by Parker Anderson

Downtown Prescott needed a parking garage and South Granite Street was the site chosen. When an area is sited for construction, it is required by Federal and State Law that an archaeological investigation be done. In late 2002, Granite Street was bustling with archaeologists and volunteers recovering thousands of artifacts prior to the building of the parking garage. It is evident from the findings, and from historical accounts, that the area was Prescott’s "red light district." The prostitutes living and practicing there when it was a legal profession (prior to 1918) were hidden from the patrons of Whiskey Row, yet readily accessible to the cowboys, miners and locals. Annie Hamilton owned and operated the largest such "house of ill repute."

In 2003, Sharlot Hall Museum’s Blue Rose Theater renewed interest in Annie Hamilton with the play, "Annie’s Fallen Angels" by Jean Lippincott. The play, performed at the Elks Theater, was a speculative account of life inside Annie’s house. It was well received and spurred new interest in the madam of Granite Street.

Annie Hamilton owned a large two-story house and was considerably wealthier than most habitues of this profession. The 1880 census lists her as owner of the two-story house on South Granite Street and lists eight prostitutes living with her.

So, whatever became of her? In those days, the deaths of prostitutes went largely unnoticed and many were simply buried in unmarked pauper’s graves. But it was a bit different with Annie Hamilton. There have been some later reports that she sold her big house to Prescott Mayor Morris Goldwater and moved on in 1889. But why would a man as esteemed as Goldwater buy property in such a seedy, disreputable neighborhood?

In actuality, Annie Hamilton had died two years earlier, in 1887, in her home on Granite Street. The May 11, 1887 issue of the Journal Miner reported she was unconscious and near death, and that parties unknown had taken this opportunity to steal her valuable diamonds. A week later, the Journal Miner reported her death, offering few details, due undoubtedly to her profession.

In those days, when an individual died leaving no survivors, a probate judge would appoint someone to dispose of the deceased’s estate and property. It is much the same today. After the death of Annie Hamilton, Yavapai County Probate Judge William O. "Bucky" O’Neill received two applications from people desiring to administer her estate. One was from ex-County Coroner Patrick Ford; the other was from Louis Wollenberg, who represented Annie’s creditors. The Madam had apparently died leaving considerable debt.

Ultimately, Judge O’Neill appointed Wollenberg to dispose of Annie’s estate. Patrick Ford, instead, became administrator of the estate of the notorious miner and businessman Charles P. Stanton who had been murdered several months earlier leaving no survivors. Ford, along with his son, would later be arrested for arson for burning down Stanton’s old house. Both men were convicted and did time in Yuma Territorial Prison. Wollenberg wasted no time in holding an estate sale out of Annie’s house on Granite Street to pacify her creditors. Her belongings were quite impressive; they consisted of seven bedroom sets in black walnut and ash; seven spring hair top mattresses; seven curled hair top mattresses; one hundred pounds of feathers in pillows and bolsters; sheets; pillow cases; blankets; quilts; three parlor sets; a piano; two French plate mirrors; oil paintings; water color paintings; etchings; steel engravings; chromos in walnut and gilt frames "in endless variety," parlor, hall, and stair carpets; cooking stoves and parlor stoves; trunks, valises; ice chests; diamonds; earrings; finger rings; breast pins; a fur cloak and cape; dresses and much other clothes; dining-room and kitchen furniture; and so on. The madam had done very well for herself.

The only remaining record of a purchase from Annie Hamilton’s estate sale is that of Mrs. Archibald, mother of future Prescott Chief of Police Miles Archibald. She bought the grand piano as a gift for her daughter Maggie.

Annie’s two-story house, the only one of its size on Granite Street, was demolished many years later and she was quickly forgotten after her death.

(Parker Anderson is an active member of Sharlot Hall Museum’s Blue Rose Theater)

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(st192p)
Reuse only by permission.

This photo, taken from atop the courthouse looking west c.1879, shows the businesses along Whiskey Row with the two-story home of Annie Hamilton on South Granite Street in the rear.