By Darlene Wilson

Nestled in the heart of Prescott, Arizona, the Hotel Vendome is rich in history, charm and an air of mystery. It was built in 1917 by Texas cowboy turned Arizona rancher, John “Jack” Benton Jones,  who bought a house and adjoining lot on South Cortez Street and quickly began building his small hotel. As more people moved to Prescott, including miners, they needed a place to stay. When construction was completed, the hotel had 30 rooms and 16 bathrooms. It is unclear where a Texas rancher got the name Hotel Vendome. However, there happens to be a famous octagonal square named the Place Vendôme in Paris, France.

By Parker Anderson

Prescott’s longest-operating community theater, Suze’s Prescott Center for the Arts, closed at the end of September of 2024 after 55 years of operation and of bringing the joy of live theater to Prescott area communities. The organization was founded as the Prescott Fine Arts Association (PFAA) but underwent two name changes in later years. Since the Center is now gone, it seems fitting to recall how this cornerstone of the arts community began.

By Marjory J. Sente

When William “Tertius” A. Clark III, grandson of former U.S. Senator and mining magnate William A. Clark and principal heir to the United Verde Mine, moved to Clarkdale in 1931 to lead the United Verde Copper Company, he had lofty goals. One was to establish the Verde Valley Air Lines, Inc. and seek a franchise to operate a mail and passenger service route between Douglas and Las Vegas. Another was to learn to “fly blind”.

By Parker Anderson

Burial practices and customs have long been studied worldwide, and they have often changed over the millennia. One aspect that has not been frequently focused on is the artistry in gravestones, particularly in bygone eras. Tombstone art is not as prevalent anymore, especially since cremation has now become the most preferred choice for disposing of corpses instead of a full casket burial.

By Marjory J. Sente

March 1, 1900, when free mail delivery was instituted, was a big day for Prescott’s mail services. From 1864 until February 28, 1900, anyone who received mail addressed to Prescott, Postmaster A.T. had to pick it up at the post office. The Prescott Post Office’s new status meant people living in Prescott could have free home delivery, provided they had a mail receptacle, fixed their sidewalk, put up a house number and used their street address for mail delivery. Businesses still had to retrieve mail at the post office. 

By Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribal Culture Research Director

Yavapai songs and dances were elevated to a special realm by ancestors of the Yavapai groups today. The Yavapai danced for daily needs such as rain, crops and hunting. Because Yavapai prayers were also made through dance and song, traditionalists are reluctant to perform certain aspects of Yavapai music, limiting them to a spiritual setting. Songs frequently followed the outlines of long teachings and were sung when traditional knowledge was shred. Some could be danced to, others only a medicine person could participate in.

By Donna Baldwin

With the Prescott Indian Art Market (PIAM) coming up, it is interesting to look at the evolution of Navajo weaving, which will be one of the art forms at the Market.

Navajo weaving has been documented as early as the 1700s. They used upright looms with no moving parts and wool produced by their own Navajo-Churro sheep. The unprocessed wool retained lanolin, which repelled water. Early weavings included cloaks, dresses, saddle blankets and covers for door entrances. Prior to the 19^th century, weavings primarily used natural dyes in shades of brown, gray and white.

By Bill Hawes

The history of Arizona’s mining industry didn’t begin until the Joseph Walker party discovered gold. True, there were other contemporary or even earlier mining endeavors, chiefly along the Colorado River or close to the southern border with Mexico, but they didn’t lead to any significant rushes to the territory. These were mostly silver ventures, which was uneconomic to transport to markets. Gold (a mineral that didn’t require further processing) was the only economical commodity to seek.

By Marjory J. Sente

Born in Jerome to Arthur A. and Mae Winterholer Foster in 1908, Edith Marie Foster lived a life that few girls at the time would ever dream possible. Graduating from Prescott High School in 1926, she attended the University of Arizona, graduating in 1930.

By Coleen Bornschlegel

Outside the Prescott Valley Civic Center sits Limitless by Michael Tierney - an immense painted steel sculpture that reaches into the sky and warmly invites passersby to experience its magnificent scale and vibrant colors.