City of Tempe, AZ

YEAR BUILT: 1938

HISTORY
The Governor Howard J. Pyle house is located in the Park Tract subdivision of Tempe. Platted in 1924, the Park Tract subdivision remained relatively undeveloped until its construction peak from 1928 to 1930, when the majority of infill construction was undertaken. The Governor Howard J. Pyle House, though, was not built until 1940, well after the tract’s construction boom.

Howard J. Pyle was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, on March 25, 1906. In 1925, Pyle’s father moved the family, including a nineteen-year-old Howard, from Texas to Tempe. By 1930, Howard Pyle was a well-known voice in Arizona broadcasting, and during World War II, he served as an overseas reporter on the Pacific front.

Pyle and his wife, Lucile Hanna Pyle, contracted their house to be built in 1938; construction was completed in 1940. This house remained their home for 27 years. During their time in the house, Pyle held various positions within the community. He was a member of the Tempe City Council, member and secretary of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce; Tempe Civic Club manager, member and president of the Tempe Historical Society, and a founding member of Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital.

Throughout his life, Pyle received numerous honorary degrees from universities across the United States, including Arizona State University. He also received many honors from various organizations and agencies. These include an honorary membership in the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Arthur William Memorial Award. In addition, the National Safety Council named its most prestigious in Pyle’s honor.

Pyle served on many committees, councils, and boards on both the regional and national level. He was chairman of the Western Governors Conference from 1951 to 1953 and chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health for the US Department of Labor from 1971 to 1973.

From 1951 to 1955, Pyle served as governor of Arizona. At the time, he was Arizona’s first Republican governor in 20 years, having won against popular Democrat Ana Frohmiller in the 1950 general election. He was known to work effectively with the Democratic-controlled state legislature during his terms, which occurred during a period of rapid growth for Arizona.

The Pyles sold the house in 1965 and moved to another location in Tempe. This move happened in the middle of Pyle’s time as president of the National Safety Council.  Currently, the Pyle House shares its land with a new condominium development. Regardless, the original house is preserved and well-kept at the front of the property.

ARCHITECTURE
The Governor Howard J. Pyle House was built in the Modern Ranch Style with an L-shaped design that is very wide and shallow in layout. Most of the house’s massing is at the front of the house. The foundation is concrete, and the walls were built with concrete masonry blocks. The roof is low pitched with asphalt shingles; it extends to cover the single-leaf entry at the front of the house. The windows are steel casement type.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
National Register of Historic Places Nomination. Governor Howard J. Pyle House. October 8, 2010.

O’Melia, Kevin. “Staff Summary Report to Tempe City Council.” City of Tempe, September 7, 2006.

Rector, Pam. “Staff Report to the Historic Preservation Commission.” City of Tempe, February 9, 2006.