Paul O. Gutike

Paul O. Gutike, 1842-1898
Soldier and Architect

Buried in Rosedale, G85

(Grave marker photo courtesy of Pioneers’ Cemetery Association, Inc.)

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Paul O. Gutike was born about 1842 in Berlin, Prussia, supposedly to a good family which afforded him an excellent education. He arrived in New York on October 2, 1862, aboard the ship St. Bernhard, hoping to find work as an architect. However, the Civil War interrupted his career plans.

Scarcely three weeks later, on October 23, 1862, Paul found himself in Company K, 53rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (later became the 162nd). He may have been short of funds and enlisted voluntarily, but it’s also possible that he was more or less "drafted." 

On December 11, 1865, Gutike reenlisted in the  3rd U. S. Cavalry, being discharged three years later on October 1, 1868, at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He signed up again at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to serve in Company H, 5th U. S. Infantry, but deserted on May 28, 1870. He was dishonorably discharged December 4, 1870, at Fort Harker, Kansas. 

Gutike was not yet done with the military. In 1874, he reenlisted in Chicago, Illinois,  and deserted again in 1878. He was apprehended and sent to David’s Island, New York, where, after several months, his court-martial was remitted. He reenlisted again in Baltimore, Maryland. 1880 saw him stationed at Fort Washakie, Wyoming. 

He deserted again on July 2, 1882, and was apprehended January 5, 1883. When finally discharged in November 1884 because of a disability, he was serving at Fort Verde, Arizona Territory. Given that the Army always took him back after multiple desertions, it can be presumed that Gutike had particular skills that were useful on Western military posts.

By 1887, Gutike had found work as a draftsman for James Riely Gordon in San Antonio, Texas. Gordon eventually gained national renown for his Texas courthouse designs.

Gutike’s career as an architect and civil engineer burgeoned in Arizona. In 1889, Mrs. Vina Brown commissioned him to design some apartments at 4th Avenue and Adams in anticipation of providing quarters for winter visitors coming to Phoenix. The following year, he designed the plans for the Burke Hotel in Prescott, Arizona. The Burke was advantageously located on the corner of Montezuma and Gurley Streets and included ground-floor shops along with well-appointed rooms. (Advertised as the only “fire-proof” hotel in Arizona, The Burke was nevertheless destroyed during Prescott’s Great Fire of 1900. St. Michael’s Hotel is located on the site today.)

Gutike hadn’t forgotten his years in the military, either. In 1891, he drew up plans for two new buildings to house troops at Fort Whipple.

Paul became well known in Phoenix, but according to his obituary, had a propensity for drink. He died in July 21, 1898 of gastritis and was buried in the Rosedale Cemetery.

© 2019 by Patricia M. Gault. Last revised 25 August 2019.

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