Volume 007-1 - January 1953 (2 pages)

ia aetaadh ablis) ldaletllin-bnk an ch Mla dik iene inlaid THE BEGINNINGS OF NORTH SAN JUAN The first settler in this immediate neighborhood was Christian Kientz, who prospected on the west end of San Juan Hill, and in the spring of 1853 in connection with Jeremiah Tucker, developed the rich Gold Cut Mine. To this enterprising pioneer is ascribed the honor of naming the hill from which the town afterwards derived its name. The reasons given for naming it San Juan, so unusual in the northern mines, are various, and indicate a remarkable imagination. One of the traditions is that Kientz had been with General Scott’s armyin Mexico; that one day on approaching San Juan Hill was impressed with the resemblance it bore the hill of the castle of San Juan d’Ulloa, and named it accordingly. Another legend, is to the effect that the beauty of the scenery so wrought upon his soul, that being a devout Catholic, he ejaculated “San Juan;” but why a German, even if he was a devout Catholic, should use a foreign tongue to express his feelings, and shriek “San Juan” instead of the time honored “Mien Gott in Himmel” is a riddle too deep for the most astute. Another account says that, being a fervent Mason he named it St. John, which, being translated into the pure Castillian of California, becomes San Juan. A house was built by Kientz below the east end of the hill, in the spring of 1853, and kept by him as a hotel. John S. Stidger and George W. Hoard built a store on the hill at the north end of Flume Street, and John A. J. Ray opened a canvas built store on the corner of Main and Flume Streets. Thus there were three locations, each striving to be the center of the future town. Rich discoveries had been made, and miners were arriving rapidly; the competition became brisk, the stores combined being too stréng an opposition for Kientz’s location, and the establishment of Ray, leading Stidger & Hoard in the race. Hoard soon sold to Isreal Crawford, and Stidger & Crawford continued together many years. Ray closed out his business in two or three years. In the winter of 1853, John Hill, built the first frame house on the south side of Main Stret. For three years he kept a hotel called the Union House in this building, and it continued under the charge of various proprietors until April, 1872, when it was destroyed by fire. In July, 1853, Crofton Williamson, who had been keeping a boarding house at Hess’ Crossing, now Freeman's Crossing came to San Juan Hill, and operied a boarding house. He soon sold to Williamson & Son, who discontinued the business two years later. The National Hotel was built in 1855 by Sears & Green; in 1858 it was bought by Mr. Gordon, who named it the Sierra Nevada House. Henry Pierson afterwards bought it and named it the National Hotel, which name it retained until destroyed by fire. Quite a number of people came from San Francisco and settled at San Juan, the street upon which they lived receiving the name of San Francisco Street. The first brick building in the town was erected in 1856, by Kindt & Grant, and was occupied as a grocery and provision store for many years by A. Harris & Co. By 1857, the settlement had grown sufficiently to need a post office, and application was made for one, but the name San Juan had been appropiated long before, and it became necessary to select another. A public meeting was held in the street, A. T. Search elected chairman and a committee appointed. While the committee was in conference, it was sugested that the old name be retained with the prefix North, and when the committee returned, found the town christened North San Juan. The same year the Iowa Hill News was moved to North San Juan by J. P. Olmstead & Co., who commenced the publication of the San Juan Star. A library association was organized in 1857, but was afterwards dissolved, and the books donated to the public school. North San Juan has had few fires. The first occuring on Sept. 5, 1863, destroying three houses. On Oct. 6, 1864, and Sept. 19, 1865, fire originated in Chinatown, and destroyed considerable buildings in that locality. The loss to the Chinese was $5,000. One Chinese merchant shut himself up in his vault and was suffocated. In 1860, A. J. Elder, constructed water works to supply a portion of the town with water. Later, a reservoir was built and the water supply was derived from the Eureka Lake Ditch. Two fire companies were organized in 1862; Hydraulic Hose Co. No. 1, and Union Hose Co., No. 2. The Ridge Telephone was organized there in 1878. By 1880, the town contained two ho.els, one drug store, two dry goods stores, two clothing stores, two grocery stores, two boot and shoe stores, one book store, one hardware store, one furniture store, three blacksmith shops, four carpenter shops, two wagon shops, one livery stable, one lumber yard, one brush manufactury, one hose manufactory, one jeweler, one tin and sheet iron shop, one millinery and dressmaking establishment, three millinery establishments, three saloons, one bakery, and confectionary store, one barber shop, one newspaper, one bank, two lawyers, four physicians, one dentist, two undertakers and one brewery. The population at that time was about 900, exclusive of 100 Chinese. There were as many as 4(0 Chinese in North San Juan at one time. One Hundred Years Ago MARCH, 1853: Killing of Dick Fisher in Little York During the first year of Little York as a town, it was infested by a gang of ruffians that went by the name of the Decker family, Dick Fisher, Billy the Butcher, Andy Thompson and half a dozen others. These men were the terror of the town and ruled with a high hand. The property nor the life of any one who had the temerity to oppose them was not safe. Fisher was a large, powerful brute, and several times beat inoffensive men in a cruel manner. If they desired a new pair of