By Jean Cross

Probably the most historic area in Prescott is along Granite Creek. It was this source of water which determined the location of Arizona's territorial capital in 1864. Prior to that, miners found the creek to be a source of their quest for gold. Later, Robert Groom surveyed the town and established the town square on the east bank of the creek while the Governor's mansion occupied the west bank. Whiskey Row with its restaurants and saloons grew up along side of the plaza providing refreshment and entertainment to miners, cowboys and residents of the growing town. Other types of entertainment and services were provided by the people who lived "behind the Row."

The flood plain of Granite Creek was eventually occupied by the less respectable population hidden from the patrons of Whiskey Row but at the same time conveniently located for those patrons. And who were these second-class citizens? Early maps of the town site and the recent garage site excavation attests to the occupation of what is now South Granite Street to be the socially shunned prostitutes and the looked-down-upon Chinese. 

Presently, an exhibit at Sharlot Hall Museum tells the story of the history of the area such as the houses of ill repute and the various services rendered by the Chinese restaurants (known as chop houses or needle joints), laundries, saloons and even a dance hall. 

Chinese workers began immigrating to the United States in the late 1860s. Many came to work on the transcontinental railroad completed in 1869. Upon its completion these workers sought employment throughout the west. The first ones arrived in Prescott that same year to work at Fort Whipple. By 1880, ninety-nine were recorded in the census reaching its zenith in 1900 at two hundred twenty-nine. Among them were farmers, cooks, gardeners, laundry men, merchants, miners and five women prostitutes. By the mid-1940s, these people had become a "City Legend". 

Though Chinese and prostitutes were regular members of most western towns between the mid 19th and early 20th centuries, little is known of their daily lives other than the services they provided. The Granite Street excavation at the location for the new city parking garage has supplied clues to fill in the gap. Federal and State laws require an archaeological investigation of a site when the area is targeted for construction. This requirement together with the desire to gain additional information concerning the inhabitants of the area made the excavation imperative. 

S.W.C.A., an environmental consultant company was hired to conduct the investigation. Referring to early maps at Sharlot Hall Museum Archives, the most likely areas were located and test trenches dug. This "recovery phase" was carried on from mid October through November 16, 2002. For one month, archaeologists and volunteers dug feverishly to recover as much material as they could in the time allotted. Historic materials were cataloged and boxed. Three thousand artifacts including 1,089 food bones together with bottles, tableware, opium pipes, chamber pots, medicine containers, soy pots and numerous bowls and dishes were recovered. Eventually, these artifacts were sent to Sharlot Hall Museum where volunteers pieced together countless shards of broken pottery to try to reconstruct the vessels used by the inhabitants of South Granite Street. Since trash collection was not begun in Prescott until 1911, garbage and trash was deposited in outhouses. When full, another hole was dug. These were fruitful target areas for the excavators. 

The Granite Street dig is an excellent example of a modern multi-disciplinary historical excavation. It consisted of a combination of archivists, historians, cultural material experts and archaeologists. Because of the careful preservation of archival material such as maps and census records, the excavators were able to pinpoint the more lucrative portions of the site. Since time was limited, random test trenches dug by an expert backhoe operator revealed the cultural material to be recovered. These artifacts attest to the uses of the area: patent medicine bottles give insight into diseases of the red light district, gambling pieces suggest that such activity was carried on; a military button, a cleaver, a perfume bottle, an opium pipe tell the story of every day life. A prehistoric potsherd also gives evidence of the early occupation of the land along Granite Creek. 

To better understand this part of Prescott's history and to view the pictures, maps and artifacts of this area, a visit to Sharlot Hall Museum's exhibit of the early occupation of the "garage site" will prove to be an enlightening experience for all. 

(Jean Cross is a volunteer for the Prescott Valley Historical Society.) 

 

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(st192p)
Reuse only by permission.
The double decker house of prostitution occupied a place of prominence on South Granite Street.