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Growth Years
The
prosperity in Phoenix after World War I brought hundreds of
the Valley's new residents; mostly middle class, white and
blue collar workers, into the subdivisions in the Coronado
area. In 1920 alone, over 800 building permits were issued by
the City of Phoenix, with contractors purchasing whole blocks
and building several "spec" houses at a time. Building homes
on speculation, without any financial commitment from a buyer,
was a relatively progressive idea for its day. As residential
construction in central Phoenix boomed, Coronado emerged as a
desirable and affordable area. The average price of a
residence was $1,973 in 1920. Lots were provided with city
water and sewer connections, electricity and graveled streets.
Other facilities in and around the Coronado area
influenced its growth. The Brill Street trolley car line was
extended north of McDowell Road to 10th Street and Sheridan in
1914. A small commercial node developed at that corner; the
New Deal Grocery (ca. 1934), still stands to reflect the
commercial activity. Good Samaritan Hospital, originally
called Deaconess Hospital, was built in 1917.Coronado
Neighborhood
One of the first subdivisions in the Coronado
neighborhood, "Ranchitos Bonitos." (literally translated in
English as "pretty little ranches") describes the charm of
this architecturally diverse neighborhood built from the early
1900's to the 1930s. Because of its relative proximity to
Central Avenue, Coronado was not one of the "streetcar
neighborhoods," but provided modest working-class homes for
Phoenicians.
The construction of Emerson School in 1921
and the location of Coronado Park encouraged young families to
move into the area. Most residents were hard working, service
industry workers. Workingwomen were salesclerks or clerical
office workers. Men's occupations covered the spectrum of
employment available in the early part of the century:
firemen, policemen, bank tellers, railroad engineers, and
other types of service sector employees.
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