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48-510: El Callejón is a narrow dirt road in the heart of the Old Fort Lowell neighborhood and historic district in Tucson , Arizona , United States. This narrow lane was part of the post Fort "El Fuerte" village that was established in the 1890s and continued through the 1940s. The little road holds significant cultural, environmental, and ecological history, intertwined with the region's heritage and

96-582: A 150-year-span reflect the changing culture and economic milieu of Southern Arizona and the American West. Las Saetas was originally built as the Fort Lowell Post Traders Store in 1870 from unstabilized mud adobe in a territorial style. The building served as a store, saloon, and gambling hall. After the closure and decommissioning of the Fort, the property had successive owners and uses including

144-592: A baseball game that year and are believed to have used the area fairly regularly for campouts, target practice etc. until about 1921, when Camp Lawton opened on Mount Lemmon. Within a few years, the Boy Scouts of Tucson became part of the Catalina Council of the Boy Scouts of America. As the years passed, the old fort traded hands a few times, at one point being under the control of the Arizona State Museum of

192-564: A contributing property to the Pima County Fort Lowell Historic District in 1976. This recognition marked the significance of El Callejón's historical and cultural heritage within the broader context of the region's history. The properties are today included in the City of Tucson Fort Lowell Historic Preservation Zone, designated in 1981. This zoning designation underscores the ongoing commitment to preserving and celebrating

240-548: A farm headquarters and tuberculous sanatorium - health ranch before falling to ruin. The rambling property was purchased by the Bolsius Family in 1934. Nan and Pete Bolsius and Artist Charles Bolsius reimagined the property as a Pueblo Revival hacienda and hand reconfigured and reconstructed the building. Las Saetas is located in the Fort Lowell Historic District in east-central Tucson, Arizona . Las Saetas,

288-407: A major renovation of the property which included additions and alterations. The major changes included the enclosure of the portál into an entrada and galleria, the addition of a master bathroom on the northeast corner of the house, the addition of the dining room, which more substantially connected the west wing to the main house, the enlargement of the west wing rooms to the north, and the addition of

336-559: A steel tank manufacturing business on the site. In 2006, Jim Campbell, a local developer, purchased the property (known as the Adkins Parcel) and then traded the property to the City of Tucson. The City and County had been attempting to purchase the Adkins Parcel for over 30 years. In 2009, the city in association with Pima County created a Master Plan for the creation and development of what

384-495: A three-bay carport behind the connecting wall and original gate open towards the gatehouse. On the interior, they removed the living room fireplace and banco and added lofts to two rooms. The changes maintained the pueblo revival character. In June 2022, Josie and Douglas G. Smith, founders of Korakia and Sparrows Lodge in Palm Springs , purchased the property, where they undertook numerous deleterious alterations. The Smiths removed

432-657: Is documented in his iconic book On the Road . "The Boy Scouts had a long connection to Fort Lowell," explained columnist David Leighton, in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper on Feb. 5, 2017: A couple years later, the Fort Lowell Boy Scouts troop, which was formed from boys in the neighborhood that had grown up around the old Ft. Lowell ruins, called El Fuerte and a farming community, populated by Mormons, farther west that came to be named Binghamton. The two troops played

480-540: Is named. After the Army decommissioned the post in 1891, the civilian occupied military reservation land was sold and private farms were reestablished along the Rillito River . Mexican families from Sonora soon moved north to take advantage of the "free" repurposed fort housing and framing jobs. In the early 20th century the small village continued to grow west of the ruins of the old fort. This occupation has become known as

528-500: Is one of the great examples of Pueblo Revival architecture in the American Southwest. Rebuilt in 1935 from the ruins of the 1873 Post Traders Store the design-build project was led by Dutch-born artist Charles Bolsius , with Nan and Pete Bolsius. The project included hand-carved doors, exposed beams, carved corbels, adobe fireplaces, hand-hammered tin, and a heightened sense of romanticism. The property and its transformation over

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576-668: Is run by the Tucson Presidio Trust which also runs the Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón . Exhibits focus on military life on the Arizona frontier. The Fort Lowell Historic District is the neighborhood located on or near Fort Lowell. It is set aside as a historic district . Fort Lowell is the historical setting of the 1957–1958 syndicated Western television series , Boots and Saddles , starring John Pickard , Patrick McVey , and Gardner McKay . A reconstructed Fort Lowell

624-404: Is the principal public view of the property. The facade is characterized by large irregular geometric massing of mud adobe walls rendered in lime plaster. The 1873 building was originally an exposed adobe structure with a flat roof and parapet . The simple territorial design featured a front portál (veranda/porch) with a wood shingle roof and mill-sawn posts that extended along the eastern half of

