Survey Number:            HPS-148

                   Year Built:            1892

    Architectural Style:            Western Colonial Box/Bungalow

THEME / CONTEXT
The B. B. Moeur House is associated with the context of Community Planning and Development.  It falls under the theme of housing - custom home.

HISTORIC ASSOCIATION
The B. B. Moeur House represents one of many houses in Tempe that received "historic" alterations to their facades which usually changed the character of the building from one style---Victorian to another---Bungalow.  This house went through this type of change and today feels much like a Bungalow.

ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION
The B. B. Moeur House is significant as the residence of one of Tempe's most prominent businessmen and politicians.  The house was occupied continuously by Moeur from 1896 until his death in 1937, during which time his career evolved from a comfortable medical practice to the governorship of the state.  Dr. Moeur moved to the Salt River Valley in 1896 after graduating from medical school at the University of Arkansas.   He succeeded in establishing a reputation as a "country doctor" by his willingness to make long distance house calls to homesteads all over the area.   His most important civic contributions were in education including 8 years on Tempe Normal School Board. 

SUMMARY
The B. B. Moeur House was originally a simple two-room frame cottage built in 1893 which was expanded over a 40-year period to a large, prestigious home of 2,800 square feet that represents a unique evolution of additions, modifications, and stylistic interpretations.  Moeur began the additions and changes in 1901.  The current appearance of the house shows major changes that were made in 1912, which gave the house a more formal appearance representing the then popular Neo-Colonial Revival Style that is of architectural significance today.  Additions and renovations continued to  transform the house into a more contemporary Western Colonial Box-style home with a bungalow-style porch.  More changes were made in 1929, when new brick veneer walls enclosed all of the original exterior frame walls of the building.  The residence is a locally significant example of early twentieth century residential architecture. 

Dr. Benjamin B. Moeur, a physician from Tennessee, came to Tempe in 1896 and became the town's only full-time physician.  In 1896, Dr. Moeur purchased the property and moved his family into the house at the corner of Myrtle and 7th Street.  Many years later, when he served two terms as governor of Arizona, he still lived in this house in Tempe.  The Moeur house was occupied by Dr. Benjamin Baker Moeur from 1898 until his death in 1937. 

In 1993, the City of Tempe adapted the five-bedroom, 2600-square foot house for reuse as offices for the Tempe Community Council using Federal Community Development Block Grant Funds.  At that time, the Hatton Hall community building was added for City committees, nonprofit community meetings, and events.  The B. B. Moeur House has been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but has not been officially listed at this time.  

SOURCES
Tempe 1997 Multiple Resource Area Update

LINKS 

Tempe Historic Property Survey

Tempe Historical Museum Biographical File

Tempe Historical Museum Research Library File Contents for HPS-148.

The Governor Benjamin B. Moeur Residence Home of Tempe Community Council

Governor B B Moeur Residence National Register Nomination draft for SHPO review