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These historic structures are identified by the Jerome Historical Society Plaque Project.[1] Jerome is a town in the Black Hills of Yavapai County, Arizona, founded in the late 19th century on Cleopatra Hill overlooking the Verde Valley. Jerome is located between the cities of Phoenix and Sedona. The town became a National Historic Landmark in 1967.
List of historic properties in Jerome, Arizona | |
|---|---|
 Main Street and Jerome Avenue. The Connor Hotel is on the left side corner and the Liberty Theater is next to it. |
Not all structures within the district qualify as historic. This is because most are owned by private owners who retain the right to demolish or change the façade of the structure for commercial reasons. According to the National Historic Landmarks Program, listing a private property as a National Historic Landmark or in the National Register does not prohibit any lawful actions which may otherwise be taken by the property owner with respect to the property.[2][3]
The Jerome Historical Society maintains the structures identified with a plaque, along with museums and special projects. Miscellaneous items related to Jerome's history are also listed.[4]
The Hohokam were the first people known to have lived and farmed near Jerome from 700 to 1125 BCE.[5] They were also the first miners in the area, seeking the colorful copper-bearing minerals malachite and azurite, stones which they used as ornaments.[6]
The first Europeans to arrive in the area were the Spanish conquistadores. At the time the area was part of "New Mexico", and the Spaniards often organized silver and gold prospecting expeditions in the area. In 1585, Spanish explorers made note of the ore[6] but did not mine it because their government had sent them to find gold and silver, not copper.[5] The area became part of Mexico when Mexico gained its independence from Spain.[7]
The United States fought Mexico in the Mexican–American War. The war ended when the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, and ceded the northern territories of Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuevo México to the United States.[8][9][10][11]
In 1880, Frederick A. Tritle, the governor of the Arizona Territory, and Frederick F. Thomas, a mining engineer, bought the mining claims from the original owners, Angus McKinnon and Morris A. Ruffner. In 1883, James A. MacDonald and Eugene Jerome joined Tritle and Thomas. They financed the mine and Jerome became the company secretary.[12] The town was eventually named after him.
William A. Clark bought the United Verde properties. He made improvements to the mine which included an enlarged smelter.[13] He also had a narrow gauge railway, the United Verde & Pacific built to transfer ore from Jerome Junction (a railway transfer point ) to the west.[12] The town of Jerome was incorporated on March 8, 1898.
In 1914, a separate company, the United Verde Extension Mining Company (UVX) led by James S. Douglas, Jr. discovered a second ore body near Jerome that produced a bonanza.[14] The UVX Mine, also known as the Little Daisy Mine,[15] became profitable.[16]
In 1930, during and after the Great Depression, the price of copper fell to 14 cents a pound.[17] In 1935, the Clark family sold United Verde to Phelps Dodge,[18] and in 1938 UVX went out of business.[19] As the ore deposits ran out, the mines closed. Phelps Dodge wanted to raze the town.[20]
Dozens of buildings, including the post office and jail, were lost as the earth beneath them sank away in the 1930s. Such was the case of the Jerome Jail. Jerome's housing stock and other buildings met a wide variety of fates over the years. Some burned or collapsed, such as the former Cuban Queen Bordello building which collapsed in 2017,[21] and some were demolished by the Phelps Dodge Co. Among the buildings which were demolished was the Main Street Primary School in 1945 and the T.F. Miller building in 1953.[22][23] By the mid-1950s Jerome, which once was Arizona's 4th largest city, was destined to become a ghost town.[24] This however, did not happen due to the efforts of the few remaining residents who were determined to save the town. They succeeded when they turned to tourism and retail sales as a source of revenue. Jerome became a National Historic Landmark on November 13, 1966.[25]
The Jerome Historical Society was founded in 1953 and is located at 407 Clark Street. In 1956 the society completed negotiations with Phelps Dodge assuring that no more buildings would be torn down in the main part of Jerome. The aim of the society is to "protect, preserve and present the unique physical and natural history of Jerome ... for the benefit of residents and current and future generations."[26]
The members Jerome Historical Society do not have the ability to deny a demolition permit. Therefore, the owner of a property, even if it is listed either in the National Register of Historic Places, may demolish the historical property if he or she so wishes. According to Jim McPherson, Arizona Preservation Foundation Board President:
It is crucial that residents, private interests, and government officials act now to save these elements of our cultural heritage before it is too late.[27]
Not every property within the Jerome Historic District is historical. The structures which have been identified as historical by the Jerome Historical Society Plaque Project have a mounted plaque, placed by the society.[28] The historic properties, according to the Historical Marker Database, in Jerome which are pictured are the following:[29]
The Gold King Mine Ghost Town was founded in 1890 The Ghost Town which is located on Perkinsville Road was called “Haynes”. It has mining equipment, a Stamp Mill that was used for crushing the ore and historic buildings which are pictured.[53]
The property, which according to the Historical Marker Database, is historical but, is not pictured is the Gibson Market building – built in 1917 and located at 681 Hampshire Avenue.[54][29] The abandoned Jerome Cemetery is near Route 89A past the Jerome Union High School.[55][56]
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