By Pat Atchison

Memorial Day is a day to honor all those who have passed away and to pay tribute to those who have defended the United States against aggressors.  Many stories surround the origin of Memorial Day or "Decoration Day" as it was originally called.  Residents of several Southern states observed such an occasion before the end of the hostilities of the Civil War.  It is said that several young ladies in Mississippi took spring flowers to the cemetery to decorate the graves of fallen Confederate soldiers.  They decorated the graves and then noticed that the Union soldiers' graves were bare.

By Jean Cross

The next time you are out Williamson Valley way you might like to consider some of the events which took place in this beautiful, if at one time hostile, area during the early days of Prescott's settlement.  The pioneers themselves are worthy of our reflection--such names as Simmons, Fine, Jenkins, Sieber, Matli and many others come to mind in such a discussion.  One name in particular has caught my interest in researching the beginnings of this area, that of Jefferson Harrison Lee better known as Harry in his early years and then as J.H. 
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Compiled by Michael Byrd, Betty Sigfried and Eric Glomski

Did you know that there are creeks in Prescott?  It may be difficult to notice them because they either rarely have water in them or the roads we drive and walk upon have walls that obstruct any view we might encounter.  But, they are there and they are a vital part of our community.  In the mid-1980s, Prescott Creeks Preservation Association (PCPA) was formed to protect those elusive creeks flowing through the City of Prescott.  Founding PCPA members Betty Bridgewater, Betty Sigfried, and Jay Eby worked on the Keep Prescott Beautiful Granite Creek Clean Up Day for several consecutive years and realized it would be an asset to the downtown area if Granite Creek was kept clean and a nature trail was developed and maintained along it.  After some research, the two Bettys learned that the idea was not a new one.  Originally, Jeri Wagner discussed a nature walk during her second term as Mayor of Prescott in the late 1970s.

By Mick Woodcock

In a newspaper article written shortly after Sharlot Hall's death on April 9, 1943, one of the salient points mentioned was that she had left the town of Prescott a legacy in her museum.  It praised her foresight and forethought in establishing her collections when she did.  It extolled the virtue in giving her life to the preservation of local history, particularly the Governor's Mansion.

By Norm Tessman

The creature may have been the last of its kind.  Of an ancient lineage, mastodons were on the brink of extinction when one of them died in a shallow watering hole some fifteen miles southwest of today's Prescott.  It was about 8,500 B.C., the last major ice age had ended, and the climate was much like that today, although there would soon be a trend toward cooler and damper weather.  That much is known; but there are many other questions about the passing of this creature, not the least of which is the cause of its death-and the possibility that it was killed by human hunters.

By Anita Nordbrock

Arizona Weekly Miner, February 16, 1877, "George Ah Fat gave a new year's dinner today at which, he informed us yesterday, he intended among other delicacies to serve tea that costs $10 per pound."  February 16, 1999, ushered in the Chinese New Year--the Year of the Rabbit--year 4697 on the Chinese lunar calendar.  From the late 1860s, until the 1930s, when Goodwin Street was extended across Granite Creek, Granite Street was paved and the last remnants of Chinatown were cleared away.  Prescott had a Chinatown.  Next time you are downtown, take the time to walk down Granite Street between Goodwin and Gurley and think about a part of Prescott that is forever gone.  In the 1860s, Granite Street was a dirt street and was the heart of Prescott's Chinatown. 

By Richard Gorby

Most people in the Prescott area, although familiar with Groom Creek and even Groom City, know nothing about Robert Groom, but most of them are thankful for something he gave them one hundred and twenty-five years ago-downtown Prescott.  Early in 1863, the Arizona Territory was established by President Lincoln.  By March of 1864, the territorial officers he appointed, led by Governor John Goodwin, arrived in the new Territory and had picked the site for the capital, near the new military fort, Fort Whipple which is now the site of the VA hospital, just built to protect the many new mining camps. 

By Jean Cross

As you travel down the hill on Interstate 17 to Camp Verde, the casual driver cannot help but be in awe of the vista before him: verdant valley, red rocks and limestone cliffs.  It is sometimes difficult to stay focused on the task of maneuvering down the hill with trucks and cars racing by.  It would almost seem that there should be reduced speed limits in such a scenic area to give the traveler a chance to absorb the beauty of such a panoramic scene. 

By Elisabeth Ruffner

(Note: Jonne Markham did a great deal of research on tunnels and first published an article about them in the former weekly newspaper called THE PAPER on October 23, 1975, which is available at the Sharlot Hall Museum Library and Archives.  The following story is an updated version of the 1975, publication.)

The tunnels under Prescott?  Of course, everybody knows about the tunnels!  Lots of people have seen them...just ask some of the old timers!  So I asked some of the old timers: I asked Gail Gardner, poet and rancher, 1892-1988, who graduated from Prescott High School in 1909, I asked Budge Ruffner and I asked Dewey Born.  They all said they didn't know anything about tunnels and Gail was more definite: he said there weren't any. 

By Sylvia Neely

At the turn of the century many schools throughout the United States were named after some of our better know presidents.  Prescott was no exception with Washington School built in 1903, on Gurley Street, Lincoln School built in 1909, on Park Avenue, and Jefferson School at the end of Marina Street built in 1924.  Washington School still exists as the oldest continuously used school in Yavapai County.  Jefferson School was closed in 1938.