In the spring of 1916, an unknown photographer captured the heart of Prescott, Arizona. For decades the fruits of that labor, a collection of glass plate negatives, lay largely forgotten in the local opera house and theater. Now, an historic western town comes to life as it once was, through images of the town’s business district as found on those photographic plates. Step into a soda fountain, a pool hall, a mercantile, a haberdashery, a saddlery and more, and experience life as it existed in the newly minted state of Arizona in the early twentieth century. This photographic history of Prescott, Arizona, is based upon more than 100 images from the 1916 glass-plate negatives. Complementary images of business advertisements, trade tokens, and streetscapes supplement the main photographs. Richly detailed captions highlight many aspects of the pictures, and the text further explores and describes the town’s historic downtown district, much of which still exists. Maps, a bibliography and an index complete the work.

Nancy Burgess, a historian, professional photographer, independent preservation consultant and Arizona culturekeeper, lives in Prescott.

Richard Williams a resident of Prescott since 1961, died in March 2015.

Nancy Burgess with Richard Williams

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: 267 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016 [2005]
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6451-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2423-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1
Introduction      3
Notes on the Photographs      11

THE PHOTOGRAPHS
1. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway: The Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Line      17
2. Bakeries, Butcher Shops and Restaurants      27
3. Banks      42
4. Carpentry, Hardware, Lumber, Plumbing and Sign Shops      49
5. Chamber of Commerce      60
6. Drugstores, Cigar Stores and Newsstands      64
7. Former Saloons and Billiard Halls      76
8. Gentlemen’s Furnishings and Tailors      88
9. Hotels      98
10. Jewelry Stores      107
11. Ladies’ Clothing and Millinery Shops      111
12. Professional Offices: Attorneys-at-Law; Insurance; Mining, Assayers, and Real Estate Agents; Newspapers      119
13. Retail Trade, Grocery, General Mercantile, Variety and Secondhand Stores      132
14. Schools      151
15. Services: Barber Shops; City/County Offices; Fire Protection; Foundry; Laundries; Library; Post Office; Shoe Repair; Western Union; Wells, Fargo & Co.      166
16. Transportation Other Than Railroad: Automobile and Machine Shops; Bicycle Repair, Fix-It, and Sign Shops; Blacksmiths and Liveries; Saddle Shop      189
17. Electrical Service and Streetcars      207

Conclusion      216
Appendix: The Merchant Trade Tokens      219
Bibliography      223
Index      225

“the book is more than just a collection of photos, it’s mystery packed with clues and details”—Prescott Woman Magazine; “many wonderful images are included, along with a great deal of detailed information”—The Journal of Arizona History; “wonderful detail…enjoyable read”—Transitions; “valuable”—The Daily Courier.