Tempe Historic Property Survey

The William H. Perry House, built in 1899, was significant as a rare example of a Victorian cottage in Tempe. Constructed of wood frame, the house had retained its original Victorian detailing, such as belled ventilator, turned porch supports, jigcut porch brackets, and molded cornice trim. The house was demolished in the 1980s.

Historically, the house was associated with several Tempe citizens. It was built by William Perry, a rancher, who occupied the house until 1915, when he moved to his ranch. The house was soon bought by Fred A. Van Riter, manager of the Tempe Milling Company and local rancher. In 1920, Theo and Delia F. Dickinson moved into the house. Theo Dickinson came to Tempe in 1893, working in the lumber industry, and was manager of the J. D. Halstead Lumber Company at the time of his death in 1924. The house was next occupied by James B. Flumerfelt, a Tempe auto repairman, miner, and rancher. He also served as a Tempe City Councilman in the early 1930s, and lived in the house until 1937.

This modest Victorian cottage was a one-story, wood-frame building with clapboard siding and shingle roof. Originally conceived as an L-shaped cottage with a recessed corner front porch, it was modified shortly after construction with the addition of a rear hipped-roof room and adjacent porch. During the Van Riter occupation of the house (c1918-1920), modifications included a modest addition to the rear and bathroom and kitchen remodeling. Original architectural elements that were present in the 1980s included tongue-in-groove wainscoting , wood floors, clapboard siding, windows, doors, hardware, and glass; also, period details such as molded cornice trim at the enclosed eaves, belled ventilator, and jigcut brackets.

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