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.

By Jackson Medel

For nearly 40 years, Sharlot Mabridth Hall lived at Orchard Ranch in Lonesome Valley. Throughout that period (1890-1927), Sharlot worked the ranch as hard as anyone. She planted and harvested crops, cared for the farm animals, took produce to market and helped care for her parents in their declining years. Despite the constant demands of a working ranch, Sharlot continued investing time and effort in her own education and passions.

By Kristen Kauffman

The 24^th Annual Camp Verde Pecan and Wine festival is hosted this year on March 15 and 16 in downtown Camp Verde and is presented by the Verde Valley Wine Consortium. While the festival has been held for over twenty years, spearheaded by various groups, the roots of the festival are over a hundred years old. 

By Paul Fees

Prescott is Prescott because of two extraordinary women, Sharlot Hall and Grace Sparkes. Without their work, Prescott might be just another big town bypassed by freeway and progress. Sharlot’s vision gave Prescott its historical identity; Grace’s energy endowed the city with forward motion. 

By Matthew A. Peeples, Ph.D.

Central Arizona is often characterized as a crossroads where different people and environments intersect. This region spans rugged lands between the upland Colorado Plateau and the lowland Sonoran Desert along the beautiful and diverse transition where saguaros meet pinyons and juniper. This landscape is the traditional homeland for many different Indigenous groups spanning millennia, including the Yavapai, Apache and Hopi, and in recent centuries has seen the arrival of Spanish expeditions looking for gold and silver, fur trappers, railroad crews, miners, Mexican and European settlers, soldiers and the Arizona territorial and US governments.

Marjory J. Sente

Mother of six, career woman and volunteer par excellence, Etta Oliver would have set a high standard for today’s women and definitely was a mover and shaker ahead of her time during the 36 years she made Prescott her home.

Etta Julia Vaughn, daughter of Arvilla Mary (Mitchell) and Charles Edward Vaughn, was born in Colorado in 1876. She was a young girl when her family moved to New Mexico. In 1893 her Albuquerque High School graduating class numbered six. Two years later, she was one of four women graduating from the University of New Mexico’s Normal School.

By Andrew Somerville

Perhaps no one could occupy the same place in Prescott folklore as Frank Lester Young. His 1993 obituary described him as “a legendary living fixture of Prescott.”

Frank Lester Young’s oral history recordings for the Sharlot Hall Museum describe his life growing up in downtown Prescott, showing us the character of Whiskey Row in the early 20th century. Born in Phoenix in 1902, he moved to Prescott in 1908. According to Frank, he helped his stepmother clean the hotel rooms above the Palace Bar...

By Parker Anderson
Arizona officially became a territory of the United States in 1863, but in the ensuing decades, territorial leaders campaigned for admission to the Union as an official state. This idea was continually rejected by Washington politicians, who felt that Arizona (along with the Territory of New Mexico) was too wild, lawless and undignified to be granted the honor of statehood. This situation went unchanged for many years.

By Marjory J. Sente

Etta J. Oliver made many contributions to the Prescott community during the four decades she called it home. She, however, had a special passion for the Sharlot Hall Museum and used her involvement in local organizations to benefit it.

Sharlot Hall established the museum in 1928. According to her friend Alice Butterfield Hewins, “The roof needed new shingles and some of the Prescott women became interested and raised money by card parties.”

By Robin LaCorte

The 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation reminds us of the millions who died in the Holocaust and of the survivors' strength. Three Holocaust survivors that created new lives in Arizona, Gerta Weissman Klein, Doris Springer Martin, and Esther Basch continue to inspire others with their indefatigable spirit. This anniversary provides a chance to share their stories of strength and resilience.