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Jerome
Homes and Real Estate for Sale in Arizona
JEROME, Arizona
A Ghost Town turned into a lively artisans and writers community
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The Early Years
Jerome was built on Cleopatra Hill above a vast deposit of copper. The
mines, the workers and those who sought its wealth, formed Jerome's
history. They were a brave and raucous mix. Miners, smelter workers,
freighters, gamblers, bootleggers, saloon keepers, store keepers,
prostitutes and preachers, wives and children all made Jerome what it was.
Americans, Mexicans, Croatians, Irish, Spaniards, Italians and Chinese
made the mining camp a cosmopolitan mix that added to its rich life and
filled its streets with excitement. Prehistoric Native Americans were the
first miners. The Spanish followed, seeking gold but finding copper.
Jerome's modern history began in 1876 when three anglo prospectors staked
the first claims on rich copper deposits in the area. They sold out to a
group which formed the United Verde Copper Company in 1883. The resultant
mining camp of board and canvas shacks was named in honor of Eugene
Jerome, the venture's principal backer. Hopes for the enterprise ran high,
but the costs of operating, especially for transportation, outstripped
profits,and the company folded in less than two years. It took the vision
and vast financial resources of a new owner, William A. Clark, to bring in
a narrow gauge railroad and reduce freighting costs.
By the early 20th century, the United Verde was the largest producing
copper mine in the Arizona Territory. Jerome grew rapidly from tent city
to prosperous company town with frame and brick buildings, and could boast
of two churches, an opera house, a school, and several civic buildings.
The town followed the swing of the mines fortunes. In 1912, James S.
Douglas purchased and began development of the Little Daisy Mine. By 1916,
Jerome had two bonanza mines.
The Ghost City
Jerome was the talk of the Territory...boom town of its time...darling of
promoters and investors. The mines were nourished and exploited by
financiers who brought billions of dollars of copper from its depths.
Changing times in the Territory saw pack burros, mule drawn freight
wagons, and horses replaced by steam engines, autos and trucks. Fires
ravaged the clapboard town again and again. Jerome was always rebuilt.
In 1918, underground mining phased out after uncontrollable fires erupted
in the 88 miles of tunnels under the town. Open pit mining brought
dynamiting. The hills rattled and buildings cracked. The surface began to
shift and sections of the business district slid downward. The sliding
jail moved 225 ft. and rests across the road from its original site. The
Little Daisy shut down in 1938. Phelps-Dodge took over the United Verde in
1935, but loss of profits dependent on the ups and downs of copper prices,
labor unrest, depressions and war brought the operation and Jerome mining
days to an end in 1953. Closed forever? Jerome never knows. During its
life-time, United Verde produced about $500 million worth of copper ore.
Today's Jerome
Jerome has always been a survivor. After the mines closed and "King
Copper" left town, the population went from a peak of 15,000 about 1929 to
some 50 souls in the late 50's. A few hardy souls remained, reluctant to
leave a lifetime of memories. The 60's and 70's were the time of the
counter culture and Jerome offered a haven for artists who renovated homes
and opened abandoned shops to sell their wares. Soon newcomers and Jerome
old timers were working together to bring Jerome back to life.
The Jerome Historical Society guarded the buildings against vandalism and
the elements. The Douglas Mansion was made a State Park Museum in 1965 and
Jerome became a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Today, Jerome is very
much alive with writers, artists, artisans, musicians, historians, and
families. They form a peaceful, colorful, thriving community built on a
rich foundation of history and lore. The population today is about 400.
Jerome, Arizona
Text and photographs
by Howard A. Sheldon
A friendly glow greets the Central Arizona town of Jerome, Arizona.
Visualize the warm morning sun rising over the cool mountains of the
Mogollon Rim, "Plateau Country." The shop owners open their doors for the
tourist trade and put some of their wares outside. The timbre of wind
chimes and the essence of incense fills the air. Travelers from all over
the world with brightly colored clothes, cameras around their necks and
children in tow, file up and down the narrow streets and sidewalks. Later
in the day, you may also find a few vintage Harley Davidsons parked
outside one of the local watering holes. Jerome draws people from all
walks (and rides) of life.
