[Source: Katie Nelson, Arizona Republic] -- A Valley philanthropist has more than tripled a fund to save a historic Tempe house. Edie Arrowsmith's donation of $150,000 to restore the Eisendrath house in north Tempe brings the total raised to about $215,000. The Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation still has a long way to go, though. Reviving and rebuilding the 1930 two-story adobe house could cost up to $2 million. But the sizable bit of generosity from Arrowsmith will help make saving the house a reality, supporters say.Arrowsmith has been involved in the preservation of six historic homes. One of the properties she took on is a rock lodge home just outside downtown Flagstaff run by the Museum of Northern Arizona. "It surely wouldn't have been possible without her," said David Wilcox, the museum's senior curator of anthropology. A biologist and an artist, who were the museum's founders, originally built the 6,000 square-foot home in 1929 with the help of Hopi craftsmen. And after years of being in disrepair, it now is the site of weddings, receptions, and conferences. It was featured in American Bungalow magazine.
Tempe preservationists hope the Eisendrath house can be revived in the same fashion. A team of architects and builders is working with Arrowsmith to examine what it will take to make the project happen. The renovation could take up to two or three years, said Bob Hardison Hardison Downey Construction, a general contracting company from Phoenix, has a team of employees volunteering to work on the project. A plan could be ready as soon as the end of the year, he said.
[Note: To read the full article, click here. For more information about efforts to preserve the Eisendrath House, contact Joe Nucci at 480-350-8870. Photo source: City of Tempe.]
