A Visit to Historic Phoenix Neighborhoods

F.Q. Story District

As you can see from the picture, Saturday was a picture-perfect day in Phoenix and we took a drive into town and visited a couple more historic neighborhoods.  Some are still in need of a major overhaul and some are just perfectly charming.  I took pictures of a few homes in the F.Q. Story Neighborhood.

The district is named for Francis Quarles Story who was one of the first citrus growers in California in the late 1800s.  He is credited for the name “Sunkist,” a brand we are still familiar with today.

He was involved in Phoenix developments being a large landowner. This development began in the 1920s and was named for him.

As with the other Phoenix developments started in the 20s, it hit a snag with the Great Depression and was over its growing peak in the late 30s.

The home styles are Spanish Colonial, English Tudor, Craftsman and Ranch.  The ones we saw are loaded with charm and many of the homeowners participate in a neighborhood home tour at Christmas.

Alvarado Historic District

Next to the Heard Museum is the Alvarado Historic District.  These chichi homes are more than charming, I’d say spectacular really.  And by design. 

Dwight B. Heard was a prestigious rancher, politician and publisher of the Arizona Republic in the late 1800s to the turn of the century.  The Native American museum was named after him and the land adjacent to it was developed with homes over 3,000 square feet and over ¼ acre lots.  So, not just to house the sprawling Phoenix population.  Really for the elite.

We are enjoying our little Phoenix forays, but it’s time to get up in the mountains and I’m ready for the hiking trails to open.

What I’m Reading

On audio I finished A Small Town by Thomas Perry.  He’s one of my favorite thriller authors.  He frequently has characters that aren’t so black or white but are very likable in either role they play in the story.  This book was a bit different because the protagonist, Leah Hawkins, was likable and the antagonists were most decidedly NOT.  However, she had plenty of blemishes of her own and it served to make her interesting.  I always love when there is a kick-ass woman in my story too.  This is a thumbs-up recommendation.

I am now listening to the next-to-last in the Tres Nevarre series, Mission Road written by Rick Riordan.  A bit of trivia, last week Rick Riordan was the answer to a Final Jeopardy question.  I got it, of course.  I mention it only because I so rarely get Final Jeopardy correct.  I’m already having a bit of the grieving process starting when I realized there are no more Tres Nevarre very shortly.  I just don’t know what I’m going to do without than man.

I finished Conviction by Denise Mina.  It has a lot of good reviews.  It has a strong woman protagonist.  It’s a thriller with some twists and action.  It involves true crime and podcasts which I love.  But, meh, I wouldn’t really recommend it.  It wasn’t bad, but getting back to likeability.  I just didn’t care about anyone in this book.

I have now started a book my sister, Monique, recommended.  The Hunger by Alma Katsu.  I’m going to go into more depth about it next post so this post doesn’t get too long, but let’s just say it’s a horror and it involves the Donner Party. Some of my favorite things.

You know, it just dawned on me that my favorite things vary greatly from “whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens.”  I don’t really think of myself as dark, but I probably wouldn’t write a popular children’s song based on my interests.

I was able to get out early mornings to walk, run and even a game of pickleball, but I have to say my strength training really faltered this week. I’m dedicating a hunk of time on Sunday to that. A woman my age can’t have bones too strong!

Sending you blessings and peace for a miraculous week ahead!