AAUW Home Tour Includes 1934 Boulder City House

The American Association of University Women will open the doors of five Boulder City homes to the public on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event serves as a primary fundraiser for the local branch, which supports college students and community organizations.

Dr. Dawn Green, a recently retired dentist, volunteered her property at 705 Utah St. for the tour after recently joining the organization. The house was constructed in 1934 during the building of Hoover Dam. Green purchased the property in 1980 for $42,000. She described the structure as a fixer-upper, noting that it was built with leftover materials from the dam site rather than being one of the executive homes.

Green said the home originally had dark wood paneling, a low ceiling, and doors that were too short for average height. The interior lacked heating, and the floor rested on wooden pallets rather than a traditional foundation. She began major renovations in the 1990s after graduating from dental school. The most extensive work involved adding a second story, which increased the living space from 852 square feet to more than 1,200 square feet.

The tour includes four other properties in various neighborhoods. One home offers views of Lake Mead and displays art collected by the owner during world travels. Another was completely remodeled in the past year to blend classic character with Western design. A third property features a chef’s kitchen and a temperature-controlled wine cellar. The final home was built in 1941 from a Sears and Roebuck mail-order kit and currently houses Utopia, a pinball lounge.

Tickets cost $20 per person and are available for purchase at the front desk of the Boulder Dam Hotel through the day of the event. Buyers receive a wristband and a brochure containing addresses, directions, and descriptions of the homes’ features. The tour is designed for visitors ages 13 and up. AAUW members and volunteers will serve as guides inside the properties.

Specific addresses for the homes will be released on the day of the event. Co-chair Kathi Dew said the organization selected the participating houses for their unique styles and histories. Last year, the AAUW branch awarded 18 scholarships totaling $13,000 to local college students. The branch also contributed $1,225 to the Emergency Aid backpack and school supply drive.

The Home Tour is one of two major fundraisers for the local AAUW branch. The second event is the Wine and Chocolate Tasting, scheduled for April. Green said she chose the Utah Street house because it was affordable in a safe neighborhood. She noted that her father called it a definite fixer-upper when he first saw it, a description she agreed with.