Jerome's personality has changed dramatically in the past 30 years. Once a
thriving mining camp between the late-1880s and early 1950s, Jerome is now
a bustling tourist magnet and artistic community with a population of
about 450. It includes a modicum of artists, craft people, musicians,
writers, hermits, bed and breakfast owners, museum caretakers, gift shop
proprietors and fallen-down-building landlords.
Before the first Europeans visited the Verde Valley in the 16th century,
the Sinaguas, Hohokams, Anasazis and Apaches called this area home. The
rich mineral resources of the Black Hills were well known by these native
peoples. When Antonio de Espejo and his companions traveled through these
parts looking for gold and silver, the Indians readily showed them their
mining operations. While the Indians were primarily mining for copper,
there were rich deposits of gold and silver in those mines as well. But
the Spaniards, noting only that there was silver, but no gold, moved on.
Nearly 300 years later, in 1876, the renowned U.S. Calvary scout Al Sieber
saw the potential for gold in these crudely worked mines and staked a
claim. When word got out about his mining claims, others followed. Such
notables as Angus McKinnon and M. A. Ruffner filed claims on some copper
outcroppings, becoming at the same time pioneers of the mining town of
Jerome.
In 1883, investors bought the McKinnon claim for $15,500. In 1888, Montana
Senator William A. Clark leased the mining rights and in 1889 bought
control of the claim and formed the United Verde Copper Company. Within
two decades, after much hard work and ingenuity, this entrepreneur became
one of the richest men in Arizona.
The United Verde Mine produced in excess of $1 billion in copper, gold,
silver, zinc and lead from the northeast side of Mingus and Woodchute
Mountains. Just below those two mountains rises a well-known hill by the
name of Cleopatra. On the northeast side of this hill, the town of Jerome
is precariously anchored. This part of Arizona's Black Hills harbored some
of the best capitalists of the territory and, in contrast, a collection of
some of the world's poorest as well. Early on, Jerome became a melting pot
of settlers from abroad, immigrants from every corner of the globe seeking
work and chasing the dream of quick fortune.
The town of Jerome was incorporated on March 8, 1889. Oddly the town's
namesake, Eugene Murray Jerome, a New York investor in the early mining
operations of the United Verde, never visited the town named after him.
Jerome was ravaged by a number of fires in its early beginnings. The main
part of town was leveled four times by the fires of 1894, 1897, 1898 and
1899. With the ill-famed title of the "Wickedest Town in Arizona"
(according to the New York Sun of February 5, 1903), many observers
attributed these fires to divine retribution. After a building code was
established at the beginning of the 20th century, most buildings were
constructed of masonry. Many of these buildings still stand -- or lean --
today. The towns' reputation for gambling, prostitution, alcohol, drug
abuse and many other base human behaviors was well known.
What is the Town of Jerome like today? Is it worth your time to visit? The
answer is a resounding yes! Jerome is an enchanting town, and a
photographer's paradise. From its external appearances it hasn't changed
much in nearly 100 years. Many of the buildings used by present-day
business folks are those built after the fires of 1894 and1899. A number
of the buildings have been restored and more are planned for restoration.
Due to the 30-degree incline of the mountainside, gravity has pulled a
number of buildings down the slope. To the delight of some, one of those
buildings was the town's jail. Those buildings still standing make for
interesting visiting and with a little research you can find their
historical significance. One notable section is the "Cribs District." You
will find this area across the street from the English Kitchen, in a back
alley where all the buildings were are part of Jerome's ill-famed
"prostitution row."
A World-Class Mine Museum in a Ghost Town Setting
A further attraction to visitors and photographers alike is the Gold King
Mine. Today, the Gold King Mine and Ghost Town is what was originally
Haynes, Arizona. Situated about one mile north, Haynes was a bustling
suburb of Jerome in 1890. The Haynes Copper Company dug a 1200-foot shaft
in search of copper, but hit gold instead. This tumble-down community has
a petting zoo, a walk-in mine, demonstrations of antique mining equipment,
the world's largest gas engines, an authentic 1901 blacksmith shop, a
19th-century sawmill and a billion-dollar view of the Verde Valley within
a ghost town setting.
