USA > California > Nevada County > Bean's history and directory of Nevada County, California. Containing a complete history of the county, with sketches of the various towns and mining camps also, full statistics of mining and all other industrial resources > Part 11
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During the years from 1853 to 1856, better roads were constructed, better buildings erected, and mining was generally prosperous. A great deal of capital left Nevada for the Atlantic States and to develop new mines in other localities. In 1855 the telegraph was extended to Downieville. A fire broke out on the south side of Broad street, on the 20th of February,
GRASS VALLEY IS ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM SPENCE'S DRUG STORE
A. GOLDSMITH'S DRY GOODS STORE, CORNER OF BROAD AND PINE STREETS,
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SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
and destroyed the row of buildings from the Methodist Church down. Loss, $40,000. The town government was destroyed by a decision of the Supreme Court. The city was soon organized by an act of the Legislature, and still maintains its organization under the same act. The Court House and jail were built in the summer of 1855.
While in the hight of her prosperity, when new buildings were going up on every hand, when merchants had large stocks of goods, when daily the streets were crowded with a busy throng, on the 19th of July, 1856, a day memorable in the annals of Nevada, a conflagration swept the city and laid the whole business portion in ruins. The fire originated in a blacksmith shop, in the rear of where Goldsmith's store now is, on Pine street, and so rapid were the flames that in a few minutes the whole town was in a blaze. Nothing could be saved. Perhaps no swifter destruction of a town was ever witnessed. It was as much as the women and children could do to escape without saving an article of furniture or clothing. More than four hundred buildings, twenty-two of which were supposed to be fire proof, were de- stroyed. The loss in buildings and personal property exceeded a million dollars. The district laid in ashes extended up Broad street as far as the residence of Dr. Bates on one side, and the Womack residence on the other. Its limits on upper Main street were Caswell's lot. Its southern boundary was Spring street, except that the Baptist Church, on the other side, was consumed, and the flames destroyed a few buildings across Deer Creek, and a few in the rear of the present National Hotel. All the churches, and the Court House were consumed.
But the loss of property was trifling compared with the loss of life. Ten persons perished in the flames, and nearly all acting upon the belief that the brick buildings would withstand the fire. Peter Hendrickson perished in his store, that now occupied by Fininger, on Broad street. Jay Johnson, a surveyor, A. J. Hagan, a banker, S. W. Fletcher, who had been District Attorney, and W. B. Pearson, of the Democrat office, lost their lives in the brick building that stood on the site of Crawford, Leavitt & Co's gro- cery establishment, and John Yates, of the firm of Tallman & Yates, hardware merchants, was lost in one of the buildings on the north side of lower Commercial street. A man named Thomas, who kept a saloon on Broad street, and William Wilson, a plasterer, were so badly burned that they died the next day. In addition to these, the remains of two unknown persons were found, one in Kelsey's brick building, on Commercial street, and the other among the ruins of a wooden building on Broad street.
The fire of 1856 was a heavy blow to Nevada, wrecking, irretrievably, many of her most energetic and prosperous business men. Yet, never was
WARD'S PERFECT FITTING SHIRTS, FOR SALE AT BANNER BROTHERS, NEVADA CITY.
PRINTS, LAWNS, POPLINS, IN FACT, EVERY VARIETY OF DRESS GOODS, AT GOLDSMITIT'S .
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SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
more energy displayed than in rebuilding the city. But four brick build- ings were left standing after the conflagration. By the commencement of the rainy season a stranger could scarcely discover a vestige of the disaster left. The ruins of the brick buildings were repaired, more were erected, and better wooden buildings than ever before took the places of those de- stroyed.
The disastrous year of 1856 had scarcely closed, when on February 15, 1857, Laird's dam, on Deer Creek, six miles above the city, when nearly full and flooding two hundred acres, gave way carly in the morning and a deluge was precipitated upon Nevada. The torrent of water came down Deer Creek with resistloss force, bearing everything before it. The two bridges at the foot of Broad and Main streets, Boswell & Hanson's store, a part of the Monumental Hotel, and several other buildings on both sides of the creek, were swept away. The loss was probably about $50,000.
In July of the same year, the first steam engine entire was constructed at the Nevada Foundry. It was for E. F. Burton & Co., and was used at the celebrated Live Oak diggings.
The next event of importance was an earthquake, which occurred on the evening of September 2d, the day of the general election. Dishes were shaken, the walls of the Court House cracked from top to bottom, and quite a little scare produced. It was no great shake, and remarkable only from the fact that earthquakes are of rare occurrence in this region.
