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. 

By Stuart Rosebrook

On January 11, 1873, The Arizona Miner newspaper reported one of the first baseball games played in the Arizona Territory, a Christmas day game at Camp Grant: “In the forenoon, an exciting game of base ball [sic] took place. This occupied the attention [of] both of the combatants, until one o’clock, when the welcome call to dinner was wafted to our ears, and readily responded to.” While The Arizona Miner didn’t report the game’s outcome, it reveals that two years after the first professional league, the National Association, was organized in the East, baseball was played in the remote West. Baseball was becoming the national pastime.

By Marjory J. Sente

Etta DeWitt and William Neagle were married at the Church of the Sacred Heart the evening of April 16, 1906. Although a popular couple, they chose to have only the bride’s immediate relatives at the wedding, with engraved announcements sent from Prescott the following day to friends and associates such as Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith at the Jersey Lily Mine. 

By Bob Baker

Blacksmith shops were a common sight in western frontier towns and were part of the economic fiber of these early communities. Blacksmiths would use the metal from broken or worn-out metal tools, hinges, horseshoes and wagon parts as source metal for new pieces, saving on the cost of new metals. They were the only ready source of horseshoes, nails, and metal items for wagons and households. In 1870 there were only two blacksmith shops in Prescott, Arizona Territory. By 1877 that number had risen to eight shops. Blacksmiths were needed to serve horses, horse-drawn vehicles and to fabricate metal fixtures. In the 1870s, they earned from $4.00 to $6.00 a day, equivalent to $117 to $175 in today’s currency.