tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49406114891903677072024-03-05T09:36:35.391-08:00Yreka HistoryYreka, Siskiyou County, CaliforniaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-15264588459978935252015-12-05T10:45:00.000-08:002015-12-05T10:47:11.486-08:00The Chinese in Yreka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij50I1fbM4Dfv6J7s21A-0TG9YImSAWGU1mSyDiBhThm8QemG7hkQPd2awl_dbRUTWw03CrPhK8NyGXprz2l707af_9Rcg1n-uSP3za_xh3Q61qCtYNOhKjMszs4e8YKhQAvunJJiGCvY/s1600/Yreka+Chinatown+1899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij50I1fbM4Dfv6J7s21A-0TG9YImSAWGU1mSyDiBhThm8QemG7hkQPd2awl_dbRUTWw03CrPhK8NyGXprz2l707af_9Rcg1n-uSP3za_xh3Q61qCtYNOhKjMszs4e8YKhQAvunJJiGCvY/s320/Yreka+Chinatown+1899.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Yreka's Chinatown, circa 1899.</i><br />
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The first Chinese to arrive in Yreka came in 1853. They came to the west because in their own
Kwang Tung Province in Southern China (today known as Guangdong, which
essentially surrounds modern day Hong Kong) civil strife and crop failure
caused many to immigrate to California with one of six major Chinese Companies,
essentially as indentured servants. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The <i>New York Daily Times</i> on June 28, 1853
(page 3) likely reprinted an article from one of our more local papers,
stated: “It was a shocking arrival this
day in June when 35 Chinamen arrived here in Yreka. They are the first of this kind who have made
their appearance here, and their arrival created quite an excitement in
town. The Chinamen promptly tendered the
amount of the foreign miner’s tax, but no officer was authorized to receive
it. There was great discussion of what
to do among the men present, and after quite some discussion they were
permitted to remain.” Between 1860 and
1870 the Chinese population doubled in Siskiyou County to 1,176 persons ~ but
was likely higher as women weren’t always counted in the census at that time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Chinese
in Yreka did not have an easy life. At
first attitudes towards them were tolerant, but once it became apparent that
they were not going to purchase many American made goods and better the local
shopkeepers pocketbooks as well as embracing their different customs and
lifestyles, attitudes against them hardened.
The majority of the Chinese worked in mining, while the older or less
physically able may have worked as cooks, washers, or as Chinese shopkeepers
selling goods largely from China.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There were
3 different “Chinatown’s” in Yreka over the years. The first area settled by the Chinese was on
the south side of the 500 Block of West Miner Street, but many of them moved
from that location by 1868. Many
merchants discouraged them from being on Miner Street as they were reported to
live in “shacks” that caught fire easily, and had poor sanitary conditions,
especially the laundry houses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><i>The Joss House in Yreka's Chinatown</i> </o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30WdE9Jwcf2UQkY7zjDkwfxUCG8ZADrVdETf4tQzJ1ymWiHwdcFEPmiOs5kM1BuFItVTB_bZdyG_Augln1ZRUVM-rD4kMVBB4aUu0bloHHwnqfU-Vg-TWKNV_ztom-_6zdni8bkCs-Q0/s1600/Chinese+Joss+House+Yreka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30WdE9Jwcf2UQkY7zjDkwfxUCG8ZADrVdETf4tQzJ1ymWiHwdcFEPmiOs5kM1BuFItVTB_bZdyG_Augln1ZRUVM-rD4kMVBB4aUu0bloHHwnqfU-Vg-TWKNV_ztom-_6zdni8bkCs-Q0/s320/Chinese+Joss+House+Yreka.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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The second
location of Yreka’s “Chinatown” and likely the longest residency was along Main
Street which was on both sides of the street from Center to Miner about half
way up the block. Their stores would
have stopped just short of the location where the Rex Club is today at 111
South Main Street, Yreka. In 1871 a
great fire devastated Yreka and a great deal of the business section of town
burned, including the Chinese section.
They went to work and rebuilt right away, this time many buildings were
rebuilt with brick. Misfortune came to
the Chinese again when in 1886 the Main Street Chinatown was once again
consumed by fire. A “citizens meeting”
followed immediately on the heels of this fire and a new Chinatown was created
across Yreka Creek on what was then the far east end of Center Street. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In less
than 5 years at the third Chinatown location, tragedy struck again. The hard winter of 1889-90 followed by warm
rains caused massive flooding in Yreka Creek and throughout the county. The vast majority of Chinatown was literally
washed downstream. By 1900 there were
only 4 or 5 Chinese stores that operated within a total of 14 buildings
occupied by the Chinese settlers. Today
there is nothing left of the last “Chinatown” in Yreka, when Interstate 5 was
created it essentially was built right over the top of the remains of Chinatown
at the central exit. While there were no
buildings left by the time the freeway was constructed, some archaeological
digs were performed in the area.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are
many local stories and lore regarding the Chinese here in Yreka, for further
information one can contact either Yreka Preservation or the Siskiyou County
Historical Society. Information for this
article was found largely from the Meamber Research Files located at Yreka
Preservation as well as some information from an article by the former Museum
Director, Mike Hendryx as well as the 1990 edition of the Siskiyou Pioneer
published by the Siskiyou County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright: Claudia East, 2015</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3Yreka, CA, USA41.7354186 -122.6344708000000341.6406161 -122.79583230000003 41.8302211 -122.47310930000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-14729741521326769842015-09-15T16:00:00.000-07:002015-09-15T16:20:08.991-07:00Preservation Square and former St. Mark's Episcopal Church<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yrfFxa6Pa9oikm3RARfQMNh0z6zZNf0H_uqiwprOgKo0W1VupCywqnUY6OWs6XEOx2fmfqFJGvs5jZsPsqc-YeJmKKXNoB8G06Vhgcxc1Kjxk-kph7YNM9mt8_eJzoHE7I0lQDECRwo/s1600/Yreka+Preservation+photo+of+facility+framed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yrfFxa6Pa9oikm3RARfQMNh0z6zZNf0H_uqiwprOgKo0W1VupCywqnUY6OWs6XEOx2fmfqFJGvs5jZsPsqc-YeJmKKXNoB8G06Vhgcxc1Kjxk-kph7YNM9mt8_eJzoHE7I0lQDECRwo/s320/Yreka+Preservation+photo+of+facility+framed.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The charming former church building sitting at the corner of
Lane and Fourth Streets in Yreka is one of the most iconic buildings in
town! This wonderful landmark sits on
the corner just across from the Siskiyou County Courthouse Square. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt824lajbksC_DTTBRDtX0AzwEK6GHHRZ5QiD7CGAbj-r1iO2xFfRA0gkEI6ukfJ47sB5D4lExTJvShrSIPUSDZoPX2NCu37GZBqVsKI1dCBfmBzizdK1wAopdxRhCiM_78xQ6ZNsN0E/s1600/The+interior+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt824lajbksC_DTTBRDtX0AzwEK6GHHRZ5QiD7CGAbj-r1iO2xFfRA0gkEI6ukfJ47sB5D4lExTJvShrSIPUSDZoPX2NCu37GZBqVsKI1dCBfmBzizdK1wAopdxRhCiM_78xQ6ZNsN0E/s200/The+interior+roof.jpg" width="138" /></a> In July of
1876 the first Episcopal congregation met at the original courthouse to form
and held the name as St. Paul’s Mission.
However, in less than a month the Church of St. Laurence was
incorporated to serve the community. Within
same month (July) of 1876 the lot at the corner of Fourth and Lane was
purchased for $200 for the purpose of building a church. This lot was the former site of the old
Metropolitan Hotel which is believed to have burned in the 1871 devastating
fire that hit Yreka. Within a couple of
months the parishioners instituted a plan for the building and the original
plans were suggested for a brick structure. However it was in 1880 when the building we
see today was built. Reports from
historical papers indicate that building began on the 15<sup>th</sup> of May,
1880. The first church services were
held in the church on January 30, 1881. The
original price tag of the building and furnishings for the church was
$3,100. A marine architect constructed
the church and the roof is supported by what looks like an upside down sailing
ship hull under the outside roof line and shingles. The roof is made of 2 x 10
tongue and groove planks and is carried on seven arches to which equivalent
rafters are fastened to form the peak.
The bracing of the rafters on the arches is much the same as that used
when bracing the hull of an 1850 sailing ship.
The heavy work of the structure is bound together with wooden pegs. This
building was definitely made to last, the exterior of the roof originally had a
“striped” design (similar to what we see today) in the shingles and these
original shingles served the church for 67 years and were made of sugar
pine. The first time the church building
was “re-roofed” was in 1947. The walls
of the building are constructed of boards and batten, and the walls are also made
of 2 by 10 tongue and groove pine. In
1881 the windows were covered with fancy oiled paper, which was reported to
have looked even “better” and more “ornamental” than stained glass. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDUXZSalUtc4hN7iwFcHl7IZuCYfXYYfwiBbNg8Ml5mZTDtGq27YgwkQb4htumAMHnHHzyZzKUNd8i-JSlE3aFN2JTvYFbGwgVhnauZ-bZMCkQAyFlqcpHxRHAFpXPsdHRM1q53BCSWA/s1600/Early+St+Marks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDUXZSalUtc4hN7iwFcHl7IZuCYfXYYfwiBbNg8Ml5mZTDtGq27YgwkQb4htumAMHnHHzyZzKUNd8i-JSlE3aFN2JTvYFbGwgVhnauZ-bZMCkQAyFlqcpHxRHAFpXPsdHRM1q53BCSWA/s200/Early+St+Marks.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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In 1885 St.
Laurence was renamed St. Mark’s and consecrated in June of that year. The church was “out of debt” and paid for,
and this was the cause for celebration and change. The next year a new bell was hung at St.
Mark’s and this original bell weighed 350 pounds. Unfortunately in 1900 the bell at St. Mark’s
fell and had to be replaced. In 1915 St.
Mark’s exchanged their bell for a heavier bell that hung at St. Barnabas in
Dunsmuir. This bell is still hanging in
the bell tower today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On January
25, 1962 it was the annual church dinner and business meeting…but at 10:00 a.m.
fire was discovered when smoke began billowing through the roof. It had been zero and sub-zero weather and one
of the oil stoves had been left burning on low to keep pipes from
freezing. Following this devastating
fire the insurance company called the building a total loss. In the end the parishioners decided they
would salvage all they could and rebuild the church. It was the interior that was the total loss
and was replaced, but the exterior survived.
