By Carol Powell

Clara S. Olmstead was born in November of 1839 in Elkader, Iowa. Her father, Samuel Baldwin Olmstead, was an enterprising farmer with an extensive dairy farm from which he realized a handsome profit. They were the third white family to settle in Clayton County, Iowa on the west side of the Mississippi River during the time of the stone rebuilding of Fort Crawford (1829-1831) east of the river near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Baldwin, as he was known, was supplying his butter and cheese to both Fort Crawford and up-river at Fort Snelling (present day St. Paul).

By James F. Vivian

(This Tuesday, December 7, 2010 marks the 69th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. The following article tells of the christening of the ship over 95 years ago.)

Four young women graced the official platform at the launching of the USS Arizona in June, 1915. Two of them, Esther Ross and Eva Behn, were ‘Prescott girls.’ Ross performed the actual christening while Behn stood engagingly to her side holding a flower bouquet.

By Parker Anderson

The Elks Opera House, or rather, the Elks’ Theatre as it was universally being called in the 1920s, was predominantly a movie theater, although manager Charles Born did let local civic organizations use it to hold fund-raising events from time to time.

By Fr. Jack Wolter

The return of the Territorial Capital to Prescott from Tucson back in 1877 was followed a year later by the arrival of the fifth Territorial Governor John Charles Fremont and his family. For the next three years, they rented a simple Victorian house originally built in 1875 by William "Zed" Wilson located at the southwest corner of East Gurley and Marina streets (site of the current Carnegie Library building next to the Elks Theater). This house has been known through the years as the "Fremont House."

By Fr. Jack Wolter

In 1868, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church U.S.A. elected the Right Reverend Ozi William Whitaker as Bishop of the Territories of Nevada and Arizona. Twelve years later, he reported that the number of congregations increased from three to ten, served by seven clergymen. Early records show that there were a number of Episcopalians at the U.S. Army post at Fort Whipple who desired the ministrations of the church and would attend occasional services of Holy Communion or Evening Prayer conducted by itinerant Episcopal clergymen at the Baptist Meeting House in Prescott.

By Ken Edwards and Richard Gorby

(Editor’s Note: The “Horribles,” a group of fun-loving Prescott men, had fantastic, outlandish costumes and put on hilarious literary and musical presentations. Their performances were greatly anticipated each Fourth of July on the Plaza. The following is a continuation of their antics as presented previously in Days Past articles by Ken Edwards and Richard Gorby.)

By Carol Powell

There are many reasons why people immigrated to America from the old country. Ludwig Mueller left Germany because of political oppression, revolution and war. Constitutions were being withdrawn, rights were taken away and many decided to seek refuge in other countries. By 1848, revolutionary movements broke out in many countries of Europe.

By Ken Edwards and Richard Gorby

(Editor’s Note: One usually connects costumes with Halloween. But, back in the late 1800s, a group of Prescott men called the “Horribles” dressed up in elaborate costumes and entertained the people of Prescott. They found that the July 4th parade was a perfect venue for their antics. They were a smashing success from their first appearance in 1881. Their costumes were innovative and handmade, putting most of today’s Halloween costumes to shame. The following represents combined, previously published Days Past articles by Ken Edwards and Richard Gorby.)

By Tom Collins

The 16th Territorial Governor, Joseph H. Kibbey, kicked off the 24th Territorial Legislature in 1907 by demanding the abolishment of gambling which he viewed not only as a public evil but also an impediment to statehood for Arizona. He knew he had to improve the territory’s wild reputation before that goal could be accomplished. Two members of the Territorial Council (the upper house) followed Kibbey’s lead by introducing anti-gambling bills.

By Parker Anderson

In 1889, Father Alfred Quetu, pictured last week, came to Prescott to take over Sacred Heart Parish. This would become a turning point for the church in Prescott, as Father Quetu did more to strengthen the local church than any of his predecessors had done.