Sirrine House
Due to a lack of city funding, the Sirrine House will only be open
for specially funded events.
The Sirrine House, operated by the Arizona Museum of
Natural History, is Mesa's only fully-restored, Victorian era historic home
museum.
HISTORY
The Sirrine House was built in 1896 by Joel E. Sirrine for his new
bride, Caroline Simkins Sirrine. In February 1986, the Sirrine Historic
House Museum was opened to the public. This was the culmination of six years
of community support, both in time and money, to preserve this part of
Mesa's history. The City of Mesa, with the help of the Mesa Historical and
Archaeological Society and many other groups and individuals, was
instrumental in the success of the restoration project.
The Museum and the
Southwest
Archaeology Team began a research study of the home in order to make the
restoration as accurate as possible. Many years and occupants meant that
walls had been painted and repainted. Only after this intensive study had
been completed was the restoration work begun.
The original house, built by Joel Sirrine in the center of Mesa, is three
rooms with a large wooden porch, high ceilings for cooling, and wooden
baseboards, windowsills and trimmings. The lumber for the home was purchased
in Prescott and freighted to the valley by Joel and his brother, Warren. The
wood was primarily Ponderosa pine. The brick for the house was made by the
Shill family of Lehi.
The home is furnished to represent the first years after the turn of the
century, with actual period piece antiques and collectibles which are
authentic to the time. The home is elegant but simple. Decisions about
furnishings were based on knowledge of the times, the people who lived in
the home, and the style of this particular area. Artifacts were donated or
purchased by the museum staff with funds provided by the Arizona Museum of
Natural History Guild.
The effect is that of stepping into a Mesa home of about 100 years ago.
The hope is that this historic home will give the people of today a glimpse
back in time to the Mesa of the early 1900's.
For more information on Mesa's history, visit the
Mesa Historical Museum.
More Information:
Southwest Archaeology Team
Mesa Historical Museum
53 N. Macdonald
Mesa, AZ 85201
(One block north of Main Street in downtown Mesa. Take US 60 or 202 to
Country Club Drive, go to Main Street, and proceed one-half mile east to
Macdonald) -
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Phone:
480-644-2230
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