Today the interior is the replacement interior that was created, but the
exterior is the same as it was in 1880.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVvZCLkez4SdLxQmpW9FSpiABAyMDFXBNS7ZcKokC2bKb9v6g51Osvc5_-nkFuR7gcZfYui0sxWKjDq_vHdxOdSiSke06G-7m0eI9JMO8uTM1NN7pFhnr8ozDA6ZwxdA9jEFjq_8spEQ/s1600/Church+on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVvZCLkez4SdLxQmpW9FSpiABAyMDFXBNS7ZcKokC2bKb9v6g51Osvc5_-nkFuR7gcZfYui0sxWKjDq_vHdxOdSiSke06G-7m0eI9JMO8uTM1NN7pFhnr8ozDA6ZwxdA9jEFjq_8spEQ/s200/Church+on+fire.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
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On August
20, 2010 it was with great sadness the congregation voted to close the long
lived St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, a number of reasons were considered in this
difficult decision including the economy, lack of interest, and an ageing
population. It was on January 1, 2011
that St. Mark’s Episcopal Church closed their doors and ended a legacy of
service to Yreka. But it wasn’t the end
of life for this beautiful little building…<o:p></o:p></div>
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In June of
2011 title of the property including the church building, the patio area, the
brick block building in the back, and the former Victorian rectory that sits at
the side was transferred to the Yreka (Historic) Preservation Corporation. It is the goal of Yreka Preservation to
utilize the buildings in positive ways for the community and preserve the
building to the best of their ability. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today
Preservation Square provides a venue for a wide variety of opportunities; the
building has been used for weddings, social events, meetings, musical events,
parties, lectures, films, etc. The
building is offered for rent to the community at low cost and the funds raised go
toward maintaining the property. The
building is available to tour with prior arrangements with <a href="http://www.yrekapreservation.org/" target="_blank">Yreka Preservation</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">Copyright: Claudia East, 2008.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-22069754609354753362015-07-10T12:42:00.003-07:002015-07-10T13:01:03.449-07:00The Baldwin Block ~ Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoUB-laFfEoHMDhn7EXV6A7BOINfrT67_vCahZPNLW-HLXGA9fKfijlM8q3udZwbgGquk-Rj2ph7trXThPom5hmAwPQRFh1TuFce04dTgZrCD8oC-SIVHaoIvzMWgTSz7qYNMbYGjhyphenhyphenk/s1600/Baldwin+Block+about+1955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoUB-laFfEoHMDhn7EXV6A7BOINfrT67_vCahZPNLW-HLXGA9fKfijlM8q3udZwbgGquk-Rj2ph7trXThPom5hmAwPQRFh1TuFce04dTgZrCD8oC-SIVHaoIvzMWgTSz7qYNMbYGjhyphenhyphenk/s400/Baldwin+Block+about+1955.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is an article that originally appeared in the February/March
1984 edition of the Yreka Echoes Newsletter.
The article was originally written by Hazel Fiock Ohlund. Copyright by Yreka (Historic)
Preservation. Reprinted by permission.
Please note some of the businesses are no longer at the locations
mentioned. [Part 1 can be found in the
previous blog article.]<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Below is Part 2 of the article:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1904 the Walker-Avery Drug moved across the street
from the Baldwin Block, and in 1905 was replaced by W. H. Smith’s General
Merchandise Store which featured heavy clothing and hardware items. (Mr. Smith had purchased Shone’s secondhand
store on Main Street when he closed out in 1904.) Mr. Smith carried, also, furniture, carpets,
crockery, upholstery goods, picture frames, bicycles, groceries and meat. During the year the store building was sold
by the Julien family to Miles Buckner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1908 a barber shop was in operation here, followed by Mrs. McCormick who
operated a needle-craft shop. In 1913 the
business was purchased by Mrs. Nettie (Davidson) McGill and Miss Hattie
Davidson (aunts of Mrs. Gladys Zolskey of Yreka). They expanded the business to include ladies
clothing. In 1937 Hattie Davidson became
the sole owner of the business and building, operating it until 1950. She lived in a three-room apartment upstairs
in back of the store. A fire damaged a
part of the apartment and the back of the store, but she renovated and continued
in business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> When
Miss Davidson bought the building in 1937, she had a partition built on the
west side of the store, making a small ten-foot room that she rented to the
Western Union, which was managed by Arthur Zolskey for thirty-two years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Wes and Ellen McMillan bought the
building from Miss Davidson’s brother, William, on March 16, 1950 and opened a
Westinghouse appliance sales and service store.
They too, lived in the apartment in the back and rented the smaller room
to the west. Homer Atchley, a realtor,
had an office here until his death in 1973. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;">After the McMillan's retired they rented the store to
Mrs. Ray Taylor who operated a health food store until 1965, when Ohlund’s
Office Supply moved in after the </span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Warren</st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 125%;">’s
Building fire, where they were previously renting.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Ohlund’s
established the office machine service department in the former apartment. In 1973 Bob and Hazel Ohlund bought the
building, lowered the ceiling, redecorated and removed the partition that
separated Homer Atchley’s office, to allow for expansion and accommodate more
office furniture, machines, and inventory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The following is an “updated addendum” from 1984:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Ohlund’s
at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">204-206 W. Miner Street</st1:address></st1:street>
is the largest and most complete office equipment and supply store in <st1:place w:st="on">Northern California</st1:place>.
Prompt attention is given to the repair of office machines by their
pleasant repairmen, Glen Goodwin, and his son, Glen, Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FbthejTvJbWZJ-F1uZJkyZqeeK1ASvtYN2aEI7HZ9i209eA_nyXRbxjXj750J1B4pVmeA0H-X0Xx3IPXGFkibXLiDM-sRqfF34eMNSRo5MoSaUvplKdpbfPoF4kl76D-fbAbB6cp-m0/s1600/Yreka+West+Miner+March+2009+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FbthejTvJbWZJ-F1uZJkyZqeeK1ASvtYN2aEI7HZ9i209eA_nyXRbxjXj750J1B4pVmeA0H-X0Xx3IPXGFkibXLiDM-sRqfF34eMNSRo5MoSaUvplKdpbfPoF4kl76D-fbAbB6cp-m0/s200/Yreka+West+Miner+March+2009+018.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Ohlund’s
has been in business for 24 years, having purchased a small office supply store
from Albert Parrott at 112 South Broadway in 1960. They moved across the street to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Warrens</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Building</st1:placename></st1:place> in 1962, and after the fire of
1966, settled in at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">204 W. Miner
Street</st1:address></st1:street>.
Hazel and Bob’s son, Barry, became a partner in 1977.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> They
have six permanent employees, and two more part-time. Products are full lines of bond copiers,
electronic typewriters, calculators, cash registers, office furniture, general
office supplies, and a service
department trained in all modern phases of electronic technology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Since
the update in 1984 many changes have come and gone with the Baldwin Block. Today, in 2015 one will find the Miner Street Meat Market, Ohlund's Office Supply, and Dinner's Ready. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0204 West Miner Street, Yreka, CA 96097, USA41.7319494 -122.636420816.209914899999998 -163.9450148 67.2539839 -81.3278268tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-30157553937845133772015-07-07T17:25:00.000-07:002015-07-07T17:25:39.312-07:00The Baldwin Block, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyOR3DaK1y7mz3I7ug1Ln28RpCrJsGI3vn21BJih9Uvi1jEmm-t5LhQ3ZnG4_ptORAhjETxJAyV5TkJAAHBugFZjAaBoFZHhD0iio74RKGlqtP7gg3Se9VbM7PGKB9zhh5D00b6QIKxo/s1600/Baldwin+Block+about+1915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyOR3DaK1y7mz3I7ug1Ln28RpCrJsGI3vn21BJih9Uvi1jEmm-t5LhQ3ZnG4_ptORAhjETxJAyV5TkJAAHBugFZjAaBoFZHhD0iio74RKGlqtP7gg3Se9VbM7PGKB9zhh5D00b6QIKxo/s400/Baldwin+Block+about+1915.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>The article below is copyrighted by Yreka (Historic) Preservation and reprinted by permission. It originally appeared in the February/March 1984 edition of Yreka Echoes Newsletter. Please note some of the businesses are no longer at the locations mentioned.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An eventful year in our historic past was 1871, when a fire ravaged nearly
one-third of the town of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Yreka</st1:place></st1:city>. The fire started in a Chinese wash house west
of Second Street (Broadway), pinpointed by the old-timers as approximately
where the Yreka Flower Shop is now, 208 West Miner Street, and in one hour’s
time left the town in ruins due to shifting winds carrying the fire from street
to street. It was ten years before
rebuilding began on what became known as the Baldwin Block, where Ohlund’s
Office Supply and the Miner Street Meat Market now resides. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1881 contractors J. W. Riddle and
Al Smith began construction on the building for Mrs. W. I. Nichols, whose
father was Rev. J. T. Baldwin, a Presbyterian minister and graduate of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Princeton</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> in the class of 1823. Her husband was a local attorney.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The building was a large 100 by
80-foot brick structure, with a space in back designed for offices or sleeping
rooms. Work progressed slowly, since
they worked through the winter and mortar and plastered walls did not dry well
due to freezing temperatures. An
outstanding feature of building in that era was the substantial board walks
constructed in front of the building; and the basements were large and well
drained by deep sewers running into Yreka Creek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The first business to open where
Ohlund’s Office Supply is now located was a saloon. On June 3, 1882 the Portuguese Billiard
Saloon opened its doors for business, operated by Frank Roberts and A. S.
Oliver. They spared no effort or expense
in making it one of the “handsomest” places of “public resort” in the
country. The bar, made by Mr. Oliver,
was located on the east side of the saloon and a shooting gallery, at 25¢ for
six shots, attracted local sportsmen on the west side. A <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>
pool table was the center focal point.
Quoting from the <i>Yreka Journal </i>of June 3, 1882: “No boys under 18
permitted as a preventive of becoming a hoodlum resort.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The building was sold by Mrs.
Nichols (Jennie T. Nichols) to N. B. Julien October 20, 1882 for the sum of
$5,084.50, and in 1885 the saloon was known as the Roberts Saloon. By 1892 the building was being used as a
sample room for the Clarendon Hotel across the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> A new steel roof was put on the
entire Baldwin Block in 1899 by Mr. Julien, the owner, who hired Iunker
Brothers to cover the 9,000 square foot space.
New chimneys were made, and new skylights coated with iron
sheeting. The rear portion above the
brick wall was covered with iron to make the block as near fireproof as
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The Walker-Avery Drug Store was the
next business in this location.
