USA > California > Nevada County > History of Nevada County, California; with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and manufactories > Part 36
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made at ornamentation, to render them attractive to the eye and inviting by contrast with the general crudeness of their surroundings. In 1851, Nevada City had two of these estab- lisliments, of special magnificence and prominence. They were the Empire, on Main street, on the site of the Union Hotel, and Barker's Exchange, opposite the Empire, with entrances on both Main and Broad streets. In Grass Valley, the Alta, on Main street, where Byrne's livery stable now stands, was the saloon of special prominence. These places had cach its band of music, and from twelve to fifteen tables where games of chance were played, monte, faro, chuck-a-luck, twenty-one,
roulette and many other games. Of all these, monte was the favorite method of losing money. Many a miner has lost his carnings for the week in a few moments on Saturday night, and many another, having accumulated enough to induec him to return home, a "home-stake," has stopped in town on his way, imbibed too freely, staked his all upon an unfavorable turn of a card, and gone back to his rocker. Large sums were frequently played for, and as high as $10,000 would sometimes be upon the table, around which would be gathered an cager crowd to watch the turning card or rolling dice. Bowling alleys were also a great institution, and found many patrons at one dollar per game.
One of the peculiarities of these exciting times was the promptness with which men acted in moments of danger. In a crowded gambling saloon a cause of difference would arise, hot words would be used and revolvers and knives would be drawn like magic. Then there would be a vanishing of the erowd, and the house would be elcared with wonderful celerity, only to be crowded again in five minutes, the games going on with the monotonous " make your game, gentlemen. All down ?" of the dealer, and apparent oblivion of the recent stampede.
Among the amusements of 1851, and for a few years there- after, were bull and bear fights. These took place on Broad street, in Nevada City, where an arena was constructel for the purpose. A bear, more or less tame and more or less lazy, was chained to a post, so as not to be able to beat an inglorious retreat or to charge upon the spectators. A bull was then turned into the arena and the two animals were provoked into a fight. Sometimes the bull was of a retiring disposition and the lwar a jolly, good natured one, and a fight could not be forced upon thein. Then the audience had to depart disap- pointed, sometimes almost creating a riot by their demonstra- tions of dissatisfaction. Occasionally the animals were chained together without creating any animosity between them. It is related that at an entertainment of this kind, a large bear became loosened from his fastenings and made things lively for the keepers, until they escaped from the arena, barely having time to secure the doors to prevent bruin from following them. Bruin was then master of the battle field, and sighed for other worlds to conquer. He cast his eyes upon the crowd in the seats above and decided to go up there, and took action accord- ingly. This change of base decided the audience to go home, to go at once, and go they did ; some were last, but the major- ity of th.m were first; the front rank was the post of honor in that charge upon the street. C. F. Wood and Dr. Kendall, armed with a shovel and a heavy cane, remained and beat the bear back by striking his paws every time he placed them on the railing, and thus entertained him until he was lassoed and seenred. The legend runs to the effect that Dr. Kendall had a
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VIEW ON THE RANCH OF M. P. HATCH, 340ACRES, INDIAN SPRING. NEVADA CO CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY CALIFORNIA
very hairy visage, and that ones, by a powerfa martin true drew himself l'ar enough up to catch a gfijs of lex mnie nist's face, when In fell back broken heart. 1. vekt ; Ett Brute."
Dog fights, chicken fights, and more brutal tol pris tigli- have been frequent ling well patrons JI werten do The sentiment of the latter portion of the servants adverse to these exhibition, and they use of la fo jus. than of your Wrestling and other Cornich gane at favoritos. Every year the formal miners at fred Vy have a picnic, ut which prize De compte Cornish games were in the summer of Digital. mt rear of Samuel Hodge's brewery, corner of Mein audl Cherch streets.
Theaters were built in Grass Valley, Nevada City and Burgh su Ready, as soon as the size of the town warranted an enterprise of that kind. Sier that too many a colorimel artur, singer and leturer has entertained the people of the places. Among the many that have been here may be nem tioned The Rodin on Family. The Chapman Family. Las ter Wallach, Edwin Bouth, Julia Deun Hayne, Mr and Mrs Jones Stark, Kate Hayes, The Alleghonians, Etelle Porter, Bayard Taylor, Horace Greeley, MeKenn Buchman, Fanny Davenport, Schuyler Colfax, Mark Twain, James Marshall, the diever of gold at Coloma, and many other people of note
The first Thespian temple in Nevada county was the old Druantie Hall on the northeast corner of Bread and Fine streets, over the story of Davis & Hearst Those gentlemen hel a reading room in the second story of their building, and built an tuldition on the end and converted it into a theater. Room was mule for the wings of the stage by extending joists over l'ine street and on the other side of the building The theater was opened in June, 1851 by the Robinson Family . consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Dr Robinson, Miss Carpenter, Mr. Mestayer, Touch S. Fairchild and a few others. The advent of dramatic entertainments was received with great favor by the miners who had so long bern deprived of the luxury, and they were not disposed to be too exacting as to the quality of the per- formance, giving unstinted apphuse without much regard to merit.
