Rosson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dr. Roland Lee Rosson House
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(2021)
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| Location | 113 North 6th Street, Phoenix, Arizona |
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| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | George Franklin Barber via A.P. Petit |
| Architectural style | Stick-Eastlake Queen Anne Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000112 |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1971 |
The Rosson House is a cool old house in Phoenix, Arizona, right in the middle of Heritage Square. It's now a historic house museum where you can learn about life in the past. This amazing home was built between 1894 and 1895. It shows off a special style called Stick-Eastlake - Queen Anne Style Victorian architecture. A San Francisco architect named A. P. Petit designed it.
The house is named after Dr. Roland Lee Rosson and his wife, Flora Murray Rosson. They were the first owners. Over the years, many different families lived in the house. Eventually, the City of Phoenix bought it. They worked hard to make it look just like it did when it was first built. The Rosson House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, which means it's a very important historical building.
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Discovering the Rosson House Architecture
The Rosson House is a great example of Victorian architecture, specifically the Stick-Eastlake Queen Anne Style. Imagine a house with lots of different textures and shapes! Old newspaper stories from the 1800s say that a famous architect from San Francisco, A. P. Petit, designed it. This was actually the last house he designed before he passed away.
Some people wonder if the design was truly unique. That's because very similar plans for the house can be found in an older book called Cottage Souvenir #2 by George Franklin Barber. The house has cool features from different cultures. For example, it has a round opening that looks like an Asian moon gate. It also has windows with fancy tops, like those seen in Italianate architecture. Plus, there's an eight-sided tower called an octagonal turret, which is a French style.
The Rosson Family's Story
Dr. Roland Rosson moved to Phoenix in 1879. He was a doctor and surgeon, helping people with their health. He worked as a doctor in Phoenix from 1879 to 1897. Besides being a doctor, Dr. Rosson was also involved in local government.
- In 1884, he became the coroner and public administrator for Maricopa County.
- In 1890, he was elected county treasurer.
- He even became the Mayor of Phoenix on May 7, 1895! He served without pay, working with four other council members.
- His time as mayor was short. He resigned in April 1896 because of disagreements with the city council.
Roland Rosson married Flora B. Murray in Phoenix in 1880. They had seven children together. Five of their children – Irene, Vivien, Floy, Norma, and Clyde – grew up. Sadly, two of their babies died very young.
Building Their Dream Home
In 1882, Flora Rosson bought the land where the Rosson House now stands. It was called Block 14 back then. Before the big Rosson House was built, the family likely lived in a simpler adobe house on the same land.
In 1894, local newspapers asked for builders to bid on a new house for Dr. Rosson. It was going to be at the corner of Monroe and 6th Streets. George E. Cisney won the bid for $7,525, and he became the builder. By December of that year, the house was almost finished!
In 1895, the Arizona Republic newspaper mentioned the Rosson House as one of the "most expensive homes in the city." By March 1895, Dr. Rosson was advertising his office and home at the new address.
The Rosson House was very modern for its time. It had electric lights, hot and cold running water, an indoor bathroom upstairs, and even a telephone! Phoenix was quite advanced back then. By 1892, it had electricity, a water system, gas, and two phone companies. The streetcar line ran right down Monroe Street, so the Rossons could easily travel around the city.
Renting to a Famous Guest
From 1895 to 1897, the Rosson family rented their beautiful new home to a very important person: Whitelaw Reid. He was a powerful Republican and the head of a big newspaper called the New York Tribune. Mr. Reid came to Arizona because his doctors said the warm, open air would help his lung condition.
While living in the Rosson House, he ran his newspaper business from Phoenix. He sent typed letters and telegrams. His letters are a great way to learn about what the Rosson House and Phoenix were like back then. He also wrote articles for other newspapers, telling everyone how great Arizona and Phoenix were.
Moving On
In June 1897, the Rossons sold their house and moved to Los Angeles, California. We don't know exactly why they moved. Some newspaper stories suggest they might have had money problems. Renting their new house to Whitelaw Reid could have been a way to earn extra money. However, Dr. Rosson's obituary later said they moved for "educational advantages" for their children.
Dr. Rosson passed away in Los Angeles in 1898. Flora Rosson died in Los Angeles in 1911.
Other Families Who Lived Here
After the Rossons, many other families owned the house. Each family added to its story.
- The Goldbergs (1897-1904): Aaron and Carrie Goldberg bought the house for $10,000. Aaron was a well-known Jewish businessman and politician in Phoenix. He helped write the law that made Phoenix the permanent capital! Their son, Chester, was born in the Rosson House.
- The Higleys (1904-1914): Steven W. Higley, a railroad builder and newspaper owner, bought the house. He lived there with his wife Jessie and their children. His daughter, Jessie Jean Lane, later shared many stories about their time in the house.
- The Gammels (1914-1948): The Gammel family owned the Rosson House longer than anyone else. William Gammel was a businessman. When Prohibition made it illegal to sell alcohol, he had to change his business. His wife, Frankie, later rented out rooms in the Rosson House. To make it work for renters, the Gammels made big changes, adding more kitchens and bathrooms.
After 1948, the Rosson House changed hands many times and continued to be a rooming house. Over the years, it became run down.
Saving the Rosson House
Thanks to Mayor John D. Driggs, the City of Phoenix bought the Rosson House in 1974. It was a huge community effort to restore it! The City of Phoenix, many local groups, and hundreds of volunteers worked together. They brought the Rosson House back to its original beautiful condition.
Early Brick Buildings in Phoenix
The Rosson House is an early example of a house in Phoenix built with fired brick and wood. Before this, most houses were made of adobe bricks. The architect, A. P. Petit, preferred using brick. There was already a brick-making factory in Phoenix.
Some other cool brick houses built before the Rosson House include:
- A mansion built in 1887 for John T. Dennis.
- A house built for M. Jacobs, also in 1887.
- A large house built for Columbus Gray in 1890.
- The J.Y.T. Smith House, built around 1892.
Many of Phoenix's early hotels were also made from local red bricks.
Visiting the Rosson House
Today, the Heritage Square Foundation and Guild takes care of the Rosson House. You can visit it as a historic house museum in Phoenix's Heritage and Science Park. They offer public tours, so you can step back in time and see what life was like over a hundred years ago!
See also
- Heritage Square, Phoenix
