By Ruth Noggle

(Joseph Noggle contributed significantly to our community and later opened a Bronze foundry.  In this first part of two-part article the author tells us of Joe Noggle's background.)

We three Noggle kids had it all in the 1950's.  Both our parents worked, but they watched over and nurtured us as best they could.  Joe Noggle, my father, built five log homes in the 800 block of Whetstine Ave. and we lived in the first at 849 from 1948-1958.  It sat on a large lot with plenty of elbowroom for us growing, exploring kids.

By Everett Jaime

It's probably difficult for most Prescottonians to imagine life before Harkin's Theatre or Blockbuster.  But there was a time when kings still held masquerade balls, and entertainment, in the form of theatre and music, was reserved for the aristocracy.  For our unrestricted access to public arts, we owe many thanks to a little-remembered movement of actors in the mid-16th century called the Commedia dell'Arte.

By Karla Burkit

Probably no other single piece of legislation impacted more individual American families than the Homestead Act of 1862.  American citizens and immigrants from every walk of life rushed to stake claims under the provisions of this Act.  By 1900, nearly 400,000 individuals and families had paid the ten dollar registration fee and taken steps to "prove up" on a piece of the American Dream.

By William "Bill" Peck

The facilities at Hillside were scant to say the least in 1940.  The water supply consisted of a drip from a spring claimed by Emmet Coleman and was forbidden to most of us.  It accumulated in a 50-gallon drum in front of his store beneath the scraggly cottonwood that served as shade and tether for "whose-ever" horse happened to be secured there.

By Kathryn Reisdorfer

(The Yavapai Cemetery Association will be holding its 7th annual Memorial Day Observance at the Citizens Cemetery, 815 E. Sheldon, at 9:00 AM tomorrow.  Visitors are always welcome to wander throughout the cemetery and find stories of their own)

The irises are done blooming now, and even the spring roses, the small pink and yellow ones that seem to have sprung out of every rock in the city, are fading.  I was ready for more flowers when I saw something else entirely.

By Dorothy Chafin

(Dorothy Chafin has recently written a multi-part account of her life. We will be publishing pieces of that over the next few months) 

My family moved back to Arizona during the year I was attending the University of Denver; they moved to Prescott and the Grounds family moved back to the Kingman area.  I've been forever grateful that we came back to Prescott rather than the Mohave County location.  My family moved away, little by little, but I had no desire to leave.

By Jay Eby

In the Territory of Arizona in 1900, I am sure the citizenry were just as expectant, just as sure something new and better would happen as we enter 2001.  Maybe, this would the year, 1900, that Arizona would become a State.  But, this was not to be; not for another 12 years. 

By Ken Edwards

When the Civil War broke out, Weaver went back to Yuma to sign on as a Union scout. In March 1862, he assisted General Carleton's California Column in routing the Confederates from Arizona and New Mexico.

George Oaks, a member of the California Volunteers, described Weaver as follows: "He had come to Arizona about thirty years before and knew the country and the Indians well. He was pretty much of an Indian, himself, and liked to scout far ahead of us. He had been so much alone that his speech was part English, part Spanish. . . .

By Jody Drake

On January 22, 1925, the Electoral College received votes from its electors.  Among those present, carrying the Republican votes for Coolidge, was "the lady from Arizona," Prescott's own Sharlot M. Hall.  As we look back at this we perceive it to be a history making event as well as big news, but in fact on that date in 1925, The Prescott Journal Miner headline read "Red Rock Postmaster Shot To Death at His Desk".  No mention of Miss Hall and her journey to Washington.

By Mick Woodcock

In 1863, Christmas was new to the list of celebrations for most people in the United States.  Popularized in part by the drawings of Santa Claus and Christmas done by Thomas Nast for Harpers Weekly magazine, much of the tradition as we know it today was in place by the time of the founding of Prescott.  That Christmas was remembered and recorded by a number of people.  No doubt the fact that this was the formation year of the Territory of Arizona had much to do with that.