For more than 60 years, the doors of a mission nestled in the Foothills were never locked, welcoming visitors day and night to take comfort in the colorful murals splashed across its adobe walls.
On Monday, a fire heavily damaged DeGrazia’s Mission in the Sun on the property at 6300 N. Swan Road. The fire at the chapel shocked many who had celebrated milestones, including weddings, anniversaries of the passing of loved ones and the celebration of feast days there.
On Tuesday morning, the chapel was covered in ashes and the sun poured through the ceiling of its three rooms, much of which was affected in the fire.
Tucson artist Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia began the project in 1952, before there was water on the site and the land was unsuitable for adobe. DeGrazia worked with three old friends, who were Pascua Yaqui and knew about making adobe. It took several years to complete the 18-by-40-foot mission, constructed of native materials such as log timbers, saguaro ribs and cholla cactus candelabra.
Lance Laber, executive director of the DeGrazia Foundation, was in shock as he sat in a hotel room in Mexico, unable to make it back to assess the damage.
“Over the years, this little peaceful, wonderful chapel has come to mean a lot to people,” Laber said. “People all over the city and country that have been coming here for years are going to be just heartbroken.”
The cause of the fire in the chapel wasn’t immediately clear, but fire investigators told Laber they believe it started at the altar.
“It’s just traditional that everybody brings their candles in there, along with photographs and all kinds of things,” Laber said. “We try very hard to leave them in there and obviously it became a fire hazard.”
Laber wasn’t sure about the extent of insurance coverage.
The anxiety in his voice was palpable as he talked about how hard it was to be so far away from a place he’d grown to love.
“We’re going to see about restoring it,” Laber said. “Obviously DeGrazia isn’t here to complete the murals, but we’re hopeful that we can rebuild.”
A few years before his 1982 death, DeGrazia completed the chapel’s murals, painting the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe next to her image on the altar wall, which had graced the building since it’s construction.
“We are devastated,” said Amy Heacock, who married her husband, Patrick, two years ago in the chapel. “So much of the original chapel is gone. It will just be part of our memories,” she said, explaining that even if it is rebuilt, it won’t be the same.
The couple, both 38, walk the grounds several times a year and would go to the chapel on their wedding anniversary. “The chapel was small and had an intimate and spiritual setting. Our ceremony was at sundown and the rays came in through the windows on the west side. It was just gorgeous. The chapel bell started to cling on its own after we said our vows. It was a magical moment,” Heacock recalled.
John Hand, 39, and his wife, Shannon, 30, were married at the chapel nearly eight years ago. They married on a cool, midday in October and John Hand described it as “one of the best experiences” the two shared.
“My wife and I were thinking of renewing our vows there on our 10-year anniversary. I do hope they try to rebuild it,” said Hand, describing the comfort the chapel brought him because of its open-air structure that let in the sun, creating a peaceful ambiance.
