TRAVEL

5/3: Prescott historic-home tour

Ron Dungan
The Republic | azcentral.com
The Henry Goldwater house in Prescott. Part of the 2014 Prescott Historic Home Tour.

Prescott's historical neighborhoods reflect the city's rich heritage. This weekend, residents who live in those neighborhoods will open their doors to the public.

"These are the homes that, when people go to Prescott, they always wish they could see. Now they get to see them," said Susan Stodola, a spokeswoman for the tour.

This home at 142 S. Pleasant St. in Prescott was built in 1906. It's part of the 2014 Prescott Historic Home Tour.

The self-guided tour will showcase homes on Mount Vernon Avenue and Pleasant and Union streets.

"Our main goal is to show the beautiful historic homes in Prescott," Stodola said, but organizers hope that future tours will be able to raise money for charity.

Among the homes on the tour:

- The Hendrick D. Aitken house, a shingle-style home built in 1893 by a store manager who was known to rise early to play golf at the old Hassayampa Country Club before heading to work.

- The Henry Goldwater house, a Victorian-style home built in 1894 and designed by renowned Phoenix architect W.R. Norton. The home recently restored inside and out to combine the historical exterior with a modern floor plan. Henry's nephew, Barry, was a U.S. senator and frequent visitor to Prescott.

- A Victorian cottage built in 1895 that was the home of Prescott's first dentist, Ralph Roper, who lived there from 1899 until his retirement in 1945. The house was completely remodeled in 2005, including the additions of a guest house, garage and loft.

Volunteers from Sharlot Hall Museum and the Elks club will dress in period clothing and greet visitors in some of the homes.

Also this weekend, Prescott is hosting the annual Whiskey Row Marathon, the Chalk it Up! street-drawing event and a Cinco de Mayo celebration, giving people a lot of options.

"If people come up, there are other things they can do as well," Stodola said.

Prescott Historic Home Tour details:10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 3. Select homes along Mount Vernon Avenue and Pleasant and Union streets. $15, $10 for ages 2-12. Buy tickets from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 425 E. Gurley St. www.prescott-az.gov/history/hometour.php.