boots, they simply entered a stcre, fitted themselves and walked away. One day in the spring of 1853, several of them entered a clothing store kept by a Jew, and proceeded to array themselves in new garments. Upon the Jew making objections to the transaction they became offended and proceeded to pitch him and all his goods into the street. Quite a crowd collected to witness the affair, but no one dared to interfere. Among the spectators was Tyee Ault, who remarked that he should think some one would shoot them some time. This remark was reported to Fisher who threatened to whip Ault. He sought him out and confronted him with a pistol. Ault endeavored to avoid him and entered E. H. Gaylord’s store, but was followed by the ruffian. Ault then drew his revolver and shot Fisher, who quickly retreated to the street, followed by Ault, who continued shooting until his antagonist lay dying in the street. The defeat and death of Fisher completely destroyed the power of the Decker family, and they hastily left town. MARCH, 1853: Grass Valley Congregational Church Organized In March, 1853, Rev. J. G. Hale, from Vermont, held services in the Masonic Hall, and the Church was organized Oct. 16, 1853. The church edifice was erected in Dec., 1853, at a cost of $1500, on the corner of Neal and Church Streets APRIL, 1853 E. E. Matteson, working with his partners in a claim on American Hill, conceived the idea of facilitating the labor of breaking up the bank by directing a stream of water against it. He attached a nozzle to a piece of hose, and bringing the stream to bear upon the bank, discovered that the small siream of water could accomplish the work of a great many men. JUNE 28, 1853: Rough and Ready Destroyed By Fire The new and prosperous town was visited by a devastating fire, on the night of Tuesday, June 28, 1853. <A careless person left a lighted candle too near a canvas partition when he retired to sleep, and the result was that in a few moments the whole business portion of the town, including forty hotels, stores and houses were burned to the ground. The loss was estimated at $59,700. With the energy characteristic of those days, the town was quickly rebuilt, the streets being widened, and the new buildings, better and larger than the old, and concentrated more together. . JUNE 30, 1853: Engineer’s Report on the Marysville & Nevada Plank Road The following report was presented at a meeting in Marysville by the engineers engaged to survey the route. Length of road ..... 39% miles Cost of construction ... $374,485.75 Total estimate annual FEVENUC ooo cceee es $305,000.00 Totai estimate annual expense $23,000.00 From this report it was made evident that in two years after paying for the construction of the road and the running expenses, the estimated revenue would be sufficient to declare a divi. dend of about $190,000. However, the plank road never materailized. NEVADA CITY MARCH, 1853 Hamlet Davis erected the first brick

ia aetaadh ablis) ldaletllin-bnk an ch Mla dik iene inlaid THE BEGINNINGS OF NORTH SAN JUAN The first settler in this immediate neighborhood was Christian Kientz, who prospected on the west end of San Juan Hill, and in the spring of 1853 in connection with Jeremiah Tucker, developed the rich Gold Cut Mine. To this enterprising pioneer is ascribed the honor of naming the hill from which the town afterwards derived its name. The reasons given for naming it San Juan, so unusual in the northern mines, are various, and indicate a remarkable imagination. One of the traditions is that Kientz had been with General Scott’s armyin Mexico; that one day on approaching San Juan Hill was impressed with the resemblance it bore the hill of the castle of San Juan d’Ulloa, and named it accordingly. Another legend, is to the effect that the beauty of the scenery so wrought upon his soul, that being a devout Catholic, he ejaculated “San Juan;” but why a German, even if he was a devout Catholic, should use a foreign tongue to express his feelings, and shriek “San Juan” instead of the time honored “Mien Gott in Himmel” is a riddle too deep for the most astute. Another account says that, being a fervent Mason he named it St. John, which, being translated into the pure Castillian of California, becomes San Juan. A house was built by Kientz below the east end of the hill, in the spring of 1853, and kept by him as a hotel. John S. Stidger and George W. Hoard built a store on the hill at the north end of Flume Street, and John A. J. Ray opened a canvas built store on the corner of Main and Flume Streets. Thus there were three locations, each striving to be the center of the future town. Rich discoveries had been made, and miners were arriving rapidly; the competition became brisk, the stores combined being too stréng an opposition for Kientz’s location, and the establishment of Ray, leading Stidger & Hoard in the race. Hoard soon sold to Isreal Crawford, and Stidger & Crawford continued together many years. Ray closed out his business in two or three years. In the winter of 1853, John Hill, built the first frame house on the south side of Main Stret. For three years he kept a hotel called the Union House in this building, and it continued under the charge of various proprietors until April, 1872, when it was destroyed by fire. In July, 1853, Crofton Williamson, who had been keeping a boarding house at Hess’ Crossing, now Freeman's Crossing came to San Juan Hill, and operied a boarding house. He soon sold to Williamson & Son, who discontinued the business two years later. The National Hotel was built in 1855 by Sears & Green; in 1858 it was bought by Mr. Gordon, who named it the Sierra Nevada House. Henry Pierson afterwards bought it and named it the National Hotel, which name it retained until destroyed by fire. Quite a number of people came from San Francisco and settled at San Juan, the street upon which