Location, Location, Location! Southeast Arizona!

     The Historic Willcox Commercial building is for sale.    

        The oldest store in Arizona is for sale.  Asking price is $190,000.   For information email John Seidel at willcoxcom@yahoo.com or call 575 682 6362.

The Willcox Commercial opened in this location in 1880.

Railroad Avenue

          

     This building has been the cornerstone of this town for more than a century.    It has been an integral part of the area.   

1912 Railroad Avenue

      The Norton-Morgan Company sold everything needed by the settlers and ranchers.   It was the center of commerce and transportation. 

The balcony in back has blankets displayed on the railing. 

      The gold mine in Dos Cabezas was supplied through the store.    A livery was here too for folks’ travel needs around the area.     

      Groceries, dry goods, feed, etc. was all here.    The story has it that Geronimo shopped here, buying his sugar in one pound bags as he felt he could trust that measurement.   

This 1936 picture shows the drawers to the right that are in an earlier post of the current day store.    Also notice the deep set windows and the balcony. 

      There are unique and interesting places in this area both of historical and natural significance.  On this post I will focus on the ones that are in or really close to Willcox (Ten miles or less).   

    Across the street  is Railroad Park with the Rex Allen Statue, play structure, picnic pavilion and giant cottonwood trees.  .       

 

War Memorial in Railroad Park

Historic Site Plaque in Railroad Park

     Our side of Railroad Avenue is home to the Rex Allen Museum, the Marty Robbins Museum, the Willcox theater, an old west mercantile and two winery tasting rooms.   A walk around the block will take you past the Chiriachua Regional Museum, several restaurants, a coffee shop, several second hand/antique shops, the “Friendly Book Store’ run by the friends of the library and several other businesses.   

     

 Just a scenic walk from the Willcox Commercial is the Pioneer Cemetery. 

  It has many old tombstones.

 

     The cemetery is the final resting place of Warren Earp, brother of Wyatt Earp.   Warren was killed in a bar one block from the Commercial.    

      Also on the edge of town is the Twin Lakes Golf Course and the Bird Viewing area.    It is an excellent place to golf, catch the sunset, go for a short bike ride or enjoy the mountains reflecting on smooth water.  

     Sand hill cranes winter in this area and can be observed flying overhead. 

They can be seen on the ground at the Bird Viewing area at Twin Lakesand at a bird viewing area maintained by the SSVEC Power plant on the west side of the Willcox Playa.

Twin Lakes

SSVEC Viewing Area

SSVEC Viewing Area

     The Willcox Cattle Auction is on the edge of town.   Many times I have seen the cowboys as they ride their horses to move the animals into the auction ring.

   

      I have seen long horn cattle and Brahma cattle as well as other colorful beef cows in the pens.  

     It’s a favorite place for my young nephew and I to bike ride past.  

     The Willcox Playa is an ancient dry lake.    It has been used as a bombing range by the military and artifacts such as bullet casings can be found there.    It’s a fun place to ride a 4-wheeler.     

The Willcox Playa, commonly called the "dry lake".

Dry Lake

    A short way north of town is the Circle I Mountains.   This area is excellent for hiking.    There are Indian drawings and grinding pits in the rocks.   The boulders are dramatic and the views are panoramic.    I personally have seen javalina in this area.  

Circle I Mountains are north of town.   

Back of the smooth hills are amazing boulders.

Spring bloom of poppies! 

Pronghorns running away from us south of the Circle I mountains.

     Willcox is the center of the Sulfur Springs Valley.   The nearest towns with commerce are 35 and 40 miles away.    Tucson is 80 miles away.   Willcox is the gateway to some pretty amazing places.     Next post I will travel a few miles out of town to show you the wonders of this region.   To whet your appetite for more explorations of the area here are links to a couple of overnight bike rides in this area ….   http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Eyespring2013   a trip through the valley to Cochise Stronghold and http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/oldwesteye2012  a trip to the Chiricahua National Monument.    Please check them out.   

Amazing Adobe

     The Historic Willcox Commercial building is for sale.   

This rare 134 year old adobe building has been owned by only 3 families. It is located in Willcox, Arizona.   Asking price is $290,000.   For information email John Seidel at willcoxcom@yahoo.com or call 575 682 6362.

     

 Here are more pictures of the building

THE COMMERCIAL SPACE

.     The commercial part of the building is spacious and has many historical features.    A mural of 1890s Railroad Avenue is painted on the wall. 

  The deep set windows show the adobe structure. 

     The building is faced with floor to ceiling windows which frame the Dos Cabezas Mountain range and Railroad Park.

    Some evenings the mountains glow pink.   Beautiful.   

Antique counters and display cases are in use.  The original wood floors are in good condition and the new laminate floors look great.   

The side with the two story ceiling has a large skylight illuminating the rear of the store with natural light.

The lower ceiling is pressed tin.  

The double sided gas fire place is new but it is built with the historical flavor of the building with pressed copper fascia on one side and a faux finish on the other.    

The balcony has been used for an office.  It has a good view of all the activity below.      The gigantic triple door safe is in a room off the balcony.   

The stair railing has marble post covers.

LIVING QUARTERS

The apartment is located at the rear of the store.   It has two bedrooms and two baths.

The kitchen was updated in the late 90s.    The kitchen opens into the entry room and to the patio.  

The rear entry can be used for dining or as a small living room.    The gas fireplace is in this room.    It opens into the store, the master bedroom and the patio.   

The upstairs living room opens to the store balcony as well as to the bedroom, bathroom and the downstairs. The windows catch the beautiful Arizona sunsets.

The upstairs bedroom is adjacent to the bath and looks out to Stewart Street through the window through the thick adobe wall.   .  

THE STUDIO COTTAGE.

The cottage is one large room with a recently redone bath.    It is ideal for visitors.   It is big enough for a big project and two large beds plus!   

 A tool room or garden shed is part of the same building.      The yard has fruit trees, ivy, flowers and grass.   The large patio has room for tables and chairs, lounges, barbeques or children’s wheeled toys.  

The next posting will be about the area which is full of natural and historical interest.