In December, 1857, a meeting was called to assemble at the Court House, for the purpose of taking some steps for the formation of a City Library. But few were in attendance, yet the Nevada Library Association was formed, and a hundred volumes contributed, of which number Rev. J. II. Warren, the pastor of the Congregational Church, gave sixty. This library has now more than two thousand volumes of excellent works, and is a credit to the city.
On Sunday, May 2d, 1858, the stage for Sacramento, having on board the treasure box of Wells, Fargo & Co., was stopped about a mile out of town, and $21,000 taken by five robbers in disguise. I. N. Dawley had $20,000 with him belonging to Birdseye & Co., which by adroit management the robbers did not get. There were two stages and twenty-six passengers. A reward was offered by Wells, Fargo & Co., promptly, but the robbers escaped with their booty.
The summer of 1858 was eulivened by the Fraser River excitement, which took off, to a cold distant land, a number of our citizens, depressed property in value, and dcadened trade. To add to the depression, on the 23d of May, another of those sweeping conflagrations for which Nevada is remarkable, visited the city, and laid the whole business portion in ruins.
K
E. F. SPENCE, AGENT FOR PACIFIC INSURANCE COMPANY.
COLLARSGLOVESHANDKERCHIEFSSKIRTSANDCARPETS AT GOLDSMITII'S.
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SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
The fire originated in a Chinese house near where the Pennsylvania Hose House now stands. It was a very slow fire, and might have been subdued by efficient organized action. The slowness of the flames allowed time for the saving of goods, and thus, although the district burned over was almost as large as in the great fire of 1856, the loss was small in comparison. More than two hundred tenements were destroyed, but the loss did not foot up more than $230,000. The brick buildings, of which there were thirty, withstood the flames in this fire, and all the Churches and the Court House were saved. Frisbie's Theater was the only really fine wooden building destroyed. The loss was principally in wooden buildings which were easily supplied. Little suffering resulted from the fire, and in a few months Nevada was in as good condition as ever.
About this time, the great capacity of the soil for fruit raising about Nevada began to be appreciated. Previously, but few had attempted the cultivation of fruit trees, and these few had the satisfaction of seeing their trees in bearing. The Nevada Journal, of September 24th, mentions the presentation of a peach by John Dunn to the editor, measuring thirteen inches around it and weighing eighteen ounces. Six peaches, in the same basket, weighed six pounds and two ounces. The spring of 1859 was marked by the large number of fruit trees of all kinds planted about Ne- vada, yet for two years previous to that time there was considerable activity witnessed in horticultural pursuits. Horace Greeley visited our town in August, 1859. About the same time, in the absence of the editor, the " boys " in charge of the Journal imitated the trick of Squibob, and hoisted the Democratic ticket, Buchanan and all, issuing a couple of capital burlesque papers that furnished a great deal of merriment to all parties.
Perhaps, up to this time, no event ever filled Nevada with such gloom as the reported death of Broderick, Senator of the United States, who died on the 16th of September, from wounds received in a duel with David S. Terry, on the 13th. Broderick had many friends among nearly all profes- sions of political faith in Nevada, and large numbers of houses were draped in mourning and closed.
The efforts of the press and of a few individuals proving unavailing, the ladies undertook to raise money to protect the town somewhat against fires. By their exertions, a ball was gotten up, near the close of the year, which yielded about one thousand dollars. In April, 1860, the Nevada Water Company, so called, laid a large pipe to the corner of Broad and Pine streets. , It was furnished with two or three small hydrants, and for a small fire was rendered serviceable. The reservoir of the company was a small one, on the southeastern slope of Lost Hill. Water for house use had been previously supplied from the same point by small lead pipes, to most of the
BUSINESS SUITS OF EVERY STYLE AND QUALITY, FOR SALE AT BANNER BROTHERS.
-
WHIO KEEPS THE LARGEST STOCK OF DRY GOODS IN NEVADA CITY ? A. GOLDSMITHI.
SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
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inhabitants in town, the lower part of the town being supplied from a spring on Gold Flat, by the same means. A fire broke out in Sullivan's Ball Court, May 24th, 1860, which destroyed four buildings, with a loss of $12,000. The -fire occurred near the junction of Broad and Commercial streets. The Keystone Hotel, the Ball Court, and residences of Thomas Buckner and J. A. Cross, were consumed. The water in the new water pipes was of essential service in checking the further progress of the flames. But, it was made evident that the works of the Nevada Water Company were not sufficient to give security against fires, and soon after, Charles Marsh, Esq., made a proposition to supply the city with an abundance of water in heavy cast iron pipes, from a large reservoir four hundred feet above the lowest part of the town, in accordance with a law passed in 1857 for the purpose. The proposition came up for acceptance or rejection, and a vote was had on the 7th of July, which resulted in the acceptance of the proposition. The pipes of the works, nearly two miles in length, were immediately ordered, and in June, 1861, the town was as well supplied with water for fire and other purposes as, perhaps, any town of its size in the world. The main pipe is ten inches in diameter, and the branches four and six inches. Twenty-eight hydrants were purchased with the pipes in Philadelphia. The whole cost of the works, when completed, was about $30,000. The franchise extends to twenty years. It is proper to add that a proposition from the Nevada Water Company to supply the town with water from their reservoir on Lost Hill was previously rejected, the propo- sition coming in a very indefinite shape, and the works contemplated being
of too temporary a character. Two hose carts were purchased in August, 1860, by Companies No. 1 and No. 2, the companies having been organized on June 2d, previously. A hook and ladder company was also organized twenty days after. Both the hose companies are in service still, but the hook and ladder company recently sold their house, declared a dividend, and disbanded. The foundations of the house of Pennsylvania Hose Com- pany, No. 2, were laid in October, 1860. Nevada No. 1 built theirs a year after.
The citizens of Nevada raised money during the summer of 1860 for the purpose of procuring a survey of a railroad route from Auburn to Nevada. S. G. Elliot was employed and the survey completed. It amounted to nothing further than to demonstrate the practicability of a railroad between the two places.
In September of the same year, appeared the first daily paper in Nevada, the Transcipt, under the auspices of N. P. Brown, John P. Skelton, Andrew Casamayou, and General James Allen, the latter gentleman being the editor. Soon after the completion of the water works, in August, 1861, the town
BOWMAN'S HORSE MEDICINES, AT SPENCE'S,
GOLDSMITH, CORNER BROAD AND PINE S'TS, HAS A LARGE STOCK OF SHEETINGS & LINEN.
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SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
was permanently lighted with gas, by the present gas works. An attempt was made to supply the town with gas three years earlier. A company was formed, works erected, and a small quantity of poor gas was introduced into a few buildings, when the fire of 1858 destroyed the gas works and the company dissolved and the project was abandoned.
The Legislature of 1861 passed an act levying five-eighths of one per cent. tax on the property of the city for the purpose of constructing a bridge on Pine street across Deer Creek. The tax was levied and collected, some persons paying it under protest. A suit ensued ; the case was carried through the home and Supreme Courts, and it was decided the tax was legal. The Board of City Trustees immediately entered into a contract with A. S. Halladie & Co., of San Francisco, to construct a wire suspension bridge, for $9,000. The summer had been wasted in waiting for the decis- ion of the Supreme Court, and the contract was not let till October. The contractors went rapidly into action, but before the work was far advanced the extraordinary rains of the season set in and delayed the construction of the bridge till the following May, when it was completed and thrown open to the public. Before the heavy rains came the towers were up and the cables placed, being fastened to logs at each end, the bad roads pre- venting the permanent cast iron anchors from being brought from San Francisco. In consequence of the unparalleled rains, the ground was softened so that the log fastenings were moved and the cables sagged in the center below their proper position. To remedy the defect, the architect resorted to wrought iron rods, three and a half inches in diameter, with screws at the ends, which passed through cast iron bulkheads. By means of these screws he was enabled to raise or tighten the cables. One of the cast iron bulkheads proved to be defective, for in July, 1862, about six weeks after the bridge had been thrown open to travel, the structure gave way when a heavy ox team with a load of hay was fairly on the bridge and the oxen of another team was entering upon the suspended platform, and the bridge, three men, and ten yoke of cattle with the loads of hay were precipitated into the chasm below, a distance of more than fifty feet. Two men and fifteen oxen were killed. Mr. Halladie came promptly to the scene of the disaster, and proceeded to repair, as far as was in his power, the loss. The bridge was reconstructed, and still stands the most promi- nent object about Nevada. The cost of the bridge from first to last to the contractors was about $15,000. It is the largest structure of the kind in the State, having a suspended surface of 4,700 feet. The span is 320 feet, and width of roadway fourteen feet. The towers from roadway to top are thirty-three feet high. Fifty-nine cross timbers hold up the platform, suspended by one and one-eighth inch rods from the cables. One hundred
OUR BANNER FLOATS AT THE CORNER OF BROAD AND PINE STREETS, NEVADA CITY.
