The City of Cottonwood and the Cottonwood Historic Preservation Commission are hosting the 5th Annual Cottonwood Historic Home & Building Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3. The tour will showcase a number of homes and buildings from Cottonwood’s early days as a mining and agricultural community.
Volunteers will provide detailed information on each structure and building. Shuttle transportation is provided between the newly remodeled Cottonwood Community Club House to the homes and buildings along the route. Tour participants can choose to shuttle, walk and/or drive to the tour stops; however, the tour is not handicap accessible.
Each year, the tour kicks off from one of the most iconic historical buildings in Old Town Cottonwood. Designed by Lescher and Mahoney, an architectural firm out of Phoenix, and completed in 1939, the Cottonwood Community Club House (formerly named the Civic Center) was partially funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the largest American New Deal agency employing millions of people (mostly unskilled men) to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings like the Club House.
This iconic building in the heart of Old Town was constructed using river cobblestone and red sandstone. According to The Living New Deal, “Local citizens raised the matching funds through bake sales and other grassroots fundraising efforts. Wrought-iron hinges on the armory-style doors contribute to its sturdy, fortress-like appearance. During WWII, the building was rented to the Defense Department to house members of the Navy.”
Cottonwood Community Club House had not been significantly altered since 1940 and was honored with its own individual listing on National Register of Historic Places before its renovation and remodel this year. The space is now available for community and corporate events, weddings, parties and celebrations.
Tickets for the Cottonwood Historic Home and Building Tour are $20. Kids under 12 can attend for free. Each ticket includes four complimentary drink tickets, which can be redeemed for wine tasting from participating wineries or for non-alcoholic drinks at participating cafes. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at cottonwoodhometour.org or on the day of the event, at the tour headquarters, in the newly renovated Cottonwood Community Club House (805 North Main Street).
The Cottonwood Historic Home and Building Tour began in 2014 as a way to showcase and celebrate the history and unique character of historic Cottonwood. The event, now in its fifth year, attracts visitors from all over the state to the Verde Valley. All proceeds go into a matching grant program administered by the Cottonwood Historic Preservation Commission to help beautify and preserve historic homes in Cottonwood. QCBN
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