Pictured in the 1907 Trost & Trost advertising booklet, we find an enchanting extant school building off the beaten path in Willcox, Arizona. Located at 350 N. Haskell, which is the Business route for I-10 as it passes through the quiet desert, the building is occupied by the Sulpher Springs Valley Electric Co-op. A few changes have taken place since the 1900 erection of this structure: a new metal roof has been installed, instead of the original wood shingles; a concrete foundation is in place instead of the rock foundation evident in the 1907 photograph; and, most notably, the central tower has been removed. The foundation is still likely rock, with a concrete veneer added for looks, reinforcement or both.
Close inspection of the excellently maintained building shows that the brick quiones, along with the arched brick window trim, is original. The design of the decor is quite enough to maintain the building's original character, even apart from the tower removal.
The Trost Society took new pictures of the structure on October 22, 2020. There are so many interesting architectural surprises in these small towns!
-- Mark Stone
Thanks to the Henry C. Trost Historical Organization at https://www.henrytrost.org/buildings/grade-school-building-willcox/
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| Image courtesy of the El Paso Public Library, via the UNT Digital Archives at https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth875477/ |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Image courtesy of the El Paso Public Library, via the UNT Digital Archives at https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth875477/ |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 10/22/2020 |
