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"Haunted Prescott" Claims Explored at Sunup Meeting

 

As Halloween approaches, our Program Committee recruited Parker Anderson, from the Sharlot Hall Museum to share with us some of the tales about Prescott's various “HAunted” sites.  According to Parker, Prescott’s most famous ghost is "Abby" and her cat “Noble”, who haunt room 16 of the Hotel Vendome. Abby died in 1921 and her ghost, along with her cat, began to be seen after WW II. While some workers say footsteps are heard in the room, and the bell sometimes rings for service when the room is vacant, many guests sleep in the room every year, some with experiences and some without. The most actively haunted place is The Palace Saloon and Restaurant. Staff and owners have experiences almost daily. The Palace Saloon is known as the oldest saloon in Arizona, with bullet holes in the ceiling from celebrating cowboys who struck gold.  Does it have a “favorite” ghost?  One that shows herself periodically is Jennie Clark, the prostitute kicked to death by her drunken boyfriend in the saloon. She has been seen and photographed by several employees and guests. But is she the one who turns out the ladies’ restroom light when someone is in there? Or one of the many other spirits that hang out at The Palace Saloon? 

Our club's orginal meeting place, the historic Hassayampa Inn has another famous ghost, “Faith”. The story is that Faith and her much older husband checked into the hotel on their wedding night in 1927. He went out for cigarettes and never returned. Faith wandered the lobby for three days before going upstairs to their room. There are differing versions of where she hanged herself, either from the bell tower of the hotel or from the flagpole that once was there.  Over the years, both staff and guests have seen her wandering the lobby and hotel in her long white dress. Other Hassayampa ghosts are the night watchman seen in the lobby and a little Chinese boy.

Our thanks to Parker for an interesting and entertaining program.


 

Do you wear your Rotary pin each day, demonstrating your pride in being a Rotarian?

 

CLUB SERVICE

Prescott-Sunup's 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off

Greeting the diners as they arrived 

Some of the diners, eager to sample the five competing chefs' different recipes for their chili.

Our distinguished Panel of Judges

Pres-Elect Sara with the “Show the Love” cups for each of the Chili Chefs

Some of the silent auction Gift Baskets

AND THE WINNERS WERE:

The Panel of Judges Chose: 

  1. Texas Roadhouse
  2. Mark's Beer Garden
  3. Touchmark

The People's Choice Winners Were:

  1. Doc's BBQ & Whiskey
  2. Touchmark
  3. The Raven

YOUTH SERVICE

Our sincere thanks to the large number of Prescott High School Interact Club members for their help all evening, in so many ways, with our club's 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off fundraiser.

Some of the PHS Interactors can be seen in their light blue sweatshiirts on the far side of the room.

 


 A guy walks into a Halloween party with a girl on his back.
The host asks him, “And what are you?”
The guy says, “I’m a snail.”
The host ask, “And what’s that on your back?”
He answers, “It’s Michelle”

__

 

Once again, somebody glued my deck of cards together. 

I just can't deal with it.
__

 

Q – What do you call a potato wearing glasses?

A – A Spec-tater

__

 

An x-ray technician, talking to a child touring the hospital, asked, "Have you ever broken a bone?" 
Child: "Yes."
Tech: "Did it hurt?"
Child: "No."
Tech: "Really? Which bone did you break?"
Child: "My sister's arm."

__

 

I got a new pen.  It can write under water.

It can write other words, too.

__

 

A Muslim asked his Uber driver to turn off the radio because his religion doesn’t allow music, saying, “In the time of Prophet Muhammed, there was no music radio.” 

The driver calmly switched off the radio, stopped the car, and said, "In the tme of Prophet Muhammed, neither were there any Uber drivers.  So please get out and wait for a camel.”


 

Announcements
Meeting Wednesday @ 6:30 A.M.
The Granite Mountain Room at Touchmark
 
SPEAKERS: Pres. Russ Davis facilitating
 
SUBJECT: It's Sunup Time!
The Prez Says
Russ Davis, President

You're the people (Rotarians) who are capable of mobilizing others. You are the people who leaders listen and respond to. With your credibility, you are the world's most important advocates for polio eradication." Bill Gates, plenary speech at a Rotary convention

 

Greetings Rotarians!

