Valley of the Moonโs efforts to restore its historic adobe house on the property got a big boost toward completion.
Hamstra Helping Hands, the philanthropic arm of Hamstra Heating and Cooling, donated $8,000 toward an air-conditioning system for the house. The new system will heat and cool the house, providing the first climatecontrolled indoor space at the property, according to a news release from Valley of the Moon.
And the donation helps in another way, aiding the volunteers who oversee the property work to fix up the former house.
Zack Jarrett, president of Valley of the Moon, said thanks to the Hamstra donation, they were able to use a previous $6,000 donation from Associated Foundations of Pasadena, California, that was going to be used for air conditioning into needed electrical work.
The adobe home was originally built by Frank and Rose Thibault on a small part of the property. They had come to Tucson to help Valley of the Moon creator George Phar Legler realize in the 1920s his vision of a fairytale wonderland in the desert, the news release said.
After the Thibaults passed away in the 1960s, the building was used for storage for many years and its condition declined. Two years ago, Valley of the Moon decided to restore the building.
The Hamstra and Associated Foundations donations were among many that have helped Valley of the Moon, 2544 E. Allen Road, restore the old house.
The renovation is expected to be completed by October. Once finished, the building will be used for offices, archive storage, historical displays and meeting space for workshops and educational activities.
Valley of the Moon, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is operated and maintained by a group of volunteers.
The parkโs new all-ages show, โSherlock Holmes and the Logic of Magic,โ will begin Oct. 6 with many performances through Oct. 30. For more information about the show or history of Valley of the Moon go to www.tucsonvalleyofthemoon.com