GOLDSMITII IIAS A COMPLETE STOCK OF SHAWLS AND CLOAKS.
SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
93
thousand feet of lumber were employed. The wire cables, made from No. 12 best charcoal bridge-wire, have in each 1,050 wires; the cables are four inches in diameter, and consumed 36,000 pounds. They have a deflection of twenty-five feet, and are cach 503 feet long. They are fastened in the banks to immense cast iron girders, twelve feet long with ecliptic backs, cach weighing 2,500 pounds. Those on the south side lic behind solid cemented masonry, and are thirty-five feet from the spot where the cables enter the ground. The bridge at Folsom is ten feet longer, but is two feet nine inches narrower, consequently the bridge at Nevada has 740 square feet of suspended platform more than the former.
During the war of rebellion no town in the United States was more earnest for the right than Nevada. Her people were bold and staunch adherents of the Government in every emergency, giving nine votes out of ten for the party supporting the integrity of the nation, and contributing to the Sanitary Fund with great liberality. When the clouds of war began to gather, the patriotism of her people became intense. In times of peace little notice was taken of the 4th of July, but, when the nation was threatened Nevada celebrated the day in 1861 with a spirit that showed the depth of her feeling. It was the first time the National Anniversary was observed in becoming style in the place.
Soldiers' Aid Societies were formed in the town, as soon as an appeal was made, and the ladies assembled collecting and making lint and bandages, which were sent to the seat of war. The contributions of the city to the Sanitary Fund are elsewhere noticed. . When disaster came upon the Union forces, there was gloom depicted on the faces of almost every citizen, and many a spell of sadness was experienced during all that long and cruel war. How hopes were elated and depressed ! Sometimes the heart of the patriot almost gave way to despair; but how wild was the enthusiasm when we could see and feel triumph in the closing hours of the conflict. The cap- ture of Vicksburg aud Port Hudson, and the opening of the Mississippi, and the result of the battle of Gettysburg, almost drove Nevadans mad with joy, but the delirium of the moment when it was announced that Richmond, the rebel capital, had fallen, was never equaled in the Sierra Nevada. But soon again was the joy of the people changed to the most poignant grief; Abraham Lincoln, the beloved of the nation, fell by the hand of an assassin. The city was draped in mourning and sorrow settled "like a pall upon patriotic Nevad.
A fire broke out on the site of Stumpf's Hotel, on Broad street, in No- vember, 1863, which laid the whole heart of the town again in ashes. The fire companies were promptly on the ground before the flames had gained any headway, but, from some unascertained cause, the water did not come
RICHARD'S RHUEMATIC REMEDY, AT SPENCE'S.
HOSIERY AND TRIMMINGS, AN IMMENSE STOCK, AT A. GOLDSMITH S, NEVADA CITY.
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SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
with force enough to throw upon the burning buildings. The fire quickly crossed Broad street, and through negligence of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, no efficient stand was made on the line of Pine street. The fire was thus enabled to cross Pine street, consuming the lower part of the town, which might have been saved by efficient management. A few men took their stand by the hydrant at the corner of Commercial and Pine streets, and with a piece of hose succeeded in preventing the flames from crossing Pine street all the way from Broad street to the street in front of the Court House. That part of Pine street between. Broad and Spring, was much easier defended, but the fire was allowed to cross and to consume the best part of the town. Let it pass into history that the Chief Engineer at that time, when his services were needed, was engaged in saving the duds of his strumpet. The Court House again fell a prey to the devouring element, and every hotel in the place. Perhaps the fire was a good agent in the end, for to it we owe in great measure the splendid hotels and thea- ter, and the magnificent new Court House, which is perhaps the finest structure of its kind in the State. It is built, the lower story of granite and upper of brick, with a granite jail contiguous, in a raised yard set with trees, and cost more than fifty thousand dollars. It is a highly ornamental object, besides being well adapted to the purposes for which it was built. It was finished in the autumn of 1864, from architectural designs furnished by Butler of San Francisco. The fire passed over nearly the same grounds as in 1856 and 1858, destroying the Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal and Catholic Churches, the gas works and theater, and ruining many brick buildings as well as all the wooden ones but two in the whole territory traversed by the flames. The entire loss was estimated at $600,000. The Baptist Church was the only edifice of its kind left, and this was used as a Court House until a new one was built and ready for occupation.
In the way of hotels, Nevada and the public were great gainers by the fire. The Union Hotel is one of the best constructed buildings for hotel purposes in the State, has large and handsome rooms and plenty of them, and the National Exchange was improved by the remodeling of the inte- rior.
