Both the Pescott and Tucson areas preceded Phoenix in attracting newly arrived Jewish immigrants from Germany and Eastern Europe, who rode mules and covered wagons on their explorations to the West in the mid-1800s. "The hearty settlers were looking for the illusive American dream they so coveted. Northern Arizona was a stopping point for many who were thinking of going all the way to California. Prescott was the Territorial Capital, making it a likely place to set down roots.
Perhaps the best known name among these settlers was Michael Goldwater, known as Big Mike and the Michael was born in Poland in 1821 (the original surname was Goldvasser) and came to Arizona with his younger brother Joseph in 1852. "They tried their luck at several businesses before they !nally became successful, with retail clothing stores in La Paz, Ehrenberg, Prescott and !nally Phoenix. By the time they opened stores in Phoenix, their other brothers had also joined them, including Baron, who was the father of Barry Goldwater. One of Michel’s sons, Morris, was mayor of Prescott o# and on
for over 20 years from 1879-1920 and also served as president of the 20th Territorial legislature Dr. Bruce Mallin, now of Phoenix and Prescott, remembers coming to Prescott as a young boy in the late 1930s. His uncle, Sam Mallin, had been transporting scrap metal through the area and decided to stay; he invited Bruce’s father, Sol, and the family to join him, and they soon established the Mallin Brothers Foundry and then the Scrap Yard. He recalls the community seders held in the basement of a nearby church, and that his mother Sylvia started the !rst Hadassah group with about six other women. He tells of the time Hadassah was having a rummage sale to raise money: Some of the local women asked if “Hadassah” was the name of an Indian tribe. When Bruce was bar mitzvah age, the family moved to Phoenix so he could have his ceremony at Beth El Synagogue, which was then at "3rd Avenue and McDowell Road.
Other early Jewish settlers, Isadore and Anna Solomon, arrived in America in 1872 and came to Arizona soon after.Anna’s diaries tell much of the story: “We sold everything we possessed except our three children, and started on our journey to New Mexico. We had a very hard trip even on the railroad, traveling with those three babies was bad enough, but when we reach La Junta, the end of the railroad in those days, and had to travel by stage, packed in like sardines, traveling day and night for six days …When we got there I was so tired out to death.” –Anna Freudenthal Solomon
"They established their home at Pueblo Viejo along the Gila River. Isadore established the Gila Valley Bank in 1900 and Anna opened the Solomon Hotel, the social center of the town. Isadore also spearheaded the movement to establish Graham County, breaking away from Pima County, and was named county treasurer. "E town eventually became known as Solomonville and served as the county seat for 34 years. Some came searching for gold, silver and
other precious metals. As output from the mines diminished, the population &uctuated accordingly. Charles and Harry Lesinsky opened large copper mines near Clifton in the mid-1870s and built Arizona’s !rst railroad to transport their !ndings.
Others came for the climate or to seek a new adventure. In 1873 Solomon Barth, who was a trader moving salt, won enough money in a poker game to purchase cattle and enough land to start a ranch on the eastern border with his brothers, Nathan and Morris. "They renamed their town St. John’s.
Michael Wormser was Arizona’s leading farmer at the end of the 19th century. At the time of his death in 1898, he had amassed more than 7,000 acres of land on the south branch of the Salt River. "Is story was contributed by Marshall Trimble, Arizona’s offcial state historian. Judge Slamon in northern Arizona had this instinct for knowing just how much a tourist could afford to pay for a speeding ticket and would !ne accordingly. He was widely respected as a
fair and just man. "Thejudge held court from the candy counter of his variety store.
fair and just man. "Thejudge held court from the candy counter of his variety store.
"There was an enduring legend on Route 66 that when a highway patrolman caught a speeder a panel truck would suddenly appear, the back door would open and there would be Judge Slamon sitting on his bench, gavel in hand and ready to dispense justice. It might have been a tall tale but locals often referred endearingly to him as the “Judge Roy Bean of Route 66.”
Today Arizona’s Jewish population is spread throughout the state, with communities in Flagstaff, Sedona, Yuma, Kingman and Lake Havasu City as well as the original Tucson, Prescott and Phoenix. Sedona, long recognized as a haven from the heat, is a newer, yet equally active, community with an eclectic
membership at its temple. And Flagstaff has a temple as well as Chabad and Hillel for its residents and student population.
Prescott now boasts a Jewish population of well over 1,000, plus families who enjoy part-time summer residence to enjoy the cool, pine climate. It has an established temple and active community foundation.
