James Finley House (Harshaw, Arizona) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James Finley House
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The James Finley House in 2014.
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 Location in Arizona
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| Location | Harshaw, Arizona, USA |
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| Built | 1877 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000462 |
| Added to NRHP | 1974 |
The James Finley House is a really old and important house. It's found in a place called Harshaw, Arizona, which is now a ghost town. The house was built way back in 1877. It's so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Today, it's the most famous building left in Harshaw.
A Look Back: The House's Story
The James Finley House started as a small building with three rooms. It was made from red bricks. These bricks were reused from a tall smokestack in another nearby ghost town called Mowry, Arizona. The house is close to the old Hermosa Mill. Maybe it was an office for the Hermosa Mining Company long ago.
Later, more parts were added to the house. These included a porch and four rooms made of adobe (a type of sun-dried brick). These new rooms were a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. Each of the first three rooms has its own fireplace. They also have windows with special stone frames.
James Finley and the Mine
In 1890, a businessman from Tucson named James Finley bought the old Harshaw Mine. This purchase also included the house. He built a new mill for the mine, and it started working that same year.
Three years later, another company, the Hermosa Mining Company, rented the Harshaw Mine from Finley. They fixed up the mill. However, they ran out of money before they could find any valuable ore (rock with metal inside).
The End of an Era
Around the same time, silver became less valuable. Also, a new railroad was built through the town of Patagonia, which was eight miles north. These changes meant the end for Harshaw.
James Finley passed away in 1903. The mine was sold later, but it was never developed further. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 19, 1974. This was because of its unique design and its connection to the mining history in the Harshaw area during the late 1800s.
Today, the James Finley House is on private land. It is right across the road from the Hale Ranch headquarters in Harshaw, Arizona. The house is not open for people to visit.
