Benson Historic Barrio
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Benson Historic Barrio | |
 412 East Fifth Street | |
   | |
| Location | Benson, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°57′59″N 110°17′33″W / 31.96639°N 110.29250°W |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000174[1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 8, 2011 |
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.[2]
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".[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
