“The house that saved my life”: A presidential hopeful’s secret Arizona sanctuary

Whitelaw Reid’s Desert Recovery at Phoenix’s Rosson House

When North Africa failed to fix his lungs in 1894, Whitelaw Reid turned to Phoenix. The New York Tribune owner and former Vice Presidential candidate needed warm, dry air.

Mayor Rosson’s Victorian mansion fit the bill perfectly. Reid and his wealthy wife Elisabeth moved in for the winter of 1895, bringing just a few staff.

From this desert outpost, he ran his newspaper empire through telegrams and typed letters while following doctors’ orders to stay outdoors. The Reids liked Phoenix so much they came back the next winter with their kids.

The historic Rosson House still stands today, where you can see Reid’s photograph and handwriting on display.

North Africa Failed to Cure Reid’s Persistent Lung Troubles

Whitelaw Reid fought serious breathing problems that sent him looking for relief in 1894.

He and his wife Elisabeth traveled across North Africa and France for seven months, stopping in Gibraltar, Algiers, Egypt, Palestine, Beirut, Marseilles, and Paris.

Despite all these warm, dry places, Reid still couldn’t breathe well. The rich newspaper owner needed a fresh plan to save his health.

His doctors looked at the failed trip and suggested something new: Arizona’s desert climate might work where Mediterranean shores hadn’t.

Phoenix Beat Tucson in the Battle for Reid’s Winter Home

The Reids checked out both Tucson and Phoenix for their health retreat. They found Phoenix had better places to stay.

Mayor Roland Rosson happened to be renting his fancy Victorian house, which caught their eye right away. The Rosson House stood as Phoenix’s most impressive home, built just months earlier in March 1895 for $7,525.

The house had luxuries few Phoenix homes offered: electric lights, running water, an upstairs bathroom, and even a telephone.

For a sick man wanting comfort, it fit perfectly.

The Tribune Owner Brought Big-City Power to the Desert

Whitelaw Reid wasn’t just any winter visitor to Arizona.

He owned and ran the New York Tribune, one of America’s top newspapers, taking over after Horace Greeley died in 1872.

Reid knew people in high places – he served as Ambassador to France from 1889 to 1892 under President Harrison.

The Republican party picked him as their Vice Presidential candidate in 1892, though they lost to Cleveland and Stevenson.

His 1881 marriage to Elisabeth Mills linked him to big money – she was the daughter of D.Ogden Mills, who started the Bank of California.

The First Winter Brought a Media Mogul to Mayor Rosson’s House

Whitelaw and Elisabeth came to Phoenix in November 1895, bringing only his secretary and a few servants. They rented the Rosson House for the whole winter.

Reid spent his days following doctor’s orders – lots of fresh air to help his damaged lungs heal. The couple stayed until April 1896, leaving before the brutal summer heat hit Phoenix.

No records show where the Rosson family lived while rich easterners used their home. The setup worked well enough that both sides thought about doing it again the next winter.

Reid Ran His New York Newspaper from a Phoenix Parlor

The Tribune kept going strong while Reid lived in Arizona. The Tribune kept its 60,000 daily readers happy despite its owner working from 2,500 miles away.

He sent typed letters and telegrams to his staff in New York, keeping firm control over his business empire.

His letters from this time give historians a great look at what the Rosson House and early Phoenix were really like. Reid even wrote articles for papers like the Los Angeles Herald, talking up Arizona’s climate benefits.

The Reids Almost Bought Their Own Phoenix Mansion

Before heading back east in April 1896, Whitelaw and Elisabeth thought about buying a winter home in Phoenix.

They needed more space for their next visit since they planned to bring their children Jean and Ogden plus extra servants. They liked the Churchill House at 5th and Van Buren as a possible purchase.

This building later became Phoenix Union High School in 1897 before workers tore it down in 1949. In the end, the Reids decided renting made more sense than buying for their winter health trips.

The Family Returned with Kids and Extra Staff the Next Winter

The Reids came back to Phoenix on December 1, 1896, but stayed for a shorter visit, leaving by mid-March 1897. This time they needed more room for their bigger group.

They rented both the Rosson House and Jerry Millay’s nearby house for extra space. The second building sat “just to the back” of the main house, giving them more rooms and kitchen space.

Their children Jean and Ogden joined them for this second Arizona winter, making it more of a family trip than the first visit.

Money Troubles Likely Pushed the Rossons to Rent Their Home

Renting their brand-new house to the Reids shows the Rossons needed cash.

Tax records from 1896 and 1897 show both Roland and Flora Rosson owed back taxes to the city. Local newspapers hinted at money problems for the family.

Mayor Rosson quit his job in April 1896 before his term ended, possibly because of these cash troubles. These money issues explain why they let strangers live in their beautiful home for two winters in a row.

The Mayor’s Family Sold Up and Left Arizona Behind

By June 1897, the Rossons gave up on Phoenix completely.

They sold their house and the north half of Block 14 to Aaron and Carrie Goldberg, who owned a successful clothing store in town.

By late July 1897, the Rosson family moved to Los Angeles.

Nobody knows exactly why they left Arizona for good. Dr.Roland Rosson died the next year in ways some people found suspicious.

Their grand Phoenix home went to new owners, ending their short time with what would become a historic landmark.

President McKinley Sent Reid to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Party

After his Arizona health retreats, Reid jumped back into high-level politics.

In June 1897, President McKinley picked him as special ambassador to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrating her 60 years on the British throne.

The next year, Reid joined the Spanish-American Peace Commission, helping negotiate the Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War.

During these talks, Reid pushed hard for the United States to keep all of the Philippines. His time in Arizona had restored enough of his health to handle these demanding diplomatic assignments.

London’s American Ambassador Never Forgot His Arizona Cure

Theodore Roosevelt appointed Reid as Ambassador to Great Britain in 1905, a job he held until his death seven years later.

The Reids lived in fancy Dorchester House in London, throwing Fourth of July parties so big they stopped traffic for hours.

Thousands of guests came to these famous celebrations. Reid died in London on December 15, 1912, from an asthma attack.

The Arizona climate had extended his life and career, but couldn’t cure him completely.

Visiting Rosson House, Arizona

You can tour Rosson House at 113 North 6th Street in Heritage & Science Park to see where New York Tribune owner Whitelaw Reid stayed during winters in 1895-97 for his respiratory health.

The Victorian mansion is open Friday-Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Tours are limited to 10 people and the last one starts at 3pm.

Guided tours cost $15 for adults and last about 60 minutes, showing all rooms with original 1895 furnishings.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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