672-735: The Battle of Cedar Creek . Initially located on the east side of Sixth Avenue, between Twelfth and Fourteenth Streets, the post was moved for sanitary reasons to a location about 7 miles (11 km) east of town on March 31, 1873. The post's name was changed to Fort Lowell on April 5, 1879. The fort played a pivotal role during the Apache Wars , providing additional protection for the Tucson area. Far too large and well-manned to be attacked directly, Fort Lowell provided supplies and manpower for outlying military installations. During its eighteen years of operation,

720-599: The El Fuerte Period. The small community of adobe houses would continue grow in the first two decades of the 20th century to include the El Callejón Fort Lowell School, and two churches, San Pedro Chapel and the Fort Lowell Union Church. These three civic building created the nexus of the village center and formed an informal plaza. In the 1930s Nan, Pete and Charles Bolsius rebuilt

768-549: The National Register of Historic Places or the City of Tucson Fort Lowell Historic Zone due to the timing of the original designations, which occurred decades ago. Since those designations, additional structures have been identified as having historical, architectural, or cultural significance, but they remain outside the official protections because the review processes at the time did not encompass more recent historical developments. The omission of these buildings highlights

816-485: The University of Arizona . In 1945, with the assistance of prominent local rancher Carlos Ronstadt, the Boy Scouts bid and obtained 40 acres of the old ruins while preventing the land from falling into the hands of developers, who were rumored to have plans of constructing a subdivision where the ruins existed. A water system was put in place by the Boy Scouts and volunteers and three structures were acquired and donated to

864-512: The 1860s, served as a lifeline for agricultural activities in the area. Fed by gravity from the Tanque Verde area, the ditch supported a thriving mesquite bosque, a remnant of the old Fort Lowell Mesquite Bosque. However, urban development and water scarcity have threatened the existence of both the ditch and the bosque, highlighting the challenges of preserving historical landscapes in a rapidly changing environment. The Hen-House Wall, once part of

912-664: The Cuauhtémoc García House became home to Cuauhtémoc and Felícitas García in the mid-1950s. Cuauhtémoc, a skilled carpenter and miner, contributed to the restoration of historic structures in the neighborhood, including the Las Saetas and the El Cuartel Viejo . His craftsmanship and dedication to preserving heritage were evident in the construction of a beautiful capilla in front of his house, honoring his wife and mother. The cultural resources of El Callejón were designated

960-761: The Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the Department of the Interior. Juan "Harvey" Xavier, was the son of Jose Xavier, who was the chief of the Choulic in the southern part of the Tohono O'odham nation and was the younger brother of Roy Harvey Xavier who served as president "chief" of the Tribal Council in the 1940s. Juan Xavier worked with the University of Arizona on archaeological expeditions. The Corbett Irrigation Ditch, dating back to

1008-543: The Post Trader's Store / Las Saetas chicken house, symbolizes the entrepreneurial spirit of early settlers. Built by John Pie Allen in 1873, the wall provided ventilation for the chicken coop and nearby horse stables . Over time, the wall became incorporated into Juan Lujan's house, showcasing the adaptive reuse of historic structures within the community. Built in the late 1950s, the Proto & Felícitas García House represents

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1056-490: The Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation, was known for his storytelling and his contributions to the neighborhood, including the construction of outdoor patios and adobe fireplaces. His house, nestled among velvet mesquites, reflects the traditional ranchería architecture of the region. Juan Xavier married Boston and Tucson socialite Gwyneth "Guyneth" Browne Harrington. Harrington served as a field specialist for

1104-620: The area for the public which includes stops in El Callejón and access to otherwise private walking paths. Fort Lowell The Post of Tucson was established May 20, 1862, after the California Column drove Confederate forces from the area. The post was abandoned in July 1864 and reestablished in July 1865. On August 29, 1866, the post was renamed Camp Lowell in honor of General Charles Russell Lowell , who died from wounds sustained during

1152-457: The area, reviewing changes to properties within the zone to maintain historical accuracy. The zone includes numerous other building and cultural assets including vernacular Sonoran adobe architecture and homes designed by Charles Bolsius , and Veronica Hughart . Some of the houses and buildings include: Several important historic buildings within the Fort Lowell area were not included in either

