Volume 017-3 - July 1963 (2 pages)

Harrigan. In*May of 1860, Harrigan sold the property to Kelly and William Reed, noted foot runners and athletes. They laid out tracks for foot and horse races. The early practice of having bull and bear fights and prize fights continued. It became a sports center. In December of 1864, Kelly and Reed sold the property to Charles Leech who in turn sold it to Reuben Leech on April 11, 1867. Reuben Leech sold Buena Vista Ranch, Boniteaux Ranch, the Sexton Ranch and Storms Ranch to Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company. On July 9, 1872, John and Edward Coleman purchased the property. They developed the Mohawk sawmill that stood at the location of the present ‘Talking Pines. Two toll roads served the people between Grass Valley and Colfax. One was the Grass Valley and Illinoistown Turnpike owned by the Coleman Brothers, Ben Taylor, Gerry Morgan and J. H. Neff. This was completed around 1865 at a cost of $60,000. It followed the present Dog Bar Road. The other was Crandall Road owned by Crandall and Neal. This followed loosely the lower Colfax Road, coming into the present Colfax Highway at a point South of the present Chicago Park Store. The only travel over these roads in the early days was by mud wagon. In April of 1866, a fine Concord Coach, considered a great improvement, was introduced. On May 1, 1868 Frank Cleveland made the trip from Grass Valley to Colfax and back in two hours and a half. This was very good time for those days. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge was completed in 1876 and served as an opening wedge for the development of the Chicago Park-Peardale area. Stations on the line included Buena Vista just South of Red Dog Road and Storms Station. At Buena Vista Station there were houses in which the Chinese section hands lived. Bob Scanlon was the boss of the Chinese and lived at the Section House. Later the Chinese were replaced by Italian section hands. Storms Station became known as Coleman Station because of the near-by lumber mill. For a time it was Chicago Park Station but when the station and postoffice were moved, the waiting room for the picnic grounds that remained once more became Coleman Station. Chicago Park Station was moved to a point near where Ellingers house now stands then to a spot between Garbellano’s and Ullrich’s. This location was known locally as the Woodpile for here the wood for the engines was kept. When the new route was cut through Chicago Park in 1908, the station was once more moved to a location near the present fruit sheds where its remains now stand. The canal that runs along Bear River near Chicago Park was constructed in 1852 by Crandall and Neal. It is considered the oldest canal in Placer County. It runs from the present Bear River dam to a point near Lake Arthur. The present dam was constructed in 1909 replacing the third in a series of timber crib dams which had occupied the same site. Contrary to the belief of many, none of these dams was constructed as debris dams but as diversion dams for the canal. A bridge and mill owned by Crandall and Neal were located at the site of the present Bear River Bridge. Woolberton and Martha Curtis Days were among the first settlers in the present Chicago Park region. Woodford, John Thorp and T. Ambergh were other early day property owners. Ambergh operated a brewery located on his property, now the Ernst Bierwagen place. Joseph Shebley had his fish hatchery in full swing in the 1870's. By 1883 he donated its use to the California Fish Commission. Rainbow trout, black spotted tiout, eastern brook trout and land-locked Salmon were hatched there. When the state abandoned the hatchery in 1888, it returned to private status. Shebley’s was also well known as a picnic spot. Rowing on Shebley's Pond was a favorite pastime. Near-by Chicago Park Picnic ground was the scene of Sunday School picnics, Miner’s Union picnics as well as annual outings of many organizations. The Sunday School Picnic of June 9, 1892 was attended by approximately 20,000 people. Schools and business houses closed for the event. There was a large dance platform at the site and a brass band often played for the picnickers. Around 1872 Louis Orzalli and his wife purchased 40 acres in the area. They planted orchards and vineyards. In 1901 they opened a very popular resort known as “Orzalli’s Pine Grove.” In 1887 Morris Lobner and W. B. Hayford of Colfax interested a group of Chicago men in 2400 acres of land at Storms Ranch. Other lands were later added to the colony including a 600 acre parcel bought from Antonio Orzalli. The purchase was made from the Coleman Brothers and Chicago Park Colony was named by September 6 of that year. On this date it was claimed that one hundred town lots and 1900 acres of the colony in 20 and 40 acre tracts, had been sold to residents of Illinois and surrounding states. On September 19, 1887, a drawing for lots in the townsite was held in Chicago. By October, 6700 acres had been bought and bonded. Mr. Porter of Chicago was the general manager of the colony scheme. The town was laid out around a public square with streets named for prominent streets in Chicago. Lots averaged 40 by 125. A