Prescott in Yavapai County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Fire of 1900
Photographed By Joseph Cavinato, July 13, 2009
1. The Fire of 1900 Marker
Inscription.
The Fire of 1900. . A disastrous fire on the night of July 14, 1900 changed the face of downtown Prescott. Starting in a room in the Scopel Hotel on the southwest corner of Goodwin and Montezuma Streets, the fire quickly hopped across Goodwin Street and proceeded to consume all of the buildings on "Whiskey Row," leveling the entire block. Though some of the Plaza buildings were built of brick, many were wood, and the destruction was nearly complete. The fire burned almost everything in its path to Granite Creek and Willis Street, a total of over 80 businesses. Prescott had suffered fires before, but this was by far the worst. The pluck and courage of its merchants and residents was evident, however, as they pitched in to rebuild, this time of more substantial means: brisk, concrete, and stone. Within three days construction was underway. Undaunted merchants were open and doing a brisk business in tents, corrugated metal buildings, and hastily constructed sheds on the courthouse lawn. Of the buildings standing at the time of the fire, only a few remain: The Prescott National Bank and the Bank of Prescott (both under construction in 1900), the Knights of Pythias Building on South Cortez Street, and the City Jail and Fire Station on West Goodwin Street.
A disastrous fire on the night of July 14, 1900 changed the face of downtown Prescott. Starting in a room in the Scopel Hotel on the southwest corner of Goodwin and Montezuma Streets, the fire quickly hopped across Goodwin Street and proceeded to consume all of the buildings on "Whiskey Row," leveling the entire block. Though some of the Plaza buildings were built of brick, many were wood, and the destruction was nearly complete. The fire burned almost everything in its path to Granite Creek and Willis Street, a total of over 80 businesses. Prescott had suffered fires before, but this was by far the worst. The pluck and courage of its merchants and residents was evident, however, as they pitched in to rebuild, this time of more substantial means: brisk, concrete, and stone. Within three days construction was underway. Undaunted merchants were open and doing a brisk business in tents, corrugated metal buildings, and hastily constructed sheds on the courthouse lawn. Of the buildings standing at the time of the fire, only a few remain: The Prescott National Bank and the Bank of Prescott (both under construction in 1900), the Knights of Pythias Building on South Cortez Street, and the City Jail and Fire Station on West Goodwin Street.
Erected by The Historic Preservation Fund and the City of Prescott
Click or scan to see this page online
.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is July 14, 1873.
Location. 34° 32.385′ N, 112° 28.221′ W. Marker is in Prescott, Arizona, in Yavapai County. Marker is at the intersection of South Montezuma Street (Arizona Route 89) and West Goodwin Street, on the right when traveling south on South Montezuma Street. Marker is located on the southwest corner. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Prescott AZ 86301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Sharlot Hall Museum Photo, circa 1897
3. Close-Up of Photo on Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2009, by Joseph Cavinato of Fountain Hills, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,577 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2009, by Joseph Cavinato of Fountain Hills, Arizona. 3. submitted on July 13, 2009. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