1200-641: The building was an open arched zaguán which served as a central entry hall / breezeway which connected to the large public rooms. West of this program were private living quarters and service, storage, and farm rooms. By the 1930s the building had been stuccoed in lime plaster. When the building was reconstructed in the mid-1930s, the Bolsius trio used the adobe shell which lent itself to the Pueblo Revival idiom. Having spent time in New Mexico they took inspiration from

1248-582: The buildings listed National Register of Historic Places , the City of Tucson established the Fort Lowell Historic Zone as a zoning overlay in 1981 to preserve the cultural and historical integrity of the Fort Lowell area. The zoning overlay provides protections for historically significant buildings, ruins, and landscapes, preventing inappropriate alterations and encouraging preservation efforts. The Fort Lowell Historic Zone Advisory Board, composed of local stakeholders and preservationists, oversees

1296-500: The cessation of the Rillito River flow. Manuel Lujan and his family eventually moved to Yuma in search of work, marking the end of an era for La Tiendita. The building at one time served as a studio for industrial designer and artist Giorgio Belloli . Built in 1956 by Juan Xavier, a tribal leader and former cowhand and welder, the Juan Xavier House stands as a testament to indigenous heritage and cultural exchange. Xavier, born on

1344-803: The crumbling adobe ruin of the Post Traders Store making it their home and studio. Through the 1940s a number of other artists moved into the Fort Lowell area establishing a burgeoning artist colony. Significant artists and intellectuals built homes and lived in the area including: René Cheruy and Germaine Cheruy , Win Ellis, modernist painter Jack Maul , sculptor and designer Giorgio Belloli, Charles Bode, architectural designer Veronica Hughart , anthropologists Edward H. Spicer and Rosamond Spicer , photographer Hazel Larson Archer and weaver Ruth Brown. The artist colony attracted writers and poets including beat generation Alan Harrington and Jack Kerouac whose visit

1392-588: The east and the post trader's private residence, store rooms, and corrals to the west. The two zones were separated by a large arched open breezeway that extended through the building from north to south. At the time of construction, the building looked north across the fertile desert floodplain, over the dense green bosque hugging the banks of the Rillito River to the expansive views of the Santa Catalina Mountain Range. The south facade of Las Saetas

1440-541: The evolving nature of historic preservation and underscores the need for ongoing efforts to update and expand protective designations as new historic contexts emerge. While these buildings are not currently protected by the same regulations as those within the official zones, many continue to play a key role in maintaining the neighborhood’s historical ambiance and cultural significance. Structures and plaques located in Fort Lowell Park. Las Saetas Las Saetas

1488-434: The facade and wrapped the building to the east. Elongated metal canales funneled water off the roof across the veranda . The facade had minimal ornamental detailing but included carved decorative cross beams on the veranda. The windows were trimmed in wood and included the territorial style triangular-shaped pedimented lintel , featuring either a plain fascia or one augmented by combinations of moldings. The primary entryway to

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1536-579: The families who called this place home in the 20th century. Private footpaths lead to an Acequia , an irrigation canal, called the Corbett Irrigation Ditch, which dates back to 1850s. Situated in the eastern part of the Rillito Valley, El Callejón was originally settled as a ranchería—a community of dispersed, often widely separated but inter-related homes and families, characteristic of northern Sonora and southern Arizona. It came to be known as

1584-520: The fort averaged thirteen officers and 239 enlisted men. Among the units present during this period were the 2nd , 4th , 5th and 6th Cavalry Regiments , as well as the 1st , 8th , and 12th Infantry Regiments . The orientation of the post was set according to magnetic north. It featured a large parade grounds, officers' quarters, quartermaster and commissary storehouses, corrals , quarters for enlisted men as well as for married non-commissioned officers . The most prominent building on post

1632-552: The multi-generational ties and cultural traditions of the El Callejón community. Proto and Felícitas García, immigrants from Mexico, bought the land and became an integral part of the neighborhood. Their house served as a gathering place for family and community events, preserving traditions such as La Reunión de El Fuerte and the Mariachi Mass. Today, the house remains a cherished memorial to their legacy, owned and inhabited by their descendants. Originally built in 1932 by Juan Lujan,

1680-400: The public as a museum. However, high levels of lead paint were found and the buildings were not opened. On the north end of the former Adkins parcel stands a pile of large stones that, according to local lore, formed a wall of the guardhouse in which Geronimo was kept prior to his removal from Arizona. The Fort Lowell Museum is located in the reconstructed Commanding Officer's quarters and

1728-487: The redesign they retained the original south facade volume and basic detailing including the retention of the south-facing portion of original portál. A wall was added connecting the main house with the gatehouse punctuated by a decorative carved gate topped with an espadana and bell. The Bolsius used the house to host cultural events, programs, art exhibits and served as the locus of the Fort Lowell art colony . Las Saetas

