In 1879 a larger two story brick structure was built with four rooms and a bell tower. This was Phoenix’ fourth brick building and there were no other structures North of the school on what was then Center Street. The school was expanded in 1893 to sixteen rooms and served the school children of Phoenix for close to a quarter century.
1916 The schoolhouse had again been outgrown and was condemned. In 1919 the entire block was purchased by the Babbitts (relatives of former Secretary of the Interior and Governor Bruce Babbitt) to make way for a major hotel, but those plans languished.
1927 The Hotel San Carlos finally became the hotel project the growing city yearned for when Charles Harris, financed by Dwight B. Heard, purchased the hotel site and began construction.
The design was done by nationally known architects, G. Witecross Ritchie of Los Angeles, in the Italian renaissance style.
The San Carlos had its share of celebrities such as Mae West, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Marilyn Monroe and Gene Autry. Marilyn’s room is closest to the roof top pool.
Legend has it the hotel is haunted by the spirits of distraught hotel guests. Some say Leona Jensen, who in May 1928 leaped to her death off the top after checking into room 720. Hotel guests and workers are also said to have heard children. People hear voices of 3 young boys. The story says they had been playing ball when it accidentally went into the well and ultimately drowned when they went into the well to retrieve their ball.
