M.H. Starkweather: the Overseeing Architect
Merritt Howard "Starky" Starkweather was hired as overseeing architect by El Encanto Estates, Inc. in the late 1920's. He was born November 10, 1891 in Chicago, grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and learned wood working from his father R.R. Starkweather. M.H. Starkweather never received formal schooling. He learned his trade by working for several engineering and construction companies in British Columbia; Spokane, Washington; Oregon and Los Angeles. Starkweather came to Tucson in 1915, and went to work for William Bray, a local pioneer architect and one of the first national AIA organizers. Starkweather eventually went into business for himself, opening the Tucson Blueprint Company (located on N. 6th Avenue) in 1917. He sold the business to enter World War 1, but returned after the war, in 1919, and bought the business back. He operated the business until 1947, when he sold the business so he could devote himself solely to architecture. In 1945, Starkweather was associated with Richard A. Morse under the firm name Starkweather & Morse.

M.H. Starkweather was one of the original founders of the Arizona chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and named a fellow in 1968 for public service. He designed the first rodeo arena in Tucson and later became Rodeo chairman. Starkweather was chairman of the City Zoning Commission for eleven years, president of the Board of Health in 1926, and was elected to the City Council in 1924. Starkweather married Lilly E. Jettinghoff.

Lilly Starkweather was a local conservationist and championed the use of desert plantings for landscaping. She was not a landscape architect, and had no formal training. She may, however, have indirectly influenced the use of desert vegetation for landscaping themes found on individual lots in El Encanto Estates.

Starkweather is responsible for designing several public schools, including Carrillo, Drachman, Bonillas, Doolen Junior High School and the Tucson High School Stadium. In addition, Starkweather designed the Arizona Inn (listed 1987), the American Legion Club, additions to St. Mary's Hospital, and several homes in Tucson including sixteen homes in the El Encanto Estates neighborhood. The Women's Club in Safford, Arizona; the Elk's Lodge in Nogales, Arizona and the Casa Grande Hospital were also designed by M.H. Starkweather.

The position as overseeing architect for El Encanto Estates came mid-way in Starkweather's career. He was well established and locally renowned by then. The creation of such a position reflects the beginnings of the trend toward community planning and the importance of architectural control over subdivision development, a level of control heretofore unknown in Tucson. Starkweather continued to approve residential plans in the subdivision until into the 1970's, thus influencing construction and design in El Encanto Estates for over fifty years. On September 16, 1972, M.H. Starkweather died.

As an architect, Starkweather is responsible for the design of several distinctive homes in the El Encanto Estates District. The most outstanding of these are the Mills Home at 50 E. Calle Claravista, 1930 (#71); the home at 50 N. Camino Espanol, 1933 (#99); and the Manley Home at 35 E. Calle Primorosa, 1929 (#102). He is also responsible for the outstanding design of his own home located at 30 E. Calle Belleza, 1932 (#128), and the home of W.E. Guerin, president of El Encanto Estates, Inc, which is located at 30 E. Calle de Felicidad, 1932 (#86), both of which were discussed above.