Michael Sullivan (died March 25, 1928) was a stonemason who in the 1920s built various historical structures of
fieldstone
Fieldstone is a naturally occurring type of stone, which lies at or near the surface of the Earth. Fieldstone is a nuisance for farmers seeking to expand their land under cultivation, but at some point it began to be used as a construction mate ...
in
Casa Grande
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = Casa Grande-Casa Grande Union High School-1920-2.jpg
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption = Historic Casa Grande Union High School which now serves as the ...
. He also built a monument in the town of
Sacaton, Arizona
, native_name_lang = ood
, settlement_type = CDP
, image_skyline = Sacaton-Cook Memorial Church-1870-1.JPG
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption = The C. H. Cook Memorial Church, listed in the National ...
, dedicated to Pvt.
Matthew B. Juan, a
Native American, who was the first
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States. It is the list of U.S. states and territories by area, 6th largest and the list of U.S. states and territories by population, 14 ...
n to die in World War I.
Stonemason
Sullivan was born in Casa Grande, Arizona, in the late 19th century. There he became a professional stonemason. His specialty was building structures out of fieldstones. Fieldstones are the stones collected from the surface of fields where it occurs naturally. The stones used as fieldstones are building construction materials which are collected from the surface of fields where they occur naturally. In 1924, he built the cobble
Casa Grande Woman's Club Building
The Casa Grande Woman's Club Building, at 407 N. Sacaton Street in Casa Grande, Arizona, USA, is an historic women's club building which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The Casa Grande Woman's Club
Originally organi ...
, following the design of
Tucson
, "(at the) base of the black ill
, nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town"
, image_map =
, mapsize = 260px
, map_caption = Interactive map ...
architect
Henry Jaastad.
[ With ]

The largest fieldstone building to be built by Sullivan was a building for the local Presbyterian congregation which is known as “The Casa Grande Stone Church”. He accomplished this feat with the help of Los Angeles architect Robert Orr. The first service held in the church, with its glittering copper-plated dome, was in January 1928. The Casa Grande Historical Society acquired the Stone Church in June 1977.
Sullivan’s last completed project was the Pvt.
Matthew B. Juan monument in the town of
Sacaton, Arizona
, native_name_lang = ood
, settlement_type = CDP
, image_skyline = Sacaton-Cook Memorial Church-1870-1.JPG
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption = The C. H. Cook Memorial Church, listed in the National ...
. Juan (April 22, 1892 – May 28, 1918) was a
Native American who died in the
Battle of Cantigny
The Battle of Cantigny, fought May 28, 1918 was the first major American battle and offensive of World War I. The U.S. 1st Division, the most experienced of the five American divisions then in France and in reserve for the French Army near the v ...
of World War I. Juan was the first
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States. It is the list of U.S. states and territories by area, 6th largest and the list of U.S. states and territories by population, 14 ...
n to die in the war. Sullivan did not see the dedication of this monument as he died on March 25, 1928, of a heart attack while en route to
Sacaton, Arizona
, native_name_lang = ood
, settlement_type = CDP
, image_skyline = Sacaton-Cook Memorial Church-1870-1.JPG
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption = The C. H. Cook Memorial Church, listed in the National ...
, for a visit.
List of historic fieldstone structures
Among the structures which he built and which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places are the following:
American Legion Park History
/ref>
* The House at 222 9th St., built in 1920 and located at the same address. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, reference #0200073.
* The House at 320 West Eighth Street
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
a.k.a. the Stone Barber Shop
In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
, was built in 1920 and is located at 320 W. 8th St. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, reference #02000745.
* The Stone Bungalow
In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks form the Earth's o ...
was built in 1921 and is located at 515 E. 3rd St. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, reference #85000995.
* The Stone Warehouse was built in 1922 and is located in the rear of the building at 119 Florence St. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, reference #85000896.
* The Casa Grande Woman's Club Building
The Casa Grande Woman's Club Building, at 407 N. Sacaton Street in Casa Grande, Arizona, USA, is an historic women's club building which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The Casa Grande Woman's Club
Originally organi ...
, built in 1924 and located at 407 N. Sacaton St. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, reference #79000425.
* The Casa Grande Stone Church, built in 1927 and located at 110 W. Florence Boulevard. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, reference #78000567.
* The Fisher Memorial Home, built in 1927 and located at 300 E. 8th St. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, reference #85000884.
* The Vasquez House, was built in 1927 and located at 114 E. Florence Boulevard. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, reference #85000897.
Gallery of Sullivan’s historic fieldstone structures
Further reading
* "The Heart of a Cowboy"; by: John H Conley Jr.;
* "Casa Grande (AZ) (Images of America)"; by Dawn Snell and the Casa Grande Valley Historical Society; Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (2011); .
See also
* Stonemasonry
Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, ...
* Clinton Campbell
Clinton Campbell (1865-1937) was a "locally prominent builder" who worked in Phoenix, Arizona. Several of his works both survive and are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Campbell died in 1937 and was buried in Phoenix's Gre ...
* List of historic properties in Casa Grande, Arizona
* Casa Grande, Arizona
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = Casa Grande-Casa Grande Union High School-1920-2.jpg
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption = Historic Casa Grande Union High School which now serves as the ...
Arizona pioneers
* Mansel Carter
Mansel Carter (May 12, 1902 – June 5, 1987), also known as "Man of the Mountain", was a businessman and prospector. In 1987, The Phoenix (magazine), ''The Phoenix'' named him one of "Arizona Legends". The San Tan Historical Society of Queen Cre ...
* Bill Downing
* Henry Garfias
Henry Garfias (born Enrique Garfias; 1851–1896) was the first city marshal of Phoenix, Arizona. He was also a gunfighter who became the highest elected Mexican American official in the valley during the 19th century.
Early years
Garfias was bo ...
* Winston C. Hackett
* John C. Lincoln
* Paul W. Litchfield
* Joe Mayer
* William John Murphy
* Wing F. Ong
* Levi Ruggles
* Sedona Schnebly
Sedona Schnebly (born Sedona Arabella Miller February 24, 1877 – November 13, 1950) was an early pioneer in the Oak Creek area of Arizona. She was the namesake of the town of Sedona, Arizona. She helped in the establishment of the family farm a ...
* Trinidad Swilling
* Ora Rush Weed
* Henry Wickenburg
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Michael
American stonemasons
Year of birth missing
People from Casa Grande, Arizona
1928 deaths