The George H.N. Luhrs Family in Phoenix and Arizona, 1847-1984



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Everything was tough. The pioneers of early Phoenix put up with things that the late generation would not.


Geo H.N. Luhrs and Catharina Margarita "Gretchen" Luhrs did not know what it meant to quit. Without them there would not have been the Commercial Hotel and many other things. The Commercial Hotel (Hotel Luhrs) was not only the oldest hotel in Arizona but the oldest structure in the original City of Phoenix. All of Arizona's early Governors, United States Senators, United States Representatives, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert C. Hoover, early pioneers, developers, cattlemen, sheep men, cowboys and individuals in every trade and occupation stayed at the Commercial Hotel. (The early registration books and other valuable papers etc. have been given to the Library at Arizona State University.)


Historical monuments, once demolished, are gone forever. In the Arizona Republic of July 4th, 1980, was the following editorial under the caption, "Saving the Past." "Other buildings haven't fared so well. Some historical preservation leaders say too many are being torn down before the community realizes what it is losing in historical significance." Ann Patterson in the Arizona Republic of June 29th, 1980 said, "Restoration gives the past a chance."


The Commercial Hotel (Hotel Luhrs), during its 95 years of existence, stood sturdy on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Jefferson Street under all kinds of conditions, weather and circumstances for more years than the life of an average man.




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