By Tom Blodgett
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X: @sp_blodgett

An effort has been launched to move Gilbert's second oldest building and save it from demolition.

HD South, the cultural center and home to the Gilbert Historical Museum, and WAGS Capital and Associated Architects, are collaborating on an effort to save the historic Clare home at 309 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert.

The home, built in 1918, was site of Bergies Coffee Roast House in the heart of the Heritage District until the owners decided to retire and sold the property to WAGS Capital.

The plan, as outlined by Gilbert Redevelopment Commission Chairperson Casey Kendel during public comment at Gilbert Town Council's meeting April 2, calls for relocating the home to the grounds at HD South, 10 S. Gilbert Road, about a half-mile from where the home sits.

HD South occupies the former Gilbert Elementary School site, the oldest building in town.

The Clare home then would  serve as an additional exhibit for guests to enjoy when they
visit the museum, providing an opportunity to experience and engage in
Gilbert’s history, according to a release from HD South.

Forrest Clare and his family came to Gilbert in the spring of 1918 from Clarkdale. They built their home and opened a sheet metal shop on Main Street, now
known as Gilbert Road.

Clare and his sons ran the sheet metal shop until 1975, it was eventually torn down, but the family home remained.

In 2009 it became the site of Bergies Coffee Roast House,  which operated until December 2022. It is one of only a small number of buildings in Gilbert more than 100 years old that  are still standing.

WAGS Capital has had plans approved to turn the property into a Bottled Blonde nightclub..

The cost to relocate, refurbish and maintain Clare House would be about $135,000, Kendel said. However, the money must be raised before May 15, when the home is scheduled for demolition to make for construction on the property.

Community members who wish to donate to the efforts to save the piece of Gilbert’s history may visit the HD South website and make a one-time donation under the Donations tab and specify if is for #SaveTheClare2024.

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).