Pearce, John, House
718 Central Ave., SW, Albuquerque, NMThe Pearce House is significant as a good example of the architectural style prevalent in Albuquerque in the first decade of the 19th century; as a particularly fine house from that period, it is notable for its exterior half-timbered and clinker brick surfaces, both unusual in Albuquerque. Currently, it is most important as the sole remaining example of residential construction in the downtown portion of Albuquerque's Central Avenue, a street otherwise given over to modest-scale commercial buildings constructed between 1880 and 1940. As a residence that was once at the fringes of downtown, it serves as a reminder of the small scale of early Albuquerque and f the urban variety that once flourished on the edges of downtown.
The Pearce House was built for Dr. John F. Pearce, who purchased the lots from the First National Bank of Albuquerque in May 1904, and had built his house by 1907, when it appears on a City Abstract map. Dr. Pearce, who was born in Maryland, came to Albuquerque after his graduation from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1883 and became one of the first physicians in the new city born of the railroad boom. Pearce played a major role in city life, serving as a physician both for the city and for Bernalillo County. He was elected a city Alderman in 1901 and served on the City and Territorial Boards of Health. His offices in a downtown building a few blocks away must have been conveniently close to his home, where he lived until 1933.
Between 1933 and 1944, when the Pearce House became the Downtown Hotel, the structure passed through a number of uses. It served as a boarding house, the Brooks Inn, until 1940 when a group of chiropractors established a clinic and hospital there. Their short-lived enterprise lasted only a year, and the building stood vacant for a time until it became the Downtown Hotel, a boarding house that Mrs. Bessie Jackson was to run for the next 30 years. Mrs. Jackson never owned the building, and it passed through several hands in her time, but during her long tenure, it served a very useful function as a home for many of the city's elderly and poor people.
In 1976, the Pearce House was acquired from the Central Land Company in New York by the City of Albuquerque as part of a Municipal Redevelopment program in the Alvarado Renewal Area at the southwest corner of the Central Business District. The City has recently completed the sale of the property to Downtown Equities a small development corporation that plans its rehabilitation and reuses for office space. Their plans promise to save this fine residential structure as a reminder of downtown Albuquerque's past and a contribution to its future architectural variety and interest.
Local significance of the building:
The Pearce House was built for Dr. John F. Pearce, who purchased the lots from the First National Bank of Albuquerque in May 1904, and had built his house by 1907, when it appears on a City Abstract map. Dr. Pearce, who was born in Maryland, came to Albuquerque after his graduation from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1883 and became one of the first physicians in the new city born of the railroad boom. Pearce played a major role in city life, serving as a physician both for the city and for Bernalillo County. He was elected a city Alderman in 1901 and served on the City and Territorial Boards of Health. His offices in a downtown building a few blocks away must have been conveniently close to his home, where he lived until 1933.
Between 1933 and 1944, when the Pearce House became the Downtown Hotel, the structure passed through a number of uses. It served as a boarding house, the Brooks Inn, until 1940 when a group of chiropractors established a clinic and hospital there. Their short-lived enterprise lasted only a year, and the building stood vacant for a time until it became the Downtown Hotel, a boarding house that Mrs. Bessie Jackson was to run for the next 30 years. Mrs. Jackson never owned the building, and it passed through several hands in her time, but during her long tenure, it served a very useful function as a home for many of the city's elderly and poor people.
In 1976, the Pearce House was acquired from the Central Land Company in New York by the City of Albuquerque as part of a Municipal Redevelopment program in the Alvarado Renewal Area at the southwest corner of the Central Business District. The City has recently completed the sale of the property to Downtown Equities a small development corporation that plans its rehabilitation and reuses for office space. Their plans promise to save this fine residential structure as a reminder of downtown Albuquerque's past and a contribution to its future architectural variety and interest.
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
New Mexico was the birthplace of several famous figures in American history, including the outlaw Billy the Kid, the physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the astronaut Harrison Schmitt, who was one of the last men to walk on the moon.
About Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County Timeline
Bernalillo County, located in the central part of the U.S. state of New Mexico, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Tiwa and Tanoan people, who lived off the land and established settlements along the Rio Grande.
In 1540, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado led an expedition into what is now Bernalillo County. The Spanish established several missions and settlements in the region, including the Alameda Mission and the village of Alburquerque (later renamed Albuquerque). These early settlements laid the foundation for the region's future development.
During the 19th century, Bernalillo County experienced significant growth with the arrival of American pioneers and traders. The region became an important trading post along the historic Santa Fe Trail, further connecting it to the expanding western frontier. In 1851, Bernalillo County was officially established as one of the original nine counties in the newly formed New Mexico Territory.
Bernalillo County played a significant role during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. It served as a strategic location for both sides, as the Rio Grande acted as a natural barrier. The county saw battles, skirmishes, and military engagements, leaving a lasting impact on the region.
In the 20th century, Bernalillo County continued to grow and develop, becoming an important center for government, commerce, and culture in New Mexico. Today, the county is home to the vibrant city of Albuquerque, which is the state's largest city and the cultural, economic, and political hub of the region. Bernalillo County's rich history can be seen through its diverse architectural styles, cultural traditions, and landmarks that reflect the people who have called this area home throughout the centuries.
In 1540, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado led an expedition into what is now Bernalillo County. The Spanish established several missions and settlements in the region, including the Alameda Mission and the village of Alburquerque (later renamed Albuquerque). These early settlements laid the foundation for the region's future development.
During the 19th century, Bernalillo County experienced significant growth with the arrival of American pioneers and traders. The region became an important trading post along the historic Santa Fe Trail, further connecting it to the expanding western frontier. In 1851, Bernalillo County was officially established as one of the original nine counties in the newly formed New Mexico Territory.
Bernalillo County played a significant role during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. It served as a strategic location for both sides, as the Rio Grande acted as a natural barrier. The county saw battles, skirmishes, and military engagements, leaving a lasting impact on the region.
In the 20th century, Bernalillo County continued to grow and develop, becoming an important center for government, commerce, and culture in New Mexico. Today, the county is home to the vibrant city of Albuquerque, which is the state's largest city and the cultural, economic, and political hub of the region. Bernalillo County's rich history can be seen through its diverse architectural styles, cultural traditions, and landmarks that reflect the people who have called this area home throughout the centuries.
Bernalillo County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
- 1692: Bernalillo County established as part of New Spain's Santa Ana Pueblo land grant.
- 1821: Mexico gains independence from Spain, and Bernalillo County becomes part of the Republic of Mexico.
- 1848: Bernalillo County is ceded to the United States as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War.
- 1852: Bernalillo County officially organized as a county within the New Mexico Territory.
- 1880: Completion of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line through Bernalillo County stimulates growth and development in the region.
- 1902: The county seat is moved from Albuquerque to nearby Los Ranchos.
- 1930: The county seat is moved back to Albuquerque due to the city's rapid growth and importance.
- 1960s: Bernalillo County experiences significant population growth as a result of urbanization and suburban development.
- 2000s: Bernalillo County implements various initiatives to promote economic development, community engagement, and sustainable growth.