By Kathryn Reisdorfer

As I watched the throngs of people enjoying music, commerce and camaraderie the night of the Acker Musical Showcase, I was reminded of what early Christmases must have been like in Prescott.  People were on the street sharing with their neighbors-whether they were conscious of it or not-the heightened feelings of the season.  Christmas in the early days in Yavapai County was also a public affair.  People, eager for company, flocked into the towns from remote mining camps and ranches.  Even town-dwellers took part in the public activities.  After all, in this newly settled area, most people were not set-up well enough to entertain friends in their homes.  Still, far from many of their kin, they sought warmth and a sense of community.

In company towns throughout the mineral-rich West, mining company officials supervised the public part of Christmas.  "The Company" gave parties and saw to it that youngsters had something special.  Although Jerome was not a company town, everyone knew that when you said "The Company," you meant United Verde.  Will Clark was the assistant superintendent.  On Christmas Night in 1904, he and his wife hosted a party for the town's children-and their parents.  The Clarks brought in a tree from Sycamore Canyon, and Santa showed up too, giving gifts and candy to 200 children who, the local newspaper reported, would otherwise have "had a barren Christmas."  The Clarks also went to Jerome Junction and Equator, distributing gifts and good cheer.  Not to be outdone by "The Company", one Jerome store advertised that every child who came in on Christmas would receive a "handsome box" of candy; 231 children showed up.

Prescott, too, was a major mining center in the early days, but neither was it a "company town" nor was it dominated by any single company.  Devoid of a central authority, Prescott's public Christmas was celebrated on the streets, at dances, in the opera house, in churches-and in saloons . One newspaper reported that on Christmas in 1883, "The saloons were well patronized, notwithstanding which fact, not one single case of drunkenness was observed."

In the mid 1880s, one Prescott paper proudly announced that several families had Christmas trees!  Then, as now, Christmas trees were popular, but most of them were public.  Jerome had its Company Christmas tree, but in Prescott, it was the churches that provided this special treat.  In the Marina Street Church and the Baptist Church, trees were hung with gifts to be given to children on Christmas.

While Protestant churches had their trees, the Catholic Church had its midnight mass, and some years, the chapel was full to over-flowing.  Jerome was notoriously less church oriented.  One newspaper announced right before Christmas in 1904, that, "Jerome is shy of sky pilots, none of the congregations having a minister in the field at the present time."

Whether they were in the church or in homes, trees were surrounded by gifts.  Christmas was a good time for merchants.  In Jerome, stores stayed open every night until 9 o'clock.  Prescott papers advertised fine gifts available at stores like Hill's Hardware, M. Goldwater & Bro., and Bashford & Burmister.  Obviously taking aim at mail order catalogues, they encouraged people to buy locally.  The Bashford store, before it was Bashford & Burmister, advertised: "No Delay and Money and Time Saved" for "The Station Keeper, The Miner, The Stockman, The Families."

Not only were stores well stocked, but freighters were also in evidence on the streets during the holidays, bringing in loads of goodies from the West Coast.  On Christmas day local "express wagons" and livery stable carts were busy delivering gifts "from friends to friends."

Amid the exchange of gifts on Christmas day, there was the feast.  Local restaurants and hotels, catering to the more public part of the public, offered mouthwatering delicacies-at reasonable prices.  Private tables also overflowed with a host of delicacies.  Householders in Prescott could buy everything locally.  Jules Bauman offered "strictly pure, fresh candies," Bones and Spencer had "fresh fruit, candies, figs, etc., for the holidays," and Ackers & Walker, meat merchants, advertised, "Good, Fat Meats, Cheap."

In 1887, food was the most important aspect in the newspaper's report of Christmas in Prescott.  "The two meat markets vied with each other in their display of tempting meats and game and each did credit to northern Arizona," the newspaper reported.  "J. H. Smith's principal attraction was a 1,000 pound beef, rolling in fat, from the herd of John Marr, on Agua Fria, while Mr. O'Malley, the genial manager of the Tragic, exhibited a 500 pound hog, surrounded by half a dozen succulent pigs.  In addition to the above both markets were lined with fine, choice, fat beef, turkeys, fish, duck, deer, lamb and every other variety of meat which it is the custom to tickle the palate with at Christmas tide."

After mid-day feasting, there were evening entertainments.  The Masons always had festivities, frequently holding elections and "high teas." In 1880, just before Sitting Bull brought his starving people in to Ft. Buford, Morris Goldwater was elected Worshipful Master of the Masons.  He took office on Christmas.

There was always something going on at the Opera House.  Sometimes there was professional entertainment, but in 1883, a couple of local fellows participated in a concert where they sang a duet from the Italian opera, "Il Trovatore."  The audience demanded an encore.  A few years later, "the scholars" of St. Joseph's Academy entertained the town just before Christmas.  One reviewer noted: "The rendition of ["Marie Antoinette"] was of course not expected to be on a par with professionals, but was very creditable to those who took part in it.  The music was by the Ninth Infantry band."

Then there were the dances-and more feasts.  In Jerome, local organizations, such as unions and "hose companies," alternated giving Christmas night balls.  In Prescott, various groups hosted Christmas dances in the largest space available, City Hall.  Music was always provided by "excellent bands."

In 1887, the newspaper noted that," The joyous festivities [of Christmas Day] closed very appropriately last evening by a grand sheet and pillow-case ball, given by a number of the young gentlemen of the Ivy Club, at the city hall.  A large number of ladies and gentlemen were present, most of them in costume, many of which were very grotesque.  The music was splendid; a genial spirit pervaded the company, and with a good supper at the Bellevue, everything passed off very pleasantly."

So may it with you, too, during this Christmas holiday, 2001. 

Kathryn Reisdorfer is a Professor at Yavapai College and has recently completed an inventory of historic documents and artifacts in Yavapai County.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (bui120pa ). Reuse only by permission.
In 1899, the Smith Meat Market, across Gurley Street from the Courthouse, dressed their meat with great care.  At Christmas time the meat markets throughout the county would try to outdo one another with displays and special on "good, fat meats" 

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (po0426p). Reuse only by permission.
Sarah McCrea, Keller Waston, Agnes Coulon, Cylde Watson, Alice Day, Calvin Bass, and Etta DeWitt pose for a Christmas day picture on the porch of the St. Joseph's Academy in 1897.   Christmas was indeed a public affair and a genial spirit pervaded in Prescott and Jerome.