Catlin Court Historic District
Catlin Court was the first cohesive neighborhood to be laid in Glendale, ca. 1914 by Mae Catlin Hansen and her husband, Otto. There are a few multi family residences, although the majority of the 80-plus homes are single family, many of which are preserved and/or restored Craftsman Bungalows.
Catlin Court Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
The Catlin Court Historic District encompases portions of ten blocks of a residential neighborhood in central Glendale. The boundaries of the district include four blocks located on the north edge of the original Glendale Townsite and the remaining blocks in the contiguous Catlin Court Subdivision. The principal north-south streets are 58th Drive and 58th Avenue, historically known as First Avenue and Second Avenue, respectively. East-west thoroughfares are Palmaire Avenue along the district's southern boundary, and Myrtle Avenue, one block to the north. Other roadways pass through the district for distances of approximately one block. They include Gardenia Avenue on the north edge of the district, State and Northview Avenues, and 57th Drive. 57th Avenue and 59th Avenue form the futhermost east and west boundaries of the district respectively. The principal period of development of the district was from 1917 through 1930. A resurgence in construction began about 1935 and lasted until the outbreak of World War II. That time frame is the second most dominant period in terms of the district's representative architecture. The buildings within the historic district retain a high degree of architectural integrity, particularly in design, setting, materials and workmanship. The streetscapes in the district illustrate the historic character of the subdivision and retain integrity of landscaping, roadway widths, sidewalks and the continuity of historic houses.
Architectural Character
The District is a well rounded representation of the historic architecture of Glendale from the turn-of-the-century until 1942. The district includes the range of styles that were popular and dominant in the community and throughout the Salt River Valley during that period. Although the developmental history of portions of the district dates to the early 1890s, the vast majority of the buildings were built during Glendale's first significant building boom. That period, from about 1915 through 1929, is well illustrated by the number of Craftsman Bungalow residences in the district. As the most popular style of residential architecture of the 'teens and 1920s, the Bungalow was the preferred choice for homes constructed in Glendale during that boom period. The Catlin Court Historic District contains many well preserved, and often locally unique, examples of Bungalow Style architecture.
Notwithstanding the preponderence of the Bungalow Style, the district also includes the full range of other popular styles of the early to mid twentieth century. Those styles include the Mission Revival, Spanish Eclectic, Tudor Revival, Rustic Style, and finally the Minimal Traditional styles popular during the mid-to-late 1930s.
Street Names
57th Avenue North • 57th Drive North • 58th Avenue North • 58th Drive North • 59th Avenue North • Gardenia Avenue West • Myrtle Avenue West • Northview Avenue West • Palmaire Avenue West • State Avenue West