resort hotel was planned as well as churches and a school. A newspaper was published at Colfax called “Chicago Park Times" by a young Chicago Journalist, Arthur B. Tebbets. This paper was widely quoted in other newspapers as the new colony stirred up interest. The plat of Chicago Park Colony was filed at the Recorders Office on January 21, 1888 by request of R. R. Porter. On March 24, 1888 the Chicago Park post office was established with Joseph H. Hubacheck as postmaster. Many people owning property in the colony never left Chicago. Some that came soon returned east because they were disappointed in the climate which they had been led to believe was similar to that of Southern California. The small acreages, called villas surrounding the townsites and larger ranches began to be settled. Orchards were planted. It has been claimed that a town hall was built on the townsite which was later torn down. If so, it was the only building on the site. The scheme brought many settlers to the surrounding area which blossomed into a prosperous orchard community. One of the original promoters of the colony, Dr. Charles A. Pusheck decided to build a sanitarium and hotel at Chicago Park. He developed Orchard Springs Resort. The doctor soon got the gold bug and purchased mining property from Warren H. Pierce and others. He operated the Mountain Maid mine. It is rumored that $22,000 was taken from the mine shortly after work began. There were problems in obtaining water for the operation. As Dr. Pusheck was away much of the time, things didn’t progress very smoothly at the mine or the resort. In 1910 a big fire destroyed the mine office, building, equipment and all the records. In 1912 the vein reached a fault and everyone had a different idea of which direction to dig to reach gold. After Dr. Pusheck passed away in December of 1913, interest was lost in the mine. Orchard Springs was more of a success as a resort than as a sanitarium. The Bear River School was established in 1868 to accommodate the children between Bear River and Union Hill. It was built on a rocky piece of ground nearly across from the present Ruess property. James Hennessy, in whose honor Hennessy school is named, came to teach there on July 2, 1883 when he was 18 years old. Chicago Park School was organized in January of 1898 with Miss Tillie Stephens as teacher. The building was built on property donated by Porter from lumber salvaged from the old Town Hall. Around 1939, Bear River School was moved to a spot near Peardale Hall. In 1945 it was decided to join Grass Valley Schoo] District and the children were transported into town to

Harrigan. In*May of 1860, Harrigan sold the property to Kelly and William Reed, noted foot runners and athletes. They laid out tracks for foot and horse races. The early practice of having bull and bear fights and prize fights continued. It became a sports center. In December of 1864, Kelly and Reed sold the property to Charles Leech who in turn sold it to Reuben Leech on April 11, 1867. Reuben Leech sold Buena Vista Ranch, Boniteaux Ranch, the Sexton Ranch and Storms Ranch to Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company. On July 9, 1872, John and Edward Coleman purchased the property. They developed the Mohawk sawmill that stood at the location of the present ‘Talking Pines. Two toll roads served the people between Grass Valley and Colfax. One was the Grass Valley and Illinoistown Turnpike owned by the Coleman Brothers, Ben Taylor, Gerry Morgan and J. H. Neff. This was completed around 1865 at a cost of $60,000. It followed the present Dog Bar Road. The other was Crandall Road owned by Crandall and Neal. This followed loosely the lower Colfax Road, coming into the present Colfax Highway at a point South of the present Chicago Park Store. The only travel over these roads in the early days was by mud wagon. In April of 1866, a fine Concord Coach, considered a great improvement, was introduced. On May 1, 1868 Frank Cleveland made the trip from Grass Valley to Colfax and back in two hours and a half. This was very good time for those days. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge was completed in 1876 and served as an opening wedge for the development of the Chicago Park-Peardale area. Stations on the line included Buena Vista just South of Red Dog Road and Storms Station. At Buena Vista Station there were houses in which the Chinese section hands lived. Bob Scanlon was the boss of the Chinese and lived at the Section House. Later the Chinese were replaced by Italian section hands. Storms Station became known as Coleman Station because of the near-by lumber mill. For a time it was Chicago Park Station but when the station and postoffice were moved, the waiting room for the picnic grounds that remained once more became Coleman Station. Chicago Park Station was moved to a point near where Ellingers house now stands then to a spot between Garbellano’s and Ullrich’s. This location was known locally as the Woodpile for here the wood for the engines was kept. When the new route was cut through Chicago Park in 1908, the station was once more moved to a location near the present fruit sheds where its remains now stand. The canal that