Originally named “Flower Alley” during Tucson’s Spanish period, Meyer Street is one of those classic downtown streets that draws artists as they attempt to draw the street. I could not find any reference for why it was called the “Alley of the Flowers”, but since it is such a picturesque street, I would like to think it was where Tucson’s early residents could buy flowers. The street name was later changed to Meyer Street to honor the “…German-born soldier and politician, Charles H. Meyer (b.1829- d.1907). He came to Arizona with the US Army and settled in Tucson in 1858. While living in Tucson, he was the town druggist, a justice of the peace, and implemented chain gang labor to clean city streets.” (City of Tucson Historic Preservation Office, 2012: “Early Historic Streets (ca. 1775-1940)”. Now it is North Meyer Avenue in keeping with the Tucson mandate that north/south roads are “avenues” and east/west roads are “streets”. Most Tucson watercolor artists are attracted to the corner market at Meyer and Franklin (212 W Franklin) which was built around 1880 as a typical Sonoran style corner market. Later the pyramidal roof and living quarters were added with a corner steel post placed more recently for structural support for the addition over the entry.
The Corner Market - 212 W. Franklin (Meyer and Franklin)
Approximately 40 years ago, Lindy and I had considered buying the structure at 396 N Meyer when we knew several of the residents in the neighborhood. At the time, the building was essentially an abandoned ruin with no plumbing, rudimentary electrical, no interior finishes and a bare dirt backyard. However its thick adobe walls and majestic hipped roof were appealing. So, we had dinner with our friends next door and then camped in the vacant building using a recently acquired steel frame bed. It was a sleepless night and shortly after, I came down with a mysterious illness that removed any plans for acquiring and renovating the structure. However, ever since that time, we have wondered what it would have been like to live on the “Callejón de las Flores”
These sketches are my long-overdue tribute to a lovely Tucson street that has become filled with wildflowers.
These sketches are my long-overdue tribute to a lovely Tucson street that has become filled with wildflowers.
RSS Feed