A Brief History of Mesa, Arizona

Historical Buildings

There are several important historical buildings in Mesa still in existence. The Lehi School, built in 1913, is the oldest standing school building in Mesa today. The former elementary school, located at Lehi and Horne, is now the Mesa Historical Museum.

The Sirrine House, built in 1895, is an attractive brick structure at 160 North Center, restored by the Mesa Historical Society and the City of Mesa. Some other historic buildings in Mesa's Town Center are the Ellis-Johnson home at 49 West First Street, the Alhambra Hotel at 43 South Macdonald, and the Southside Hospital, now the Department of Economic Security, at Hibbert and Main Streets.

The Vance Auditorium, once located at 250 West Main Street, was built in 1907. The gala Grand Opening was held on February 14, 1908. It was the largest auditorium in the Southwest, praised as having the best dance floor in the region. Broadway productions traveling from New York performed at the Vance Auditorium, drawing residents of Phoenix, who came via train.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased the auditorium in 1919. The name was changed to Mezona in 1926. Dances at the Mezona were the main entertainment on Friday nights until 1972 when the building was demolished and the Mezona Inn replaced it.

A large grain elevator owned by Frihoff and Nielson, still located at Macdonald and Broadway, serviced an important crop in early Mesa. Citrus followed as a valuable commodity, especially in northeast Mesa. There is still a citrus warehouse by the railroad line on Broadway Road west of Country Club, although most of the citrus groves in the city have been converted to housing.