By Ryan Flahive

On the 23rd of February, the Sharlot Hall Museum Archives opened a new photographic exhibit. This eclectic group of historic images is focused around the subject of early elementary schools of Prescott, and is entitled, "Good Morning Mr. Rogers: Early Prescott Schools." You might ask yourself, who is this Rogers fellow, and why is he, and not the other great pioneer teachers of Prescott, chosen for the title? In the following historical article, I would like to explain who Samuel Curtis Rogers was, and why the exhibit bears his name.

By Jody Drake

Two years ago, I was doing research for a play I was writing for the Riordan State Historic Park in Flagstaff. During that research, I discovered that the Riordan Mansion was a famous example of an Arts and Crafts home. Now, at best, I had a vague understanding of Arts and Crafts architecture. Since Blue Rose Theater is producing the play, "A Table in the Forest", I thought it would be a fine time to share this tidbit of interesting side research.

By Marjory J. Sente

The year was 1932. Prescott had a population of slightly more than 5500 (one of six cities in the state of Arizona with a population of 5 to 10 thousand people). The United States was in the depths of the Great Depression, but nothing was going to keep its citizenry from celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington (February 22, 1732), the nation's first president and the Father of Our Country. In fact, nearly 4.8 million programs were presented through out the country during the Washington Bicentennial year.

By John P. Langellier, Ph.D.

John Charles Frémont’s first view of the world occurred on January 21, 1813 in Savannah, Georgia.  He was the son of a young Southern belle married to a man far her senior, and who was not John’s father.  In fact, his father was a tutor for the young unhappily married woman. Their liaison would result in John’s birth out of wedlock. This fact proved a serious social handicap at that time, and made for a difficult upbringing.  His quick mind, however, aided him albeit he was less than a model student.

By Parker Anderson

(This article was originally published in the Prescott Courier on February 20, 2005)

Last week, we learned how the Prescott Elks Lodge #330 raised funds to construct the Elks Building with an added opera house.  This week the story continues.

By Parker Anderson

(This articles was originally published in the Prescott Courier on February 20, 2005)

Many long-term Prescottonians have fond memories of movies and events in the auditorium, and it has played an important role in local entertainment throughout its history. Those familiar with its history know that it has been rocky at times, but the Elks Theater has proven itself to be a survivor, and it is still with us when many other theater of its age around the country have long closed their doors and/or met with the wrecking ball.

By Shirley Turner Summers

(This is part one of a two-part article.)

The Dunbar Weekly noted Governor W.P. Hunt, Arizona's first governor, who won election for seven terms, as "one who neither looks up to the rich nor down on the poor, who can lose without squealing and win without bragging, who is considerate of women and children and old people, who is too sensible to loaf, who takes his share of the world's goods and lets others have theirs, is, indeed, a true gentleman!"

By Shirley Turner Summers

(Last week, former Governor George W. P. Hunt persuaded the commanding officer to grant the author's father forty-eight hours of leave from Camp Funston to see his mother, Mary Elizabeth Turner Calder, who had met and traveled to the Kansas camp on the same train with the former Governor.) 

She was indebted to the governor for this favor, so wrote the poem, "A Rippling Rhyme," about meeting him on the train, and when she got to Virginia, sent it to him in Phoenix with a letter of gratitude.

By Al Bates

Usually when we think of Christmastime in Territorial Prescott we have images of jolly families with little children warm and snugly gathered around a candle-lit tree after enjoying the fruits of their mama's kitchen efforts. But there was an earlier time when Prescott was barely a town and was peopled by a predominance of single men-especially when the miners came to town.

By Dr. Ted Finkelston

(Our tale from last week left off as Jacob "Jake" Theobald, a Prescott youth drafted into the military to fight in the Great War, was finishing his training in the South of France, ready to take his orders to move to the front line.)

Without really telling his mother his unit had moved to the front, Jake wrote in early August, "Bob's big change is in spirits his like the rest of us getting a bit hard at times, but this life in the trenches will make anyone feel that way at times. We are not dry for a week eat & sleep in mud two feet deep but the Hun will pay for it and before very long."