Then and now, Prescott, Arizona’s, great calling card has been Whiskey Row. For nearly 160 years, it has been a center for entertainment, libation and even a bit of history. And it all started in 1864.
Entrepreneur William Hardy was the man with a vision. He saw a town that was recently named the territorial capital; it also had an Army post, Fort Whipple, nearby. A lot of people with a lot of thirst would be coming to Prescott, and Hardy wanted to profit in that.
And so he opened the Quartz Rock on November 14, 1864. The event drew a large crowd—in part because the saloon was offering a sampling of liquors on the house. It also featured the best billiard table in town. The opening was a huge success.
There to enjoy the festivities was a group self-proclaimed as “The Barbarians.” Contrary to their name, the members were some of the leading lights in Arizona Territory: Judge William Berry, Governor John Goodwin, Secretary of the Territory Richard McCormick and several officers from Fort Whipple.
This story is from the May 2023 edition of True West.
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This story is from the May 2023 edition of True West.
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