Extensive improvements were made before the proprietors occupied the
store in May, 1900, which made the store “the most beautiful, modern building north
of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:city>.” A new façade was erected with a plate glass
front and two doors, and a beautifully refurbished interior. Quoting the <i>Yreka Journal </i>of May 26,
1903, “C. W. Avery has a cozy and neat arbor or tent in the center of his drug
store, where partees [sic] can enjoy refreshments during warm days in the way
of ice cream, ice cream soda, and various kinds of temperance beverages.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Look for Part 2 of this article in the next blog post...<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0200 West Miner Street, Yreka, CA 96097, USA41.7320271 -122.636193316.209992600000003 -163.9447873 67.2540616 -81.3275993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-41935637219845587562015-01-18T23:05:00.001-08:002015-01-18T23:05:08.861-08:00The King and White Building<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
231 Miner Street, Yreka, CA</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The building that sits on
the corner of Miner and Fourth Streets today was built while Yreka
was in its early boom days. Records show that it was in use as early
as 1854. The locally well known 1858 hand drawn map and layout of
Yreka shows the King and White building, and by 1855 the Yreka
Journal was printing notices and advertisements for the King and
White building. They sold paint, oil, glass crockery, glassware,
harnesses, spurs, bridles and a wide variety of merchandise. It was
lauded as the “fireproof” brick building at the corner of Miner
and Fourth Streets.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7cimpnHXmLgXarjeRyBfI2LkOmQLy1yWUslIW9s_8sGk0XQ9AZ2vJQlddO1aL2yZ3fkIUnaiBbd9S6e0JcVFoKnmeGc65TBJ-pHv72jbF0nsS3ooWgYGCn1ks4-X30UvbHWMeDviCAo/s1600/King+and+White+Building+1858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7cimpnHXmLgXarjeRyBfI2LkOmQLy1yWUslIW9s_8sGk0XQ9AZ2vJQlddO1aL2yZ3fkIUnaiBbd9S6e0JcVFoKnmeGc65TBJ-pHv72jbF0nsS3ooWgYGCn1ks4-X30UvbHWMeDviCAo/s1600/King+and+White+Building+1858.jpg" height="186" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
During the 1860's the
address for this building was known to be 40 Miner Street. In 1871
during the “Great Conflagration” of July 4, this building was
partially burned and obliterated a wood building that was built at
the rear of the store along Fourth Street. The total loss of
buildings and goods was valued at $3,000. Within two months time the
owner was bringing rock and brick for an “addition” to the
building to be built at the back section to replace the wooden
section that had been burned.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDqmp8_Qjz0D7EQcxa1UkETuqCN6sjw5603VKRqEBzdpozaBIcP-OR5JoUiYD9ElX1okZ6ipqJbMuZ-ikN2qOkotKlm66JJaUMYlkUGRKBV8bf-WIgmNizIDfn4B614xbFxUP4ufoQ7U/s1600/Churchills+Drug+Store+Interior+circa+1900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDqmp8_Qjz0D7EQcxa1UkETuqCN6sjw5603VKRqEBzdpozaBIcP-OR5JoUiYD9ElX1okZ6ipqJbMuZ-ikN2qOkotKlm66JJaUMYlkUGRKBV8bf-WIgmNizIDfn4B614xbFxUP4ufoQ7U/s1600/Churchills+Drug+Store+Interior+circa+1900.jpg" height="128" width="200" /></a> In 1896 it was announced
that the Bee Hive (a general store) would occupy this building, owned
by R. H. DeWitt. Mr. DeWitt partially remodeled the building by
putting in a new plate glass front. The Bee Hive was in this
location only a few years, when in <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">1898
</span>DeWitt and Peters built a new much larger building at the
corner of Miner and Oregon Streets. The structure is still standing
today, and is known as the Elks Lodge. In 1898 Churchill and Son
purchased this building and did much more renovation to the building.
In March of 1898 the Yreka Journal reported: “Mr. Churchill has
overhauled the Old King Store recently vacated by the Bee Hive. The
inside is about all torn out, and a new front wall to hold two large
plate glass windows is being constructed. A new ceiling is being
built on the interior.” This new store carried a variety of goods
in addition to drugs. They advertised as being Druggists,
Booksellers, Stationers, and offering Kodaks and complete
photographic Supplies, Candy, Molasses, Maple Syrup and Wall Paper.
The Churchills carried on their business at this location until 1916
when it was purchased by Frank Ackerman, the manager of the store for
Mr. Churchill. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Ackerman Drug Store
operated here until 1932 when it was sold to Maguire and Greene who
also operated a Drug Store here. The Maguire and Greene Drug Store
operated until 1976 when the store was closed.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
From about 1856 until the
early 1930's there was another structure to the West. It actually
made Fourth Street very narrow, jutting out into the street. This
was the former Pashburg Building. Eventually the building was torn
down and Fourth Street was widened to what we see today.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpWfJ2ewj2xd9bsmCUUk09SqFun8sOFBfT6F7tab3NfJxHZsz6SqJU9K50mIZHdeA9i2ENZIRZ4mrQljFgELlHRPwKGGwogFnnUMnwc5mKVaZIoMjLUIJWaOyzOYMFNZstH1oLbuyGQk/s1600/Churchills+and+Pashburgs+Stores.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpWfJ2ewj2xd9bsmCUUk09SqFun8sOFBfT6F7tab3NfJxHZsz6SqJU9K50mIZHdeA9i2ENZIRZ4mrQljFgELlHRPwKGGwogFnnUMnwc5mKVaZIoMjLUIJWaOyzOYMFNZstH1oLbuyGQk/s1600/Churchills+and+Pashburgs+Stores.jpg" height="146" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Source of information: From
the files of Yreka Preservation contributed articles and information
by Donald Carey, Harland McDonald, and Archie Noonan.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1231 West Miner Street, Yreka, CA 96097, USA41.731692 -122.6372969999999916.209657500000002 -163.945891 67.2537265 -81.32870299999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-14822789653811009672014-11-08T08:15:00.000-08:002015-10-22T18:10:46.204-07:00Yreka Trade Tokens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vVin2UzzEBFh0MwysWRWEKY-db_bo8-qeTgE2IGFHv8R2aJXMppFmtahWaF7Z8fd_YpjULJ76v-Meil90dTRVgEz4BRXbETUtubnEHrTJb9ADKGyUraVCAph-jgTX_PATjLT-ScccLE/s1600/Con+Browns+token+both+sides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vVin2UzzEBFh0MwysWRWEKY-db_bo8-qeTgE2IGFHv8R2aJXMppFmtahWaF7Z8fd_YpjULJ76v-Meil90dTRVgEz4BRXbETUtubnEHrTJb9ADKGyUraVCAph-jgTX_PATjLT-ScccLE/s1600/Con+Browns+token+both+sides.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many kinds of “tokens” that folks collect and even
use today, or remember from only a few years back. There are token coin types that have been
used for trade, advertising, currency, slot and game machines, car washes, transit
tokens, etc. Typically it is understood
that coins are known to be issued by a governmental agency while tokens have a
limited use and often issued by a company, organization or even an
individual. Tokens have been made of the
less expensive metals (such as copper, tin, brass) or even leather, porcelain,
wood and other materials.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Throughout
history it appears that tokens often were used when there was a coin shortage,
whether it is a geographical shortage because of distance and shipping, or when
a particular metal was in demand elsewhere.
At other times they have simply been used as a unique item for
advertising or to garner interest! Back
in 1880 merchants in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United
States</st1:country-region> were widely using trade tokens for a
variety of reasons. When a customer made
a purchase at their place of business, often times they were given a token in
return. Many times the tokens were for
specific items, for example, “Good for 1 drink” at a particular saloon, or
perhaps “Good for 5¢ in Trade” or other small denominations. Tokens usually had the name of the business
and city or town on one side, and the “good for” notation on the other. Tokens of this type would have only been used
at one place of business. More current
tokens folks may remember as “wooden nickels” where they were often used for a
cup of coffee, or an anniversary memento.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSfEA9BK8nW8GJTstLfO2R_OwPhpmyJUBUjc17wzBxlULuXUlBT_74As5GwJQG65xq0pY48L7bxbFJzDBRzt215sJKLr8EoN0wbvUATPjBblp_e2c6DS9AyF2r6GIMIwlhjPJIEfMLU4/s1600/Sambos+token.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSfEA9BK8nW8GJTstLfO2R_OwPhpmyJUBUjc17wzBxlULuXUlBT_74As5GwJQG65xq0pY48L7bxbFJzDBRzt215sJKLr8EoN0wbvUATPjBblp_e2c6DS9AyF2r6GIMIwlhjPJIEfMLU4/s1600/Sambos+token.JPG" width="198" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tokens of
various types have been actively collected by many folks, for Yreka there are a
number of tokens that have been used throughout the years, but often the more
“interesting” ones are the tokens of yesteryear. They give us a peek into the past often
naming a place we never knew existed! Some
of the tokens are quite rare! Some of
the businesses in Yreka that have issued tokens in the more distant past are: Bella Union Saloon, Yreka Cigar Store, Our
House Billiard Parlor, Rex Club, The Office Saloon, C. Allen Bath Token, The
Bee Hive, The Dew Drop, Franco American Hotel meal token, Melody Mart and Con
Brown’s. In the past 30 years we have
seen other Yreka tokens issued from:
TJ’s, Jerry’s Car Wash, Soft Spray Car Wash, Sambo’s Restaurant, Burger
King, and an anniversary token for the National Historic District.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are
probably many other businesses that have issued tokens here in Yreka, and to
our knowledge there currently isn't a comprehensive display of Yreka tokens
anywhere to be found. It would be a fun
collection to view!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3e1IzlO9hyphenhypheni8T4VaVl376RMBmfM0mhSVl2g9pss2TMzK6-zRWCm8nPeB7r8qSJJzvybEI-3eTanVD4tuDVjDoAfMLmhMlcvuim3HVOdso9MEav2_KC9GVhZuu5QVLPKb-cFa5J-aCZA/s1600/Bella+Union+Saloon+token+both+sides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3e1IzlO9hyphenhypheni8T4VaVl376RMBmfM0mhSVl2g9pss2TMzK6-zRWCm8nPeB7r8qSJJzvybEI-3eTanVD4tuDVjDoAfMLmhMlcvuim3HVOdso9MEav2_KC9GVhZuu5QVLPKb-cFa5J-aCZA/s1600/Bella+Union+Saloon+token+both+sides.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Copyright: Claudia East, 2014</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-20049140181982939872014-06-06T18:14:00.000-07:002014-06-06T18:16:54.052-07:00Greenhorn<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9z3ry0v_bhA2qrHiaHaZBcjkA73LivDhzxLTICMtCbKw5dW9LvbR2JgVaRmSp8MvvRil6SxWcmviOlh4UhiYwt600jZ7yZeUwBTn79RBbl_jm5TB1tXwoZldqR5QzPTM13EOfXBA5NQ/s1600/Greenhorn+saw+mill+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9z3ry0v_bhA2qrHiaHaZBcjkA73LivDhzxLTICMtCbKw5dW9LvbR2JgVaRmSp8MvvRil6SxWcmviOlh4UhiYwt600jZ7yZeUwBTn79RBbl_jm5TB1tXwoZldqR5QzPTM13EOfXBA5NQ/s1600/Greenhorn+saw+mill+2.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenhorn Sawmill, photo courtesy Siskiyou County Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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By Claudia East<br />
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The term “greenhorn” when used as a noun is defined by the
dictionary as an untrained or inexperienced person, a naïve or gullible person;
someone easily tricked or swindled, and also as a newly arrived immigrant or
newcomer. So, where does that fall in
the category of Yreka History? Locals
know of our delightful <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Greenhorn</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> and Greenhorn Creek,
situated just south and to the west of the most heavily populated part of
town. There is quite a bit of local lore
written about “greenhorn”, but most of the stories are similar in nature. One of the early records of Greenhorn is from
Well’s History of Siskiyou where he explains that the creek was called Race
Creek in the early days because as soon as gold was discovered at Thompson’s
Dry Diggings (Yreka) people started looking frantically everywhere along nearby
creeks, the one we know today was called Race Creek in the early days because
folks “raced” to get there to search for gold.</div>
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So, how did
Greenhorn come to bear its name? As the
story goes that little, if anything, was found along Race Creek and was soon
abandoned by the miners. One day a new
arrival, perhaps an Englishman, came to town and asked where he could find a
good place to mine for gold as he was ready to find his fortune. The miners, thought they would put “one over”
on this “greenhorn” and sent him up Race Creek to dig fully believing he
wouldn't find anything. As he began to
work the area along the creek the local miners continued to enjoy their joke on
this newcomer. To perpetuate the joke,
they began to call it Greenhorn Creek.
