Cottonwood AZ (January 25, 2021) – Jim Padgett, Planner for the City of Cottonwood Community Development Department, recently gave a presentation to the Verde Historical Society Board of Directors about expanding Landmark Status for three properties on the city’s Historic Property Registry including: the Cottonwood Bridge, the Del Monte Wash Bridge and Lions Park. Landmark Status is the highest form of preservation that can be assigned to a local historic property, public or private. Current land-marked city property includes the Cottonwood Clubhouse, Upper Verde Justice Center and the Bank of Arizona. Land-marked private property currently includes Garrison Liberty Garage, First Assembly of God Church, Tovrea Residence, Edens Residence and Luther White Residence. The Society learned that the Clemenceau Public School, which houses the Clemenceau Heritage Museum and the Cottonwood/Oak Creek School District offices, is on the list of properties eligible for local historic private property designation. The original Bank of Clemenceau building, located at the museum, is also an original Clemenceau building which might fit the qualifications for local designations, according to the information presented by Padgett.
Two members of the Cottonwood Historic Preservation Commission, Debbie Garrison and Jeff King, joined Padgett at the presentation to discuss the activities of the commission and reinforce the collaborative partnership between the historical society and the commission. Each organization acts as a resource for the other. Verde Historical Society board member, Helen Killabrew, was designated as the society’s liaison to the preservation commission. The Verde Historical Society is a sponsor of the upcoming Cottonwood home tour and will participate in a video for the virtual home tour which is produced by the Historic Preservation Commission. The Clemenceau Heritage Museum, located in the historic Clemenceau Public School, will be one of the locations featured on the tour.
For more information about local Cottonwood historic preservation designation of public and private properties, contact Jim Padgett at 928-634-5505. To share information on historic Cottonwood properties or to learn about the society and museum, please contact the Verde Historical Society and Clemenceau Heritage Museum at 928-634-2868 or email clemenceauheritagem@