In the spring of 1864, another daily paper made its appearance, the Gazette; O. P. Stidger and I. J. Rolfe were the paternal ancestors of the concern, the former doing the writing.
The arrival of Schuyler Colfax, Governor Bross and Samuel Bowles, on a visit to Nevada, in the summer of 1865, was one of the events of the season. The party was given a public dinner at the National Exchange, which was largely attended.
The latter years of our town are almost barren of historical. interest, or
RUBBER CLOTHING AND GUM BOOTS AT BANNER BROTHIERS.
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BABY TENDERS-SOLD BY DIVER-AT GOLDSMITII'S.
SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
perhaps, time has not given the incidents importance. The developments in quartz mining about the town have largely increased the population and business of the place, but nothing has been done under the influence of excitement. But few buildings have been erceted, and no advancement been made except so far as necessity required. The growth of Nevada has been healthy, moderate, and promises to be of a permanent character.
I must not close this sketch of Nevada without alluding to what is known as the "Big Seare," which occurred on the night of January 17, 1865.
" Ah! night of all nights in the year!"
Sheriff K. had received information during the day, from one of his attaches, who had visited the famous locality of Allison Ranch, that the secessionists of that place and Grass Valley contemplated a raid on Nevada. The direful news was whispered about among the brave and faithful, and the stifled cry of " to arms" passed from mouth to mouth. The Sheriff was sure his information was correct. The city was to be sacked, the banks were to be robbed, the arms of the Nevada Light Guard were a prize for lawless men intent on raising the standard of insurrection on the Pacific Coast.
" Ah ! then and thero was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, that but an hour ago Blusbed at the praise of their own loveliness ; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out of young hearts, and choking sighs, Which ne'er might be repeated ; who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes."
Some families were removed to other quarters. It is said a few women and children were urged to flee to the fastnesses of the Sugar Loaf, and com- plied in the greatest consternation. The Sheriff was indefatigable in mustering forces to defend the city to the last extremity. He proceeded without hesitation to fortify-himself with old Democratic whisky. The Nevada Light Guard assembled at their armory, and the Sheriff attempted to take supreme command, by not allowing a soldier the privilege of going out to bid his wife the last adieu. He informed the warriors assembled that, like Jackson at New Orleans, he was going to make the property of the city defend it. Captain Kidd, a banker, was forthwith, for one, pressed into the service, and harnessed with the military accoutrements of Mark Rhineberger. Now, Rhineberger was slightly less than twice the hight of Kidd, and consequently as the gallant Captain marched to the field of Mars the cartridge box pendant on one side, at every one of his martial steps struck the ground. It was probably such an apparition as is rarely to be met with in the light of day. Yet, as the opportunity had come of dying for one's country and fireside, and glory is supposed to be won by expiring with the harness on, and as war harness was scarce, the thought could not
E. F. SPENCE, LIFE INSURANCE AGENT.
CALL ON GOLDSMITH, CORNER OF BROAD AND PINE STREETS, NEVADÍ CITY.
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SKETCH OF NEVADA TOWNSHIP.
be entertained a moment, of taking it off, and time would not allow of taking it up. For it was expected the bugle blast for a charge would be heard at any moment. Guards were set, and the measured tread of senti- nels was heard during the suspense of that awful night. The stars shone out as beautifully and bright as if they were not soon to have their light reflected from a mirror of blood. Silent, unconscious witnesses of many a midnight tragedy ! The Court House was surrounded by a cordon of braves, some prepared for the most desperate encounters with sixteen shooters, revolvers, hatchets and knives. The night slowly wore away. No enemy appeared. Judge B-, a distinguished lawyer, took the attache of the Sheriff, who had been in the camp of the enemy, and gave him a searching cross examination in private. He returned, shook his head omin- ously, and looked unhappy. Seouts, armed to the teeth, were sent out by authority, to examine every foot of ground on the way to Grass Valley, to reconoiter the enemy and return, if possible, to give warning to the beleaguered city. The weary guards, chilly with night watching, paced to and fro, the points of their bayonets gleaming in the starlight over their heads, while occasional dialogues were spoken, one of which is remembered. A new hand at the trade of death approached an old soldier, both on duty, "I suppose," said he, "Uncle Billy, that you have done your share in this bloody business in your time." "Yes," said the veteran, " I have seen some service." "You must have killed some men in your long mili- tary career." "I don't know; I have fired in the direction of the enemy several times," said Uncle Billy. "Well, this will be the first time I ever pointed a gun at my fellow man, and I would give a great deal that I could wipe this night out of my memory !"
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