The joke, however, turned out to be on the miners, as he mined over
$7,000 in gold in only a few days! As
soon as the word was out, the Greenhorn rush was on; miners quickly wanted to
make their own claims along the five mile stretch of the creek. During the years the area was mined, over $11
million in gold was mined from this area.
Greenhorn was one of the best producers of gold in the county from 1850
on. The area was even dredged in later
years until high bedrock was hit and the dredge could no longer be floated.</div>
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While the
creek was producing gold, however, like many other places throughout the county
a small little town came into being and was even given a voting precinct of its
own. At one time (circa 1870 – 1881) it
had a little general store, a tannery, a glove factory and small furniture
factory, and sawmill. There was also a
small schoolhouse established in 1859.
Today all vestiges of the former town are gone except the Greenhorn
Schoolhouse located near the south entrance to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Greenhorn</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>;
the original school building is long gone and the little red schoolhouse we see
today was built sometime before 1935 but replaced the original building. The location of the schoolhouse is not in
the original position, reported to have been moved between 1947 and 1957; it
was originally located near the confluence of Greenhorn and Yreka Creek. This may have been somewhere near where the
interstate crosses today.</div>
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There is a
lot of history in this small area near Yreka, there was even an event called
the Greenhorn War that initiated over water rights for mining. Today, the Greenhorn Creek as it was seen 150
years ago looks very different today, instead of miners and a sawmill we have a
beautiful park, lovely trails, and a lake that is home to many birds and
animals. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright: Claudia East</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-32799504767277469572014-05-18T16:40:00.000-07:002014-05-18T16:40:21.510-07:00Deadwood and Yreka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAXUaCTAL9utud-M-8ukwMD6GNQzOKUxAIOEgkxa1upFuj9ZXvroAiiRix_OQRgyibiwBXFO5Kl0gI7FaHGGI1ZVMTMInwC68YwD0KIh18Sdeb6ggW9wd-UuQXN0XiqcBh-yZyLUCUkA/s1600/Deadwood+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAXUaCTAL9utud-M-8ukwMD6GNQzOKUxAIOEgkxa1upFuj9ZXvroAiiRix_OQRgyibiwBXFO5Kl0gI7FaHGGI1ZVMTMInwC68YwD0KIh18Sdeb6ggW9wd-UuQXN0XiqcBh-yZyLUCUkA/s1600/Deadwood+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Yreka vs. Deadwood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>The Fight for the County Seat</h4>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p>By Claudia East</div>
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It had been a little over a year from the discovery of gold
in 1851 on the flats that that Yreka had grown to over 2,000 inhabitants. <st1:placename w:st="on">Siskiyou</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> was formed in March of 1852
from parts of Shasta and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Klamath</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Counties</st1:placetype></st1:place> and was named
after the Siskiyou Mountain Range. It
wasn't long before a county seat needed to be determined for this new <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">county</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">California</st1:placename></st1:place>. At the time there were two towns vying for
the title; that of Yreka and neighboring Deadwood which was second only to
Yreka in population and was located over Greenhorn down towards the Ft. <st1:placename w:st="on">Jones</st1:placename> area near McAdams Creek. </div>
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Deadwood
was one of the most important business centers in the county; it was a mining
town as well and had three stores, two hotels, a drug store, a butcher shop,
three saloons, a bakery, two stables and a dairy. The first bank to ever open in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Siskiyou</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> was opened in Deadwood according
to historical writings. Many well known
local pioneers had businesses in Deadwood and among them were A. B. Carlock,
Daniel Ream and M. Rosenberg. </div>
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Early Yreka
was also vibrant with stores, a stage office, brewery, hotels, meat market,
hardware store, blacksmith, barbershop, saloons, a church and other places of
business. Unlike Deadwood, Yreka also
had permanent residences while most of the miners in the Deadwood area lived in
tents and shacks or at the boarding houses.
</div>
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When it
came time to choose a County Seat the competition between the two towns was
fierce. It was not readily predictable who
would win as it was a large county and folks would have to travel many miles
from one part of the county to the other to actually visit the County Seat and
take care of government matters, many of them relating to property ownership,
court matters and the like. A story from
a local newspaper following the county convention to elect a county seat
reported the following:</div>
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<i>The people have spoken, and Yreka has been
voted to hold the title of County Seat for the newly formed <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Siskiyou</st1:placename>
recently named by the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>
Legislature. The campaigns were strong
and neighboring Deadwood came very close behind Yreka, there are still rumbling
accusations of underhanded dealings during the elections. Apparently Etna had a lower voter turnout and
some say it is because of the whisky party that was carried on the night before
the election. Plans will soon be
underway for officers of the county and a place to hold official meetings.</i></div>
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According
to some historical information (whether speculated or accurate it is not
entirely known…) that Etna being closer to Deadwood would vote in that
direction along with others and the whiskey delivered to the voters in Etna was
from Yreka. Some reports tell of the
deciding vote to be only one, and other reports simply say it was a very close
election.</div>
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In 1861 the
majority of the town of <st1:city w:st="on">Deadwood</st1:city>
was burned to the ground in a fire.
Following that fire there were a few buildings remaining and a few
residents, but it wasn't long before the town faded from existence. Deadwood was vibrant for only 10 years, but
adds a significant story to the history of our county. Today the only thing that remains to mark the
town site are a few very old fruit trees and one of the first historical
monuments placed by the Siskiyou County Historical Society in 1948. One can visit the site by traveling one of
two ways. Travel Highway 3 towards <st1:placetype w:st="on">Ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Jones</st1:placename>
and turn on <st1:street w:st="on">McAdams Creek Road</st1:street>
before entering the town limits of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ft.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Jones</st1:placename></st1:place>. Simply following this road will eventually
take one to <st1:street w:st="on">Forest Service Road</st1:street>
45N49 turn and travel a few car lengths to the monument. The second route would be to simply travel up
<st1:street w:st="on">Greenhorn Road</st1:street>
from Yreka and continue over the mountain and back down and look for Forest
Service Road 45N49. The monument is
visible from the road if you know where to look, but the most identifiable
marks will be the open flat area the town site was located and a few ancient
fruit trees on the side of a hill.</div>
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Note: This author
is sad to report that this historic monument has been the recent target
of vandals, the monument was restored a few years ago with the help of E
Clampus Vitus, Humbug Chapter, along with the Siskiyou County Historical
Society to repair earlier damage, but again it has been targeted by vandals
shooting bullets at the bronze plaque.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-92080750334454317132014-04-21T18:48:00.000-07:002014-04-21T18:48:24.919-07:00Pacific Brewery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUfdpVwkFUnaW3EVGXgau5olET6qiThW86rblxEhU7tMtHsS6vVWN7iMl6Pba796NtZpLTH1E1xiHW5VX12aTMZkSHUXxVVsRJBLGLdG4Y5FjpEazf57bfIl_hmCOBCqD0XT50Lvhosc/s1600/r+Pacific+Brewery+in+1901+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUfdpVwkFUnaW3EVGXgau5olET6qiThW86rblxEhU7tMtHsS6vVWN7iMl6Pba796NtZpLTH1E1xiHW5VX12aTMZkSHUXxVVsRJBLGLdG4Y5FjpEazf57bfIl_hmCOBCqD0XT50Lvhosc/s1600/r+Pacific+Brewery+in+1901+cropped.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Courtesy of Siskiyou County Historical Society</span><br />
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From the Pacific
Brewery to Klander’s</div>
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By Claudia East</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Today
locals (and in-the-know out of town folks) will visit Klander’s Deli at 211
South Oregon Street to enjoy a great lunch!
Upon arrival folks will know by simply looking at the building that this
property is loaded with history for the city of Yreka. Some information about this location and
former businesses that have served the community is lacking, but we do know
some very interesting facts.</div>
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In 1854-55
a local brewery was established on this site, this would have been just 3 or 4
years after gold was discovered on the Yreka Flats. The original owner is not well documented,
but it is believed that a G. Gamble was the founder of this brewery. The building was built of brick as far back
as one can tell. There is also the name
of John Miller as an owner prior to 1865 located in title records at the
Siskiyou County Courthouse, but additional information about him is currently
unknown. On June 22, 1864, however, it
is noted in the <i>Yreka Journal</i> that Charles Iunker bought out the Pacific
Brewery from his former partner John Hessenauer. At the time Iunker owned the Yreka Brewery
and the Siskiyou Brewery and these were both consolidated into the established Pacific
Brewery. This information is also noted
in the <i>History of Siskiyou County, California</i> by Harry L. Wells
published in 1881. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UW4HKcDefV_8_RrhNq_J9SgPAxeaY0FFnql-QCt0CUcQR0IDGWMU0di8pgcA6aBT7Fogvs2lFrh8ylSk72flPZBd-Dnz0o4MeBDhLiO9ZUHJjcdDefj0jJun8FdwYb70sqGuzMQx9i0/s1600/Klanders+today+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UW4HKcDefV_8_RrhNq_J9SgPAxeaY0FFnql-QCt0CUcQR0IDGWMU0di8pgcA6aBT7Fogvs2lFrh8ylSk72flPZBd-Dnz0o4MeBDhLiO9ZUHJjcdDefj0jJun8FdwYb70sqGuzMQx9i0/s1600/Klanders+today+cropped.jpg" height="123" width="200" /></a></div>
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Charles
Iunker was a long term and successful businessman in Yreka’s history. He not only owned the various breweries, but
also was the proprietor of the Bella Union Saloon located on the south side of
Miner Street in a location today known as 325 West Miner Street. [Originally
this was a one-story building during the Bella Union days.] It was natural for him to be involved as a
brew master as he came from Bavaria, Germany and while there he was schooled as
an artisan in the brewing and distilling trade.
