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Volume 059-4 - October 2005 (8 pages)
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Page: of 8
NCHS Bulletin October 2005
From the Journal of the Rey. Richard F.
Putnam, Rector of Grass Valley’s
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1863-66
Edited by Gage McKinney
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The NCHS Bulletin thanks the California Historical Society for permission to publish excerpts
from the Rey. Richard Fletcher Putnam’s journal (MS1734,
dated 1863-1886). The journal is part of the Society’s collections in the North Baker Research Library, 678 Mission
Street, San Francisco. These excerpts offer a sample of the
journal. Doris Foley and Professor Ralph Mann drew on
Putnam’s journals in their books on Nevada County. I used
it in writing Crosses in a Gold Field: A 150-Year History of
Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Grass Valley. Emmanuel
Church celebrated its sesquicentennial in April 2005.
The Rev. Putnam descended from early Massachusetts
settlers. With his wife, Maria Love Putnam, he came west in
the spring of 1862, originally bound for Oregon. The
couple spent most of 1862 in San Francisco, where Putnam
was interim rector at Trinity Church. In January 1863, the
Putnams traveled to Nevada County, where the Rev. Putnam served as rector of both Emmanuel Church in Grass
Valley and Trinity Episcopal Church in Nevada City. The
journal suggests that Maria played an indispensable role in
her husband’s career.
The complete journal includes accounts of the Putnams’
travels over twenty-three years. It describes their passage
to California via the Isthmus route, visits to British Columbia and Oregon, and an extended stay in San Francisco.
After leaving Grass Valley, Putnam added to the journal descriptions of a visit to Yosemite and travels on the East
Coast of America. The actual book that contains the handwritten journal came from W. K. Spencer’s stationery shop,
which was located near the southeast comer of Main and
Church streets in Grass Valley. Spencer was a leading
member of Emmanuel Church. The excerpts below describe
the Rev. and Maria Putnam’s residence in Grass Valley. The
selection retains Putnam’s precise spelling, capitalization
and punctuation. .
OURNEY TO GRASS VALLEY. On the Thursday the
224 of January 1863, we bade Mrs. Thompson, Mrs.
Van Winkle and other friends an affectionate adieu and
took the Rail Road House Stage for the Sacramento
Steamer.
RESIDENCE AT GRASS VALLEY. At the solicitation of
Bishop Kip [the Rt. Rev. William Ingrahm Kip, first Episcopal bishop in California] I took charge of Emmanuel
Church, Grass Valley. This church had long been without
pastoral care: the congregation had become scattered, and
the church edifice was greatly out of repair. The building
was erected a few years ago [in 1858], but was not finished.
4
The Rey. Richard F. Putnam. (Photo courtesy of Saint
Mary Episcopal Church, Newton Lower Falls, MA.)
It is a neat, tasteful church built in the Gothic style of architecture. The extreme length, including the receding chancel,
is about 68 feet.
A goodly congregation was immediately gathered, a Sunday school established, and efforts made to furnish the
church. The chancel was carpeted and the [robing] room
also. Matting was purchased for the aisle. A beautiful Porch
was erected under the supervision of Mr. Shultes. An altar
was made, and a covering cloth was about $30.00. It was
elegantly embroidered by Maria [Putnam].
Between 40 and 50 shade trees were purchased to embellish the grounds of the church, and other improvements
made.
The people manifested a commendable zeal in their efforts to promote the welfare of the parish.
The town of Grass Valley is prettily situated among the
Nevada Hills, but is not a particularly pleasant place. The
National Exchange and the Wisconsin are the principal
hotels. There are two large livery stables, several book
stores, a telegraph office, many grocery and other stores of
the largest size, good public schools, a printing establishment at which the Grass Valley National, a tri-weekly a
newspaper is issued. There is a Theatre which is used occasionally for Balls, Concerts and Theatrical entertainments, and there are also, sad to say, between 60 and 70