About the Calumet & Arizona Guest House

In 1906 noted Southwest architect Henry C. Trost designed a home for the Joseph E. Curry family.  Mr. Curry was chief clerk for the Calumet & Arizona Mining Company.  The "C&A" eventually acquired the house from Mr. Curry and, after altering it to reflect the values of an increasingly wealthy community, used the facility as a guest house for visiting VIPs. 

Construction on the home began just after the railroad finally reached Bisbee, providing access to previously unavailable items from various sources around a rapidly industrializing young nation. Choice specialty products particularly rare in rural Arizona Territory before the coming of the iron rails included bathroom fixtures, ornate door hardware, and exotic hardwoods- some finely crafted and finished- that were generously incorporated into trim, flooring, wainscoting and cabinetry that adorned the Calumet & Arizona house. 

Old and curiously imperfect glass is still prevalent in window panes throughout the house and finely cut, beveled and leaded glass was incorporated for ornamental purposes in various locations. A coal fed boiler in the basement served cast iron radiators in all the rooms. The old boiler has been left as original as possible, but its function has been superceded by modern central heating. 

After passing through a few owners and many alterations to meet the needs of a changing community, the C&A became the residence of the Timbers in 1977 and since that time they have been conducting a careful restoration and enhancement of the home and its grounds.  Countless architectural details and period furnishings are the result of a long ago art of craftsmanship and sense of proportion, which are lost to us today.

The garden was at first intended to be only a beautiful frame for a most extensive preservation and enhancement of an historic home. However, its development has become a many year and captivating project in its own right. Terracing, massive walls and rocks, impart a bold three-dimensional texture to the grounds and compliment the massive lines of the structures. Mostly lush desert flora has been selected, to which our particular Southwest zone is friendly, as well as suiting the home's Mission revival theme.

All room rates include our full breakfast, cooked to order for each guest, and served in our elegant dining room. Guests may select from a menu which includes fresh fruit salad, juice, coffee, tea, milk, bacon, eggs, cottage fries, homemade granola, french toast made with homemade whole wheat bread, broccoli/cheese quiche, crepes filled with scrambled eggs topped with a Hollandaise sauce, Eggs Benedict and homemade toast and jellies.

Our guest rooms range in size from average (150 sq.ft.), to very spacious (500 sq. ft.). Period wallpaper adorns the walls and antiques, from collectable grade to family heirlooms, to museum quality are throughout the home and bedrooms. 

The areas common to all, i.e. apart from the private guest rooms, are in the grand old way of both spacious and numerous: living room, music room, dining room, atrium, halls, landings, porches and a woman's dream kitchen- large, attractive and a blend of the old but yet with modern efficiency and convenience. 

Evidently the home was always loved for what it was by its previous owners, because almost all of its antique architectural details had been carefully guarded and preserved. During the more than three decade process of modernization and renovation by its current owners, changes such as central heat and air conditioning, evaporative cooling and WiFi internet connections have been subtly incorporated into the home to make it more comfortable and convenient for guests.

The Calumet & Arizona house is located in the Warren District of the City of Bisbee, an area modeled on the "City Beautiful" concept by landscape designer Warren Henry Manning. This part of town was named after George Warren, a particularly colorful early miner whose likeness also appears in the official Arizona state seal. See: https://www.bisbeeaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6500/Warren-Historic-District-National-Register-Nomination for additional information about the Warren District.

Guests/visitors may park along the front and left side of the house. Parking is private and free. Note: Rooms can be locked from inside but not from the outside. The doors are 1906 vintage and we couldn't bring ourselves to cut additional holes in the doors or moldings. Guests may secure small valuables in a house-provided safe. None of the rooms are accessed by staff or owner after they've been rented without being invited in by the guest/guests.