The Benson Historic Barrio is a small neighborhood in Benson, Arizona. It began to develop between 1898 and 1901, settled primarily with people of Mexican descent. It is located on the east side of the original townsite, just south of the business district, and comprises three blocks along both sides of East Fifth Street, encompassing blocks, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25. It includes houses, lots, other buildings, and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
History
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church was built in 1895 by Don Miguel Jose Castaneda, a hotel owner, and William Ohnesorgen, a former station master at the Middle Crossing of the San Pedro River. It was on the corner of East Fifth and Gila. There was already a Mexican community just to the east of San Pedro. It was located The barrio began to develop between 1898 and 1901, east of San Pedro Street and straddling both sides of East Fifth Street. The barrio is split by two cross streets, Gila Street and San Carlos Street, one block to its west. West of Gila Street, employees of the railroad built frame houses, which became known as "Barrio Americano", while east of Gila, the houses were built by farming and ranching families, mostly of Mexican descent, and were built in the Mexican style of adobe, which became known as "Barrio Mexicano".National Park Service 2011, page 15-16.
The Barrio Americano began around 1900 on block 19. Only three of these original houses remain, 351, 369, and 393 East Fifth Street. In 1901, block 25 began development, with the construction of three houses, but only one of those, #347, still stands. Barrio Mexicano began to develop between 1898 and 1901, with several Mexican families building houses on blocks 20 and 24. They had migrated from places like Redington, Cascabel, and Tres Alamos, and had come to town to find work. While some worked for the local railroad or smelter, others were tradesmen, and still others opened small shops, where they also resided. There was even a concrete jail.National Park Service 2011, page 16.
During the 1920s, more Mexican families moved into the area, purchasing the homes in the Barrio Americano. When the Apache Powder Company was built, many of the Barrio residents were employed there, and throughout the Great Depression. The area also contained several "mom and pop" stores, like Deliciosa Cafe and Quihuiz Grocery. The church and the Knights of Pythias hall also had significant roles in the community.National Park Service 2011, page 17-18.
After World War II, Alianza Hispano-Americano, a mutual aid society, became a presence in the Barrio, using a building they had obtained from Fort Huachuca. Homes built during this period included #'s 412 (1940), 572 (1944), and 534 (1945) Fifth Street. The historic structures remaining in the district today include several of the early 1900s houses, some second generation homes from the 1920s and 1930s, and a few built in the 1940s and prior to 1957.National Park Service 2011, page 18.
Site description The historic district consists of 33 contributing structures and 8 non-contributing buildings. 6 of the 8 non-contributing buildings are due to being too recent, the other two are just beyond repair. The contributing structures range in building dates of 1900 to 1957. Below is a list of the contributing structures, all addresses are on East Fifth Street.National Park Service 2011, page 11.
Address Construction year Style 345 1900 Side-gable vernacular 351 1900Gable-front vernacular 369 1900Gable-front vernacular 371 1925Side-gable vernacular 387 1925Side-gable vernacular 393 1905Gable-front vernacular 411 1910Gable-front vernacular 400 Block 1930Vernacular Shed 419 1928Gable-front vernacular 427 1905Gable-front vernacular 463 1900Gable-front vernacular Jail 1915 Jail vernacular 572 1944Cross-wing vernacular 550 1930Pyramidal vernacular 546 1910 Gable-front vernacular 534 1945 Vernacular-side gable 526 1916 Side-gable vernacular 512 1932 Side-gable vernacular 504 1905, 1940 Hip-roof vernacular 498 1936 Parapet-commercial vernacular 482 1925 Side-gable vernacular 480 1936 Gable-commercial vernacular 478 1905 Trans, side-gable vernacular 464 1939 Side-gable vernacular 452 1928 Side-gable vernacular 412 1940 Cross-wing vernacular 418 1900, 1957 Gable-front vernacular 408 1925 Gable-commercial vernacular 383 1950 Side-gable vernacular 383 1948 Modern church 374 1900 Gable-block/wing vernacular 362 1956 Gable-front vernacular 203 S. San Pedro St. 1937 Bungalow
Historical significance The Barrio has been the residence of mostly families of Mexican or mixed-Mexican descent throughout its history. It has maintained its distinctive identity, and been a cohesive community centered around the church, its local small businesses, the social club, and the jail. While it is most commonly known as "The Barrio", other names it is called include, “Sal Si Puede" (Run if You Can), the “Mexican District” and “Tortilla Flats.”
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, rural life became increasingly difficult, and the town of Benson offered employment opportunities, including the railroad and smelter. The Barrio has been a significant component of the development of Benson through the decades. During the historic era, it was a contrast to the rest of the town, which was comprised mostly by Euroamerican-inhabited neighborhoods west of San Pedro Street.
While most of the property is still owned by descendants of the original owners, some residences have been destroyed and others are abandoned. Economic conditions in Benson have not provided opportunities for the younger generations, and they are moving away. While some historic houses are being rehabilitated by newcomers, the Barrio as a whole is threatened by the advanced level of deterioration of its unoccupied properties.National Park Service 2011, page 13.
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