The City of Sedona Historic Preservation Commission will co-host two open houses
for the general public on Saturday, May 22 from 2-4 p.m. in celebration of
National Historic Preservation Month.
The Doodlebug Ranch House and the Ralph Block Ranch House are featured this year
to showcase their unique history and to recognize their recent designation as
local historic landmarks. The Mayor of Sedona will present a bronze plaque to
the owners that commemorates the property’s contribution in helping preserve
Sedona’s history.
The Doodlebug Ranch is located at 10 Ranch House Circle and the Ralph Block is
at 335 Arroyo Pinon Drive in Sedona. Members of the Historic Preservation
Commission will be on hand to help answer questions about preservation and to
assist in the house tours.
The Doodlebug Ranch is located on land that was homesteaded in the late 1800’s
by the Chavez family and then by Ira Owenby. The ranch house was built for
Ralph and Dudy Thomas in the 1930’s by Roe Smith and Al Nuanez with local river
rock in a low, rambling ranch-style form. Tony and Marguerite Staude acquired
the ranch in 1941. Marguerite commissioned the design and underwrote the
building of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona in 1956.
The second home to be featured is the Ralph Block Ranch House. In 1948, Ralph
and Marion Block purchased thirty-seven acres of land from homesteaders Frank
and Bessie Gibson. They built a ranch house with a three-horse barn, a corral
and a tractor shed. The house is constructed of local building materials
including extensive use of Arizona yellow pine and a distinctive reddish-brown
volcanic cinder block. In 1967, Marion and Ralph Block developed some of their
land into the 30-lot Arroyo Piñon Subdivision.
This year, the national theme is “Old is the New Green”. By giving Preservation
Month the theme of sustainability, the National Trust is hopeful that
communities and organizations across the country will help spread the word that
preservation is inherently green. When you reinvest in older and historic
buildings or live in a historic home, you support a more sustainable world.
For more information and directions, call Kathy Levin, Associate Planner at
(928) 203-5035.
