Memories of Gurley Street in 1970 Prescott

In 1970, Prescott, Arizona, was still a small town. According to the Census Bureau, the population that year was 13,631--an increase of 770 from 1960, or roughly, just one new family every four weeks. Similar to other towns this size, one of the great weekend pastimes for teenagers was cruising, and in Prescott, that meant driving up and down Gurley Street. 

The businesses on Gurley then were largely different from those today.

West Gurley Street:

Across from the Plaza, the two main businesses were the Eagle Drugstore and (JC) Penny's, both of which covered their historic buildings with modern (and not especially popular) facades. 

The old Eagle Drugstore building today.

Other businesses across from the Plaza on West Gurley:

"Westernaire" was at 106 W Gurley

Steward's Shoes was at 108 W Gurley

"pbsw" Office and School Supplies was located at 118 West Gurley.

"Mode O' Day" was located at 124 W Gurley

The 200 block of West Gurley:

Across from St. Michael's Hotel, on the corner of Gurley and Montezuma, was the Rohrer-Bloom Walgreens store, which announced new Sunday hours in 1970, and also disguised its historic building with a tall facade.

Same building today.

June Carter's Camera Center, 212 W Gurley,
Today it's French Hen Boutique.

Schroeder's Music, 217 W Gurley.

ALSO ENJOY: Gurley: The Man Behind the Street Name

The life of the first appointed governor of the Arizona Territory: John Addison Gurley.

East Gurley Street:

The Cable Company was located near Cortez at 113 E Gurley St.

At the corner of Gurley and Mt. Vernon, a new Kentucky Fried Chicken was opened in 1970.

Further east on Gurley, there were more restaurants to choose from.

Sandy's was located at 715 E Gurley.

715 E Gurley today.

Village Inn Pizza was at 1106 E Gurley.
The building no longer exists.

The Bronze Saddle (sounds uncomfortable)
opened at 1109 E Gurley.

The Captain's Table was located at 1211 E Gurley

There were a couple of hotels on East Gurley.

Auto Rest Motel, 1117 E Gurley.

Kelly's Inn, 1225 E Gurley.
It's now the Rodeway Inn

And finally, at the intersection of E Gurley and Sheldon, there was a Gulf gas station run by Jim Evans.

ALSO IN 1970:

After a wave of predicted sightings, a UFO landed in Prescott!

(According to A Prescott Courier photojournalist)

The incredible story: 

1970: UFO Lands in Prescott

The true story of a massive wave of UFO sightings and a recorded landing in August, 1970 in Prescott, AZ. 

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