He arrived in Yreka in 1855 and opened his first brewery, in 1858 he
purchased the Bella Union property, and in 1861 he built a two story brick
residence on Center Street that still stands today. It was reported in 1881 that about 300
barrels of beer were annually made in Yreka at his brewery.</div>
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The exact
year the brewery next changed ownership is unknown, but sometime between 1897
and 1901 Joseph Steinacher is listed as the proprietor of the Pacific Brewery.
Viewing the 1908 Sanborn map one can see that as well as operating a brewery
Steinacher also had a saloon in operation at this location and the building was
equipped with electric lights. It
operated under Steinacher until January 17, 1920 when prohibition began. What
transpired during the next seven years is unclear at this time, but by 1927
research shows us that the building was being used as a meat packing and
distributing plant. The next void in the
history continues until about 1945 or so when Theodore and Marjorie Klander
operate the Siskiyou County Distributing Company at this address. For many years Marjorie and her son, Robert
Klander, operated the business. It is
interesting to view old photos of the building, and although some of the basic
parts of the current building may be original it is not known when the building
was altered or rebuilt but it is roughly estimated to have undergone major
reconstruction or a rebuild between 1930 and 1945 to the configuration we are
familiar with today.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> It has been noted by long time residents in
Yreka that while the Klander’s operated the Siskiyou Distributing Company they
gave returning veterans from World War II free lodging in the apartments
upstairs as a thank you for their service.
In 2002 the current owners, William and Ondia Durovchic, purchased the
building and continued with the Deli that is so well loved today. One tidbit of information that is
particularly enticing to this author is that in the far corner of the building
deep in the basement is an opening that once led to one of the underground mine
tunnels once so prevalent in Yreka [It has been closed off and filled and the
tunnel is no longer accessible]. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright: Claudia East</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-76194753354463444912014-04-19T14:01:00.000-07:002014-04-19T14:01:06.297-07:00Lotta Crabtree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOakS6SjXiM5n_m3wpgsEJCUMa01nN0mnLXr9ftk5-iap2fCVpCYZYYf_sJT-ItBnzyFl601JQW3GlCIOHIP20V_jQuMnsFJNZP3frQqqeXImI1kUHMLvyI55fWs9UzcXwTnTqBrLJqIM/s1600/Lotta+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOakS6SjXiM5n_m3wpgsEJCUMa01nN0mnLXr9ftk5-iap2fCVpCYZYYf_sJT-ItBnzyFl601JQW3GlCIOHIP20V_jQuMnsFJNZP3frQqqeXImI1kUHMLvyI55fWs9UzcXwTnTqBrLJqIM/s1600/Lotta+framed.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Lotta Crabtree<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">By Claudia East<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Around
1950, along <st1:street w:st="on">Miner Street</st1:street>
in Yreka, a sign was placed approximately near the curb where one today finds
the plaque dedicating our National Historic District. The sign partially read: “Arcade Billiard Saloon, here in the fifties
Lotta Crabtree sang for the miners…” the
sign disappeared sometime more than 20 years ago but is fondly remembered by
many Yreka residents.</div>
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During the early Gold Rush in <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state> there was a
talented and beautiful little girl with curly red hair that used to sing,
dance, and play the banjo for the miners. The miners would cheerfully throw
gold at her feet! Lotta traveled with
her mother to various mining areas throughout <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state>
and <st1:state w:st="on">Nevada</st1:state> to
entertain. She became the equivalent of
today’s “rock star” at an early age, and by 20 years old she was touring the
nation with her own theatrical company.</div>
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During the
1870s and 1880s she was the highest paid actress in <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region> earning sums of up to
$5,000 per week. Her mother managed her
affairs and invested Lotta’s earnings in real estate, race horses and
bonds. She also used some of the
earnings to support local charities and build fountains. The most famous of these fountains, “Lotta’s
Fountain” still stands at the intersection of <st1:city w:st="on">Kearny</st1:city>
and Market Streets in <st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city>. The fountain was an important meeting place
following the 1906 earthquake for folks to find family and friends who survived
the ordeal. In fact, today, the fountain
is the site of meetings on April 18 of each year that mark the anniversary of
the earthquake.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDopfoSAY5WKuXNmw1C5umhcjFxUASh2KnWvABNmMpYhGU_emB02O-_wMN9SfkNIB4gxaXrj0RNZxWy1vwCdCy9xV_1kswYxQE8Vkc8OzpyzTqrjRRuQGsntzrFN6tLm9Eqrqt-D0uH8I/s1600/Lottas+fountain+Yale+pic+5+framed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDopfoSAY5WKuXNmw1C5umhcjFxUASh2KnWvABNmMpYhGU_emB02O-_wMN9SfkNIB4gxaXrj0RNZxWy1vwCdCy9xV_1kswYxQE8Vkc8OzpyzTqrjRRuQGsntzrFN6tLm9Eqrqt-D0uH8I/s1600/Lottas+fountain+Yale+pic+5+framed.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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In 1945,
local historian Bernice Meamber met and carefully noted a conversation she had
with Charles Herzog, a long time Yrekan, about Lotta Crabtree and her time in
Yreka. It has been speculated through
various accounts that Lotta arrived in Yreka sometime between 1853 and 1857, so
she would have been between six and ten years old at the time. The length of her stay here has also been
disputed from three months to three years, but no matter how long she was here,
she won the hearts and gold from the miners. </div>
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In the
conversation with Charles Herzog he recalled to Bernice Meamber that it was in
November of 1854 that Lotta and her mother came to Yreka. When they arrived they were “destitute” and
they stayed with his family. Lotta sang
and danced at the W. S. R. Taylor Saloon [aka Arcade Billiard Saloon] and
entertained the miners. He recounted
that one night at <st1:city w:st="on">Taylor</st1:city>’s
Saloon she took in $10,000 in gold dust alone!
When all of this happened Charles Herzog was just a mere toddler, being
born in Yreka in 1856. However, Charles
goes on to verify his story by recounting a chance meeting with Lotta years
later in 1876. Charles had just finished
driving a band of cattle to <st1:city w:st="on">San
Francisco</st1:city> and was actually at Lotta’s Fountain getting
a drink of water when a woman stopped and spoke to him. In the conversation she asked him where he
was from, and when he mentioned Yreka, the conversation blossomed from there. She told him she remembered when she stayed with
his family and that she used to carry him around as a little one. She recounted the night she took in $10,000
and that when she left Yreka she gave her piano to the Catholic Church (when it
was still up on the hill by the cemetery).</div>
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Lotta
reigned as a top earning star in <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region> for 25 years and traveled
the entire nation. At the age of 43 she
retired following a fall; she “went out on top”. She lived until 1924, at age 76 and after her
retirement did not perform much according to research except for a special
event, her last performance, during the 1915 Panama Exposition in <st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city> during “Lotta
Crabtree Day”. Lotta felt her wealth had
come from the people and thought it should be returned to them. After her death in her estate was valued at
about Four Million dollars in a charitable trust, and it was left to funds for
hospitals, education, needy actors, homeless animals, and spreading cheer at
Christmas. The largest sums went to
disabled veterans of World War I, and to ex-convicts in starting life anew
after release from prison. These funds
are still in operation. </div>
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Copyright: Claudia East, 2013</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-22776980851907731762013-07-18T15:37:00.000-07:002013-07-18T15:37:28.131-07:00Yreka Elementary circa 1863<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoRiM5fSeXCzYC5A2WpwvWisQ3BoeJVmZpAuu7bxIEuW805ryVL6qk1vqDn9oY48JFdmK9011-ZNa6FNMSQsuJwGabXe1B0YarZ4yE9rpfjJEzeMQcM6eyhDd7tzDFv9z-AEJgpoQchk/s1600/Yreka+Grammar+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoRiM5fSeXCzYC5A2WpwvWisQ3BoeJVmZpAuu7bxIEuW805ryVL6qk1vqDn9oY48JFdmK9011-ZNa6FNMSQsuJwGabXe1B0YarZ4yE9rpfjJEzeMQcM6eyhDd7tzDFv9z-AEJgpoQchk/s320/Yreka+Grammar+School.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo circa 1888</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">The following is from the:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Yreka Semi-Weekly
Journal</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">, July 22, 1863.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">NEW SCHOOL HOUSE. — The funds
which the Trustees of Yreka School District are in hopes of being authorized to
raise are to be applied to a thorough refitting and remodeling of the public
school house of this city. Every person
is satisfied that the present building is not fit to have a school in, besides
not being capable of containing more than one half of the scholars within the
boundaries of the District. The plan of
the new building is so calculated as to remedy both of these defects. They propose to turn the present house around
so as to stand side to the street, and put an addition on to one end, equal in
width and length to the old house, which will give a room — by removing the
partition — sixty feet long, by twenty-four wide. This will be divided into two compartments,
by a sliding partition in the centre, which will give two rooms, each thirty
feet long, by twenty-four wide. These
rooms will easily accommodate one hundred and twenty five scholars, who are to
be seated, in each room, facing the centre partition. On public occasions, both rooms can be thrown
into one, by sliding the partition thus reliving the teachers and pupils of the
trouble and expense of fitting up a hall, where the benefits are only felt for
an evening or a day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The front is to be
relieved of its barn appearance by an addition, projecting out ten feet by
twenty-four long. This will be divided
into an open hall with a room on each side which are calculated for the
accommodation of the scholars’ hats and over-garments. From these rooms, scholars will enter their
respective school rooms. By this
arrangement, the school can be graded and classified. The advanced scholars will form a grammar
department, while the small and less advanced, will form a primary department<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">The benefits arising from such a classification must be
apparent to all. Not only will the
children be benefited by the advantages of a thoroughly classified school, but
the parents by lessening the expense of schooling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"> Let
everyone give it their careful consideration, and decide by their vote on the
1st of August next, that the youth of Yreka shall have a suitable school
room. The county has a first class Court
House; shall it not have a good School House?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"> A ground
plan can be seen at the Post Office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Note: This building sat approximately where the Siskiyou County Library is located today near the corner of Fourth and Yreka Streets.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-75589892484294379982013-04-16T10:46:00.000-07:002013-04-16T10:48:44.573-07:00Robbers Rock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg668QSzRo78Ar-XSRvrmfa8MPLNkrLmucSjGiuuL6h6k0Z9fWjQR3LHJuYZlu73nvTP8BmnZXrPy3uwQX68-esElXV33kW6PaDb2DlsjJ5nqUyifTnGBEl1KXsI1JW1Hn36BK2peE188U/s1600/Robbers+Rock+Ft+Jones+Hwy+2+today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg668QSzRo78Ar-XSRvrmfa8MPLNkrLmucSjGiuuL6h6k0Z9fWjQR3LHJuYZlu73nvTP8BmnZXrPy3uwQX68-esElXV33kW6PaDb2DlsjJ5nqUyifTnGBEl1KXsI1JW1Hn36BK2peE188U/s320/Robbers+Rock+Ft+Jones+Hwy+2+today.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Robber’s Rock<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>and the Last Stage Robbery in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
By Claudia East</div>
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It was a
warm afternoon on July 5, 1908, the three gentlemen passengers and one lady passenger
jostled along in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Fort</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Jones</st1:placename></st1:place> bound stage. The team of horses and the passengers had
nearly made it to the top of the pass from Yreka. Just as they were coming up on a sharp turn
an armed masked man stopped the stage.