they lived receiving the name of San Francisco Street. The first brick building in the town was erected in 1856, by Kindt & Grant, and was occupied as a grocery and provision store for many years by A. Harris & Co. By 1857, the settlement had grown sufficiently to need a post office, and application was made for one, but the name San Juan had been appropiated long before, and it became necessary to select another. A public meeting was held in the street, A. T. Search elected chairman and a committee appointed. While the committee was in conference, it was sugested that the old name be retained with the prefix North, and when the committee returned, found the town christened North San Juan. The same year the Iowa Hill News was moved to North San Juan by J. P. Olmstead & Co., who commenced the publication of the San Juan Star. A library association was organized in 1857, but was afterwards dissolved, and the books donated to the public school. North San Juan has had few fires. The first occuring on Sept. 5, 1863, destroying three houses. On Oct. 6, 1864, and Sept. 19, 1865, fire originated in Chinatown, and destroyed considerable buildings in that locality. The loss to the Chinese was $5,000. One Chinese merchant shut himself up in his vault and was suffocated. In 1860, A. J. Elder, constructed water works to supply a portion of the town with water. Later, a reservoir was built and the water supply was derived from the Eureka Lake Ditch. Two fire companies were organized in 1862; Hydraulic Hose Co. No. 1, and

Union Hose Co., No. 2. The Ridge Telephone was organized there in 1878. By 1880, the town contained two ho.els, one drug store, two dry goods stores, two clothing stores, two grocery stores, two boot and shoe stores, one book store, one hardware store, one furniture store, three blacksmith shops, four carpenter shops, two wagon shops, one livery stable, one lumber yard, one brush manufactury, one hose manufactory, one jeweler, one tin and sheet iron shop, one millinery and dressmaking establishment, three millinery establishments, three saloons, one bakery, and confectionary store, one barber shop, one newspaper, one bank, two lawyers, four physicians, one dentist, two undertakers and one brewery. The population at that time was about 900, exclusive of 100 Chinese. There were as many as 4(0 Chinese in North San Juan at one time. One Hundred Years Ago MARCH, 1853: Killing of Dick Fisher in Little York During the first year of Little York as a town, it was infested by a gang of ruffians that went by the name of the Decker family, Dick Fisher, Billy the Butcher, Andy Thompson and half a dozen others. These men were the terror of the town and ruled with a high hand. The property nor the life of any one who had the temerity to oppose them was not safe. Fisher was a large, powerful brute, and several times beat inoffensive men in a cruel manner. If they desired a new pair of boots, they simply entered a stcre, fitted themselves and walked away. One day in the spring of 1853, several of them entered a clothing store kept by a Jew, and proceeded to array themselves in new garments. Upon the Jew making objections to the transaction they became offended and proceeded to pitch him and all his goods into the street. Quite a crowd collected to witness the affair, but no one dared to interfere. Among the spectators was Tyee Ault, who remarked that he should think some one would shoot them some time. This remark was reported to Fisher who threatened to whip Ault. He sought him out and confronted him with a pistol. Ault endeavored to avoid him and entered E. H. Gaylord’s store, but was followed by the ruffian. Ault then drew his revolver and shot Fisher, who quickly retreated to the street, followed by Ault, who continued shooting until his antagonist lay dying in the street. The defeat and death of Fisher completely destroyed the power of the Decker family, and they hastily left town. MARCH, 1853: Grass Valley Congregational Church Organized In March, 1853, Rev. J. G. Hale, from Vermont, held services in the Masonic Hall, and the Church was organized Oct. 16, 1853. The church edifice was erected in Dec., 1853, at a cost of $1500, on the corner of Neal and Church Streets APRIL, 1853 E. E. Matteson, working with his partners in a claim on American Hill, conceived the idea of facilitating the labor of breaking up the bank by directing a stream of water against it. He attached a nozzle to a piece of hose, and bringing the stream to bear upon the bank, discovered that the small siream of water could accomplish the work of a great many men. JUNE 28, 1853: Rough and Ready Destroyed By Fire The new and prosperous town was visited by a devastating fire, on the night of Tuesday, June 28, 1853. <A careless person left a lighted candle too near a canvas partition when he retired to sleep, and the result was that in a few moments the whole business portion of the town, including forty hotels, stores and houses were burned to the ground. The loss was estimated at $59,700. With the energy characteristic of those days, the town was quickly rebuilt, the streets being widened, and the new buildings, better and larger than the old, and concentrated more together. . JUNE 30, 1853: Engineer’s Report on the Marysville & Nevada Plank Road The following report was presented at a meeting in Marysville by the engineers engaged to survey the route. Length of road .......... 39% miles Cost of construction ...... $374,485.75 Total estimate annual FEVENUC ooo cceee es $305,000.00 Totai estimate annual expense $23,000.00 From this report it was made evident that in two years after paying for the construction of the road and the running expenses, the estimated revenue would be sufficient to declare a divi. dend of about $190,000. However, the plank road never materailized. NEVADA CITY MARCH, 1853 Hamlet Davis erected the first brick