By Helen Stephenson

The entity now known as the Prescott Film Festival had another iteration before it became the festival active today. A Maricopa County attorney reserved the name Prescott Film Festival in 2003. What happened to that festival is unknown, but the name expired and became available for what is now the Prescott Film Festival.

Various film events have been presented in the Prescott area. The Elks Theatre screened films over the years and continues with second release studio-produced films. Andrew and Angie Johnson-Schmit created a local food bank benefit called the (Can)nes Film Festival, and the Yavapai College Film and Media Arts Program had a Focus on Film series pre-pandemic. 

By Stu Jordan

In Robert Groom’s 1864 survey laying out the town of Prescott, two entire but non-adjacent blocks fronting Gurley Street were set aside as public spaces, the Plaza and the Capitol Block. Both were to be connected by Union Street. The Capitol Block was designated for eventual civic buildings, including one to serve as the capitol. Meanwhile, the new territorial government had business to conduct.

By Bob Boze Bell

Hard to believe now, but when my family moved to Kingman in 1956, there was a dirt road to Phoenix (actually Highway 93). There was a nefarious reason for this that involved Prescott, but I'll get to that.

Over the years, my father operated numerous gas stations on old Route 66 going back to 1946 when he ran a Mobil Oil gas station in Peach Springs, but the one that stands out was Al Bell's Flying A on Hilltop, outside of Kingman. Back in my day "Service with a smile" meant crisp uniforms with caps and bow ties (yes, bow ties!) with the service station attendant's name embroidered over his heart and at least four guys, dressed in white, who attacked every car that came in the driveway.

By Stuart Rosebrook

Arizona’s first territorial capital became a commercial transportation hub soon after its founding in 1864.

On December 31, 1886, the first Prescott and Arizona Central Railway locomotive pulling freight and passenger cars arrived in Prescott from Seligman, where it connected to the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The hastily built rail line wasn’t successful or dependable, leading to the construction of the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway between Ash Fork and Prescott, which began operations in 1893.

By Kelly Cordes

Most people familiar with the Prescott area and Goldwater lakes assume those lakes are named after Barry Goldwater, who was a longtime U.S. senator from Arizona and the 1964 Republican presidential candidate. However, the lakes are actually named after Barry’s Uncle Morris.

In 1923 a dam was constructed, and the resulting lake was named “Lake Goldwater” by a vote of the city council to honor Mayor Goldwater’s leadership throughout the years.  This would become Lower Goldwater Lake in 1932 when another dam was built, creating Upper Goldwater Lake, which people today are most familiar with. 

Sazerac Saloon – The Gem of Gurley Street

By Lucas Shaw
Rivaling all the early Prescott drinking establishments for prominence and longevity was the Sazerac Saloon, which occupied prominent locations across from the plaza on Gurley Street from 1872 until the great fire of 1900 reduced the saloon to ashes.
 
Established by early Prescott pioneer Fred Williams in February 1872, it went under the unimaginative name of "Fred Williams' Saloon." Its original location was one door west of the single-story  Levi Bashford’s mercantile store on Gurley Street. Early reports describe it as “the handsomest saloon in Prescott” and an “orderly place.” By 1874 Williams’ saloon was known as the "Sazerac Saloon," distinguishing itself with “fine chaste pictures” and supplying “the ‘boys’ with that which cheers but does not intoxicate” — an appeal to soldiers and officers from Fort Whipple to visit often, but not raise hell while in town.

By Marjory J. Sente
In 1904 Prescott’s beer lovers got their first taste of the Arizona Brewing Company’s (ABC’s) new brew, and it was free. A notice in the May 4, 1904, Weekly Journal-Miner stated, “During carnival week, the Arizona Brewing Company will be pleased to have everybody call at the brewery and sample their first brew of beer, free of charge, which is now ready for market except the putting into kegs.” May 10, 1904, marked the first day beer was sold.

By Worcester P. Bong

Of the numerous structures located on the grounds of the former Whipple cemetery (now the Prescott National Cemetery) in Prescott, one that stands out is a monument dedicated to the unknown soldier who has been laid to rest. This monument was built by Donald Owen Nanke, a master stonemason, and his friend, Dan Leigh.

By Mick Woodcock

Mention of Easter in early Prescott doesn’t show up in newspapers until 1876, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t being celebrated in town before that. According to the June 15, 1867 Arizona Miner, the Prescott Sunday School had been open for a year. The July 15, 1867 Arizona Miner had the following announcement: “Religious Service. – By an announcement in our advertising columns it will be seen that hereafter, religious service will be held in Prescott every Sabbath, at 11 o’clock, A. M. at the building of Messrs. Blair & Elliott, on Montezuma street. We understand these gentlemen generously agree to furnish the building free of cost, and Rev. Mr. Blake offers to preach upon the same terms….” 

By Marjory J. Sente
In February 1902, Nelly Peery Price and her seven-month-old son Peery traveled by train from Elkader, Iowa, to Phoenix. They, along with Nelly’s mother and a sister who traveled from California, visited the Valley of the Sun until spring.