By Jay Eby

Alexander Oswald Brodie III, like most Prescottonians of his day, and most of us, was not a native of Arizona. However, he was "a thorough Westerner" Arizonan.  Brodie was born November 13, 1849, in the family mansion near Edwards, New York to Joseph and Margaret (Brown) making him the heir of a long line of royal Scots.

By Terry Munderloh

Long before the Spanish occupation of what would one day become Arizona and the arrival of Euro-American explorers and settlers to the western frontier, a unique aboriginal population lived in present-day Yavapai County. Ruins of many of the structures built by these Amerinds dot the hilltops throughout our surrounding countryside.

By William "Bill" Peck

In 1887, Morris Darnell built a store and bar which probably had rooms for rent upstairs across the railroad tracks abut 500 feet south of the depot in Hillside. Finding he was on the wrong side of the tracks and had built in a mud hole, he somehow moved the rather cumbersome building in about 1900 to its present site where it serves as the Hillside Store, a cooperative affair run by our town's retired women.

By Parker Anderson

The first legal hanging in Prescott's history is not remembered as an extraordinary affair. The people involved are not as colorful and legendary even though the event has been written about a number of times. In one of Arizona's beleaguered Mexican settlements just outside of Camp Verde, violence erupted at. . . .

By Kathryn Reisdorfer

The Irish, who had not been well received in the East, were more accepted and far more successful in mining areas of the American West. In Prescott, Frank Murphy (b. 1855 - d. 1917), who had his hand in mining, contributed tremendously to the local community.  Another Murphy Beatrice lived in Butte, Montana, which like Prescott was a major mining hub. Although she was not Frank's relative, she was also Irish. She was full of exuberance and appreciation for life, and, luckily for us, she kept a diary.

By Kathryn Reisdorfer

The Chinese have been in the news in Prescott lately, and, just as in the past, they seem to be annoying some people. As a researcher, I am very interested in understanding the complex historical source of that annoyance. Now, of course, the concern is primarily an economic one-the archaeological dig looking for Chinese artifacts is delaying the construction of a public parking lot in downtown Prescott.

By Parker Anderson

The art of live drama and performing plays goes back to the days of the ancient Greeks but the noble art of theater has seen much change and evolution over time. For instance, plays, such as those of Shakespeare, used to run 3 to 4 hours, some longer. Today audiences don't seem to have the tolerance to sit that long. Today's average theatrical performance runs two hours or so. 

By Shirley Redfearne

The Arizona territorial offices of Secretary, United States Attorney, Marshal, Surveyor General, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Governor, and Court Justices were filled by appointment by the President of the United States. The officials held their posts for four years but could be dismissed at the will of the President. Each was expected to remain on duty until a successor was appointed. Applicants pursued an appointment for reasons ranging from health and adventure to carpetbagging.

By Robert "Bob

While preparing for a jaunt in the hills and scanning the Forest Service map of roads south of Prescott, my wife asked the innocent question, "who was the Senator of the Senator Highway?" Now being familiar with that highway, I explained it was not a person but a mine, the Senator out on the Hassayampa River bank.

By Parker Anderson

Over the last couple of years this writer embarked on extensive research regarding the legendary Yavapai County outlaw James Parker for the purposes of writing a play and possibly a book. The play was subsequently performed by the Blue Rose Theater.

In doing this, I ran into a problem that bedevils most researchers at one time or another-separating truth from legend.  In nearly all cases where historical figures are well known, facts get stretched in various retellings about their lives. Hundreds of untrue or unverifiable legends exist about the Earps, for instance. In the case of Jim Parker, I encountered no less than four different, irreconcilable versions of his history. I shall examine them here.