The History of Sahuaro Ranch 

​

As an investment, William Bartlett, a commodities broker from the Peoria, Illinois area, purchased 640 acres of land west of present-day Phoenix under the Desert Land Act of 1877.  By terms of the Act, the  initial cost of the land per acre was $0.25.  After the land was deeded to the purchaser (generally two years later) the purchaser had to pay an additional $1.00 per acre.  Bartlett named his purchase Rancho del Sahuaro (today, Sahuaro Ranch).

​

The first building on the ranch was the Adobe House.  It was built in 1887 for Stephen Campbell, the ranch's first superintendent.  The fruit-packing house (or Packing Shed) was built in 1891 and was used to dry and package figs and other fruit grown on the ranch for shipping to distant markets.  In 1895 the Main House was built for the second superintendent, Harry Adams and his wife.  The last building to be built was the Foreman's House, which was built in 1900 and was designed to look like a colonial farmhouse; it was used as sleeping quarters for the ranch hands and an office for the superintendent.

​

In 1898, after the Bartlett's son Willie was diagnosed with tuberculosis, the family decided to move to Arizona so the dry air could cure their son's disease.  Bartlett hired J. L. Silsbee, a prominent Chicago architect, to design the Guest House for their stay at the ranch.  Silsbee was an early employer of Frank Lloyd Wright.  The house was completed in 72 days and consisted of seven bedrooms, five bathrooms and a full basement.  Each of the four first floor bedrooms had its own bathroom.  The second floor had three bedrooms, a trunk room and a divided bathroom.  The house was heated by steam generated by a coal-fired boiler located in the basement which circulated to radiators in each room.

​

Over the years portions of the ranch were sold off.  In 1972 the City of Glendale purchased the last 80 acres of the ranch and set aside 17 acres for the historical area, thereby preserving the original buildings.  The remaining land was used for picnic areas, ball fields, a children's play area and other City facilities such as the Glendale Public Library and the Glendale Fire Station #157.

​

Today, all the old buildings have been restored and are in constant use.  The Adobe House is open for tours.  The Packing Shed is used for art shows and summer camp for school children.  The Main House is open for tours as is the Guest House (home of the Glendale Arizona Historical Society), and the Foreman's House serves as offices for the Park staff who oversee  operations at Sahuaro Ranch.