Jerome-Too Stubborn to Die-How the Town Survived Numerous “Near-Death” Experiences with Jay Mark

Numerous fires, landslides, floods, labor strikes, polluted air, epidemics, Depression, recessions, financial collapse, one adversity after another. Any one of these might spell the end of a lesser community. But, in Arizona, one town survived these “near-death” experiences, and more; yet managed to survive. Some might even say, “thrive.” This presentation looks at the numerous disasters, tragedies and setbacks Jerome faced in its first ¾ century. And still come out on top. From the time in prehistory when the Sinagua’s mined copper for decoration and ornamentation, to the Spanish exploring for gold and silver, to the modern discoveries of copper riches all within Cleopatra Hill, Jerome exploded to the 4th largest city in Arizona. Less than half-a-century later, its numbers had dwindled to 243. How Jerome remade itself from a major mining center into a tourist-filled, living Ghost Town is a fascinating tale that features many seldom images.

This event is cohosted by The Phippen Museum. This is an in-person event.

A recipient of the Arizona Historical Society Al Merito award, Jay Mark, a resident of Arizona for more 50 years, brings a lifetime of experience and knowledge to his lively, casual and engaging presentations. He is a writer of more than 800 articles about local and Arizona history. Frequently invited to speak to a variety of groups, he has also taught, since 1984, popular continuing education classes in the Maricopa Community College District. He is regularly invited to share his expertise as a guest lecturer at ASU. Awards like the SHPO/APF Governor’s Heritage Preservation award have recognized his expertise.