The driver, Fred ‘Cougar’ Vetterline thought about continuing on their
way until the gunman cocked his gun and he saw the head and shoulders of
another from behind the big rock with a six shooter pointed at his head. According to old news accounts the bandit
demanded the Wells, Fargo & Company strong box be thrown down. </div>
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After
trying for a time the robber couldn't get the strong box open, so he asked the
driver, Vetterline, if he could borrow his axe.
Apparently his response was, “sure, I’m not using it.” The robber chopped the metal bound box open
and removed an undisclosed amount of money and returned the damaged safe to the
stage with all other documents and mail intact.
The robber did also lessen the load for the passengers and driver by
taking their money and watches. The
driver, Vetterline, had $1.50 and after the robber took his money he told the thief
he would need money to buy a drink in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Jones</st1:placename></st1:place>
once they got there, so the robber gave him back fifty cents.</div>
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In the
account of the robbery by the <i>Yreka
Journal</i> one of the passengers gave an interview and explained “The bandit
was a jolly fellow. He joshed and talked
with the passengers. When he broke the
driver’s axe he told him he was sorry and he would buy him a new one.” The <i>Journal</i>
went on to report that the robber was “a slender man of medium height and had a
handkerchief over his face. The other robber was so concealed that no
description of him could be given.”</div>
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No one was
ever arrested for this last stage hold up and there were no clues as to the
identity of the robbers. Following the
incident there were all sorts of theories and ideas, even Black Bart was named
at one point, even though his last robbery was 30 years earlier! In the 1965 edition of <i>The Siskiyou Pioneer</i> one can find stories about this robbery and
the theories that were presented by local historian and attorney at law, Fred
Burton.</div>
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Robber’s
Rock can be located a short distance before the summit on Highway 3 between
Yreka and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ft.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Jones</st1:placename></st1:place>, just down on the Yreka side and towards
the southern side of the road. It isn't easily identifiable until one pulls off the shoulder of the road and looks. The Humbug Chapter of E. Clampus Vitus has
placed a plaque on the rock with a brief account of the robberies that were
recorded at this spot. </div>
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This last
robbery was not the cause of the namesake of this particular rock, there were
others before, at least four documented robberies, but local lore claim there
were many unrecorded hold ups there. Today it doesn't look like much of a hiding
place, but if one looks at the old road that goes down the hill from the rock
and imagine what it took for a team of horses to pull that grade, and
understand that road builders have filled in a lot of the grade and built road
material around the foot of the rock, in addition to blasting off the top of
the large boulder.</div>
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Taking a
drive up to Robber’s Rock is a pleasant drive and a visit to the rock and
surrounding area can almost take one back to 1908.</div>
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*This article appeared in <i>Jefferson Backroads</i>, December 2012. Copyright, Claudia East.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-21677359292018171272013-04-06T11:29:00.001-07:002013-04-06T11:34:51.990-07:00Indian Peggy ~ Local Heroine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf3e6P78ShQjggJd_esBJi-bS5iMxC8Mapugeevg18hWGo7RS57s8u8vz0c4_qbSnLFo0OcbGQ3xyd9XrncH9ywCP6h4uwyXhqp_5WqZHPhj4yVNMOJSjzpXYxK-qV3njPf5rjwggyYc/s1600/Indian+Peggy+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf3e6P78ShQjggJd_esBJi-bS5iMxC8Mapugeevg18hWGo7RS57s8u8vz0c4_qbSnLFo0OcbGQ3xyd9XrncH9ywCP6h4uwyXhqp_5WqZHPhj4yVNMOJSjzpXYxK-qV3njPf5rjwggyYc/s320/Indian+Peggy+framed.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Indian Peggy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
By Claudia East</div>
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Indian
Peggy was a very colorful heroine of Yreka.
Many stories and facts have been mixed over the years so that the actual
authenticity of what actually happened has been clouded. So with the possibility of errors this story
is shared. However, with that said we
say with confidence Indian Peggy saved Yreka and the former miner’s town of <st1:city w:st="on">Humbug</st1:city> City from a
surprise Indian attack in the early 1850s.</div>
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When the
miners came looking for gold that was their feverish purpose, and natives were
oftentimes looked upon as barriers to overcome in the quest for riches. There were often bad feelings on both sides,
the miners intruded on the Indian lands and had little respect for tribal
hunting grounds, and the Indians were often ill treated. As the result the local Indian tribes were
often fearful and hostile towards the “white” miners who had little regard for
the environment and took and used whatever they needed to find the precious
gold. As a result of these factors
groups of natives decided to try and rid their homeland of the menace and their
practices and formed a large war party.
The plan was a surprise attack on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Humbug</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and then on to Yreka.</div>
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Indian
Peggy was an unusual and exceptional woman; she had friends on both her native
side, and with the whites. She could see
that this potential raid on the miners could turn into a bloody war and both
sides would lose dearly. She would lose
family and friends she had known for her whole life, as well as her white
friends she had recently come to know.
It was 1852 and only a year after gold was discovered. Indian Peggy took it upon herself to save
everyone from this potential massacre.
She lived nearby on a Rancheria and walked several miles to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Humbug</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and warned the people there and convinced them to retreat to Yreka. As the miners got to Yreka the news of the
impending raid spread very quickly. When
the Indians came upon <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Humbug</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> and found it
deserted they knew they had lost the element of surprise, they pulled back and
withdrew from their plans of attack knowing they would be the targets instead.</div>
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Indian
Peggy had renewed status with the miners and the settlers because of her
warning of the impending attack. There
are stories told for years that after her warning Indian Peggy would come to
town and help herself to things she needed, or would knock on a door and ask
for things like blankets, warm clothing or food ~ apparently she was seldom
refused. Indian Peggy lived to be at
least 100 and died in 1902. Following her
death, it is said that the high school at Yreka even closed so students could
attend her funeral. It has been reported
that Tyee Jim, Chief of the Shasta Nation, gave the eulogy all in his native
language. It is said that there were a
good number of people, both Indian and white in attendance on that day. </div>
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In 1951 the
Siskiyou County Historical Society placed a marker at her grave. It reads:
“Indian Peggy born about 1800.
