Jerome is north of Prescott. It is down the mountain, across the valley and up the next mountain. It was founded in 1876. It is built over what was the largest copper mine in Arizona. It is on a 30 degree slope so the houses have one story on the back and three on the front. The streets are very narrow. The population peaked at 15,ooo in the 1920’s, but dropped to 5,000 in the 30’s. It became a ghost town when the mine closed in 1953. It has been restored and is now a National Historic district, bustling tourist magnet and artistic community.
Jerome from the Jerome Grand Hotel. We stopped at the Asylum restaurant for lunch in the Jerome Grand Hotel. The hotel building was the hospital from 1927-1950. It sat empty for 44 years until 1994 when it was bought, renovated and turned into the Grand Hotel. Note that the menu says lunch for the committed!
John at the Asylum for lunch. A couple signs seen.The chief surgeon’s house is now a B and B, I think the snake sanctuary is a way of saying keep out of the garden. The second sign was seen in the ladies room of the hotel.
Our second choice for lunch was the Haunted Hamburger if the Asylum was closed. Even the non renovated buildings are prettied up.
In the Mine Museum I saw top left the chinese laundry machine, the amulance car from the mine, the toilet car from the mine train and in the last photo the tall copper thing is a steamer for towels in the barber shop. This storm over the Verde Valley blew into town with rain, snow and high winds. Brrr.
John at the Bordello for Jerome-food, booze and gifts. The Audry headframe is the largest wooden head frame in the world. John is standing in the elevator of the headframe on a piece of glass over a 1000 foot mine shaft. The shaft is supposed to be lighted, but it wasn’t today.
Jerome from below during the storm. One of three streets in town with the renovated buildings. The dash temp in the car is 44 degrees.
What is this white stuff?? Snow! It is time to head to a lower altitude.
Sunset back at camp.
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