During the summer of 1831 Charles Lovell, assisted by men who had business interests on Main street, built the Jenny Lind Theater at the foot of Main street, projecting over Deer creek The theater was opened November 20, 1851 by the Chapanan Family, who played a successful engagement of several weeks. The troupe contained Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, Miss Chapman, Clara Rivers and Lon Chapman, Charhs Lovell acting in minor parts. The young ladies were about " sweet sixteen." and the gentlemen were about evenly divided in their admiration of their beauty and histrionic talents, and great rivalry existed to
LPF.1 .- MEN & whe the werk
worth it was hats val in the gat fire of His 1"
that mural laval vet not that thes wot blevet
Just bon de tres Iba tin but the hre domen also fait hs have
rt el Frisbie & Hem create In saw the tren the art of t. Mai which was knownin the Nevala The ster It was which pel sool a successful engagement of live work. It wa menpiel every few night is the whole wann In the line that suppe the city in Both the Nevada 'Hester was formed. The Metropolitan Theater was then fault on Main street just also the Union Hotel and was opened September 1, 15inky the L'alfornia Min tres. The great fire of 1SB -aw the last of the Metropolitan Theater, and the city was without a lmilling of that character for more than a year In the winter of Istit's the present Nevada Theater was built by a stock com Imuy, in Broad street above l'ine street
The first theater in Grass Valley was the Alta Theater, un Main street, where Byrne's livery stalde now stands. Here was situated the celebrated Alta saloon, the leading gambling hall and salon in the city in 1501 and 1852 Over this place m 15: Frank Ilministon and S. W Boring fitted upu hal tu In. Byl for dramatic representations The Alta Theater was opened by the well known Robinson Family, and had within it- walls Kate Hays. C'listic's Minstrels, Laster Wallach and Alwin Both as well as many other attractions. The great tire of 1855 included the Alta Theater among its victims. ( Hamilton erected Concert Hall or Hamilton Hall in December, Isas, and it was opwin I to the public May 1, 1555, Imit sue- rumbed to the flames in the great tire of a few months later The present Hamilton Hall on Church street was created by ti. Hamilton in 1555, and has been used for concerts, lecture, theatrical presentations and entertainments generally ever siner, and its walls have echoed the voice of many a celebrated artiste
The North San Juan Theater was built by a stock company in 1861 and was vjuned by a grand ball in August, IStl. The capital stock was 84.000, shares valued at $25, each. The officers of the association were R. H Farquhar, President ; C. H. Hayes, Secretary. Daniel Furth, Treasurer. William H.
TG Sich anl ' Sharlin, Tru tes The theater is A ar irang I bar . on Main street west of the National Hanl t &tomate In l'it all lot nome shares of the tak for it . the Lenl fo P Sunt. worth de onur fit Th deer enel for a daneng lall and chan nte interessent for which purple . it is well in I with
Beach not Ready mit palms dass at least a place for
He lol was walking n tocht a wheeling mi i hen an
of lawsthe spectator Suddenly there was a ne
www. arla lanwny miner joan bawmdo llar f lhe larly tim, muss. If he had to afor up le owulf in the entwick n wareh movement Lown jut if there to catch the falling Veuros Pull upon buchenle. he bel hoot ing through the latter like a pres ales through a payer hoop The fan performer remained French darling upon the rope The man atfired no injury but what a little plater and a few think of whiskey could repair
MADSM VOI TVIL
The first known of her way in Nevada City in It. while she one day arrived on the stage rack " pretty, dink agel. fresh front, and stylish, apparently alot twenty four of the ' Her advent naturally erented n commotion unpng de tough minors, which was nieren ed when he opened a gambling etal. lishment on Broad street and salt the well Frown nun of ringt of an or twenty one. The mostly of a putty wenn dealing at a gambling talde on med the ance of lainter prin, and in a short time she had uma, se considera do eptal Shortly afterward he formed a co-partner lip with co Dass Tiden a profesional gambler, and tom ther they aread a large establishment where he attended to the lar ar gand of fame and kena, and Madam to the smaller, uch a twenty-alle. chuck-a-lick, ate ate The home wa kept afand y and night, and Madam was a great favorite, paying all to , with a smiling counterance and raking in going with the tonal indifference of the true gambler At thi period of her life she commande I not only the admiration lost at o the re part of the miners; and notwithstanding her trange mode of his hier chastity was nuquestiond. Her partnership with Tobin con tinuel one year when he went Eat, and died in New York in 1565, leaving a large fortune.
