Niels Petersen House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Niels Petersen House
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Niels Petersen House
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southern Ave. and Priest St., Tempe, Arizona |
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| Area | 2.9 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | James M. Creighton |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000553 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 1978 |
The Niels Petersen House is a special old house in Tempe, Arizona. It's listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical building. This house is a great example of the beautiful Queen Anne Style of building, made with bricks, found in the Salt River Valley.
Contents
Niels Petersen's Life Story
Early Life and Travels
Niels Petersen was born on October 21, 1845, in a small farming village called Vilslev in Denmark. When he was 18, in 1863, Niels joined the English Merchant Marines. This job allowed him to travel all around the world on ships that carried goods for trade. He continued sailing until 1870, when he moved to the United States.
Starting a New Life in Arizona
In 1871, Niels Petersen arrived in the Salt River Valley in central Arizona. He decided to become a farmer there. On July 1, 1874, he officially claimed 160 acres of land to start his farm. This land is now near Priest, Southern, Alameda, and 52nd Streets in Tempe. After claiming his land, Niels began building a small, two-room house made of adobe bricks.
Four years later, in 1878, Niels became a citizen of the United States. This was an important step for him to make Arizona his permanent home. By May 12, 1883, Niels had built two small adobe houses on his property. He was also farming 140 acres of land.
Family and Community
Niels Petersen was a very busy person. He sometimes helped run the general store for Charles Hayden, who founded Tempe. Niels also worked for the Tempe Irrigating Canal Company, which helped bring water to farms. He even earned shares in the company.
In 1884, Niels married Isabel Dumphy, who was a teacher at Tempe Grammar School. Isabel stopped teaching and moved into Niels's house. Sadly, she passed away during childbirth in 1885. Their baby son, John, also passed away a few months later.
Growing His Ranch and Influence
After a few years, Niels Petersen started buying more land around his farm. His ranch grew to be more than 1,000 acres! Niels became one of the most important farmers in the area, raising lots of cattle and growing grain.
As Niels became more successful, he also became more involved in the Tempe community. He helped with the local schools as a trustee for the Tempe School District. He was also a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Niels helped start the Tempe Methodist Episcopal Church, the Bank of Tempe, and a local group called the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was also the treasurer for the Tempe Irrigating Canal Company and president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank. From 1895 to 1896, he even served in Arizona's Eighteenth Territorial Legislature, which was like the state government at the time.
Building a Dream Home
By the 1890s, Niels Petersen was one of the richest and most respected people in the Salt River Valley. In 1892, he decided to build a beautiful new home. He chose the Queen Anne Victorian style, which was very popular then. Niels hired a famous architect named James Creighton to design his new two-story house on his ranch.
While his new house was being built, Niels traveled back east. There, he met Susanna Decker from South Montrose, Pennsylvania. They got married on September 1, 1892. When Niels returned to his new house in Tempe, his new wife came with him. Once finished, the Petersen house was known as one of the most elegant homes in the entire region.
Niels Petersen passed away in Tempe on April 27, 1923, when he was 78 years old. To show how much he was respected, flags were flown at half-mast, and all schools and businesses closed for his funeral. He was buried on the grounds of his home next to his wife Susanna.
History of the Niels Petersen House
Why the House is Important
The Niels Petersen House is very important because it is the oldest Queen Anne Style brick house in the Salt River Valley. When Rev. Edward Decker inherited the house in 1927, he made some changes to it.
The house is special because it belonged to Niels Petersen, who was a Danish immigrant and a very important farmer and businessman in Tempe. It's also important because it was designed by James Creighton, a well-known architect in Arizona. Creighton designed many famous buildings, including the Pinal County Courthouse, Old Main (Arizona State University), and the Tempe Hardware Building. The Niels Petersen House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, recognizing its historical value.
Gallery
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Different view of the Niels Petersen House.
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The Niels Petersen House living room.
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Double chimney in the Niels Petersen House living room.
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The Niels Petersen House living room piano.
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The Niels Petersen House dining room.
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Staircase leading to the second floor.
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Stained glass window on the staircase hall which leads to the second floor.
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Main bedroom.
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Bedroom.
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Art work on the original door hinges.
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Staircase leading back to the first floor.
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1890s tool shed.
See also
