History of theDeMund?

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Born in 1856, Herman Parry DeMund was the eldest of 5 children who lived on a farm near Empire Prairie, Missouri. In 1881, at the age of 25, HP (as he was known to friends) married the daughter of the farmer who owned the adjoining property, 19 year old Sarah Jane Pearce. Sarah’s family had emigrated from England and the youngest of 9 children, all of whom were born overseas except Sarah. HP and Sarah went on to have seven children of their own. HP was engaged in house moving, painting, and building, contracting and operated a lumber yard in King City Missouri. In 1895, the DeMund family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where HP established the DeMund Lumber Company and the Phoenix Flour Mills with his brother Charles. The DeMund Lumber Company would grow to become the largest lumber business in the Southwest at the turn of the century. 

 The businesses did quite well, thrusting the DeMund family into early Phoenix society. H.P. became a prominent businessman and civic leader, and the family one of the most prominent in town. They became such family friends with established Phoenix families such as the Thalheimers, Hibbards and Luhrs. In 1900, The DeMund Mansion was built on two city lots, 50 feet by 140 feet each that cost only $1,100 in 1887. The home has a unique façade, with 3 distinct architectural styles, which have been labeled Mission Revival, Tudor Revival, and Queen Anne Style There are two distinct international features that baffle historians, the pagoda-style cap at the roof’s peak and the square wooden porch columns bearing Greek acanthus leaves on the capitals. The elegant home was built with the utmost care to detail, with oak paneling and hand carved floral relief strips throughout the first floor and two large stone fireplaces. The walls are double brick with two inches of insulating space between. The bricks are the old sand type, which were made in Phoenix.  

 The home became a place of celebration for the family, with Sarah the gracious hostess; there were many parties and gatherings at the home, including the extravagant wedding of her daughter, Hazel. In 1908, H.P. sold both his businesses, and established the Arizona Hardware Supply, and Southwestern Sash & Door Co., which were eventually sold. H.P. followed his interest in real estate, becoming both an investor and President of Valley Realty & Trust Company and Citizens’ State Bank. H.P. was a nationally celebrated trapshooting champion and also organized the DeMund Lumber Company baseball team, the first baseball team in Arizona. He was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Club, the Knights of Pythias Lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He lived at the DeMund Mansion until his death in 1932 at the age of 76. Sarah went on to become a charter member of the Phoenix Woman’s Club. She remained living in the home until her death in 1936. hp demund first friday fizzy pool party