After this Madam wandered from camp to camp, always gambling and alway a favorite It became a nying among
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152
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
the miners that there was more at faction in
t her than in winving from any one &gr. ou both unfortunet , on, hil mar
tor a take" without putting it che or
informe aver brunch saate and it is related that one il de the ram in which de condutalhren w fill
Han lin, revolver kun ena fre the 'flu las ke per and other trove in vain to avert the in nl / row, when Madmin Dumed, observing their di may quety approachel the noi tof the Grand and lau kindly reproving han and the rest for their un allant contact, uervel Lino aring the room
Among the sporting fraternity he was chiefly admired for her " ru thing " quality. At lon . City Idaho, she succeeded in mai ing a " tike " and opening her Lauk, when every other mulder in the town was stranded for lack of funds. But at last all Inck struck ber, and he succum bed to the common fate of all fast wonen. For a your she reigned in San Francisco as the leader of the domi monde, but the mantle of charity may Well cover this dark taint non her life, in memory of a than- sand art of kinh & inspired by a generous heart, and dealt with unsparing hand.
Once more she returned to the mining camps and having mlua edl everal thousand dollars in gminbling, purchase 1 a fmm, and a few years later married a man in Eastern Nevada, to whom she turned over her real estate, ail remitted all her earnings It had been ler often expressed wish to settle down m a country place, and send her ramining years in quist, but her husband proved to be a worthless scamp, who, having squandered all her earnings, deserted her, and she was driven I need ity again inton disolute life. She obtained her sobri- quot of " Madam Moustache," from the abnormal development of that appendlage in her latter life.
On the morning of September 8, 1879, her dead luuly was found, about two miles south of Bodie, a bottle of prison lying near. Let her many good qualities invoke leniency in eriti- vising her failings.
AN OLD STAGER.
An eccentric genius, named Hugh F. MeDermott, made his appearance on the Cahf inin stage in 1856, and traveled the dramatie orbit of the State like a brilliant meteor, and then vanished from sight. Everywhere he was met by houts of deris'on and a shower of projectiles, that although sometimes perfumed had not the sweet scent of roses. When las appear- pre in Vevala was announced, there was a grand preparation made to give him a reception worthy of his merit.
The night of January 22, 1856, saw the Nevada theater crowded from gallery to pit, each auditor carrying in his band
te tril the intended to pay to the histrionic star. The cur-
fna of the awkward and ungainly figure of the tragedian. M Dra win tl titl rule The entrance of Richard, in the Anna ujen Sothey are's great tragedy of Richard III, with
Wyr ivel with a burt of laughter, and as he proceeded
with h part his voice now swelling into the whoop of a Com-
menche now si king into a broken wail of unutterable despair.
ans wering where p and wails of feline love songs arose from
il comsalad an lience, while the air was darkened, as by the arrows of Xerxes howmen of old, with a flight of spontaneous tributes, such as potatoes, carrots, cabbages, turnips, old clothes, etc., that caused the recipient to make a masterly retreat from the scene of action.
Again he appeared, and as he spoke these memorable lines, " Alal all the clouds that lowered on our house in the deep boom of the ocean buried," indicating his conception of the location of the seas by pointing his long finger at the fattest inn-ician in the orchestra, and emphasizing the sentiment hy stamping his foot with a vehemence that threatened total anni- hilation to every fragile object in the room, he was literally buried under a shower of spontaneous offerings. A printer who had supplied himself with long strips of roller composition, sent them whirling and wriggling upon the stage, where they rolled and coiled like serpents, while from the gallery there flow through the air an innense tin watering-can. The canse of all this devotion extracted himself from his monument of vegetables and retired behind the scenes. Loud and prolonged
intense gratitudle for the warinth of the reception given him by the intelligent citizens of Nevala, which had exceeded that of any city which he had yet visited. He departed amid a shower of " garden truck," that bid fair to bury him alive, and at the critical moment of his exit, a well aimed potato caught him on the car and accelerated his nowise sluggish motions.
