By Danny Freeman

The first formalized ‘rodeo’ was held in Prescott, Arizona Territory during the 4th of July celebration in l888 and has been a yearly event ever since. That first ‘rodeo’ was called a "Cowboy Tournament". It was added to the 4th of July activities that year to entice more people to come to town to enjoy the festivities and to spend money with the merchants. There was a planning committee of merchants and professional people to organize. . . .

By Bob Ross

My mother Grace Baldwin, third generation of our family in Yavapai County, graduated from Prescott High School in 1917 and, after a time as secretary in a local law office, moved to Jerome to work as secretary to the school superintendent, J. O. Mullen. In November 1923, Grace married mining engineer, Frank Ross, my dad, in Prescott. Dad was of the southern Oregon pioneer Ross family and their marriage brought together. . . .

By Bob Ross

My grandparents, Frank and Viola Baldwin, the second generation of our family in Arizona and Yavapai County, lived in Prescott for a while after their marriage in 1896. Viola was the next to youngest daughter of Harrison and Marina Reeves who arrived in Prescott by covered wagon with their five daughters in 1876.

By Randi Wise

In the 1870s, a hospital was desperately needed in Prescott. Help was sought from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet to open a hospital in the Prescott area. From the recently formed Western Provence in Tucson, Sisters Mary Martha and Mary Rose arrived in Prescott in the fall of 1878 with the financial aid of the Territorial Governor, John C. Fremont and his wife, Jessie. The Sisters opened their hospital in a small frame house on Alarcon and Willis streets. Their living quarters were in one half of the house and they treated sick and injured in the other half.

By Bob Ross

My family has been a part of Arizona and Yavapai County for six generations beginning in the covered wagon days of 1876 to the present, covering one hundred and thirty-five years from my great-grandparents to my grandchildren.

In 1876, great-grandparents Harrison and Marina Reeves’ wagon and six others resolutely set out from Kansas on the arduous two-month journey to Prescott, Arizona Territory. Along the way, because of fear and discouragement, four wagons turned back. The Reeves, two other wagons and two riders. . . .

By Kathy Krause

On Monday, May 30, Memorial Day 2011, throughout the nation we will honor those who have been a part of our lives, either directly or indirectly, and have passed from this life. At the Citizen’s Cemetery on Sheldon Street, a service of commemoration will begin at 9 a.m. It will be an "old-fashioned" Memorial Day observance with appropriate music and community speakers, especially honoring those who have served our country in the military. Please bring a chair and appropriate sun protection. Parking is available across Sheldon Street at Yavapai College. Come early or stay after the program to browse through this historic cemetery.

By Parker Anderson with folklore version added by Kathy Krause

Today, legions of Arizona historians believe that Charles P. Stanton ("town boss" in the mining town of the same name) was involved in a number of mysterious deaths and disappearances in the Weaver Mining District and the Antelope Station area in the late 1800s. Stanton, who had numerous arrests for crimes ranging from petty to serious, was never convicted of any crime in his lifetime. In the following account, the folklore version will be presented in brackets and has never been "proven."

By Parker Anderson

Even before the Territory of Arizona was officially declared in 1863, miners were in the area and had discovered gold in the southern part of what is now Yavapai County. The biggest strikes were located on a mountainside that would come to be known as Rich Hill. After Arizona became a Territory, several mining towns sprouted up in the vicinity of Rich Hill including Octave, Weaver, Congress and Antelope Station (by Antelope Creek). The area is located at the bottom of the hill south of Yarnell and between 10-15 miles east of State Route 89. Except for Congress, these towns do not exist anymore (aside from ruins) although in the past few years much new development has been appearing in the region.

By Ruth Noggle

Ruth continues with her memories of growing up in Prescott. If you lived in Prescott in the 1950s, you will remember the many places she mentions. If you are more recent to town, it will astonish you how Prescott has changed and grown since the 1950s.

By Ruth Noggle

In 1948, my family came to Prescott from Michigan via Tucson. Harriette (Mom) and Joe Noggle (Dad and driver of our black 1949 Ford sedan), Carl and Roy (my older brothers) and I (Ruth, two years old at the time) drove up the Yarnell Hill on the two-lane, curvy Highway 89. When we had stopped in Congress for fuel before going up the hill, the station attendant gave Dad two flares to use in case we couldn’t make it up the hill! The radiator did overheat, but we slowly chugged into and through Yarnell. We drove on past Wilhoit’s lone gas station and on up to White Spar Road toward Prescott. Dad assured us the curves would end, but we had serious doubts.