By Parker Anderson

Saxton L. Power was a prominent Prescott businessman in the mid-20^th century. His influence in town was most notable on East Gurley Street, though Prescott was much smaller at the time, and the area was simply referred to in advertisements as part of East Highway 89.

In December 1948, Saxton Power and his wife Bertie opened the Auto Rest Motor Hotel at what would later become 1117 East Gurley. With 21 rooms, tiled showers and steam heat, Auto Rest was regarded as a luxurious motel for its era, and it was advertised in statewide newspapers. The Powers also opened an Auto Rest Dining Room next door, along with the Monte Vista Coffee Shop.

In 1952 the Powers sold the Auto Rest motel and dining rooms to their son Stanley and his wife Virginia. It became prominent enough that, in the 1950s and 1960s, various conventions meeting in Prescott headquartered at Auto Rest. Groups like Pilot International (an air pilots’ group), and the Arizona Federation of Junior Women’s Clubs were among the groups headquartering their meetings and conventions at Auto Rest Motor Hotel.