Wow, what an amazing night last night!  With our volunteers, judges, cooks and participants, there were at least 200 people at our second annual Chili Cook Off fundraiser! The feedback for the event was overwhelmingly positive—thanks to all that were part of the planning and execution of this awesome fundraiser. What impressed me most about the entire process was how well our club came together to make it a fun and successful event. 

DID YOU KNOW - Today, wild polio survives in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Last year, they reported 52 cases between them. This year, so far, it is down to 48. A mere $1.00 donation to Rotary, with the Gates Foundation double match, covers the cost of a single child’s Polio vaccination!

In addition to raising funds for our Foundation’s philanthropic goals this year, we also raised well over $400 for Polio Eradication. That amount, coupled with our Foundation’s commitment of $500, and the Gates Foundation double matching funds will result in at least $2,700 being donated to fight Polio (2,700 immunizations!).  This is the most our club has given in at least 10 years!!  Well done Sunupians😊.

On Sunday morning, Laura V., Sarah V., and I represented Sunup Rotary at the Rise Canyon (formerly known as Bethany’s Gait) Golf Tourney in honor of Major Tyler Braconi (USMC).  We helped by running their registration, helping the 12 teams tee off in honor of Tyler’s service and sacrifice. 

We definitely supported our club’s strategic focus areas (supporting children and veterans) in spades this weekend!

This week’s meeting is Sunup Time. There will be some fun and important information to share as well as a short activity to help the club prepare for the Veteran’s Day Parade. 

Hope to see you there in person or virtually on Wednesday!

DON’T FORGET—Our President-Elect, Sarah Van Bourgondien will be hosting a Sunup Rotary Halloween Party on 31 October!  Be thinking about your costume now, there will be prizes for the best costume and a fine for those that arrive as a “Rotarian😊.”

Warm Regards,

Russ

Russell Davis, Colonel (ret), USAF

President

Sunup Rotary

928-495-9905

Speakers
Oct 28, 2026
It's Sunup Time!
Nov 04, 2026
US Vets
Nov 11, 2026
Nov 18, 2026
Prescott High School Interact Club
View entire list
Meeting Assignments
OCT. 28
 
Setup/Takedown
Cusack, Joe
 
registration
Sample, Steven
 
Greeter
Stewart, John
 
Prayer
Van Bourgondien, Sarah
 
song
Jones, Emmett
 
Thought for the Day
Sheridan, A.J.
 
Nov. 4
 
Setup/Takedown
Keys, Bob
 
registration
Jones, Tiffany
 
Greeter
Jones, Emmett
 
Prayer
Stewart, John
 
Song
Brown, Joe
 
Thought for the Day
Shimizu, Jane Anne
 
SERGEANT AT ARMS
Van Bourgondien, Sarah
 
Nov. 18 Sunup Times
 
Setup/Takedown
Sheridan, A.J.
 
registration
Shimizu, Jane Anne
 
Greeter
Mickel, Vicki
 
Prayer
Keys, Bob
 
Song
Jones, Emmett
 
Thought for the Day
Hammond, Glen
 
SERGEANT AT ARMS
Davis, Russ
 
Nov. 25 Dark
 
Turkey
Jones, Emmett
 
Upcoming Events
Program Committee Meeting
Nov 10, 2026 7:00 AM
Veteran's Day Parade
Nov 11, 2026
Program Committee Meeting
Dec 08, 2026 7:00 AM
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Vice President (RI)
 
President Nominee
 
Immediate Past President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Membership
 
Public Image
 
Rotary Foundation (RI)
 
International Service
 
Community Service
 
Club Service Chair
 
Snack Shack
 
Club Service Projects Chair (RI)
 
Club Young Leaders Contact
 
Club Learning Facilitator (RI)
 
 Help Spread Sunshine:  If you currently know any Rotary members who are going through challenging times or if you'd like to volunteer to make calls and send cards to members and their families during sickness, hospitalization or loss, contact Laura Vanderberg <laura@newtonservicesconsulting.com>