By Dorothy Chafin
When my family first moved to Prescott, the population was 4,500. Was it a dull, small town? Nope. It was the county seat and always had activity.
Shopping was better than it is today: Bashford Burmister carried everything from furniture to designer dresses and suits with famous labels; Agnes Todd had a dress shop just across the alley from the Elks theatre and restocked several times a year from her trips to California and other cities. She would also do shopping for her customers, always knowing what they would like. Later on, the Goldwaters opened a store in Prescott, making it possible to offer ready to wear clothes on short notice. Samuel Hill's Hardware store carried not only nails and screws and other hardware, but quality dishes, silver, and linens too.
The courthouse square was the center of activity in the summer with band concerts and community sings. We lived at the top of the hill on Union Street in the Lawler house, a duplex with each side having two stories, one side occupied by John Lawler and his mother and the other by our family. It was in back of the high school where one of the County buildings now stands. My sister could wait until the last bell, then walk across the street to her class. We could sit on the porch and hear the bands and the community concerts instead of walking the one and a half blocks to the plaza. Of course, it was much more fun to go down to visit with friends while being entertained.
During the winter months, all social activities of importance were held at the Hassayampa Hotel, such as: dinners, banquets and dancing with Leonard Ross and his orchestra. Some time after prohibition was thrown out, public dances were out and places that served liquor were in. So our group formed a club, the 20-30 Club. We had our own dances and hired an orchestra, often, Leonard Ross. The girls brought cakes for a midnight supper. No liquor was served, but of course a few sneaked-out to drink from their own bottles. The number one entertainment in those days was dancing. We were all friends so we had a wonderful time.
When I first arrived in Prescott, I didn't appreciate it at all. Where we had been living, Hayden, Colorado, was basically dry and Republican while Prescott was wet and Democrat. It took me some time to realize Prescott had many well-educated, sophisticated people, with as many churches as there were bars. And, having a street named Whiskey Row was an asset. The diversity of people and activities made it a very interesting town in which to live.
So interesting, that I never wanted to leave. When offered a job in the Los Angles area at three times what I was making here, I went over for an interview. But, it didn't take long to decide that the money didn't compensate for the loss of small-town life. As my family members moved away, I didn't consider leaving.
The Smoki people were one of the most interesting groups. Structured as an Indian Tribe, the men elected a chief and council. The "squaws" had their own group, electing a chieftess and council subject to the approval of the men. The wives and daughters of Smoki members could be invited to join but you could not apply for membership. It was by invitation only.
It was a great family organization. During the summer months, everyone went to the fairgrounds to practice for the August dance. As each group went through their routines, the others could visit while the children played. During the winter, dinners and dances were held each month. Invited speakers, both Indian and Anglo, brought much information on Indian customs and dances. I didn't appreciate the Indian jewelry until I joined the Smoki. Then, since we wore it during the performance, all of us bought a lot of it.
Since the Prescott Rodeo was the oldest in the country, everyone joined in the celebration, creating an atmosphere of the old west. Many famous cowboys and movie stars performed in Prescott.
The lighting of the Courthouse at Christmas time with the parades, music, and decorations all over town also made the city a place of distinction and pleasant for all its activities. For more than forty years, it has brought many people to visit and some to move here.
Cattle ranching has contributed to the old west atmosphere. It has meant cowboys in Levis and western hats on the street rather than shorts and sandals. Also, an occasional horse has ridden into the Palace Bar.
Where did my home town go? As it becomes 'everybody's home town,' it is filled with traffic, waiting lines, etc. What can I do? When the ranches are gone and the open spaces are filled with houses, paving and people, should I move away? To where? Every small town is having the same problems. So, what I must do is stay and cope with whatever, to still love my hometown.
Dorothy Chafin moved to Prescott in 1933, and is active in the local arts and music association in her hometown.
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (citn268pg). Reuse only by permission.
Prescott was far from being "Everybody's Hometown," in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Wonderful shopping, community sings, dance clubs, and the occasional horse in the Palace Bar all added up to making our hometown everyone's hometown. But this author is left wondering what happened to her hometown.