runs along Bear River near Chicago Park was constructed in 1852 by Crandall and Neal. It is considered the oldest canal in Placer County. It runs from the present Bear River dam to a point near Lake Arthur. The present dam was constructed in 1909 replacing the third in a series of timber crib dams which had occupied the same site. Contrary to the belief of many, none of these dams was constructed as debris dams but as diversion dams for the canal. A bridge and mill owned by Crandall and Neal were located at the site of the present Bear River Bridge. Woolberton and Martha Curtis Days were among the first settlers in the present Chicago Park region. Woodford, John Thorp and T. Ambergh were other early day property owners. Ambergh operated a brewery located on his property, now the Ernst Bierwagen place. Joseph Shebley had his fish hatchery in full swing in the 1870's. By 1883 he donated its use to the California Fish Commission. Rainbow trout, black spotted tiout, eastern brook trout and land-locked Salmon were hatched there. When the state abandoned the hatchery in 1888, it returned to private status. Shebley’s was also well known as a picnic spot. Rowing on Shebley's Pond was a favorite pastime. Near-by Chicago Park Picnic ground was the scene of Sunday School picnics, Miner’s Union picnics as well as annual

outings of many organizations. The Sunday School Picnic of June 9, 1892 was attended by approximately 20,000 people. Schools and business houses closed for the event. There was a large dance platform at the site and a brass band often played for the picnickers. Around 1872 Louis Orzalli and his wife purchased 40 acres in the area. They planted orchards and vineyards. In 1901 they opened a very popular resort known as “Orzalli’s Pine Grove.” In 1887 Morris Lobner and W. B. Hayford of Colfax interested a group of Chicago men in 2400 acres of land at Storms Ranch. Other lands were later added to the colony including a 600 acre parcel bought from Antonio Orzalli. The purchase was made from the Coleman Brothers and Chicago Park Colony was named by September 6 of that year. On this date it was claimed that one hundred town lots and 1900 acres of the colony in 20 and 40 acre tracts, had been sold to residents of Illinois and surrounding states. On September 19, 1887, a drawing for lots in the townsite was held in Chicago. By October, 6700 acres had been bought and bonded. Mr. Porter of Chicago was the general manager of the colony scheme. The town was laid out around a public square with streets named for prominent streets in Chicago. Lots averaged 40 by 125. A resort hotel was planned as well as churches and a school. A newspaper was published at Colfax called “Chicago Park Times" by a young Chicago Journalist, Arthur B. Tebbets. This paper was widely quoted in other newspapers as the new colony stirred up interest. The plat of Chicago Park Colony was filed at the Recorders Office on January 21, 1888 by request of R. R. Porter. On March 24, 1888 the Chicago Park post office was established with Joseph H. Hubacheck as postmaster. Many people owning property in the colony never left Chicago. Some that came soon returned east because they were disappointed in the climate which they had been led to believe was similar to that of Southern California. The small acreages, called villas surrounding the townsites and larger ranches began to be settled. Orchards were planted. It has been claimed that a town hall was built on the townsite which was later torn down. If so, it was the only building on the site. The scheme brought many settlers to the surrounding area which blossomed into a prosperous orchard community. One of the original promoters of the colony, Dr. Charles A. Pusheck decided to build a sanitarium and hotel at Chicago Park. He developed Orchard Springs Resort. The doctor soon got the gold bug and purchased mining property from Warren H. Pierce and others. He operated the Mountain Maid mine. It is rumored that $22,000 was taken from the mine shortly after work began. There were problems in obtaining water for the operation. As Dr. Pusheck was away much of the time, things didn’t progress very smoothly at the mine or the resort. In 1910 a big fire destroyed the mine office, building, equipment and all the records. In 1912 the vein reached a fault and everyone had a different idea of which direction to dig to reach gold. After Dr. Pusheck passed away in December of 1913, interest was lost in the mine. Orchard Springs was more of a success as a resort than as a sanitarium. The Bear River School was established in 1868 to accommodate the children between Bear River and Union Hill. It was built on a rocky piece of ground nearly across from the present Ruess property. James Hennessy, in whose honor Hennessy school is named, came to teach there on July 2, 1883 when he was 18 years old. Chicago Park School was organized in January of 1898 with Miss Tillie Stephens as teacher. The building was built on property donated by Porter from lumber salvaged from the old Town Hall. Around 1939, Bear River School was moved to a spot near Peardale Hall. In 1945 it was decided to join Grass Valley Schoo] District and the children were transported into town to