Died October 26, 1902. Beloved
member of the Shasta Tribe. A friend of
Indians and Whites. Saved Yreka by
warning them of an Indian Attack.” Her
marker sits near the current Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds.</div>
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*Note: There are
several stories and accounts of Indian Peggy in local publications. These are
but a few: The Siskiyou Pioneer
publications from the Siskiyou County Historical Society have information about
Indian Peggy in the 1971, 1951, and 2001 issues. There is also a story about Indian Peggy at
the California State Parks website. The
Siskiyou Daily News ran a story on Indian Peggy between 1998 – 2000 by Nancy
Drennon.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-76105003830571371562012-11-19T20:28:00.000-08:002012-11-19T20:49:14.975-08:00J. P. Churchill Building <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA23LV4FMyMvmK8h5HbFzFqtm8FEaeHSEagdt4g78T1H179TV2VFx3fQFSFMcEugOz0yGHfyXY-Fn5wDJTQXBwhrclfBtDrpH5mmIimz2OEr60bx3gyHCnmcFy1Jf2z_l3gsVeF0UzY4/s1600/Branch+Saloon+corner+Miner+-Main+North+corner+smaller+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA23LV4FMyMvmK8h5HbFzFqtm8FEaeHSEagdt4g78T1H179TV2VFx3fQFSFMcEugOz0yGHfyXY-Fn5wDJTQXBwhrclfBtDrpH5mmIimz2OEr60bx3gyHCnmcFy1Jf2z_l3gsVeF0UzY4/s320/Branch+Saloon+corner+Miner+-Main+North+corner+smaller+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gone, but not forgotten! <br />
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Located on the northwest corner of Main and Miner Streets, Yreka, CA<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Courtesy of Yreka Preservation</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
In 1851 while Yreka was in its early infancy, Jerome Churchill arrived at the “flats” and erected a general merchandise store in a tent on what is now the Northwest corner of Miner and Main. Almost everything constructed during that time was temporary -- merchants stayed in business as long as the miners came and money was to be made. Unfortunately Churchill’s tent, according to research, burned twice during the first few years, so in 1855 he built a permanent structure from brick for his store on the corner of Main and Miner. In 1871 the “great conflagration” happened and the building was burned out. One third of Yreka burned that fateful day in July. The building was repaired from the walls and continued to be home to a general merchandise store for a number of years. <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is not known when the general merchandise store was moved elsewhere, but for several years the building was home to at least two or three different saloons. It housed the Last Chance Saloon, (not to be confused with the long established Last Chance Saloon previously in neighboring Hornbrook) and later the Branch Saloon (later renamed the Bella Union Saloon). It is roughly estimated that the building was home to the saloons between 1890 and 1915.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 1919 a newspaper article said that the Electric Supply Company was busy moving into the building and that the back half of the building would become home to the California-Oregon Power Company (COPCO) for a repair shop. It was only two years later that the California-Oregon Power Company purchased the building from Churchill and occupied the entire structure. [If you have a copy of the book, Yreka, Images of America you can view a portion of this building as it appeared when owned by the power company on page 20.]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 1933 the power company was getting prepared to replace the building with a newer more modern one that would be two stories high and sport a full basement. For several reasons this never materialized and the offices were moved. For a number of years COPCO was at home in the DeWitt & Peters Building (the current Elks Building) at the corner of Miner and North Oregon Streets.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 1934 major changes were happening in Yreka. The State of California decided there was a definite need to widen Main Street a full twenty feet from city limit to city limit. Main Street at the time served as the State Highway 99 and the traffic had increased considerably from former days. To accommodate the new requirements twenty feet was slashed from property fronting Main Street. In some blocks the entire twenty feet was taken from one side only, at other places it was half on one side and half on the other. The State wanted a straight shot through town.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Once the construction was finished, the Lot 1, Block 28 at the northwest corner of Main and Miner was an empty lot. The building had been razed and the J. P. Churchill Building was gone forever. The current building located at this spot was completed in 1937. Today this corner is home to the Miner Street Sports Bar.<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Copyright, Claudia East</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-60521835626210783442011-11-13T17:28:00.001-08:002011-11-18T11:00:06.673-08:00Auto Parks in Yreka!<html><br /><head><br /><meta name="google-site-verification" content="7-p7gwmjzjZtIi2edJY5PUMf1tCqqR6tvOfQJ3fdYRY" /><br /><title> My title </title><br /></head> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="7-p7gwmjzjZtIi2edJY5PUMf1tCqqR6tvOfQJ3fdYRY" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hqykO2-DJo-pFLsCokd5J67K2Sw6_j5-8AqFozjsv62Dx1qUkSNfRpeimIS35ytkARlASGUNmqAoKx_zDoxmmKEdJyvmEOnC7rGD10a-7HhndnTWzIycqXZrNpiVTCkWn_1kK5b6uzU/s1600/Yreka+Auto+Park.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hqykO2-DJo-pFLsCokd5J67K2Sw6_j5-8AqFozjsv62Dx1qUkSNfRpeimIS35ytkARlASGUNmqAoKx_zDoxmmKEdJyvmEOnC7rGD10a-7HhndnTWzIycqXZrNpiVTCkWn_1kK5b6uzU/s320/Yreka+Auto+Park.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674657457041469314" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">An early photo of the Yreka Auto Park situated along Yreka Creek.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Between the advent of the popularity and affordability of the automobile with the improvements made in roadways and "highways", especially the Pacific Highway which opened in 1913 (later rebuilt in newer sections and dubbed Highway 99) travel became a very popular past time for individuals and families. Yreka, the County Seat of Siskiyou was happily situated in the main route as the road traveled right through the center of town. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Most of the main roads or routes went from town to town as travelers would have a better opportunity to meet up with needed services. Taking along camping gear was also a "convenience" issue as folks knew breaking down was a possibility away from towns. It was also very convenient as well as an adventure! Many travelers thought themselves as pioneers and were able to camp on the outskirts of towns or anywhere along the road, it was inexpensive and many vacation destinations offered little in the way of accommodations.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">In 1916 a editorial type article was written in <i>The Siskiyou News</i> stressing the need for an Auto Park in Yreka. The beginning of the article stated: "Yreka is acquiring a reputation among tourists for its lack of hospitality!" The article went on to argue that most towns along the state highway has a small piece of land for this purpose, the town businesses have profited from sales of groceries, gas, auto repair and other needs of the traveler. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Within a short time Yreka did have an auto camp, and eventually more than one that met the needs of the camping enthusiast. A interesting recount of staying in Yreka in 1922 by a family that wrote in their local paper (from Estherville, Iowa) said of their experience:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">"We camped for the night at Yreka a pretty little place in the foot hills of the Shasta Mountains, where we were provided with free camp grounds with free water, electric lights, 'shower baths, comfort station and brick ovens for cooking."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Later on these free Auto Camps turned into offering small cabins for the traveler and more comforts and convenience. There are a few of these later enhanced auto parks that have remnants of earlier days still visible here in Yreka, but are quickly fading. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Copyright: Claudia A. East</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-76339572988702363342011-10-16T14:26:00.000-07:002011-10-19T23:26:01.142-07:00Yreka on the Silver Screen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjWn5vDw4pPui2cqcDwqKLTFqInmD8hYEqTHShYaxFnqS8TF7O-FM-_mNBmtL0_7p9h60t_P8_rcSxDf8R9PDBgi9onFw5YSeZM4nxf7icrTRnbRE69X9JxajriMOiyrs78256_zHQSw/s1600/Yreka+Oregon+Street+Gillis+Home.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjWn5vDw4pPui2cqcDwqKLTFqInmD8hYEqTHShYaxFnqS8TF7O-FM-_mNBmtL0_7p9h60t_P8_rcSxDf8R9PDBgi9onFw5YSeZM4nxf7icrTRnbRE69X9JxajriMOiyrs78256_zHQSw/s320/Yreka+Oregon+Street+Gillis+Home.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664208997135847986" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The Gillis Mansion on North Oregon Street, Yreka was turned into the home of the reining "cattle baron".</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 125%; ">In September of 1977 the Quinn Martin Company (who produced full length TV movies) came to Yreka and the surrounding area and filmed what was to be titled “Legend at Sundown” entirely in Siskiyou County. Later during the editing the name of the film was changed to the title of “</span><span style="line-height: 125%; font-weight: bold; ">Standing Tall</span><span style="line-height: 125%; ">”.<span> </span>It was a movie that depicted the depression-era times of Montana.<span> </span>The story was about a young rancher, Shasta, who is given a rough time by the reigning cattle baron.<span> </span>One individual, Leeland Cook, who appeared in the movie was a former Yrekan and went on to appear in many western movies.<span> </span>Also starring in the movie was Linda Evans, then most known for her roles in the TV series, Big Valley.<span> </span>In addition Robert Forester plays the hero, Luke Shasta and was opposite the villain in the script with the ruthless cattle baron, Chuck Connors. (of “The Rifleman” fame) The role Connors played was described by the <i>Siskiyou Daily News</i> as “a villain who has absolutely no redeeming traits”.</span></span></div><div> <p class="MsoBodyText3"><span style="line-height: 125%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Below are interesting tidbits:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination:none;text-indent:-18.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;mso-level-number-format:bullet;mso-level-text:·;mso-level-size: 10.0pt;mso-level-font-family:Symbol"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed; color: black; ">·</span><span style="width:13.5pt"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 125%; ">In the film a scene was filmed at the Ft. Jones Community Hall and the building was turned into the Benteen Community Hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination:none;text-indent:-18.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;mso-level-number-format:bullet;mso-level-text:·;mso-level-size: 10.0pt;mso-level-font-family:Symbol"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed; color: black; ">·</span><span style="width:13.5pt"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 125%; ">Rodeo scenes were shot at Pleasure Park Area in Etna and local residents dressed up in 1930s style clothing and became part of the rodeo crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination:none;text-indent:-18.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;mso-level-number-format:bullet;mso-level-text:·;mso-level-size: 10.0pt;mso-level-font-family:Symbol"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed; color: black; ">·</span><span style="width:13.5pt"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 125%; ">The Gillis Mansion on the corner of North Oregon and Yama Streets was used for interior scenes.<span> </span>The home (in the movie) belonged to the “evil” cattle baron (Chuck Connors).<span> </span>The filming was done during daylight hours, but the windows were draped with black curtains on the outside to simulate nighttime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination:none;text-indent:-18.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;mso-level-number-format:bullet;mso-level-text:·;mso-level-size: 10.0pt;mso-level-font-family:Symbol"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed; color: black; ">·</span><span style="width:13.5pt"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 125%; ">The “first voice” one hears when the movie begins is the voice of Ron Lillard.<span> </span>Ron a local man, was the manager of the Siskiyou Golden Fair at the time.<span> </span>During the opening credits he is heard as a country-western disc jockey on a car radio.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" style="mso-pagination:none;text-indent:-18.