Bonelli House

The Bonelli House was built in 1915 by a contractor named Pendergrast. It was the second home of the Bonelli Family on the same site, constructed after the original frame house, dating from 1894, burned.  It was conjectured at the time that the electrical system was responsible for the fire. The house, characteristic of the Anglo-territorial architecture which was popular in Arizona at the time, was constructed of locally quarried tufa stone.  The interior walls were plastered with fire resistant plaster, making the building virtually fireproof.  The thickness of the walls provided  insulation against the high-desert winter cold and summer heat.  Vine covered porches on both floors were good barriers against the summer sun.  Since every room in the house has access to the porches, it was possible to use the upstairs porches for sleeping on warm summer nights.