Tempe Historic Property Survey

The Stelzreide/Bangs House was one of Tempe's earliest concrete block houses. This rusticated concrete block cottage was built in 1908 by William Stelzreide, and featured a bellcast hipped roof and a shingled gable. In the 1980s, the exterior of the house was in good condition and retained most of the original features, but the interior had been altered to accommodate a commercial business. The house was typical of the architectural styles of the time and was built with an innovative construction method. William Stelzreide came to Tempe as section foreman of the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad in 1887 and remained in Tempe until shortly before his death in 1913. He served as a member of the Tempe Town Council and was a respected citizen. The Stelzreide House was sold soon after construction and was most frequently a rental property. Of many owners, Mrs. Martha Bangs retained title for the longest period, renting out the house from 1922 to 1954.

This one-story rusticated concrete block house was L-shaped in plan, with a bellcast hipped roof over the central portion of the house and a low-pitched roof over the extended portion of the "L." The pedimented front gable was faced with staggered butt shingles and featured a square ventilator with horizontal louvers. The porch infilling the "L" had a bellcast hipped roof slightly lower than the main roof. All roof surfaces were asphalt-shingled. Eaves were boxed. The porch was reached by two concrete steps. Two pairs of slender posts set directly upon the wood porch floor supported the porch roof. Lattice covered the space between the porch floor and the ground. The front entry was a single-leaf paneled door with one light. Large double-hung windows had concrete sills and were beneath segmental arches. All windows were wood-framed.

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