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27

local flavors 1866 Coffee House 363 N. Main Street (520) 525-2243

McDonald’s (Anthem) 3623 W Anthem Way (520) 836-4850

A & M Pizza 445 W. Highway 287 (520) 868-017

Mount Athos Restaurant and Cafe 444 N. Pinal Parkway, PO Box 2563 (520) 868-0735

Anthem Grille 6100 W. Merrill Ranch Parkway (520) 723-1660

River Bottom Grill 2501 N. Pinal Parkway (520) 868-3131

Bar 727 727 Gressinger Street

Sonic 495 N. Pinal Parkway, Suite #107 (520) 868-0266

Burger King 80 W. Highway 287 (520) 868-3880 Chen’s Bistro 3281 N. Hunt Highway (520) 723-6333 Florence Café 495 N. Pinal Parkway, Suite #102 (520) 868-8058 Florence Fudge Company 440 N. Main Street, Suite #101 (520) 424-6514 The Irish Cowboy 305 N. Main Street (520) 614-6252 Jalapenós 981 S. Main Street (520) 868-8986 Lidia’s Cocina at Old Pueblo 505 Main Street (520) 868-4784 McDonald’s 801 Arizona 79 (520) 836-4850

Station Coffee 130 N. Main Street (520) 340-4273 Subway 55 S. Main Street (602) 262-1211 Subway (Anthem) 3235 Merrill Ranch Parkway (520) 723-2824 Taco Bell 558 N. Pinal Parkway (520) 868-8471 The Loft and Pantry 350 N. Main Street (541) 480-6381 Your Behind BBQ Birds and Bones 270 N. Main Street (520) 635-5537 Valentino’s Eatery 3385 N. Hunt Highway (520) 723-5910 Windmill Winery 1140 W. Butte Avenue (480) 313-2303

2 8 2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

some unusual stories of

DID YOU KNOW...

In days of yore, newly married couples would be raucously “serenaded” by friends and neighbors in a custom called “Shivaree”. Today traces of the custom are the tin cans tied to the getaway car as the newly married couple leaves the church.

ON A COUPLES WEDDING NIG HT, neighbors and friends would

District attorney

head to the newlyweds home. Waiting

son, John, was

have some pre-shivaree drinks and

until the lights went out, they would knock loudly on the door, bang pots and pans, serenade and in general

interrupt that first night as bride and

groom. Usually, if the groom provided a cash gift or a treat, the revelers

would take their party elsewhere. If

not, the groom could be abducted and left somewhere far away to find his

way home in whatever he was or wasn’t wearing when captured.

Pinal County

Fletcher Doan’s married at the

Silverbell mine

in 1907. His bride

describes the shivaree

that greeted them their

wedding night in her memoir saying:

“John gave them $20 and I was greatly relieved when they left, although John said we would have been insulted if they hadn’t come.” ($20 in 1907 is approximately $680 today).

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2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

29

some unusual stories of

TROUBLE IN PARADISE ...

The Arizona Republican of Nov. 28, 1918 reports that Secretary of State’s

stenographer, Celeste Thomas eloped to Florence to marry John Quaid. The

couple left for a honeymoon in Miami accompanied by the bride’s parents. The

Dec. 7, 1918 edition reported that John Quaid was arrested in Miami for bigamy having already left another wife behind. He believed her to be dead from

comments from his first mother-in law whom he described as “too much mother-in law.” He claimed that he did not know he was already a father as well.

ONCE , TWICE ...

BUT THRICE?...

Victorian women used dance cards to keep

track of the men they wished to dance with

at balls and other social events. You couldn’t dance with the same man more than two times without creating a scandal.

the Servingmmunity o C e Florenc ce 20 05 sin

MOUNT ATHOS RESTAURANT & CAFE

Florence,Florence, AZ 520-868-0735 AZ 520-868-0735

Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m.-10 a.m. and 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Closed on Sunday

3 0 2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

some unusual stories of

READ ALL AB OUT IT!...

The local newspaper Arizona Weekly Enterprise followed local resident Jacob Suter’s quest for a wife.

and sailed for Europe this week. His

destination is his old home at Spengler in Suhr, Switzerland. He expects to

return home some time in February and will bring a wife with him. We wish him

September 22, 1883 Leo Goldman, of Pinal, will join Jacob

Suter in his trip to Europe next month.

We have a faint suspicion that they are

intent upon matrimony and shall expect to see them return with brides.

bon voyage.

Suter did return with a wife,Bertha

Andreas, whom he courted for a full

two weeks. They had five children and formed the Suter Family Band, a well-

October 8, 1883 Mr. Jaocb Suter will start for Europe

about the 15th of the month and will

not return till about the 1st of February next. He does not deny that he intends to bring a Swiss girl home with him.

November 10, 1883 Jacob Suter, chairman of the Board of

Supervisors, left for the east Saturday

known musical addition to the life of

the town. The family moved to Globe

where he built a house identical to his home in Florence. In Globe he was a

business partner with future Arizona

Governor George P. Hunt in a hardware business. The Suter home is currently

on today’s home tour and operates as the Pedro Guerrero Arts Center.

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2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour Homemade Med. Salsa

31

historic heartburn

THE ROAD TO LOVE IS NOT A LWAY S S W E E T N E S S A N D R O S E S .

The Prescott Journal Minor published divorce news.

The column was titled ‘Miserable Marriages’.

Vinegar valentines were a type of cheek y postcard decorated with a caricature and insulting poem sent to someone the sender did not like. A lampoon of Valentine's Day cards, the unflattering novelty items enjoyed a centur y of popularity beginning in the 1840s during the Vic torian era.

T WO EX AMPLES Miss Nosey - On account of your talk of others af fairs, At most dances you sit warming the chairs, Because of the care with which you attend, To all others business you haven’t a friend.”

I’m not attrac ted by your glitter, For well I know how ver y bitter, My life would be if I should take, For my spouse, a rattlesnake, Oh no, I’d not accept the ring, Or evermore t ’would prove a sting.

3 2 2026 | Florence Historic Home Tour

The Windmill Winery Tasting Room A unique Arizona wine bar in Florence’s backyard.

Join us to sample wine & beer, eat at our Brickyard Café, visit one of our partner food trucks, and enjoy live music, entertainment, and special group events.

https://www.thewindmillwinery.com/wine-tasting-room

B E PA R T O F T H E S T O R Y Explore Florence’s rich history and diverse culture from precontact Native Americans through the centuries of local families who lived, worked, and went to school, enriching our collective stories. See exhibits including Florence’s Historic District, medical display, Second Territorial Prison display, farm implements, and more!

715 S Main St., Florence, AZ 520.868.4382 pchmuseum.org facebook.com/pchsmuseuml