National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
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NFS Form 10-900 OMBNo. 1024-0018 (Rev. 10-90) 2280 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriaTe box or by entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property __ _ historic name Ajo Townsite Historic District other names/site number American Townsite 2. Location street & number Blocks 1 through 31, Ajo Townsite_____ | | not for publication city or town Ajo______________________________________ | | vicinity state Arizona______ code AZ county Pima code 019 zip code 85321_____ 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this x nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property x meets __does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant x nationally __ statewide __ locally. (__See continuation sheet for additional comments.) __ State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property __meets ___does not meet the National Register criteria. ( . See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification Signature ot Keeper , | % Date of Action I, hereby certify that this property is: / \^/] entered in the National Register ' O __ | | See continuation sheet. | | determined eligible for the National Register | | See continuation sheet. [ | determined not eligible for the National Register | [ removed from the National Register [ | other (explain): _________________ 4. National Park Service Certification I, hereby certify that this property is: __ entered in the National Register __ See continuation sheet. __ determined eligible for the _ National Register __ See continuation sheet. __ determined not eligible for the _ National Register __ removed from the National Register • other (explain): ___:________ Signature of Keeper Date of Action 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply) X private __ public-local __ public-State __ public-Federal Category of Property (Check only one box) __ building(s) X district __ site __ structure __ object Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing _106__ 97 buildings ___ ___ sites ___ ___ structures ___ objects _106__ 97 Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register _J __ Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: domestic ___________ Sub: single & multiple company dwellings ~cornmerce/trade____________ company store, commercial buildings & warehouse "scHool Tiealthcare_____________ _ hospital church social _ ___meeting hall Ajo Townsite Historic District Pi ma County, Arizona Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: ____________________ Sub: __ single afld multiple dwellings commerce/trade___________ ___commercial hiiildmg&Svarehniises 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals___________ VernacularlyDes____________________ Materials (Enter categories from instructions) foundation concreter wood posts, stone roof Spanish tile^ nnmpnsitinn tile wood ghinglpg rnllpfj walls hnllnw clay tile wnnd frame mnH adobe other Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing) _X_ A. Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. __ B. Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. 2_;_ C. Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. __ D. Property has yielded, or is likely to yield information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark "X" in ail the boxes that apply.) __ A. owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. __ B. removed from its original location. __ C. a birthplace or a grave. __ D. a cemetery. __ E. a reconstructed building, object.or structure. __ F. a commemorative property. __ G. less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Ajo Townsite Historic District P1ma County, Arizona Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) Community Planning and Development Architecture Period of Significance 1914-1950 Significant Dates Significant Person (Complete only if Criterion B is marked above) Cultural Affiliation Architect/Builder William M. Kenyonand MauriceF. Maine Cescher & Kibbey George Washington Smith Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) 9. Major Bibliographical References Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS) __ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested. _ previously listed in the National Register __ previously determined eligible by the National Register _ designated a National Historic Landmark __ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # ______ _ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # ______ Primary Location of Additional Data: X State Historic Preservation Office __ Other State agency __ Federal agency __ Local government __ University __ Other Name of repository: __________ Ajo Townsite Historic District Pima County> Arizona 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property 78.4 acres UTM References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet) Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing 1 ___ ____ ____ 3 _ ____ ____ 2 _ ____ ____ 4 _ ____ ____ X See continuation sheet. Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.) Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) 11. Form Prepared By n a m e /1 i 11 e Janet H. Parkhurst. Architect organization Produced by (a) Old Pueblo Archaeology Center .date April 1QT 2001 & (b) Janet H. Strittmatter Inc. street & number (h) 3834F. Taller™^____________ telephone (b) 520-320-9043 city or town____Tucson_______________ state AZ zip code 85716 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form: Continuation Sheets Maps A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location. A sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Photographs Representative black and white photographs of the property. Additional items (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items) Property Owner (Complete this item at the request of the SHPO or FPO.) name ___________________________ street & number________________________________ telephone. city or town_________________________ state___ zip code NPSForm10-900-a .. 0MB No 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior Ajo Townsite Historic District National Park Service Pima County, Arizona National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section Number 7 Page _1_ DESCRIPTION The once thriving copper mining company town of Ajo, Arizona, lies in a valley partially encircled by the small, rugged Little Ajo Mountains, in western Pima County one hundred thirty miles west of Tucson and one hundred eighteen miles southwest of Phoenix. The origin of the name "Ajo" is subject to debate. The local native people, the Tohono O'odham, claim it comes from the ore used for the-red paint (au'auho) that their ancestors ceremoniously applied to their bodies. The name, which means garlic in Spanish, may have also originated from Spanish-speaking prospectors who observed a proliferation of wild garlic plants in the area. There is no doubt that mining built this town, once the nation's third largest producer of copper. There is the inescapable presence of the pit, slag heaps, smelter, tailing ponds and cluster of aluminum-corrugated buildings as a reminder of the mining operation. There is also the inescapable reminder that the support settlement, with its ample streets radiating