Description

The Bellevue Hotel, located at 121 N. Cortez Street, opened on November 9, 1887 under the proprietorship of Jules Baumann. Prior to its opening, the building served as the first Yavapai County courthouse with an adjoining jailhouse between 1867 and 1877. Some individuals, including in The Weekly Arizona Miner newspaper, expressed concern about the jail building’s poor condition, especially its surrounding fence, which made it easy for prisoners to escape. In February 1878, construction work began on a second courthouse on the Plaza and the building at 121 N. Cortez Street was remodeled in 1885.

Between 1887 and 1900, when the building was demolished, the Bellevue Hotel went through a number or proprietors and hosted a number of restaurants and other businesses. Proprietors included:

James Shirley, 1889

Jacob Henkle, who transferred his lease of the Bellevue Hotel to Mrs. John McCarty in March 1891.

In February 1893 a deed was filed for record from L. J. Weber and James Shirley to Charles H. Lee for the interest in the Bellevue Hotel for $500.00. H.T. Blake purchased and takes charge of the Bellevue Hotel.

Charles Martin, 1894

Mrs. L. B. Anderson, proprietor, and G. L. Mayer, manager, 1895 (they refitted the hotel with a saloon and restaurant)

A Mrs. White rented it as a lodging house with a café in 1899

On October 10, 1900 the Weekly Journal-Miner newspaper listed the Bellevue Hotel as for sale. Demolition work on the hotel began on November 10, with the Miner newspaper reporting that the building had been used as a jail, saloon, printing office, hotel, and restaurant during its existence.