Jerome State Historic Park: The Douglas Mansion.
Another notable individual to come to Jerome was "Rawhide Jimmy" Douglas.
In 1912, James S. Douglas purchased and developed the Little Daisy Mine.
In 1916, Jerome had two bonanza mines, the United Verde and the Little
Daisy. Copper production peaked in 1929. Back then Jerome was boasting a
population of 15,000. The Great Depression of the 1930s and low-grade ore
deposits brought an end to the Little Daisy Mine in 1938. After the
official close of the mines in 1953, Jerome became a veritable ghost town.
At its lowest point, the population dwindled to about 50 "survivors."
In 1916, just above the mine, Mr. Douglas built his residence, which is
now known as the Douglas Mansion. "Rawhide Jimmy" built the house as a
hotel for mining officials, investors and his own family. The house was
complete with a wine cellar, billiard room, marble shower, steam heat and
a central vacuuming system. Amazingly, the mansion was constructed of
Adobe bricks made right on the site where the house now rests.
A short distance south of the mansion is the abandoned Little Daisy Hotel
which was a dormitory for his miners. The concrete shell still stands
today.
Mr. Douglas' former house is now a museum devoted to the Jerome area, its
mining history and the Douglas family. In 1965, the Douglas Mansion became
an Arizona State Park Museum. The museum features exhibits of photographs,
artifacts and minerals. There is a video presentation of Jerome's history
that you can view as well. You will also find a 3-D model of the town
showing its underground mines. After you park your car, you will notice
around the outside various displays depicting mining history along with a
picnic area and another billion dollar view of the Verde Valley.
Landmarks and Historical Buildings
Some buildings and landmarks that you may find of interest include: United
Verde Hospital (now the Jerome Grand Hotel), Club House Hospital, Chief
Surgeon's House, the 'Cribs District,' United Verde Apartments, Powder Box
Church, United Verde Railroad Depot, Clark Elementary School, Jerome
Hotel, Cleopatra Hill, the Open Pit area and the Gold King Mine.
Lodging and Food
There are seven bed and breakfasts, nine eating establishments and the
renovated hospital. When we visited Jerome we had a hearty lunch at 'The
Jerome Palace / Haunted Hamburger.' They are always busy, so expect to
wait.
Community Facilities
Jerome has two museums: The Douglas Mansion and the Jerome Historical Mine
Museum on Main Street. There are also four art galleries, three parks, an
Archive Research Center, a Chamber of Commerce and a US Post Office.
Other Scenic Attractions in the Verde Valley Area
Jerome and the Verde Valley are surrounded by the Prescott and Coconino
National Forests. Periodically camping is 'off limits' due to extreme dry
or wet conditions. Always check ahead of your proposed camping days by
calling the Prescott or Coconino Forest Service.
Tuzigoot Indian Ruins, Clarkdale, Arizona
Montezuma's Castle and Well, McGuireville
Fort Verde National Park in Camp Verde, Arizona
Verde Canyon Railroad, Clarkdale, Arizona
Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood, Arizona
Jeep and Gold Panning Tours, Sedona, Arizona
Fishing
Mountain Biking
Horseback riding
Hiking
There is cool-water recreation at Slide Rock and Oak Creek in Sedona.
How To Get There
Jerome is about a 2-hour drive north of Phoenix, or a 1 1/2-hour drive
south of Flagstaff, Arizona. From Interstate 17 take the off ramp at the
Cottonwood-Camp Verde exit. Travel west on State Route 260 to the Town of
Cottonwood and follow the signs to Jerome. If you are headed to Jerome
from Prescott, you can take the scenic route over Mingus Mountain via
State Route 89A. It is not recommended to travel SR 89A in the winter.
From November through April it is often closed due to icy road conditions.
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