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Willard Hotel
Tucson, Arizona

 

Description: Willard Hotel
Other Names: Pueblo Hotel and Apartments
Address:  145 South Sixth Ave, northeast corner, South Sixth Avenue at East Twelfth Street (145 South Sixth Avenue), Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Type: hotel
Original Client:  Alex Casey; Willard Wright and Charles S. Fleming, lessees in 1902
Historic Inventory:
Date: 1902
Condition: extant

Architect or Firm: Henry C. Trost
Associated Architect or Firm: Trost & Rust
Contractors: H. McMillan
Dimensions and Orientation: two stories
Budget/Cost: $15,750

Foundation: probably concrete
Wall Materials: brick
Roofing Materials: shingle
Other Materials Used:
Remodeling and Additions: The shaped gables, which were on the corner pavilions, have been removed in remodeling.

Present Owner:
Location of Drawings: None known to exist
Location of Documentary Photographs: El Paso Public Library: Aultman 5178, perspective view

Bibliography: (1) Trost & Trost, Architects (El Paso: Trost & Trost, 1907), page 21
(2) Tucson’s New Hotel, Arizona Daily Citizen, Tucson, July 27, 1902, page [8], description of new hotel, report that Willard Wright and Charles S. Fleming are lessees
(3) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, August 15, 1902, page [8]: H. McMillan, the contractor, yesterday turned over to Alex. Casey the new Willard Hotel and full settlement was made. Everybody seemed to be fully satisfied.
(4) Lloyd C. Engelbrecht, Trost in Tucson, Triglyph; a Journal of Architecture and Environmental Design (published by Arizona State University), no. 2 (Spring, 1985), page 27

Remarks:  The Willard Hotel was the first hotel built In Arizona by Trost. The Willard was a business venture undertaken by Alex Casey,a mining man.

In late May, 1902 the roof was being constructed and offers from around the country to lease the hotel. The hotel had up-to-date lighting with both gas and electric.  The forty two rooms were arranged in suite and single , including a private baths.

In late July, Willard and Charles Fleming signed a seven year lease for $250 per month. The name was changed to the Willard Hotel and September 1, 1902, was the opening date. Guest stayed in the south wing while work finished on the other wing.

On September 24, the dining room was open under the direction of chef Steve Slaughter. Then two day later, Charles Fleming sold his interest in the hotel to his partner Willard Wright. Mr. Wright announced his intentions to close the hotel after not being able to renegotiate the lease with Mr. Casey. Mr. Casey terminated the water service and forced the guest out.

The hotels proprietorship was assumed by William Siewart around 1904. Adding  concrete coping to the curvilinear parapets

The hotel was under various management until 1944. Remodeling effort removed the curvilinear parapets, stuccoed the exterior, altered the interior and reopened under the name Pueblo Hotel and Apartments. I operated until 1984, when it was vacated.

In 1991,  six Tucson businessman formed the “Willard Partners” and purchased the hotel. It is being renovated.

Prepared for the El Paso Public Library by Lloyd C. and June F. Engelbrecht under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, 1990.