Jerome, Arizona


Deborah hadn’t seen her cousin Brian (formerly known as Michael) in 29 years. So visiting him in the tiny town of Jerome in north-central Arizona was a good excuse for a trip to the sunny southwest. Clinging to a hillside on the edge of the Verde Valley, Jerome is a former copper mining town that once featured a population of as high as 15,000 in the 1920s. But the mines closed in 1953 and the population dropped to a low of 50 – near ghost town status – before the hippies and artists brought the town back to life in the 1960s and 1970s.  Jerome today is both a bit cute and a bit junky, but despite having only about 450 people it’s still a significant tourist draw, not only for its mining history but also its art galleries, gift shops, and small wineries.  In fact, Brian manages a wine bar in town. He and his partner Alan spent 20 years building up their beautiful home from a rat-infested wreck, and also have a huge art studio in a former school building that makes me drool with envy. As for Deborah, she was just overjoyed to reconnect with Brian again as if those 29 years were nothing.



Our accommodation in Jerome Hotel Conner, 1898



A former hotel, now a private mansion. 
Note the very dry landscape this time of year.











The former Powder Box Church, constructed in 1939 using blasting powder boxes. 
Now a private residence.







Brian's wine bar Caduceus Cellars



Having dinner with Brian and Alan.

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