Walk Through History in Willo - Willo Historic Home Tour in Phoenix

You probably know that one of my passions is historic homes. Houses with a past have fascinating stories to tell.

This Sunday, February 11, brings the 19th annual Willo Historic District Home tour. If you are a fan, or just interested in homes from the 1920’s through 1940’s, this event is for you. The tour features superb examples of a wide variety of architectural styles, all nestled in the Willo Historic District of Phoenix.
A hundred years ago, this was farm land on the outskirts of town. Then in the early 1920’s, a few Bungalow style homes were built, and Willo became a suburb. As the American West grew in the early part of the 20th century, Phoenix experienced a building boom, and so did Willo. During the 1930’s, new architectural styles appeared including Tudor Revival, Greek Revival, Spanish Colonial and Pueblo Revival. Though building stalled during the Depression of the ’30’s, new styles continued to be seen in Willo including French Provincial and Monterey.

Almost two dozen subdivisions were built in Willo through the beginning of WWII. As Phoenix continued to grow after the war, commercial development began to encroach on what was once a sleepy suburb. But Willo residents in the 1980’s lobbied to become a conservation district, and were successful in attaining historic district status.

Just recently, Cottage Living Magazine profiled Willo as one of the top ten cottage communities in the United States. And now you can see the results of the continual care and attention of Willo’s residents by enjoying the Willo Home Tour. Walk from house to house, or take a trolley car to stops on the tour. There is also street fair with handcrafts, antiques, and local artwork. Food vendors will be there, too, with tasty choices. Get complete information and tickets online here.

See you in Willo!

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