Articles by Bo Mackison

Historic First Church in Phoenix, Arizona

Steeple against the Bluest of Skies

Steeple against the Bluest of Skies

Before we left Phoenix for the trip to Tucson, we got off the Interstate for awhile and drove the streets in downtown Phoenix. I saw this church a few blocks away, and said the now famous phrase, “That would make a great photo…” I am getting so much better at accepting that it is OK to go back for photographs, and so we drove in circles a bit until we found the right streets and the church.

I thought I remembered that the church had written on the front, in huge letters, “First Historic Church”. That made me curious. I get the historic part, but I wondered how it could claim first in that category. It didn’t look that old. Then I went back in my photo archives and realized it said “Historic First Church,” so that made more sense. Amazing how a turn of words implies a different concept.

When I Googled “Historic First Church,” I discovered there are numerous church buildings that are historic and first – Brooklyn, Pasadena, Albany, and yes, Phoenix. But I gave up trying to find much information about the building in Phoenix after several more Google searches.

I did learn that this was the first Protestant church organized in the Arizona Territory and that it has served downtown Phoenix as the First Presbyterian Church since 1879, but I could find nothing about the building itself.

And on a side note, Arizona has the bluest skies I have ever seen.

Adobe and Shadows in Tubac Arizona

Tubac Arizona

Tubac Arizona

On my recent trip to the Southwest, I noticed one big difference between Arizona and Wisconsin. Summed up in one word – SUN! The sun seems to shine all the time. Now I know that is an exaggeration. We actually had one day (out of ten) that was cloudy and we did get caught in a rain shower. But for the most part, the sun was shining in that big, bright blue sky.

The sun makes for some great photo opportunities of shadow play. This adobe building not only had strong shadows from the wooden ramada, but also had more subtle shadows from a nearby palo verde tree.

Be My Valentine?

Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus

Today is the last day of our Southwestern adventure. It’s also Valentine’s Day, though in our family we have celebrated our son’s birthday on February 14th more than we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Or at least we have until the last few years.

Fitting that my Valentine’s post is a sweet heart of a prickly cactus from the Sonoran Desert just west of Tucson. Love that desert!

Arches, Columns, and Tiles

Architectural Details

Architectural Details

As part of the walking tour of downtown Tucson, accomplished by following a stripe of turquoise paint on the pavement, you cross through an interior courtyard of the Pima County Courthouse and pass through this columned pathway.

Pima County Courthouse

Tuscon Arizona

in Tucson Arizona

The courthouse, in Tucson’s downtown district, was designed by Tucson architect Roy Place and built in 1929. The building has a Spanish Colonial and Moorish style, and a rather remarkable dome decorated with mosaic tiles. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.