Maricopa Hotel: stopover for presidents, honeymooners

Maricopa’s hotel had several owners over the years including the Edwards, McCarthy and Deal families, but most of the time it was called the Maricopa Hotel or simply Harvey House.

Mary Lou Smith’s grandmother lived and worked at this Maricopa Harvey House.  According to Paul Deal, the hotel had two stories, and the lobby of the hotel was located at the west end of the building. The restaurant was in the middle. A store was located on the east side of the hotel and behind it was a small yard with a veranda. Rooms were available for rent on the top floor. 

Mary Ellen Edwards was the first white woman to settle in Maricopa. She married James Edwards in San Angelo, Texas, and moved to Maricopa in 1890 as a young and enthusiastic bride. She helped her husband run the busy hotel and later was postmistress. According to her, several famous people came to Maricopa on their way east or west, or up north into Phoenix and Prescott.  Among them were Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.  Mrs. McKinley gave the Edwards children carnations and Edna, her daughter, kept hers for many years. John L. Sullivan, who was considered the most popular and flamboyant champion in boxing history, was a guest at the hotel in Maricopa, too. Edwards said the heavyweight champion was actually a very genteel and kind man.  

The hotel became a favorite place for honeymooners during the late 1800s. After their wedding they traveled out to Maricopa by train where special honeymoon suites were prepared and available. Mrs. Edwards had the privilege of delivering the first baby born in Maricopa, too. The pregnant mother had spent the summer on the cool coast of California and was returning home sometime in September. She stopped over at Maricopa because she was not feeling well, and that evening little “Maricopa” was born much to the delight of the citizens of Maricopa.

The Edwards sold their hotel around 1910 to the McCarthy family and spent most of their time and energy running their trading post located to the east of it.

Mrs. Edwards reminisced about train trips into Phoenix in the early 1900s. She said cottonwood trees lined Washington Street, and the walkways were filled with troughs and hitching posts for horses. In the early 1900s the Luhrs Hotel was called the Commercial, and there were numerous saloons that stood on either side of the street. Gambling places offered a sideshow with lady singers; they were plentiful and popular with local as well as visiting clientele. 

Editor’s note:  Maricopa factoids will be a regular feature on InMaricopa.com. They are provided by the Maricopa Historical Society, a branch of the Friends of the Maricopa Public Library. Most of the photos and information come from “Reflections of a Desert Town” by author and historical society chairperson Patricia Brock. 

Submitted photo