By Marie Slayton

(This article was originally posted on September 8, 2001.)

Having worked at the Gurley Street Grill for the better part of the last six years, I am quite familiar with the folkloric history associated with the building. However, as most people know, folklore and stories that are passed down through generations can bear little if any resemblance to history.

By Jan MacKell

"The ancient card faces painted on the layout were doubtless faded and worn, but to my boyish eyes they glowed like a church's stained-glass window.... (Gaye) started drawing the cards one by one from the battered old silver box. As he drew, I could see his lips move and knew he was making bets for imaginary customers." So did Nugget (the main character in Conrad Richter's book "Tacey Cromwell") describe how his brother practiced to become a faro dealer in Bisbee during the late 1800s.

By Richard Gorby and Edited by Kathy Krause

The following article was originally written by Richard Gorby and published in the Days Past Archives on September 11, 1999.

The exact age of the Palace Saloon is somewhat of a puzzle.  In the September 21, l877 Arizona Weekly Miner: “Mess’rs Shaw and Standefer have fitted up the Palace Saloon in the most superb style, and fitted it with choice liquors of every conceivable kind.”  This suggests that it was already there, but no earlier mention can be found.  Few records were kept and most of those were destroyed by Prescott’s several fires.

By Brad Courtney

Whiskey Row is arguably the most fascinating quarter of a city block in western America.  The centerpiece of this historic, jam-packed street has always been the Palace Saloon.  It is no wonder that one of Arizona’s favorite sons, Barry Goldwater (whose ties to Prescott are well-documented), once lamented, “My only regret is that I didn’t buy The Palace when I had a chance.”  His friend, Tom Sullivan, who had purchased The Palace in 1977, knew this.  So on July 26th of that same year, when writing the presidential candidate of thirteen years prior, his incentive was rather thinly veiled. . . .

By Parker Anderson

Last week in this column appeared the story of the grisly murders of Charles Goddard and Frank Cox at a popular New River stage stop known as Goddard Station.  Two Mexicans, Hilariao Hidalgo and Francisco Renteria were tried, convicted and hanged in Prescott on July 31, 1903, even though no motive for the murder was ever concretely established.

By Parker Anderson

(Note: This is a reprint of the original Days Past article printed January 27, 2001).

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Goddard Station was a popular stagecoach stop between Phoenix and Prescott.  Operated by Charles E. Goddard and his wife, Rosa, the little ranch-cafe was located near New River.  On February 1, 1903, two men described by witnesses as heavy-set Mexicans walked in and asked to be fed.  They proceeded to draw their guns and open fire.  When the dust had settled, Goddard and his clerk, Frank Cox, lay dead.  Witnessing the deadly attack were Goddard’s wife and Milton Turnbull, a friend.

By Alan Roesler and Michael Wurtz

Ernest Alexander Love was born on November 30, 1895 in Raton, New Mexico.  Many know his name since it graces our airfield and the local chapter of the American Legion Post #6.  There is a scholarship in his name at Stanford University and his mother donated a pipe organ to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in his memory.  Beyond that, he may be known as a Prescott High School football star and a pilot who lost his life in World War I.

By Terry Munderloh and Mary Woodhouse

The writers for this article compiled information from various Days Past articles published in the past few years.

Prescottonians were first introduced to the new-fangled flying machines at the 1913 Northern Arizona State Fair held in Prescott.  Aviator L. F. Nixon piloted his air bird over the fairgrounds and astounded the crowd.  At the 1914 and 1915 fairs, more airplanes joined the festivities.  In those days, airplanes were primarily flown for entertainment rather than transport.  And entertain they did!

By Evan Sage and edited/expanded by Kathy Krause

In 1863, Henry Waring Fleury (b. 1817 - d. 1895) was part of the First Territorial Governor’s Party, that “outfit,” as early journalists would come to call the group of officials, which arrived in the area to soon be named "Prescott." Yet, while most of these politicos moved on seeking fortunes in the newly discovered mines of the Prescott region or to further their political notoriety elsewhere, Fleury stayed on in local politics.  Originally engaged as private secretary to Governor John Goodwin, he was also elected first chaplain for the two houses of the new legislature, largely because of his resources to supply the lawmakers with whiskey and his general indifference to religion.

By Richard Gorby and edited by Kathy Krause

This article was originally written by Richard Gorby and published February 1, 1997 in the SHM Days Past Archives.  The following article was edited and expanded by Kathy Krause.

Those of us who love the Plaza - lunching under the trees, enjoying the beautiful Christmas lights, or looking at it as we drive by - may be shocked to know how close it came to being lost altogether. On May 30, 1864 a meeting was held at the store of Don Manuel Yrissari on Granite Creek, near the present Mile High Middle School, for the purpose of adopting the best method for selling of lots in the proposed town.