And thus the play wore on to the end, and the following day the tragedian bid the city farewell forever.
CHAPTER XLV.
CHURCHES.
Observance of the Sabbath-Religious Services-Organization of Churches- Preaching in: Saloms-Churches of Nevada City-A Sunday Street Scene-The First Church-Grass Valley-First Religious Services in the County-North San Juan-Rough and Ready-Other Places.
Ix the will rush to the El Dorado and in the succeeding scramble for gold. the motto was " Every one for himself," and consistently was it adhered to. Sunday was "as good a day as any other " for gold washing and trade, and to cease from labor on that day was to relinquish the large yield of a day's
work. Men who were of Christian families, members of the
church, worked on the Sabbath as if their lives depended upon their exertions. If there was any acknowledgment of a differ- ence in the days in favor of Sunday, it was the selection of that day for purchasing the week's supplies and for miscella-
nevus lahor. Sunday was the great trading day and the live- liest of the week in a mining camp. Miners from their claims
came into the little canvas and board towns to procure supplies, and then it was that the saloons and gaming tables reaped a harvest of dust. The observance of the Sabbath according to the manner of the times was "a custom more honored in the breach, than the observance," for it consisted chiefly in making it a day of riotous pleasure. Those who ceased labor did so to frequent the saloons and gaming houses and have a good time. It was a grand gala day for them, and it woukl have been infinitely better for them and for the community had they remained in their claims at work.
The saloon was one of the first adjuncts of a town, in fact, it was often the case that the saloon was the nucleus about which the town gathered. It took a smaller population to support a saloon than a trading store, and they sprang up like magie wherever a handful of miners gathered, They were the most attractive spots iu town, were the only places where au attempt at ornamentation was made, and their contrast with the extreme erudeness of their surroundings, their music and good fellowship and the excitement of the gambling drew to them crowds of men who but a few months before would have. felt disgraced by entering their doors.
In every community there were a few who clung tenaciously to their oll faith and customs and observed the Sabbath; but they felt "lonesome." A few missionary preachers soon fol- lowed the tide of emigration, and sought to preach the word of tod where so little heed was paid to it. About these gathered the few straggling Christians, representatives of all the devom- inations, and meetings were held in the streets, under wide- spreading trees, in crude shake shanties and in private cabins. Church organizations were formed of a temporary character, in which the doctrinal differences were laid aside in the effort to stem the tide of immorality and indifference. These were soon followed by the sepirate organization of the strongest denomination, and so on, gradually, until denominations had resolved themselves into their own peculiar organizations, and each had its church and pastor.
The experiences of the pioneer preachers were peculiar and interesting. Everywhere they were treated with respect, and sermons in the street were listened to by crowds of idlers, drawn together by enriosity, and caring but little whether the speaker was a minister or an auctioneer. No insult was offered them and no disturbance created, except, possibly, by an occa- sional drunken man. Ministers went into saloons and gam-
A VIEW ON THE RANCH OF LEWIS HORTON, 320 ACRES, 5 MILES S. W. OF ROUGH S READY, NEVADA CO, CAL.
PUBLISHE BY THOMPSON & WEST.
