7.
City Council Work Session
- Meeting Date:
- 11/10/2026
- From:
- Lauren Clementino, Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Manager/HPO
- Department:
- Planning & Development Services
Co-Submitter:
TITLE:
May Hicks Curtis House Relocation and Use Discussion
DESIRED OUTCOME:
Council direction on proposed relocation sites and use options for the May Hicks Curtis House.
Executive Summary:
The City of Flagstaff acquired and relocated the historic May Hicks Curtis House to a temporary location in 2025. Staff have evaluated permanent relocation alternatives and will present on the relocation sites and use options evaluated, funding considerations, and recommended alternatives.
Information:
Known as the “Betsy Ross” of Arizona, May Hicks Curtis sewed the first Arizona state flag in 1911 which is currently on display at the State Capital Museum. May is a consequential woman in the history of Flagstaff and the State of Arizona. May was a college graduate, assistant postmaster, and photographer. May participated in Flagstaff’s Women’s Club and the Arizona Historical Society, among numerous other organizations, and devoted her life to improving her city and her state. She co-created the largest existing collection of pre-WWII photographs of Flagstaff with her first husband Frank Curtis.
The May Hicks Curtis House (constructed circa 1913) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure to the Southside Historic District and was located adjacent to historic Route 66. The private residence is linked to two rooming houses in the Railroad Addition Historic District owned and operated by May and her mother, the Hicks Rooming House and St. Anne’s Apartments. May (along with Frank Curtis and later her second husband Jonathan Hill) lived in the house for decades. As the property most closely associated with her legacy, the house represents her active community involvement and contributions to Arizona’s history.
Due to proposed private development on the lot where the May Hicks Curtis House stood since its construction, relocation of the house was the only way to prevent demolition. Recognizing the significance of the House, the City of Flagstaff took ownership of the House. In April 2025, the City's contractor slid the House off the parcel to be developed and onto a leased staging area. In May 2025, the House was moved behind the City's Recycling Transfer Facility on Butler Ave. for temporary storage until it can be moved to a permanent location.
The May Hicks Curtis House (constructed circa 1913) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure to the Southside Historic District and was located adjacent to historic Route 66. The private residence is linked to two rooming houses in the Railroad Addition Historic District owned and operated by May and her mother, the Hicks Rooming House and St. Anne’s Apartments. May (along with Frank Curtis and later her second husband Jonathan Hill) lived in the house for decades. As the property most closely associated with her legacy, the house represents her active community involvement and contributions to Arizona’s history.
Due to proposed private development on the lot where the May Hicks Curtis House stood since its construction, relocation of the house was the only way to prevent demolition. Recognizing the significance of the House, the City of Flagstaff took ownership of the House. In April 2025, the City's contractor slid the House off the parcel to be developed and onto a leased staging area. In May 2025, the House was moved behind the City's Recycling Transfer Facility on Butler Ave. for temporary storage until it can be moved to a permanent location.