Karl (named for Karl Marx) Dennis, was born to a left-wing Jewish family in New York on August 29, 1919. As a young man he worked as a machinist and jazz musician and was active in the trade union movement. After WWII Karl and his wife, June moved to Tucson and purchased this lovely home in the La Madera Neighborhood with another couple, William T. and Joyce Gordon. They closed on their new home on May 10, 1947.

Hence the name of our little home: The Dennis/Gordon House!

Back in 1947 the neighborhood was being newly built-out and buyers of these new 2- or 3-bedroom homes were working class first-time buyers. In Tucson Karl worked as a carpenter and any odd job he could find as Tucson was a very small city back then and good jobs were scarce.

We have been unable to find information on the Gordons, though we continue to search.

Karl and June moved back to New York in 1950 where Karl worked as a toolmaker. Both he and June were active in their unions, in the American Labor Party, and in the campaign to free Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were ultimately convicted and executed for spying on the United States for the Soviet Union.

One of Karl’s Favorite stories was about a Labor Party meeting he chaired with a guest speaker, a very young pastor working for the rights of African Americans in the South, a pastor by the name of Martin Luther King Jr.

Over the years Karl became less politically active. Returning to Tucson Karl and June purchased another home in a multiracial, working-class neighborhood on Tucson’s South Side where he became an eager participant in the Salt of the Earth Labor College. June’s failing health kept Karl from becoming more active politically.

Karl passed on February 6, 2007.

The property changed ownership multiple times in the 1940’s and 70’s. On June 30th, 1976, a single gal, Jonnie Raye Harper purchased the home and lived there until she passed. Her estate then sold it to our friend Peter Stiles on August 28, 1981.

Hooper Henderson “Peter” Stiles was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in Knoxville, attended the University of Tennessee, where he studied geology and anthropology. He moved to the West in his early twenties, making Tucson his permanent home. Peter spent his early years collecting and trading wares with regional indigenous tribes, making jewelry, and exploring the desert. Over his lifetime he acquired an extensive knowledge of the area, geology, vegetation, and artifacts. He loved sharing his knowledge of the desert with friends and we were lucky enough to go out with him on one memorable day where we found enormous amounts of pottery shards, arrowheads, flints, manos and metates. Peter shared with us unmapped land previously occupied by the local Tohono O’odham and Hohokam peoples. What a gift!

In his later years Peter worked successfully as a realtor® here in Tucson helping numerous families sell and buy homes in the greater Tucson area.

Peters’ yard here on Florence Drive was lush with cactus of all sorts and became a favorite neighborhood spot to see the exotic hand-size flowers of the various Cereus cacti he had cultivated. Many are still here in the yard, producing lovely blooms in white and exotic colors every year!

Per his request, after his passing we and other close friends took Peter’s remains up to his favorite spot, “Stiles Hill” just northwest of Tucson. Peter’s resting place, surrounded by indigenous relics and a location inhabited by the peoples of the Southwest for hundreds of years and now, our dear friend, Peter.

After we acquired Peters home from the estate, we lovingly restored it with new electrical, plumbing, roof, kitchen and bath, and cleaned-up and manicured the yard. We hope Peter is looking at it all and proud of his home of 43 years and hope you enjoy it too while you are here, enjoying the Dennis/Gordon house and lovely Tucson, Arizona.

Sebastian and Brad

Current Owners