1 3
HISTOPY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
thing houses and were well received and liter do with restent and attention. In tance were cumde le entered a gambling lon the gan se les covered over the table and stunt not sang a hymn nul woke a few words Pallets is a re fuer taken up for his butit, med to all in church Amma h discur was at enel theh removed from the table and the gift had been no interruption In rireulating sul riten for the creation of houses of won by the sales were not of r hel undl frequently they donated hl-illy
In the successting pages a brief history of the chair man izations is given, arranged by cities mal town
NEVADA CITY
During the summer of IS there were region wie often hold under the spending branche of the trees that howel in the streetsof the new city A scene of this kind is de roland by A. A Sargent in his sketch of Nevada City published in 1856: - " We remember u singular sene in Detaler, Is'at, which illustrates the monsters of the times An ommet evlerter was Hinging his opening hymn to a crowd. A short distance Irlow. un auctioneer was expatinting on the ments of a tale to a mulher audience. A few nak up the street a Swiss girl was turning a hand organ, necompanied by another with a tam- bourine A drunken fellow was attempting " Ankle Lang Syn" in the style of the pencher Sang tên wagner, from Sacramento, were dagen ing their goals at retail in the short street; and the varieties of the day were otherwise embellishend by a savage dog light, that appeared for a few moments to In the greatest attraction "
In the summer of ISO, Mr. Stamps recently Mealde of the town, muud Mr. Lauren, an ex minister were chietly instru- meutul in the killing of a small . hake church, the first house of worship in the city, on the north bull of the lot in w occupied by the Congregational church, on Main street The house was made by mailing shakes num posts driven into the ground, and had no shutter to the doors or windows. The hill retained its natural shape, leaving the floor, or rather ground, of the church somewhat uneven. The house was built by subserip- tion, for the aceunnnodation of the various denominations rep- resented in the city
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
About the middle of August, 1550, Rev. C. A. Leaman, arrived across the plains from Missouri, and was sent from Sacramento la Rev. Isaac Owen, to take charge of the work in this city until he could come up and organize a church. Alout the same time Rev. R. R Dunlap arrived, he was a member of
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1 (Mrcl) S sh
laai an Davil 11 For yo Wi Lathrop anl Sh Prix Lawal Prendere, Mr Redhart Sier Rohy al Ur Wolf Exporter den R Crandall Reg ling Ste ward, OF Some Con- la vler Mr Jzaman reignel his der of the wink and Mr Himlap tile ] the place until Hv \ 11 am of North Carne was appointed by les bare noen, in the fall of Iin The church la I almost twenty meister
The subject of a new house of worship was discret and Mr W's I started a subscription which at the good quarterly nesting Res Isar Uwen carried mound mel serne [ s] (). Desiring to get away from the disturbing nases of the town. the lall and grounds on Broad street nos med as a centers. were selected. The new house, "exit feet was completed at n cost of St 100 ml was dedicated in the summer of 1531 la Hova. M. C. Briggs, S. D. Simonde mol W. Grove Deal. In the fall of 1531 Rev. Adam Band was appointed la the Ammal Conference bring the first regular pastor It was thought that the attendance would lw larger if the house was nearer the town, and the present lot on Broad street was procured, and the house moved upon it, in ISO In the fall of 18:3 Res. J. R. Lanser was appointed, and he had the house moved farther lark on the lot, and an addition of twelve first, a staple and porch with thuted cohummus ad.h.
In the great time of July 19, 1856, the house was burned. A Ik W one was created, which met the same fate in the fire of 1863. By the exertions of Key JJ B. Hill, the paster, a w w church was built in 1864, and in order to free the church from debt Mr Hill relinquishel his salary. The church was dedicated September 10, Istit. In lait a several thousand dollar, were spent in improving the builling The house was rais I, making a vestry below, a large front and a beautiful spire aded, and the seating capacity largely increased. The names of the pastors in charge of the church are: Ress. C. A. Iaman, August 20, 15.30: R. R. Dunlap, October, 1850. I W. Horn. Is50; Adam Bland, 1851; J. R. Tansey, 1553; William Mor- row, 1855; D A Dryden, 1537; A. J. Brunner, 1959; 11. Grove Deal. ISCO: J B Hill, 1562; D. A. Dryden, 1564; C. H Northup, 1867: J W. Stump, 1869; P. L. Haynes, 1872;
Mr W S Ures 1516, John Coule ISTS. J L Mann IST!
In Is'la nl Sunday School was started in the church, in soldes Um pentel by Key & D Simond. The Il has always ten a flourishing one iliary, and is wel alten lel
In the fall of ISS1 Bis T. Bistde, who was sent out
church landings was en teden Proal street In isi u par- w nage was lont in the rem of the church The church nhờ
F. Blythe was return Ita 'la pastorate, but did not verred mi rebuidling the church, and the organization was abandoned The pa tore in charge of the church were Hey & F. lasthe.
Blythe. 1877
Religions services of this denomination were held in Nevada City la Bos Robert Tyler, in This A church was er ania and a loare created on line street, which was dedental ly Bishop 'T M It Ward September 18. 15til The cat of the Building was $1, 60 The first officer of the chanh west
Mr Bailey The pastor in charge of the church has lach Ross Peter Killingworth Mr Williams, William H Hatlenl. Peter Green, Mr. Dores, J. Hamilton, and at present & Anderson. The procent officers me & HI Hawalton b. Ruth, Preston Alexander, Jolm Hick and Lime Sank The fuch membership is ton and no Sunday School i maintained at the present time.
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