Pedaling the gospel

After spending the afternoon at the Square photographing musicians, I'm too tired to spend much time with PhotoShop. Consider this my picture of the day, which speaks for itself.

Antiques on the Square

If I could reach all the people who are in charge of selecting dates for special events, I would let out a loud scream about the weekend of June 5-June 7. There were the quilts Friday/Saturday at the high school. The street rod show Saturday next the Square. An equine event at the rodeo grounds. The celebration of the Granite Creek downtown trail. Two health related dos. And the Folk Arts Fair at the Sharlot Hall Museum, plus Antiques on the Square. I managed to make the last two events and one health-related seminar. I wish I had been able to take pictures at each and every one of these affairs. Too much in one weekend, guys!!! Spread the goodies across more time next time, please.

Only half the courthouse lawn was occupied by dealers in wondrous things from the past. Whether this is the usual size or larger or smaller, I do not know, this being the first time I've done the show.

What can one say about the array of fascinating things on sale. For instance, pots from the European traditions (above) and from North American Indians (below). Just for the record, the pots below, likely from Mexico, look to be strictly in the collectible category -- they're obviously quite new.

I was surprised that there were so few Indian goods at this show. A handful of rugs, perhaps some jewelry and that's about it.

As befits a commercial civilization, yesterday's products -- at least their packaging -- rank high among collectible categories.

Guinness, Corona and Michelob I've heard of (and enjoyed on occasion). On the other hand, Sunny (below), which looks to be an orange pop, is new to me, though I certainly recall that nickel price for Nehi and Coke. Yes, I've been around for a long time!

One dealer specialized in cowboy paraphernalia, including the Stetson box.

There was even this excellent cowboy statue if you were willing to part with several hundred $$$.

Vintage clothing and ceiling lights with a history...

...a bathtub for Saturday nights in the ountains as well as wickerwork snow shoes.

The old fashioned school desk is an antiquery staple. I suppose there's no reason that the ironing board shouldn't also fall into that class. The well made wooden box on the seat below once held explosives for the mining industry.

Another standby: old dolls from the days when little girls named their own dolls and marketers minded their own business. Are you as offended as I am by all those dolls that are sold complete to name, rank, serial number and a fabricated life history. Whatever happened to imagination or individuality?

The dolls above were just a portion of the merchandise featured by one dealer. He also had a display case chock-a-block full of wee little dolls (below).

More things of childhood: a farm scene and, below, a horsie thingy which I couldn't quite figure out. It looks somewhat like a type of teeter-totter (ooh, verboten these days), but it isn't balanced so that can't be how you play with it. You tell me...

A rocking horse, a doll carriage and, for the boy child, a splendid steam shovel.

And what could be more nostalgic than a crowd of kids on the Courhouse lawn rediscovering the hula hoop. I'm ready to go back in time myself.

Remembering summer: Courthouse Plaza

We have our own particular summer here in Prescott. All because we have our very own civic lawn, right in the center of town. It's a carefully curried greensward that every summer supports booths and crowds for weekend shows, as well as smaller crowds enjoying musicians on weekday evenings. Quite understandable that our Courthouse Plaza was just honored as one of the USA's 10 top public spaces by the American Planning Association.

But, I'd say, equally important is that local folk and visitors alike simply hang out on the lawn at the Square. Here's a look at some of the less frenetic activity. When your toes start getting chilly, remember there'll be yet another summer.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. The Square is the best place in town to enjoy kicking up the leaves dropped every autumn, tho it takes the right timing to arrive after a maximum leaf fall and just in front of the rakes and leaf blowers.

Street scenes

The setting is downtown Prescott, recently. The time: whenever. The theme: whatever. Pictures accumulate; their stories, though slight, should be told. For example, the state of the economy as seen near the Square. Above, Brian's Irish Pub; below, a sign at the corner of Gurley and Cortez Streets that I seem to have missed forever and a day.

Then there's the one-time wonderful bookstore location, more recently a sales office for a big, subdivided ranch. Now empty for several months. I'm sure that there's no hope for a return of The Satisfied Mind, but pressing my nose against the glass I noted what looked like a few decor items. Plus two coonskin hats on a coat rack. Huh?

However, if you're looking for diversity in stuff, the place to pause is in front of Batterman's Auction House where currently the Gurley Street doors open and out come: The $690 pig. The bar chairs. The garden tools. The marine dress uniform. The household cement mixer. No telling what'll be next.

Not as nearly as diverse -- elements of somebody's move from place 1 to place 2. Probably not to pricey 325 McCormick Place, however. Though, you never know. With the morning newspapers still outside the door (lower left corner), perhaps an overstuffed sofa next the sidewalk will soon follow. Maybe chickens on the balconies?


Further up the street: I didn't know these olive drab postal relay boxes were still in use in this day of motorized mailfolk. Perhaps mail to the shops on the Square is delivered on foot; it would certainly make sense. And it would require a holding pen for a lot of the mail.

One by one, they snuck up on me, these runners did, and accumulated at the corner. Stop. Then go. The time was after school hours. These are kids who aren't spending all their time playing computer games.

This crew of downtown walkers is a lot more deliberate. A few of the self-styled Buscaderos, who show up at the Square of a Saturday to add a different kind of color to our downtown. Impresses the tourists, it does. The Chamber of Commerce loves the act and the guys get a kick out of playing dress-up, Old West style.

There's always a reason to bring your chairs to the Square. Usually it involves music or dancing or both.

On weekends, you can count on a variety of vehicles downtown. Here this cute little two-seater gets its tires kicked...

...while this guy prepares to leave his Harley to join musicians on the Square.

A Harley wannabe. When I was much younger, that style of handlebar was called an ape hanger.

Of course, I am an obsessive when it comes to pictures of motorcycles. This chap, a visitor from Malaysia, wanted me to include him in, so I obliged. He was amazed that I had actually heard of Malaysia; he and his buddies are involved in a training short course down in The Valley.

Across the street from the yellow bikes was the troubadour. I don't know if he's a regular or not. Wouldn't surprise me.