By Richard Gorby
Most people in the Prescott area, although familiar with Groom Creek and even Groom City, know nothing about Robert Groom, but most of them are thankful for something he gave them one hundred and twenty-five years ago-downtown Prescott. Early in 1863, the Arizona Territory was established by President Lincoln. By March of 1864, the territorial officers he appointed, led by Governor John Goodwin, arrived in the new Territory and had picked the site for the capital, near the new military fort, Fort Whipple which is now the site of the VA hospital, just built to protect the many new mining camps.