Prescott Vally Arizona
Say ‘biscuit’. Now say ‘Prescott’, the same way. That’s how the locals say it.
Herein lay my first phonetics lesson in Prescott, Arizona, the original territorial capital surrounded by the commanding Bradshaw Mountains and Prescott National Forest. In Prescott, the breeze carries a familiar scent of ponderosa pine, the residents are genuine, good-natured folk, and I feel a backyard fellowship in what is aptly labeled as “everybody’s hometown.”
Something supernatural seems to exist in Prescott, not just in its forested mountains and lush valleys, but in the historic Hotel Vendome, a distinguished inn with a Clarion symbol of outstanding quality. This is not its only notable trademark though, as managers Jim Beasley and Betty Thompson point out. Something else gives the Vendome an honored place in the history and mystery books: the presence of “Abby”, the hotel’s resident ghost.
Check-out time at the Vendome is 11 a.m., but Abby doesn’t know this. She checked into Room 16 in 1921, and has yet to leave. Her cat Noble keeps her company, as does anyone else who decides to stay in “her” room.
The most consistent account of the story is that 33-year-old Abby became ill after she checked into the room. She sent her husband out for some medicine, but he never returned. Subsequently, she died of tuberculosis. “Her cat apparently died in the closet, but no one knows for sure how,” said Jim. “People say they’ve heard a cat consistently meowing while staying in Room 16, but none have been successful in locating the source.”
“There have been times when I’ve made up the room, and later found it to be unsettled. Drapes have been pulled open and there’s been an impression on the bedspread where someone has sat,” confesses Betty. Jim took me to see Abby’s room to satisfy my curiosity. Once there, he continued to tell me stories of similar bizarre incidents experienced by others. The strange feeling I have only amounts to a bad case of nerves and a heightened imagination.
The Hotel Vendome, “Arizona’s finest historical hotel”, holds much of its 1917 charm in atmosphere and furnishings. A small cherry wood parlor bar tucked in the lobby’s corner plays host to many gatherings during the day. “It’s a place where guests and residents retreat with the paper or to enjoy company. We encourage an atmosphere where people feel at home,” said Jim.
Restored hotels are just a few among the many buildings that contribute to Prescott’s frontier history. A stroll on Mt. Vernon Street presents a collection of Victorian architecture which, according to writer Richard Maack, “reflects eastern origins and epitomizes the community’s hometown feel.” Thumb Butte (which to the Yavapai people means “mountain lion lying down) looms in the distance with its 6,522-foot summit.
The Sharlot Hall Museum is a collection of heritage-filled buildings forming an architectural sequence from 1864 (the founding of Prescott) to the present day.
Though most of the buildings are seen by self-guided tour, historian volunteers devote their time to sharing information within selected exhibits. Curator of Education, Anita Nordbrock, escorted me through the Fremont House, home to the fifth territorial governor of Arizona.
The three-acre museum is an invitation to discover the lives and cultures of those who settled here and the Native Americans who preceded them. Hours and information: Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 West Gurley St., Prescott, AZ. 86301. (520) 445-3122.
Perhaps the most legendary of Prescott’s frontier legacy is the renowned Whiskey Row, a celebrated sea of historic watering holes accommodating a full block of Montezuma Street. In the late 1800s you may have rubbed shoulders with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday if you were inclined to frequent The Palace. According to the Arizona Highway’s Guide to Prescott, the census of 1880 lists Doc Holliday as living on Montezuma Street with two other boarders.
Established in 1877, The Palace is the oldest frontier bar in Arizona. Destroyed by fire in 1900, it has been rebuilt to its original blueprint construction. The ornately carved mahogany and cherry wood bar was remarkably rescued from the blaze by customers and cowboys and it remains a focal point to this day.
The stairs at the back of the saloon lead you up to the second floor where a keen eye will spot a bullet hole or two, and guide you to rooms that once operated as a brothel.
One of the most well-known and historic bars in the state today, The Palace continues its lively traditions that made it the popular gathering place it once was. Reservations & Info: (520) 541-1996. 120 South Montezuma St., Prescott, Arizona, 86301
Also worth a visit is The Desperado at 110 South Montezuma Street, a general store with one-of-a-kind southwestern gifts and collectibles, and the Prescott Brewing Company, an in-house brew pub, “where all the news is good brews.” I sampled one of their flagship brews, the Liquid Amber, a medium-bodied ale with a rich caramel taste. The four-ounce sampler led to a long and leisurely lunch. A sign outside the production room reads, “Free Brewery Tours every Sunday after Church.”
Prescott’s past might not be as wholesome as the biscuit they’ll have you pronounce, but this is what breathes life and excitement into a town that adopts visitors from around the world. One thing is for sure: the town’s offerings are so sweet and rich with history, you’ll want to bite off as much as you can chew.
For more information, see: www.cityofprescott.net
Author: Tracey Rayson
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