Apache Fires House

House of Apache Fires- Helen & Jack Frye's Pueblo Dwelling- Spirits & Haunted Memories

Mrs. Jack Frye @ House of Apache Fires in 1948

Helen Frye desired construction reflect an authentic Southwestern Pueblo

Frye contractor Elmer Purtyman at work building the House of Apache Fires, and Rosie Armijo outside the upstairs studio, this is where Jack and Helen stayed when at the house as it was more private (late 1940's). Stunning deep-set layered Sedona red rock was the original expression of the House of Apache Fires, unfortunately, when Eckankar acquired the property in the 1970's, they defaced this priceless historic landmark by spraying the exterior with red concrete mortar. Sacrilege!

The House of Apache Fires kitchen shows a commercial gas-wood stove, this was preferred by the Fryes for guests and entertaining, they even had a full-time cook named Jane (late 1940's). Part of Rosie’s job was to keep Jane sober enough to prepare dinner for guests! LOL! Rare priceless image of Helen sitting at kitchen nook (1954), notice cupboards and Concho pulls, a unique Helen Frye design

Sedona Legend Helen Frye @ bottom of Apache Fires Studio Stairway

Broken Dreams & Heartache

The House of Apache Fires, although stunning in design, is more a monument to broken dreams and haunted memories. I have been in the house dozens of times, often alone, and I can assure you in meditation therein, I found it to be haunted. The silent walls reflect 75-years of love and anguish. If you desire a more in-depth overview, read my book: "The Jack & Helen Frye Story - the Camelot Years of TWA." From the first pages it explores Helen's experiences in the house many years after it was built, and her impressions, even to the point of not desiring to visit it much at the end of her life. Seen here is an early drawing Helen Frye sent to the house architect John Gaw Meen at Santa Fe, New Mexico

House of Apache Fires- Grand Canyon & El Paso Airport

House of Apache Fires Doomed to Never be Completed

Rosie Targhetta was hired as an assistant to Helen Frye in 1947, while her brother was employed as the Frye Ranch Manager. By 1948, the House of Apache Fires was already taking shape. On the lower left, Frye ranch dog Cooper can be spotted. The adjoining image shows the completed terrace chimney with stunning Cathedral Rock backdrop. This area was for entertainment at the house by the Fryes. It must be understood the Fryes had a grand colonial mansion overlooking Washington D.C. and the White House from 1944 to 1948. This is where they lived full-time and entertained dignitaries from around the world. The ranch at Sedona and the building of the House of Apache Fires were just a sideline project, construction was as ‘time and money were available’, Jack Frye had many irons in the fire in the 1940's. So, if you wonder about the house not being completed, keep all this in mind, and as well, as the house was still being built when Jack & Helen were divorced. Helen was left land rich and cash poor, this was her desire to be deeded the entire ranch when the divorce was settled, the sacrifice was finishing the dream house

Priceless Painting- Lost & Found

For 5 years I diligently searched for the painting of the 'Painted Ponies’ -herein is the ‘telling’ of this discovery! “I turned my attention to the focal point of the enormous room at Flagstaff. Hanging at the far end was my long-time-quest, the famous painting of the Navajo Ponies! This masterpiece once hung over the fireplace at the famous Sedona House of Apache Fires landmark, now it rests in silence in a private collection. Bathed in the surreal glow of a picture light, the painting glistens in the shadows, as if to say, "Finally, here I am, you found me!" Looking closer, I was in awe at this elusive Apache Fires artifact, displayed in living color, no longer an old faded black and white photo! Carefully my eyes took in every detail of the richly colored scene, a Navajo squaw and her beloved brave, each sitting on two Navajo ponies, who were sipping from a pool of water, hemmed by a surreal Arizona sunset. Details, I might add, which are totally lost in the old, faded photos of the same painting from the late 1940's. I let my mind wander back to the story of how Jack Frye, then president of Transcontinental & Western Air, discovered this freshly created painting in 1936. He was in Albuquerque (a locale he frequented often) as it was one of Transcontinental & Western Air's mainline terminals. Indeed, Frye himself is credited by Albuquerque for the development of this airport. In 1936, Jack met with the artist Gerard Delano and chose this sizeable masterpiece from several others, the price was $3,600 dollars, a hefty fee for the time. Jack Frye had a deep appreciation for Western Art, as he himself was part Cherokee and Arizona was his adopted state. This man tamed the Southwest with the very first scheduled passenger airline service from California to Arizona to Texas, which he himself was often the President-Pilot. Jack Frye was Arizona's first registered (licensed) commercial pilot and civilian pilot as well! Shortly after initiating the above-mentioned air routes, Frye connected his airline with railway service, establishing the very first United States trans-continental passenger service for the United States. This service, later led to the very first scheduled trans-Atlantic passenger service for the U.S., from New York to Paris. Regarding the then primitive Southwest, Jack, personally, experienced it as few people alive today remember, as a lonely pilot, landing and taking off in sputtering transports from baron sand-swept runways. A remarkable man remembered today as one of the country's foremost entrepreneurs and aviation legends! Well-earned Kudos, but sadly, he is somewhat forgotten by our current generation! Tragic! After purchasing the painting, Jack Frye had it shipped by TWA to his executive office in Kansas City. Once there, it likely graced a wall in his 5-acre Tudor-style-estate near Kansas City. By the early 1940's, after he and Helen Vanderbilt were married, the painting was shipped out to their Smoke Trail Ranch at Sedona, where it hung at the famous "Willow House". By 1948, it was re-hung at the famous House of Apache Fires, as evidenced by three historic black and white photos. Eventually, in 1962, it was moved up to the adjoining Sedona Wings of the Wind House, where it hung for another 15 years. After this, it transferred to its current location (in the collection of an intimate Frye friend) where it has been hung for the last 25 years. I knew all Delano’s were named, but I had never been able to identify this painting because it never sold on the resale market. In carefully examining the back of the canvas I found the title 'Evening' written in longhand by the artist himself! Understated perhaps, but the perfect description of this display of love and peace between two Native American Indians. Now, at the end of its historic journey, the painting has witnessed many art-loving folk, from common to rich and famous, all silently gazing into its rich and layered depths. One can almost hear it whisper, "I'm a painting who has been loved by some pretty remarkable people, it's you, who should be honored to be in 'my' presence!” And so it was, and so we were....