Release Date: Wednesday, June 29th 2011
Tempe's historic buildings to get plaques in new program
by Georgann Yara - Jun. 25, 2011 06:49 AM
Special for The Republic
The city's oldest and most historic buildings will get some new sparkle thanks to a new program that honors places on the Tempe Historic Property Register.
Customized bronze markers have been awarded to or ordered for about half of the 44 structures on the register through the Tempe Historic Marker Program. The plaques are valued at $130 and are created by Bollinger Atelier in Tempe.
The program is a joint venture of the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation and the Tempe Historic Preservation Office. The program includes installation of the plaques on the exterior of the structures.
Community groups and individuals may sponsor the plaques. The plan is to have all plaques affixed to their respective structures by the celebration of Arizona's centennial in 2012, said Woody Wilson, president of the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation.
"The real benefit to the community is to give a sense of our heritage and to give people a sense of the historic nature of the community," Wilson said. "It gives us all a better sense of where we came from."
Wilson said more sponsors are needed for city properties. A list of the properties, information about the program and criteria needed to qualify for historic status can be found at: www.tempe.gov/historicpres /register.html.
Originally a city project, the Historic Preservation Foundation and Historic Preservation Office decided to fund the program after budget constraints prevented the city from carrying it out a couple of years ago, Wilson said.
Several of the properties are private owner-occupied homes in the city's more established neighborhoods. Some, like the Tempe (Old Mill Avenue) Bridge, the College (Valley Art) Theatre and Tempe (Hayden) Butte, are structures or natural landmarks. Some were once private residences, such as the Niels Petersen House, the Rose Eisendrath House, the Sandra Day O'Connor House and the W.A. Moeur House, now Casey Moore's Oyster House.
Monti's La Casa Vieja co-owner Michael Monti is accustomed to giving tours of his long-standing downtown Tempe steakhouse. But being able to have passersby see the marker outside of the structure that was built in 1871 and was the birthplace of former U.S. Sen. Carl Hayden is a constant reminder of its historic significance.
"There is an intimate linkage between the historic value of our building and its function as a restaurant and place of hospitality. Our customers respond to authenticity," Monti said. "It's nice to know there's more means by which anyone can be more informed about the Hayden House."
Each plaque is assigned a number that corresponds to its listing on the register. Monti anticipates people eventually being able to immediately look up the history of his building through an application on their mobile phones.
"The building becomes a hyperlink. It's kind of exciting. Not just customers, but anyone walking by can learn more about Tempe's history," he said.
Criticism over the city's lack of history when compared with older cities is what Monti called a pet peeve of his. He's hoping this program will remind those critics that they are wrong.
The city's historical sites and their significance is a topic that Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman takes pride in knowing and sharing with others. Traces of ancient societies that first called the area home date to A.D. 400, he said. The Loma del Rio Archaeological Site in Papago Park, for example, was the home of the Hohokam from A.D. 1200 to 1450.
The Rio Salado Foundation, of which Hallman is president, sponsored the plaque for Loma del Rio, as well as three other places on the register, including the Butte itself, which is site of petroglyphs and other elements that have been there for 1,600 years.
"We just don't know very many people who've heard about it. That's what we're trying to change," said Hallman, a Tempe native.
Hallman said the city wants to be in position to be part of and highlight its history for the state's 100th birthday. He appreciates that the Historic Preservation Foundation and Historic Preservation Office are spearheading this effort.
"We've got a private charity that focuses on historic preservation in partnership with individuals to donate funding," he said. "I'm thrilled."
Wilson said the program also emphasizes an effort to be more environmentally conscious and economically efficient.
"The idea of tearing down old houses is environmentally a bad thing to do when you consider the energy that goes into building, making materials . . . and dumping all of that in the landfill. It's better to save the building, and it makes better economic sense," he said.
Monti agreed.
"Tempe's got a strong social fabric going," he said. "That's one of the best parts about this community."
