Tucson Daily Citizen from Tucson, Arizona • Page 47

This Is how the Walter Franklins' home in Alamos looked in May of 1956. II is still being restored. Greek Influence Found In Alamos By MARY GERDAN When a visitor in Alamos, first sees the tail, white pillars of the Walter Franklins' house rising in the distance, he can scarcely believe his eyes. no wonder. In ttiis 18th century Mexican Village, where flat tile-roofed -houses with Spanish arches line the cobblestoned streets, it is surprising to find an example of pure classic Greek Revival architecture.

The Franklins' estate, Las Delicias (the sweets), stands" alone a few miles beyond the town proper. The dirt road that leads to it winds among small adobe houses and past a large wooden patio gate, the entrance to the estate. To the right of this gate is an adobe building where one of the caretakers lives. Beyond are sweet-smelling orchards of papaya, mango and banana trees. The drive to the house is slow.

One enjoys pausing to admire the lovely flowers that edge the drive. Finally, the house appears, magnificent, glistening white in the sunlight. A few years ago this Shangri- La didn't exist. There were only the ruins of the home of one of Sonora's wealthiest, most influential men of the ISth century. Sehor Bartolome Almada, who was a member, of the National Congress in Mexico City some 150 years ago, built the house.

it had only three The house was one of a chain of houses Sr. Almada had built throughout Mexico. He could boast that he could travel any place in Mexico and still sleep each night in his own home. The house, like most of the houses being reconstructed by Americans in isn't finished yet. The Franklins have added two wings in back which form a courtyard.

Portals have been completed on three sides of this courtyard and the fourth portal, which will be open on both sides, is nearly finished. The bedroom wing must be decorated and at the moment, the furnishings for the living room have not arrived. But the rebuilding and redecorating of these lovely homes is a long, carefully executed process. Each completed house is a work of art. This stately classic Greek Revwal country home has been reconstructed in Alamos by Dr.

and Mrs. Walter Franklin of Glob? Tnllr To Walter hves there and under his supervision orchards have been planted and the estate landscaped. The door at theBright open't fthTM story.hvmg room. The door at the left bottom leads to the dining room and above it is an ornamental door to a dl will added above the Jiving room door for balance. PAGE 48 TUCSON DAILY CITIZEN SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1959.