Page 16 Nancy Moorehead, who was from Illinois, wanted a comfortable family home. Her Illinois roots had her hoping for something with history. When their realtor found the home on Lafayette, Moorehead wasn’t sure it was the right house for them. “The house came with a lot of bells and whistles,” said Moorehead. “It had a train and a tree house. I wasn’t sure this was the good family home I was looking for.” One look, however, changed her mind forever. “The second time we looked at the house, I was walking through the property and saw another couple looking at the home. My heart sunk. I thought, ‘these people are looking at our home. I just knew it was the place for us.’” Later that year, the Moorehead family moved in to the large adobe, with daughters Jillian (6) and Jenna (9 months). The home would be theirs for the next 22 years. And now, the train and tree house, which at one time seemed too much, are aspects of the home Nancy Moorehead loves the most. “The tree house has been a major part of our life. The kids grew up playing all sorts of imaginative games,” said Moorehead. Sitting in the adjacent citrus grove for a picnic, she would watch her children and their friends play. Birthday parties and school events were often based around the tree house. Built between 1989 and 1991, the tree house was constructed by a homebuilder who was doing renovations on the entire property. “The home is old. It was built in 1890 and history tells us it was the area Stage Coach stop,” said Moorehead. In 1989, the homeowners decided to embark on a large renovation, upgrading the adobe home yet keeping the original charm and features. The tree house and train, as well as improvements to the swimming pool were added at the time as well. The owners quickly decided to sell and the Moorehead family was blessed with the opportunity to grow up in this special home. The three-story tree house was built completely around the oversized Eucalyptus tree, which shades the yard and the playhouse perfectly. The Moorehead’s added a slide to the bottom level to give the large number of children who frequently visited a way to not only get up, but back down, without constantly crowding the ladder. The second level is a small lookout tower type space with a larger ladder that leads to the top. The third level, which is taller than expected, has wood slats that create a house-type space. The height of the slats as well as the width of their spacing forms a safe place for kids to play, even three stories off the ground. “The tree used to be bigger,” said Moorehead. “It had more coverage years ago.” Even with the thinning tree, the structure was developed by a homebuilder, crafted with strength and durability in mind, and even given pile support. The wood, although the type is unknown, has lasted beautifully. “As our girls got older we did add a few things to the structure, like gymnastics bars,” said Moorehead. The tree house was not only the star attraction for pirate birthday parties and class get-togethers, it was also a favorite for kids of the Children’s Cancer Society and the Aid to Adoption for Special Kids, which had regular events on the Moorehead property. “These events have always been one of my favorite things to do,” said Moorehead. “The joy it brings to everyone, including my family, is impossible to explain.” Although Jillian and Jenna are now 28 and 22 years old, the tree house and all its joy are not simply part of their past. “This past Easter,” said Moorehead, “the family gathered and everyone got in the tree. My daughters even called everyone before hand and reminded them to be ready for a football game, which we’ve been doing for years near the tree house.” “I’ve always loved big trees and when I was a kid, I really wanted a tree house. This one, however, was more than I could have ever imagined,” said Moorehead. By Amanda Goossen THE GREAT ARCADIA T ree H ouse In 1991, George and Nancy Moorehead were looking for the perfect home for their growing family.

Page 17 4422 N. 56th St., Phoenix – Offered At $1,395,000 Convenient Arcadia location & panoramic Camelback Mtn. views make this freshly remodeled home a perfect 10! Open Kitchen/Great Room, Morning Room, large Formal Dining Room with custom 2-way fireplace. Gourmet kitchen features Viking cooktop island, stainless steel double ovens. Large outdoor patio with fireplace, built in BBQ and bar area. Split bedrooms, 2/2, with 5th bedroom currently configured as an office/study. 6th bedroom guest suite has separate outside entry. New roof, shutters, interior/exterior paint 2012-13. Ready for offers! 6 bdrms / 4.5 baths, / 4,200 s. f. / 2 Car Garage / .87 acre lot LINDA MILLER SUZANNE BABCOCK Each office is independently owned and operated. JEFF ANDERSON, ASSOC. BROKER CHERYL ANDERSON, REALTOR®, CRS 602.312.6038 cheryl@cherylanderson.com www.cherylanderson.com F reshly Remodeled Family Home in Arcadia FIND OUT WHY Reputation is Everything® ARCADIA ARCADIA ROOFING ROOFING For Quality & Excellence "When you came to evaluate my roof, I felt like you were really listening to my needs and you were so personable. My roof looks fantastic and the young men who did the work were top-notch." ~ Debbie Rode Phoenix, AZ Client Testimonial Welcome to Arcadia Roofing... At Arcadia Roofing, our focus is on quality and excellence - quality craftsmanship on every job coupled with honest, trustworthy and professional service. Phoenix-based Arcadia Roofing is a family-operated company that opened its doors because customer service within the industry had seemingly diminished. Led by specialists with more than 25 years of roofing experience, Arcadia Roofing has sought to change that perception. We provide services throughout Maricopa County for both residential and commercial properties. From roof repairs and replacements, and proficiency in everything from shingles to slate, our skilled staff can handle any job, small or large. Because our priority is our customer, we aim to be flexible, working around your schedule as best we can. We offer highly competitive pricing, free estimates and we NEVER try to sell something that doesn't need to be sold. ~ Tommy Leale , Arcadia Roofing 602.840.ROOF (7663) www.arcadiaroofingaz.com Shingles • Tile • Shake • Slate • New Roof • Reroof Repairs (leaks, hail damage, structural repair, etc.) Flat Roof (foam, torch, etc.) • Roofing Ventilation Skylights • Elastomeric coating Waterproofing • Walk decks