How is it that the very heart of Prescott—its downtown Plaza—happen to become property of Yavapai County?
When queried, even local historians were unable to explain why. One former county supervisor suggested that the beautifully-shaded, rectangle-shaped parcel always belonged to Yavapai County. However, research shows that nothing could be further from the truth…
As Robert Groom plotted out Prescott in 1864 and created the Plaza in the middle of downtown, it was not meant for a county courthouse. Instead, it was left as an open public space, and its early uses were many and varied.
The first community use of the Plaza was the Fourth of July celebration in 1864. On July 2nd, a flagpole standing approximately 145 feet tall was erected in the southeast corner of the Plaza, and on the 4th, Old Glory was raised high into the air—a beacon to the 400 men approaching the small settlement to celebrate.
A month later, an artesian well was successfully dug on the Plaza, providing fresh water for those in need. In Prescott's earliest days, lodging was both scarce and expensive. Many travelers simply pitched camp in the Plaza during their visit and were welcome to do so. Baseball games were often played on the Plaza. Combined runs totaling over 50 were quite common back then.
In March 1867, the public parcel was nearly purloined. "We are sorry to announce the arrival of the notorious and vagabond called 'squatter' in our devoted town,” the Arizona Miner lamented, “but it appears, from some mysterious cause, a party of men, mostly strangers in our country, have deliberately located or ‘jumped' our town plaza, and are now proceeding to take and fence it in.”
The plot brought both disgust and consternation. Eighty-four prominent citizens signed a petition demanding the jumpers “desist from further operations.” Litigation followed which Prescott happily won. By December, the last remains of the squatter's "improvements" were hauled away.
From the late 1860s to the early 1870s, Prescott allowed residents to plant personal gardens in the Plaza. Documented crops included watermelon and corn.
ALSO ENJOY: The Plaza’s Early History
The early history and activities of Prescott Arizona's iconic downtown Courthouse Plaza.
As for when Yavapai County took control of the center of downtown Prescott, the answer was revealed in an inappreciable, ten-line article in the Weekly Arizona Miner for May 16, 1877 in column 2 of page 3; and in the future, that answer could be of great consequence.
The context of the time was the planning for, what is known today as the Old Courthouse, to be built in the center of the Plaza.
“At the last meeting of the Mayor and Town Council,” the newspaper reported, “a perpetual lease was signed conveying the plaza to the county, the condition of said lease being that the county shall, inside of two years, erect good substantial buildings consisting of courthouse and jail and that in the event of said buildings being removed or others erected elsewhere, then said plaza shall revert back to the village of Prescott."
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| Weekly Arizona Miner 5/16/1877 Pg. 3, Col. 2 |
So in May, 1877, Yavapai County took control of the Plaza, but did not receive title to the property! Unless a subsequent agreement was made, the county has NEVER owned the Plaza and only leases it for free based on the conditions set forth in the lease!
Why is this important? Yavapai County is starting to outgrow the current courthouse. As a result, some have recently given voice to the idea of making the current courthouse a museum, and building a more modern, larger courthouse elsewhere. However, if such a move were made, it could result in a legal battle over who would then have control of the Plaza, with the City of Prescott undoubtedly having the stronger argument.
Indeed, if that did happened, it could be the city that collects the proceeds for the many events held there, and decides its future usage!
But of course, a new agreement could always be hammered-out...
...or not!
ALSO ENJOY: $7 Million in Gold Awaits to be Found
Story of over 230 pounds of placer gold that was hidden around Prescott before the town was founded.
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SOURCES:
Arizona Miner, 7/6/1864; Pg. 2, Col. 4.
"Prescott's first 4th of July: No fireworks or women" by Richard Gorby.
Arizona Miner, 8/10/1864; Pg. 3, Col. 1.
Arizona Miner, 9/7/1864; Pg. 2 Cols. 1&3.
Arizona Miner, 3/23/1867; Pg. 2, Col. 3
Arizona Miner, 4/6/1867; Pg. 2, Col. 2.
Arizona Miner, 12/7/1867; Pg. 3, Col. 1.
Weekly Arizona Miner, 8/7/1869; Pg. 3, Col. 2.
Weekly Arizona Miner, 8/6/1870; Pg. 3, Col. 1.
Arizona Weekly Miner, 9/24/1875; Pg. 3, Col. 2.
Arizona Weekly Journal-Miner 5/16/1877; Pg. 3, Col. 2.
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