By Nancy Burgess
Once the Bashfords had remodeled the house to their tastes and to reflect their status in the community, the Bashford House became a meeting place for the well-to-do high society of Prescott’s business and professional elite. Wealthy businessmen, financiers, mine owners, soldiers and politicians met at the Bashford’s elegant house. Mrs. Bashford’s soirees, to which the ladies of society wore their elegant outfits, were a popular pastime for the wives and daughters of the prominent men of the community. These elaborate dresses, with bows and layers of flounces and pleats and “princess trains” were only worn once, as being seen in the same dress twice would shatter the important statement made by the wearer that the family was wealthy enough to afford such opulent costumes. Mrs. Bashford’s gracious hospitality helped take the edge off the raw frontier that was just beyond the borders of the city.
As Melissa Ruffner wrote in Prescott: A Pictorial History, “Mrs. Bashford’s rich tastes were mirrored in every room. The exterior of the structure was decorated with gingerbread trim and a solarium was added on, enclosed by eight large windows with stained glass transoms above and lavishly bedecked with plants. Several other rooms were decorated with intricate cherry-wood lattice work imported from Europe. The windows were richly curtained and thick carpets covered the floors. Delicate and expensive bric-a-brac was on every shelf and table…..”
In September 1904, the Bashfords sold their property to Eugene Greenwood for $9,000 “together with all improvements of every character, nature and description situate thereon including household and kitchen furniture, fixtures and personal property as found in the residence occupied by grantors.” The Bashfords then moved to Los Angeles, where William died in March 1915. In later years the home was occupied by various tenants and by 1935-36, it had been converted into apartments. In the 1950s, it was known as the “Goodloe Apartments” with eight units. Mr. Charles Goodloe lived in apartment number one for many years.
In 1974 the Bashford House was doomed to demolition if it was not moved. The owner, Delbert Pierce, donated the building to the Sharlot Hall Museum, and, after three months of hard work and every conceivable type of community fundraising, the house was moved in seven sections to the museum grounds on April 19, 1974. After a two-year rehabilitation and restoration, the house was opened to the public amidst much celebration on May 15, 1976.
A modern Photograph of the Bashford House on the grounds of Sharlot Hall Museum. (Courtesy of Sharlot Hall Museum Marketing Department)
In October 1995, the Bashford House was documented and the paperwork was submitted to the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for a “Consideration of Eligibility” to the Arizona and/or National Register of Historic Places. The building was described at that time as a “Victorian with Queen Anne influence in the detailing and ornamented structural members, including decorative spindles, incised decoration, hood molding, decorative brackets, and moon gate entry; and Stick influence in the massing with gabled roof structure, asymmetrical shapes, angular form and decorative trusses in [the] gables.”
After consideration by the SHPO staff, there was a mixed recommendation as to the eligibility of the building due to the extensive additions, restoration and rehabilitation, and primarily, because it had been moved from its original site. Staff stated that the building was a good example of its style and that “the details of its structure convey the important defining characteristics of its style.”
Ultimately, the Historic Sites Review Committee determined that the Bashford House was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and it was entered into the Arizona State Inventory of historic resources. However, to date, the nomination to the National Register has not been prepared and the Bashford House has not been listed in the National Register.
The building is well protected by State statutes which require state-owned historic buildings to be properly maintained and their historic integrity protected. This is, however, not an easy task for the state agencies responsible for these treasured representatives of our cultural history, because of funding priorities. It is often necessary for the community to step up and help with this important work, just as the community of Prescott stepped up in 1974 to save the Bashford House from demolition. Mrs. Mary Louise Evans Bashford would surely be pleased that the Bashford House is still a part of the Prescott community today.
(Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners, International (www.prescottcorral.org). The public is encouraged to submit articles for Days Past consideration. Please contact Assistant Archivist, Scott Anderson, at SHM Archives 928-445-3122 or via email at archivesrequest@sharlothallmuseum.org for information.)