On the last Saturday of August, Ms. Karen, Ms. Rosemary & I headed for Tombstone to enjoy Twilight. That event is when the shops in the Historic District remain open after dark. Tombstone At Twilight is experienced differently than during the day. At night, The Town Too Tough To Die takes on a dream-like quality.
Some months back, we had arranged with Angie Cullum to stay in one of her Tombstone cottages. What attracted us to her place is its location on Allen Street two or maybe three blocks from the OK Corral. In other words, easy walking distance to the Historic District.
1907
Angie told us that the house first appeared on the property tax rolls in 1907 as an adobe and wood frame house. It looks like the living room, middle room and kitchen are original. The other rooms came later. The wood floor in the living room is original as are the bead board ceilings.
Had this diminutive home been here when the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday had their little disagreement with the Clantons and McLaurys, it would have been considered a luxury villa.
A House With A Past
I asked Angie how she and her husband came to buy this place. She answered …
“Well…we love history. When this house came up for sale no one wanted it because it had a mine shaft on it. It was a foreclosure so it was covered with wire & boards so you couldn’t see the mine. That made us want it even more. Lol. (We love a challenge )
We went to the archives in Bisbee and found out the back story on the house. The original doorway to the middle room is where the built-in curio cabinet is in the living room. There are covers in the ceilings where the wood stove was in the old days. The original builder was Lafe Gibson. He was a former inmate at Yuma Territorial Prison. Then he became a barber in Tombstone, then a Gleeson deputy….well until he got caught selling stolen liquor during prohibition & fled to Colorado. He was a colorful character.
The mine shaft turned out to just be a 10 foot deep starter shaft (huge disappointment to my hubby) We filled it in. Plus one of the back buildings was the old carriage house (just a dirty old workshop when we got it).
We brought it back to life & turned it into a Western-style bunkhouse. We love the house & Bunkhouse. Everyone that stays there seems to enjoys the history & location being on Allen Street & so close to Downtown.
We recently bought the Allen English house on 3rd & Toughnut. Eventually it will be shared as a rental too.”
A Backyard With Flowers
Out back is a small yard with a large bush that produces gorgeous flowers resembling carnations. Angie said it is located next to where the outhouse was. Given the rain this year, there were plenty of flowers.
Sunset From The Front Porch
In the front is a large covered porch with table and chairs and BBQ for picnics and a couple of large rocking chairs for watching the sunset while sipping a bourbon or perhaps a sauvignon blanc. There is another more private porch facing west off the bedrooms in a bit more shade.
The outdoor temperature in Tombstone when we arrived was 102. Earlier that day, Angie wrote that she had the A/C turned on for us. Much appreciated. The other item we noticed upon entering the cottage for the first time was how spotlessly clean it was.
The modern kitchen had everything we needed and then some. Coffee maker, microwave oven, snacks on the kitchen counter, full-size refrigerator. The two bedrooms each have a comfortable queen size bed. The bonus room has a hide-a-bed. Altogether, this cottage will sleep six.
The one bathroom has a claw-foot tub that doubles for a shower. Once having arranged all the curtains so as not to shower the whole room, the shower was quite adequate. Ms. Karen is thinking about getting a new shower head.
This cottage has satellite TV, an Internet connection, and washer and dryer. All perfectly modern. What isn’t modern is where the light switches are hidden. For that, you have to read the orientation folder on the dining room table when you first enter. Or just poke around.
Just so you know, as rooms were added on, each one was 3 to 4 inches lower than the previous room. So, there are these little steps that will trip you up if you are not paying attention. Finally, this cottage is not ADA compliant. This is no place for a person confined to a wheelchair.
Do we recommend this Tombstone Cottage to our ambulatory friends and family. Indeed we do. Excellent location, immaculately clean, comfortable, reasonably priced, and delightfully historic. If you are thinking about taking a trip to Tombstone, book early.
Contact Angie Cullum to reserve.
or email: angelacullum@live.com
Phone: 520-559-6469
4 West Allen St.
Tombstone, AZ
