Brewery Gulch in Bisbee Arizona is never low in spirits
Brewery Gulch in Bisbee Arizona was once the liveliest spot between El Paso, Texas and San Francisco, California. There were over 50 bars and brothels running 24 hours a day to accommodate the miners coming and going from various shifts in the mines. Time has taken a toll on the number of drinking establishments on the Gulch, but Halloween seems to be one of the major holidays of Bisbee when the “spirits” flourish. Be aware that the person standing next to you at the bar just may be from another time.
The Bisbee Grand Saloon is adjacent to the popular Bisbee Grand Hotel. The building was construction in 1906 and restored again in 2006. It has the ambience of a quaint turn of the century western saloon. The pressed tin ceiling and Victorian wall paper holds in the energies from another time. The back bar fixture was placed on a wagon and hauled in from the old Pony Bar in Tombstone, Arizona. The beautiful piece of woodwork dates back to the 1880’s. Perhaps along with the bar, a few ghosts came along for the ride. It is rumored there is a male ghost in the saloon that prefers to linger around the ladies rooms. He has been spotted in the back area from time to time. Employees working after closing have heard disembodied voices within the saloon. A broken music box began to play the night a local street musician was escorted out the door. The music box played for several seconds and never played again.
The Copper Queen Saloon sits in a room behind the hotel front desk and spews out onto a patio where one has a nice view of the streets and park. The Copper Queen Hotel was built in 1902 to cater the dignitaries and mining officials so they could relax in luxury. The early saloon originally had seating for about 12 people. Offices housed the rest of the space. When the saloons closed in 1914, the area was used as a ladies meeting room. Inside the current saloon is a large portrait of Lillie Langtry which is over 100 years old. A tall ghost with long hair and a beard is often seen in the Lobby and near the stairway. He wears a black suit, cape, and top hat as if he was returning from the opera house near by. The aroma of cigar smoke is an indicator of his presence. Sit a spell in the same seats where John Wayne, Lee Marvin, and the Ghost Hunter team once relaxed.
Standing stately on a corner is the Stock Exchange Saloon. Built in 1905, the Muheim Building was once the home of the Brewery Saloon. In 1914 the Federal Government banned all alcohol sales and terminated liquor licenses in Arizona. The brokerage firms on the 2nd floor relocated their offices to the main floor. The bar front was removed, and the stock boards were installed along the walls. Tickertape reports from the New York Stock Exchange ran to Bisbee until 1964. The boards are still on display and show the trades from the day it closed in Bisbee. The MVD Ghostchasers did a mini investigation of the Stock Exchange Saloon a few years ago. The owner at that time told us of ghostly happenings in the dining room and bar. Servers and bartenders have seen shadows darting about the building on quiet evenings.
Last but not least is one of my favorite Bisbee drinking establishments, St Elmo’s Bar. Elmo’s opened in 1902 and is considered to be one of the oldest saloons in town. It originally stood on Main Street, but relocated to Brewery Avenue. During the 1914 saloon closure it operated as an ice cream parlor. But through the years it has been known as sort of a rowdy bar—a place where locals come to catch up on the gossip. Back in its heyday, the miners would flock to the bar on payday. Almost every weekend some sort of a brawl, knifing, or even an occasional murder happened in the popular drinking hole. Times have changed. The colorful characters still ensemble each night, but now live music and dancing fill the room. My favorite St Elmo story goes back to 1909. A gentleman named Finley bet his friend Dillon he could jump off the roof of St Elmo’s and land safely on the ground with the aid of his trusty umbrella. His colleague accepted the $10 bet and they climbed to the rooftop. Instead of floating gently to the sidewalk Mary Poppins style, Finley was lifted from the roof and started to soar high in the air. Dillon grabbed a rope and lassoed one of his dangling feet. Finley was anchored and dragged down to the roof. Stepping near the edge of the roof, the two men assessed the phenomena. Down below, a group of men were discussing the baseball situation and were bragging how they were great ball players when they were kids. Finley remarked, “No chance for me to make good. I can’t come down with the umbrella while all that hot air is going up!"
If you come to Bisbee for Halloween or other weekend events visit:
11 Howell Avenue
Bisbee, AZ 85603
15 Brewery Avenue
Bisbee, AZ 85603
61 Main Street
Bisbee, AZ 85603
St Elmo’s Bar
36 Brewery Avenue
Bisbee, AZ 85603
FOR MORE INFO: www.mvdghostchasers.com
DEBE BRANNING nazanaza@aol.com
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Brewery Gulch in Bisbee Arizona is never low in spirits
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