By Richard Gorby 

In 1864 Prescott, the capital of the new Territory of Arizona was surrounded by pine trees. However, the town's first real building, Michael Wormser's store at the southwest corner of Goodwin and Montezuma, was made of adobe. That paradox ended immediately with the arrival of Alfred Osgood Noyes and his sawmill.  Soon Prescott became a town of wood, not of adobe.

Within two weeks after the sale of lots in the new town, June 4, 1864, Tisdale A. Hand, the twenty-three year old publisher of Prescott's first newspaper, the Arizona Miner, was putting out his weekly paper while boards were being hammered around him in the first building on Prescott's Plaza - in the center of what is now Helig-Meyer's Furniture, on Montezuma Street. 

Noyes and his partner, George Whitfield Curtis, are the most celebrated sawmill operators and builders of early Prescott. One of their buildings is still standing: Noyes 1890 Lindenham Lodging House (now the Super Carrot Natural Foods on Montezuma).

Curtis Hall, on McCormick between Gurley and Goodwin, partly built by Curtis in 1878, was probably used for meetings by members of the Territorial Legislature, and, in any event, was of historical importance to Prescott. Although in good condition it was torn down a few years ago to add a few feet for additional parking when the new office complex was built at McCormick and Goodwin streets. 

In August of 1868, Noyes and Curtis began work on a new building at Montezuma and Gurley, at what is now the northeast corner of the St. Michael Hotel. It was to be the "largest and most magnificent edifice in Prescott, sixty by twenty-eight feet and two stories high, with a first class bar and billiard saloon". 

When it was almost completed an unexpected wind squall blew it to the ground, but it was rapidly rebuilt, bought by A.L.Moeller for $8500, and became Prescott's famous Diana Saloon. 

"Dr. Moeller's new billiard and drinking saloon was opened to the public Saturday evening, last. (September 5, 1868). It is, we think, the largest, best finished and furnished saloon in the Territory. On the opening night the crowd assembled there was huge. Bucking at Faro, billiard playing and drinking were indulged in to a great extent. The two amiable bar tenders. Bill Linn and Jos. Crane had all they could do to keep the thirsty crowd moistened." 

For a town of about 600, even though the Territorial Capital, it was something to be proud of, and on November 26, 1868, the Thanksgiving Ball was staged at the Diana: 

"---A Grand Ball and Supper in Moeller's New Building--The best Musicians in the country have been engaged. Tickets, including Supper--Ten Dollars--" 

The Diana was packed until dawn. What is amazing is the Ten Dollars! This, at a time when a good meal could be had for 25 cents, and a small home, with fireplace, built for under $500! 

The Diana was successful and popular, but it had its problems: 

Sept. 25, 1869: "A Bloody Night in Prescott. Night of Monday, Sept. 20, 1869, was the bloodiest night in the annals of the town. Two soldiers, Sgt. Patrick McGovern and Private Thomas Donahue, were shot dead, and another, Private George Nunes, was severely stabbed. McGovern was, it is said, murdered in the Diana Saloon at about four o'clock in the morning, by one Jos. Johnson, a discharged soldier." 

And, July 2, 1870: "Cowardly attempt at murder! About ten o'clock Wednesday evening, last, at the Diana Saloon, in this place, Harry Lightner, a well-known desperado, tried his best to kill Bradley Sion by shooting him with a pistol. The parties had some words about a game of faro when Lightner drew his pistol and fired four shots at Sion, who being unarmed and under the influence of liquor was powerless to defend himself from his murderous assaultant. Three of the shots took effect, and Sion is now in a critical condition. The would-be murderer fled and is still at large." 

But these were minor problems. Prescott had always had a fire problem. In May of 1879 the Arizona Miner wrote: 

"At least four deep wells should be made on our public plaza and four windmills erected with huge tanks to each, which might be the means of saving our town should a fire break out in the wooden buildings on Montezuma Street. We can't afford a fire just yet." But nothing was done, and on July 4, 1883, fire raged down Montezuma Street destroying much of the street, including the Diana. 

Later, when the Burke Hotel was built on the same spot, many precautions were apparently taken, and the Burke advertised itself as "The only fire-proof hotel in Arizona". In the big fire of 1900, it joined the Diana.. being destroyed by fire. 

Richard Gorby is a research specialist at the Sharlot Hall Museum.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (bub8166pd)
Reuse only by permission.
The Diana Saloon was opened in September 1868 at the corner of Montezuma and Gurley Streets, where the Hotel St. Michael now stands. The Diana, at the left in the this 1870's photo, was one of many buildings burned when fire raged down Montezuma Street on July 4, 1883.