Historic Mansions of North Central Phoenix
 

There once were dozens of historic (pre-war) mansions in Phoenix along North Central Avenue and areas within 7th Ave & 7th St. Many are long since demolished, but there are some that still exist. Some have found new uses and others remain in tact but can be hard to see, hiding behind the trees in the posh and lush neighborhoods along the North Central Ave Murphy Bridle Path.

“Mansions” is a relative term, of course, as in many cities, especially back east; a historic mansion might mean a 25,000ft2+ true mansion. These are Phoenix’s historic mansions – pre-war (sometimes pre-WWI), custom, and large. None are larger than 10,000 ft2, but some of them tend to be larger than many of the typical historic houses you can find throughout Phoenix’s established historic neighborhoods, and I tried to find the biggest ones.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, as there are more in hiding, but they are pretty rare in a younger city like Phoenix. Anyway, here are some pictures of mansions in North Central Phoenix (generally between 7th Ave and 7th St, north of I-10).

Sorry for the point and shoot quality and the afternoon sun. In some cases these houses are completely obscured by vegetation, so it was hard to get some of these pictures.

Ellis-Shackleford House, Central/Culver. 1917. 6,600ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2535.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2536.jpg

Old Spaghetti Factory Central/Lynwood. Date and size unknown, two houses together
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2538.jpg.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2540.jpg

Heard Mansion (Heard Museum) Central/Monte Vista. One portion of the old giant Heard Mansion and estate still exists as part of the Heard Museum (famous Native American museum).
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2541.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2542.jpg

Central/3rd St/Monte Vista. 1922. 5,700ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2544.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2545.jpg

3rd St./Palm. 1910. 5,500ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2547.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2549.jpg

3rd st./Alvarado. 1931. 4,900 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2550.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2551.jpg

Central/Bethany Home. 1929. 3,900ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2552.jpg

Central/Rose. 1922. 4,800ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2553.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2554.jpg

Central/Rose. 1929. 3,500ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2555.jpg

Central/McLellan. 1914. 5,600ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2556.jpg

Central/McLellan. 1935. 8,100ft2 large adobe/southwest style
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2557.jpg

John M. Ross House. Central/Lamar. 1926. 7,130ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2558.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2560.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2561.jpg

Central/Glendale Rd. 1910. 5,980 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2565.jpg

Central/Glendale Rd. 1909. 6,000 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2563.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2566.jpg

Central/Glenn. 1924. 3,500 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2567.jpg

Central/State/Northview. 1900(?). unknown size
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2569.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2568.jpg

Central/Orangewood. 1895(?). Big Victorian.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2572.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2573.jpg

Asbury-Salmon House. Central/Hayward. 1934. 3,900 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2575.jpg

Central/Northern. 1927. 4,400 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2578.jpg

3rd Pl/Northern. 1927. 6,500 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2581.jpg

7th Ave/Kaler. 1928. 4,300 ft2
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2583.jpg

If I wasn't told I'm not sure I would have guessed it was in Phoenix, beautiful homes. One day I would love to spend a few days checking out this city. It's such a shame and I'm a little embarrassed because it's really only a short drive from LA, I've only driven through and never stopped.

But...but, where are all the cactuses and scorpions and stuff? I didn't think you could grow trees there.

That victorian at Central and Orangewood is gorgeous. I'd suspect that you might find a few of the types of houses you are looking for were not demolished but moved, but it's hard to say.

Lots of research into this thread, thanks for the diligence. The north central neighborhoods of the city are full of gems, but they rarely if ever get shown here.

Wow these are great! I've walked the Murphy Bridle Path on Central a few times and love it, feels like you're transported to another place.

Wow, some real beauties there. I like the diversity in style too. Some brick, some adobe style; Thanks for the information too. It's nice to see the years built!

I know that large yellow Victorian you posted - I have been past it many times when I used to live in the area - if you check the Maricopa County Treasurers website you can view GIS maps and see the square footage

I believe I did on that particular house out of curiosity and if I remember correctly it is something around 5,800 sqft

Other than the landscape these photos look a lot like parts of St Paul. I would have never guessed that Phoenix had stuff like this.

Cool pics! A side of Phoenix that we don't see enough of.

Thanks for the tour!

Nice thread!

Drove through that area of Phoenix years ago. It was beautiful.

Nice pictures! It's interesting seeing historic neighborhoods of relatively new cities like Phoenix.

Awesome tour! Keep up the good work chronicling Phoenix's past.

Thanks for this compilation about those historic mansions of North Central Phoenix. Very interesting. I´ve liked your pics and of course those mansions.

Congrats and greetings from Madrid, Spain!:tup:

Awesome! I love seeing stufff like this. That's a really nice area of Phoenix too. Thanks for sharing these.

That's how I found most of the dates and house square footages - via the Maricopa County assessors' web and GIS/parcel search. I've noticed a lot of that information is typically wrong (including my own house), so I take it with a grain of salt... that house in particular doesn't have much info provided (which is weird, because I think it used to - that's why I seem to remember it was built in 1895.).

Thanks for the comments all.

awesome! I never saw this kind of quality in Phoenix

Its like Great Gatsby - Southwest Edition :tup:

Great looking neighborhood.

PHX31 - Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

My favorite is the John M Ross House. I walk past it often and admire it. It reminds me of the Corleone mansion from Godfather 2 (without the lake, of course). Although it does feature a fishing pond on the southwest portion of the lot.

This is great quality of housing! If I could I would love down there. Always sunny!