Visit to Prescott, AZ

Friday a.m.

Started this last night and was only 15 to 6 and it was almost dark already. Yesterday we took a drive to Prescott – went there via the Interstate and came back over the mountains on 89A through Jerome.  
The first time we ever went to Prescott was way back in the early 70s and we were there around Christmas time. In the center of town is the courthouse square and all around the square were luminaries and Christmas lights in all the trees. So Christmas Card looking. Another time we went there there was an art contest and show going on. The whole courthouse square was full of artists and art. Today it was kind of quiet.

And actually looked a little depressing. Lots of older unkempt looking men literally laying around on the court house lawn. One block of the main old town area.

Couldn’t resist this sign in one of the windows.

Or this dress. Imagine wearing something like this.

Information on the St. Michael Hotel on Montezuma St.

The hotel today taken from the courthouse side of the street.

The street the hotel is on, Montezuma St was know as “Whiskey Row” because of all the saloons on it.

Today there are still a whole bunch of them. Some dating back to the late 1800s.

Along with the saloons are the “galleries” or “gift shops” – some had really nice stuff – some were pretty tacky. Couldn’t resist taking a picture of this entrance to a “gallery.”

The front of the Court House on Gurley St. Very pretty around it with the trees turning gold and orange.

Some of the older buildings. This is a old bank building.

The Masonic Temple.

Back to the court hourse side of the street. This pine tree was planted the day Arizona got its statehood. February 14, 1912.

The big sidewalk leading from the street to the front of the court house has a very interesting – for lack of a better word – inserted time line in it. It forms a big U-shape of Arizona’s history. The date and the event – just some small portions of it. In the beginning

1857 to 1867 – Remember the camels at Quartzite. Through the Civil War

Statehood 2.14.1912 with the flag of Arizona. Also when Clarkdale got its post office designation.

1951 to 56 – The Korean Way and the Atomic testing in Nevada – they felt it in Arizona!

This poem is near the end back out by the street.

 This was a really interesting thing to see – lot of effort and thought went into it.

Walked around a little more then back into dirty Willie. We took the route through the mountains 89A – very twisty and turny- back through Jerome. Coming down on the Jerome side of the drive we could look out over all of Verde Valley. The brown is smoke from a fire somewhere in the hills.

Into Jerome – the parking is dug into the hills below the houses.

Then back to the RV.

Today – Friday – we aren’t doing much. Went to Home Depot to get a replacement for a dowel that broke and to WalMart for some groceries. I got myself a piece of carrot cake to enjoy later.
Looks like our travel plans might change again. We planned on leaving Monday but it is supposed to snow again in Flagstaff that day….don’t need to deal with that. Tonight it is supposed to rain here – we’ll see…it is getting colder and pretty windy.

Visiting Jerome, AZ

Sunday a.m.

Didn’t get this posted last night – my book was calling to me. So now it’s Sunday morning. Because we are in Pacific Time my NASCAR is already on the tube. So will be watching half the day – at least until after the cup race is over. But will catch up posting and do laundry to while watching TV to make use of my time.

Had to replace the ink in our printer – guess if you don’t use it for a couple of years the ink dries up. Hummm….. Then of course since we were out we had to go to the grocery store. We went to Frys in Cottonwood – it is part of the Kroger chain so got sale prices on our purchases – one of which happened to be Häagen Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream. It is so good. Bought a roasted chicken for early dinner. They’re pretty good.Saturday p.m.

Up bright and early – I’ve got to adjust to the time changes. Funny thing is I don’t go to sleep any earlier – just wake up earlier. This morning I thought “Oh Ho- I’ll watch the NASCAR sprint cars – cause of rain yesterday they would be out on the tract early this a.m. like 8:30 eastern time” – But it was still raining there and they weren’t running. So ended up reading till the sun came out.
A picture of us in the campground with one of the other Alfas across from us.

We went out to breakfast before setting off this morning. Ate at Georgies Café again. Again very good and very inexpensive.

Then up the hill to visit the semi ghost town of Jerome. Call it the Mile High City.

Actually it seems to be growing over the years. The first time we went through there was around 1972 in our 24’ motorhome with all our kids. The memorable thing about the visit was it was at night – we didn’t mean to go there – it was winter and the roads were worse then. This is the town.

Now the drive seems like nothing – in a car, in the daylight and with better roads. Just one of the homes built up on the hills. The town suffered several fires and was rebuilt again and again. The blasting from the mining caused several buildings to slip down hill too.

The old theater – it is being restored little by little

One of the walls inside – it is now a shop in the front.

Inside it – Me and Elvis

The old projector

This is the Connor Hotel it was built originally in 1898, but burned down twice and had to be rebuilt. The rooms rented for $1 per night! The foundations were made of stone quarried for the nearby hills and the brick was made in Cottonwood.

The first floor of the hotel is now mostly shops and a winery tasting room. I was interested in the ceilings – Larger squares of molded metal in gold finish.

This one has a silver finish. I’ve always liked that look.

This church sits way up on the hill above downtown. Luckily it hasn’t slide down the hill.

Just a view out over the valley.

Looking up the street towards the theater and the hotel.

Walking down one of the streets – wonder what it used to be?

And this was around the corner. Looks like it is thinking about slipping down the hill.

Walked around a bit more just enjoying the atmosphere but not the altitude. Bill is still  not back in the shape he was a year ago. And my sitting around most of the summer has drained me too. We need to do more walking – not less.

Bill has fixed breakfast so better stop and eat.