Can anyone identify this historic Clarkdale building? It was the first hospital in our town and centrally located.

It soon became too small for the growing town's needs. According to one of Clarkdale's past residents, it then became a "maternity only" hospital for a very short time until another hospital was built in Jerome.

This building eventually became the Smelter Superintendent's residence. Dr. Jim Byrkit's parents moved to Clarkdale in 1924 where his father was Smelter Superintendent. Jim was born in 1931 and was raised in this home, was born in the United Verde Copper Company hospital in Jerome, grew up in Clarkdale and graduated from Clarkdale High School in 1949. He joined the US Army and served during the Korean War. He earned his Ph.D. and became a Professor Emeritus of Interdisciplinary Studies at Northern Arizona University from 1973 to 1996.He was one of the Verde River's staunchest advocates, a consummate historian and frequent teller of its tales. For Byrkit, the Verde River was his sweetheart, his lifelong passion and his playground. He was self taught in many respects and had a brilliant mind. He wrote extensively about the Verde but also about the state's mining history. Long before it was fashionable to advocate for sensible growth and protection of its flow, Byrkit was there lecturing at length to anyone who might listen or not. The body of work Byrkit leavesbehind is currently housed at the Cline LIbrary at NAU.

CHSM has many of his articles in our reference collection. He wrote the widely respected "Forging the Copper Collar" in 1982, and a comprehensive account of the Bisbee Deportation, the illegal kidnapping and deportation of about 1,300 striking mine workers, their supporters, and citizen bystanders by 2,000 members of a deputized posse ordered by Phelps Dodge in 1917.

Have you guessed the identity of the building in the photograph? Please send your guess to: info@clarkdalemuseum.org

submitted by Cindy Emmett 

for questions and comments contact info@clarkdalemuseum.org

From "Voice of the Verde Historical Society", Volume 22, Issue 1 and theobituary of James Ward Byrkit, "Verde Independent," 'Byrkit Passes;The Verde Sheds A Tear,' by Steve Ayers October 2, 2011.