Our house was built in 1940-41 as one of the original seven homes in this subdivision. Over the years, six more homes were added to complete the neighborhood as it stands today.
In 1971, while I was still a student at ASU, a friend gave me a tour of the coolest spots in Tempe. He drove me to Campo Alegre (it was spelled with one ''l'' back then), and I instantly fell in love with the natural desert landscape, the expansive views, the open spaces, and the dirt road. It felt secluded and private, yet it was only a few minutes' drive to shopping, school, and work. I showed it to my wife, and we both agreed it would be a wonderful place to live someday. From that moment on, every time I found myself nearby, I'd drive through to see if a house was for sale. After eight years of checking, in 1979 I was thrilled to finally see a "For Sale" sign in front of this house. My wife was equally excited. We put down a deposit, sold our home near Daley Park, and moved in with our three young boys later that year.
Set on over 1.6 acres of land, this house became the perfect place to raise our family. Shortly after moving in, we started making improvements to tailor the home to our needs and interests. Our first project was to open up the dining room to the living room and create a conversation pit around the fireplace. Over the years, we added a workshop, a garage, and bike storage. The kids built a fort and a half-pipe for skateboarding, and we put in a basketball hoop and a sand volleyball court. After the kids moved out, the volleyball court was transformed into a vegetable garden and meditation space for my wife.
As we approached retirement, we each added private studies, and I created a music room. But the joy of living here wasn't just about the houseit was about the lifestyle. We could walk, run, or bike right from our front door and explore miles of beautiful desert without ever crossing a street. We often found ourselves stopping by the zoo or the Desert Botanical Garden along the way. A small lake just a five minute walk away became a favorite spot for walks with our dog. But the real magic of living here was the sense of community. We were fortunate to have 12 wonderful neighbors who shared a deep care for each other and the natural environment. It was a place of privacy and peacewhere I could practice the saxophone late at night without worrying about disturbing anyone (except my wife, of course). And it was the simple joy of sipping a glass of wine before dinner, and watching the sun set behind the boulders of the zoo.