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Those venturing down Butler Avenue on Tuesday night might have encountered an unexpected sight: the May Hicks Curtis House, a fixture of Phoenix Avenue for over a century, taking a drive through downtown Flagstaff.

The house, constructed in 1911, was the longtime residence of May Hicks Curtis, who made history at the age of 23 by sewing the first state flag of Arizona.

When plans surfaced to demolish the house in order to make room for new development, the City of Flagstaff began looking into viable efforts to relocate the building. The response did not go unnoticed; earlier this month, the house was designated as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“We’re really grateful for the partnership and the attention that the National Trust is bringing to this project. It’s been a good way to showcase what we’re doing and educate folks about what’s going on,� said Lauren Clementino, senior planner with the City of Flagstaff.

She said the designation has garnered a new level of media attention and community engagement.

“I’ve heard from several different people who have been in the house or have walked by it over the years and just had no idea about the story of May Hicks and her family," Clementino said.

In mid-April, the house was lifted onto I-beams and slid over to the adjacent city-leased land parcel. It rested there until earlier this week, when it was moved to the Materials Recovery Facility on Butler Avenue.

A permanent location has yet to be secured. Potential parcels of land for relocation include sites, some of which are near the structure’s original location, presently being used for the Lone Tree overpass project’s construction staging.

“It’s currently a contributor to the Southside historic district. If we’re able to keep it somewhere in the district or as close as possible, we could maybe redraw the district boundary in the future and maintain its eligibility through the district that way,� Clementino said.

While the process has been moving along smoothly, it is far from over. The construction staging parcels will not be made available until the completion of the overpass project. Factors such as planning, permitting and stabilization also contribute to the anticipation of a longer time frame.

“We’re preparing for it to be a couple of years," Clementino said. "The goal would be to move as quickly as possible, because the best thing for the house is to have occupants of some kind.�

The logistics of loading an aging structure onto a truck are not simple.

The city worked with Vibrant Building Solutions LLC to identify potential pitfalls and prepare the house for relocation. Stucco had to be stripped from the foundation and the floors reinforced before securing the I-beams beneath the base of the structure. Two stone chimneys that were not strong enough to endure transportation had to be removed.

Additionally, the house was built in two stages, each utilizing a different technique in foundation. This discrepancy has resulted in the house shifting unequally over time.

“If you’re looking at the house, you can see how it’s settled based on which foundation moved more than the other. There is a nice crack in the stucco,� Clementino said. “This is an opportunity to stabilize it.�

A home for a home

The building's future function is still up in the air. The city has floated ideas of transforming the house into offices, a meeting center or a common space open to the community, similar to the Murdoch Center. The final location will play a large role in the decision.

“What we would really hope to see is that there's some way the building could have public access so that people can continue to learn about May Hicks Curtis and her contributions to Flagstaff's history,� said Jennifer Sandy, senior director of preservation at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Sandy oversees the trust’s annual America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, a project that is now in its 38th season.

“There are so many different layers of stories associated with her and her life, and what she did for the community," she said.

The house was among topics featured at the Preserve AZ Conference in Phoenix on Thursday. The session covered the legacy of May Hicks Curtis and the endeavors to protect the building.

The month of May was named National Historic Preservation Month in 2005 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

A proclamation denoting the significance of this month will be issued at Tuesday’s Flagstaff City Council meeting. Additionally, the Weatherford Hotel hosts History Happy Hour the first Wednesday of every month.

Arranged by the Townsite Community Land Trust, the event brings awareness to history and preservation efforts around Flagstaff. Clementino will be speaking about the May Hicks Curtis House at the September gathering.

“A lot of different sources of preservation funding, particularly at the federal level, are in question,� Sandy said.

She emphasized that interested parties can reach out to the city regarding donations and other ways to show support. Sandy also recommended writing to elected officials about the importance of preserving historic sites.

“I think what's compelling to me about it really are the stories," she said. "The stories of just everyday people and communities and the things that make those communities unique. The stories that can only be told in certain places and are better understood by physically being in those places.�

Community members are encouraged to follow the progress of the May Hicks Curtis House and stay tuned for upcoming plans and public participation by visiting the city website at . Information about the Natural Trust for Historic Preservation and more ways to contribute to preservation efforts can be found at .