Historic Homes Coffee Table Book
Contributed by Allison Hawley
One of many homes featured in the soon-to-be-released coffee table book, Historic Homes in the Heart of Phoenix, Frenchy Vieux is located in the Roosevelt Historic District and named for Marcellin “Frenchy” Vieux (1872-1951). A native of France, “Frenchy” Vieux emigrated to the U.S. in 1902 and became a prominent cement contractor and developer who used the tools of his trade to build his home in 1912. To this day, the stamps bearing his name can be seen on thousands of linear feet of Phoenix’s streets and sidewalks.
Featuring the expert photography of Alex Rentzis of Sparta Photo and Kevin Kaminski of Kevin Kaminski Photography, Historic Homes in the Heart of Phoenix is a high-quality coffee table book that will take you on a journey through Phoenix’s most iconic and revered historic homes. The story begins in Roosevelt, Phoenix’s first designated Historic District which, after years of abuse and neglect, is today an important and thriving part of the downtown Phoenix landscape, largely due to the efforts of former Mayor Terry Goddard, who honored us by authoring the Forward for our book.
Also featured is the ever-charming Willo Historic District, with its bungalows and tree-lined streets. Built as many little “street-car” subdivisions of modest homes, Willo is
now one of Phoenix’s largest historic districts and a delight to residents and visitors alike, as evidenced by the crowds who flock to the annual Willo Home Tour.
A cohesive and friendly neighborhood with a bit of a boho vibe, the homes of F.Q. Story are as unique as their owners in this close-knit District. As the Historic Homes in the Heart of Phoenix book came together, a common thread emerged among F.Q. Story homeowners who used words like “caretaker” and “keeper” to describe their time in the amazing homes they cherish.
The owners of the magnificent homes in the Encanto/Palmcroft Historic District delighted us with stories of the past, invoking images of days gone by when dinner guests were greeted by the sounds of a string quartet playing from a balcony high above the grand ballroom. What the guests didn’t see was each musician, instrument in hand, climbing a tall ladder to reach the balcony before commencing to entertain the guests far below their perch.
With an October 2021 release date, Historic Homes in the Heart of Phoenix is nothing short of a work of art. Our goal was to bring you a high-end book of generous size — perfect for showcasing the rich details you will find yourself pouring over again and again. We owe a debt of gratitude to each homeowner who shared their homes with us, and we are so pleased to now share them with you.
Historic Homes in the Heart of Phoenix is now available for purchase. Please order via this link and be sure to include our promo code “GYPHX10” for a 10% discount available through the month of October.