1776-528: The rich heritage of El Callejón for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. Each year since 1981, in February the Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood holds Fort Lowell Day & La Reunion de El Fuerte to celebrate the rich history of the people and place. The annual event is a reunion of neighbors and families who have called this palace home and includes a self guided tour of the historic properties in

1824-474: The rich historical significance of the area. La Tiendita, or "Little Store," was built out of sun-dried adobe bricks by Manuel Lujan and his brother Juan in 1947. It was intended to serve as a community center and grocery store for the El Fuerte community, La Tiendita's lifespan was short-lived, coinciding with the decline of the El Fuerte community due to environmental challenges such as dropping water tables and

1872-448: The romanticized architectural traditions of the southwest and infused a high artistic style into the project which elevated it into an extraordinary example of regional design. As part of the transformation, they continued the lime plaster stucco treatment which softened and rounded edges and installed beautifully hand-carved wood doors, hand-carved corbels, vigas, and lintels. They used the extant territorial windows painted blue and enclosed

1920-564: The site. One of the structures was used as the Ft. Lowell Training Center and another structure as the Ranger Station. In 1953, the scouts obtained the funds to have a roof built over the remains of the post hospital that still exists today, constructed a rail fence around the hospital ruins which was later replaced by a chain link fence and put up a flagpole just to the south of the remains. While many successful scout events took place there, by 1957 it

1968-420: The village of El Fuerte. The residents, many of whom were interrelated, lived a lifestyle closely connected to the land and its resources. Today, El Callejón not only provides access for residents but also serves as a link to the adjacent and nearby wash and riparian floodplain ecosystems. Six homes along El Callejón, along with the velvet mesquite floodplain ecosystem, are designated as Historic Sites, reflecting

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2016-499: The zaguán into a sala (living room). As part of the reconstruction, they used numerous conventions typical of Spanish colonial and pueblo revival architecture in the Southwest including adding alacena (cupboards built into an interior adobe wall), bancos (adobe benches built at the base of a wall), nichos (niche in interior adobe wall used for display of santos and artworks) and redesigned and installed fogon (comer fireplaces). As part of

2064-721: Was designated a contributing property to the Pima County Fort Lowell Historic District in 1976 and was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places under the Fort Lowell Multi-Cultural District in April 1978. The property is today included in the City of Tucson Fort Lowell Historic Preservation Zone, designated in 1981. In 1974, the house was purchased from Pete Bolsius by New Yorkers Peggy and Ben Sackheim. They undertook

2112-601: Was featured in the 1972 film Ulzana's Raid , starring Burt Lancaster . However, the reconstructed fort was actually built in an area just southwest of the Santa Rita Mountains , near Nogales , Arizona. Fort Lowell Park and the ruins within the property were listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1978. Other properties, which belong to the park or which in the past belonged to Fort Lowell, are individually listed in National Register of Historic Places and include Inclusive and more expansive of

2160-422: Was originally built by Post-Trader, Gen. John B. “Pie” Allen at the entrance to the new Camp Lowell , six and a half miles northeast of Tucson in 1873. The rambling large sun-dried mud adobe complex was constructed as the installation's Post-Trader's Store or Sutler's Store to supply general merchandise to the officers and enlisted men stationed at the camp. The building was demised into two uses: public rooms to

2208-472: Was realized that the Boy Scouts didn't have enough money to maintain the site and sold it to Pima County that year. The fort lay in ruins for many years and many of its adobe structures went into disrepair. Some of the portions of the fort were sold to the families in Tucson. Among the families which acquired in 1928, large portions where the fort was situated was the Adkins family. The Adkins family established

2256-448: Was the hospital , the adobe remnants of which still stand under a protective structure. A lane lined with cottonwood trees, aptly named Cottonwood Lane, graced the area in front of the officers' houses. Among the more well known officers to have served at Fort Lowell were the young Walter Reed , the Army physician famous for his yellow fever research, and Charles Bendire , the amateur ornithologist after whom Bendire's thrasher

2304-524: Was to become the Fort Lowell Park. The park features ball fields, tennis and racquetball courts, a large public swimming pool, and the Fort Lowell Museum dedicated to Fort Lowell's days as an active military installation. Fort Lowell also includes a large pond. The Adkins Parcel that Tucson purchased from Jim Campbell lies immediately west of Craycroft Road where the last of the original officers' quarters stand. Plans indicated that they would be open to

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