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;mso-level-number-format:bullet;mso-level-text:·;mso-level-size: 10.0pt;mso-level-font-family:Symbol"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed; color: black; ">·</span><span style="width:13.5pt"> </span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="line-height: 125%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Some of the places (as listed in 1978) to look for in the film include: Lake Siskiyou, the former Siskiyou Stockyards, Little Shasta’s Johnson Ranch, Edgewood’s Gragnani Ranch, the town of Callahan as the town of Benteen, the Park Motel in Yreka and the City Hall at Fort Jones. Also the line shack at the Ben Brazie Ranch, mountain scenes at the Fred Burton Ranch (Forest House Ranch), party scenes at the Gillis Mansion, (then the Gordon Dunlap Home) and a kitchen scene at the Roland Dexter home in Montague.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book'; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Note:<span> </span>Information was obtained from a file in the Meamber Collection at Yreka Preservation.<span> </span>The Meamber's<span> </span>assisted the filmmaker in providing historical information about the Depression Era and about Siskiyou County and Yreka for this film.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Copyright: Claudia A. East, 2010. This article, written by Claudia East, was recently published in the monthly newsletter, <i>Echoes</i>, by Yreka Preservation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-15574736772598850962010-12-05T19:13:00.000-08:002011-01-08T09:38:24.120-08:00The Yreka Ditch ~ 1853<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHff253nE1sPQjhzvRlB-e8brheAjVx_xdDVnDzrFPaOAJK2ZSD6YWXmcze0qSDr1uVIm73T-w_P30yYQoVYRSUD-RxBPrLugrQxp85D74HhiH-5DgqwxUBaXA9kfqJOCJUgjUBDAJ9s/s1600/View+of+Shasta+Valley+from+Big+Ditch+.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHff253nE1sPQjhzvRlB-e8brheAjVx_xdDVnDzrFPaOAJK2ZSD6YWXmcze0qSDr1uVIm73T-w_P30yYQoVYRSUD-RxBPrLugrQxp85D74HhiH-5DgqwxUBaXA9kfqJOCJUgjUBDAJ9s/s320/View+of+Shasta+Valley+from+Big+Ditch+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547408060450348690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZTab_QFejL3qprUgpZH1-cDM_yKpo2Tn84Ryk-eXlDNPKR7nMQWjSW8nIiScKsTVJfidz8XFOvQZz-NV_dMvr3NgqpX7QEZ76LlgivCNYZPHnKua0HRmjBVjPt7fiwv8J4Liw_KzJm8/s1600/Ditch+in+use+today+abeam+Weed+Airport+.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZTab_QFejL3qprUgpZH1-cDM_yKpo2Tn84Ryk-eXlDNPKR7nMQWjSW8nIiScKsTVJfidz8XFOvQZz-NV_dMvr3NgqpX7QEZ76LlgivCNYZPHnKua0HRmjBVjPt7fiwv8J4Liw_KzJm8/s320/Ditch+in+use+today+abeam+Weed+Airport+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547403553906777890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:85%;" >Views of "The Yreka Ditch" just west of the Weed Airport.</span><br /><br /><br /><br />It was 1851 when the first gold was discovered on Yreka “Flats” and within a very short time the area was crawling with miners hungry to find the promise of gold!<span style=""> </span>Placer mining was the technique for the area and worked well as long as water was available.<span style=""> </span>By late fall, however, water became in short supply.<span style=""> </span>According to Richard Silva in his extensive research and his publication, “The Big Ditch” (published by the Siskiyou County Historical Society and Museum in 2002) he states that water, or “liquid gold” was “so limited that some miners made more money selling it [water] than panning for gold”.<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> <span style=""> </span>The need for water during the dry months became more evident and as early as 1853 the Yreka Ditch Company was formed with the purpose of creating some sort of flume from the Shasta River to the mines both north and south of Yreka.<span style=""> </span>Eventually a decision was made to create a channel rather than use a flume the entire distance.<span style=""> </span>In due course the ditch was created and dug entirely by hand with crude tools of the era.<span style=""> </span>It was completed within two years an amazing feat considering its length. <span style=""> </span>The ditch is approximately 95 miles long and begins on the Shasta River just northwest of present day Weed. <span style=""> </span>Although only about 30 miles “as the crow flies” the ditch winds around the foothills of the Shasta Valley on the western slope and in some areas travels west considerable distance. <span style=""> </span>The ditch ran the entire west side of the valley and ended at Canal Gulch in Hawkinsville.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTY1DgvUqMj7a8N6hGMDu0JUAhYIKIDBDSSburj4J37glDPt8J3KAdbT9IguDef_mZYvDd6hTop-9QkVmlAqjgk_nWpocI19ZXuY8cPWPGoHTLSxOCWpuuF3_epeaIhyc7kIeAs2ChPo/s1600/Ditch+running+along+hill+Gazelle+Callahan+Rd.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTY1DgvUqMj7a8N6hGMDu0JUAhYIKIDBDSSburj4J37glDPt8J3KAdbT9IguDef_mZYvDd6hTop-9QkVmlAqjgk_nWpocI19ZXuY8cPWPGoHTLSxOCWpuuF3_epeaIhyc7kIeAs2ChPo/s320/Ditch+running+along+hill+Gazelle+Callahan+Rd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547404786418650850" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:85%;" >View of the Yreka Ditch along the edge of the hills along the Gazelle - Callahan Road.</span><p class="MsoNormal">According to Silva it was March of 1856 when water was turned into the ditch at the Shasta River, but because of a variety of problems such as squirrel holes, seepage and unsettled soil and leakage in flumes that crossed small ravines it took the water five months to reach Yreka.<span style=""> </span>Once up and running it delivered 21,000 gallons of water per minute and sold to the miners for their use in placer mining at 50 cents per “miner’s inch”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""> </span>Much of the “big ditch” can still be viewed today as one travels between Yreka and Weed area along the hillside to the west.<span style=""> </span>Parts of the ditch are gone and the land no longer bears any resemblance to it ever being there, but sections of it are actually still in use today, other sections are visible but have filled in with soil due to erosion and appear quite shallow! <span style=""> </span>Several names have been used in reference to this engineering marvel of its day, according to the information in Richard Silva’s book, among the more well known names were:<span style=""> </span>The Edson-Foulke Company Ditch, The Big Ditch, and the China Ditch as well as the Yreka Ditch.<span style=""> </span>Silva goes on to point out that Chinese laborers did not construct the ditch; it was completed by miners, farmers, and other individuals.<span style=""> </span>Apparently, the Chinese were quite involved with continuing the maintenance of the ditch once it was completed.</p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj1rSeSf9YbzEWBGSDpsWaqoNj-rpjM2dqOolnBK4qkuK-wiAdpfqZVlu0uODZuPV2I3OnWUcK2SPN3I-6swpTUaF-NBiq1BZqnfFRY7G7opwfyY7DHnwImrVvhaOsWa5Vo8QQvTja90/s1600/Unused+ditch+Gazelle+Callahan+Rd.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj1rSeSf9YbzEWBGSDpsWaqoNj-rpjM2dqOolnBK4qkuK-wiAdpfqZVlu0uODZuPV2I3OnWUcK2SPN3I-6swpTUaF-NBiq1BZqnfFRY7G7opwfyY7DHnwImrVvhaOsWa5Vo8QQvTja90/s320/Unused+ditch+Gazelle+Callahan+Rd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547406869808287858" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> A copy of this great read, <i style="">The Big Ditch,</i> by Richard Silva can be purchased at the Siskiyou County Museum Gift Shop and usually at the The Book Store on Miner Street in Yreka.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:85%;" >A view of a portion of the Yreka Ditch that is no longer in use</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:78%;">Photos and Text Copyright: Claudia East, 2010</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: left;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-82626839582840788862010-10-19T23:49:00.000-07:002010-10-19T23:59:54.219-07:00Yreka, Capital City ~ State of Jefferson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIfetk8XN3SR1-A_d37qZCGKR-k31Thmp3IBRdncD30VKGAF2zChFrJaEzVi6vBc_oDbens8CI-dHK8mCyPH9BZ1tdxNF4lEI8-m7S016Cj52itUfTZ5A0bn7rS8FgCoWNsK72DkVutA/s1600/State+of+Jefferson+News+framed.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIfetk8XN3SR1-A_d37qZCGKR-k31Thmp3IBRdncD30VKGAF2zChFrJaEzVi6vBc_oDbens8CI-dHK8mCyPH9BZ1tdxNF4lEI8-m7S016Cj52itUfTZ5A0bn7rS8FgCoWNsK72DkVutA/s320/State+of+Jefferson+News+framed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530017499569413682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">In December of 1941 Yreka was named the new Capital of the State of Jefferson.<span style=""> </span>It was an exciting and fast moving time when counties from southern Oregon and Northern California first said the word “succession” from their respective states and wanted to form a new 49<sup>th</sup> state!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> This particular movement started with the “Curry County Incident” where a group of folks decided that Southern Oregon and Northern California were being ignored.<span style=""> </span>Roads were bad, bridges were old, and our area was rich with timber and mineral resources that could easily be used for the war effort in Europe against Hitler.<span style=""> </span>On November 17, 1941 a group from Curry County Oregon met with the Yreka Chamber of Commerce to discuss how they could develop our timber and resources for the war effort and our economic prosperity.<span style=""> </span>Much discussion, planning, and late night activities prevailed by the movers and shakers of the time.<span style=""> </span>Yreka’s 20-30 Club, comprised of young businessmen, were instrumental in keeping their plight in the news by feeding information via the state of the art teletypes and telegraphs in the area to major papers in San Francisco and beyond.<span style=""> </span>Parades were held in various towns throughout the area and a favorite protest sign about the conditions of our roads was:<span style=""> </span>“Our roads are not passable, they are hardly jackassable!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ten days after that meeting, on November 27, the Yreka 20-30 Club presented their Proclamation of Independence for the hopeful new state.<span style=""> </span>Road blocks were set up along Highway 99 (the main artery of the time heading north and south) at intermittent times.<span style=""> </span>Folks stopped cars and passed out the Proclamation of Independence and then let them on their way.<span style=""> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA5UieNlngokhbZqiNf0KRjqj3EEgLjwz4_BhzQl8Wm2_gqSPm-Q3-v84eXGsC9YH_R2A8Ix7WzRGuZ38SDkL4RwbtuXpX0HyOyPC6CigaAbV9W3rtZmQYGVfy2TcF8tOjnhYJ-14VRc/s1600/Border+stop+State+of+J+framed.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA5UieNlngokhbZqiNf0KRjqj3EEgLjwz4_BhzQl8Wm2_gqSPm-Q3-v84eXGsC9YH_R2A8Ix7WzRGuZ38SDkL4RwbtuXpX0HyOyPC6CigaAbV9W3rtZmQYGVfy2TcF8tOjnhYJ-14VRc/s320/Border+stop+State+of+J+framed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530017500519973314" border="0" /></a> </span>One day a week it was suggested that merchants keep buckets by their cash registers and keep the sales tax from California sales to go to the State of Jefferson.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> December 2, 1941 the news media descended upon Yreka and began to report the news of the budding new state and creating news reels to be shown in the theaters of the day.<span style=""> </span>(Newsreels were the CNN and Fox News of 1941; no television, just radio, newspapers and the newsreels one would see at the movies.)<span style=""> </span>The San Francisco Examiner even sent their star reporter, Stanton Delaplane to cover the events.<span style=""> </span>As an interesting side note ~ later Mr. Delaplane received the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage on Yreka and The State of Jefferson in 1942.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> On December 4, 1941 a large parade was held in Yreka.<span style=""> </span>Folks from all the counties involved came and marched, there were bands from various areas, folks carrying signs and torches, cars and trucks full of enthusiasts and the streets were packed with observers.<span style=""> </span>On the Siskiyou County Courthouse Square the inauguration of the new Governor of the State of Jefferson, Judge John Childs, from Del Norte County was sworn in and gave a stirring speech to the overflowing crowds.<span style=""> </span>It was the culmination of a swift and productive movement.<span style=""> </span>Folks were told the newsreels would be shown on December 8, 1941 and the new state citizens were eagerly awaiting the reaction of the rest of the United States!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The newsreels, however, were never shown; on December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese and the United States suddenly was at war.<span style=""> </span>On December 8, 1941 a statement was issued to the press by the State of Jefferson Territorial Committee that the current national emergency was of highest importance and all activity of the State of Jefferson would cease.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The State of Jefferson although not an actual separate state, has existed as a state of mind for many citizens within northern California and Southern Oregon for over 155 years.<span style=""> </span>The first recorded news account of this area seeking independence (by this author) was in <i style="">The New York Daily Times</i>, January 1855.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Copyright, Claudia East</span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-32782381143020955182010-06-26T09:47:00.000-07:002010-06-26T10:35:18.268-07:00Yreka a major stage destination!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPajSktqUPn5wu7xx29YCgJpIYoPsEFAzgHixTOcwXPyQujlOhYwddPYboDbUGQuj2q1t_oMiDVaj4ZCIUKEvqu5paTeAhWspyQFIfOCYxhpTtXQeaXctMeL5KYC0E4DX4jZ8huGIoZfU/s1600/Mud+Wagon+Miner+St+cropped+edge.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPajSktqUPn5wu7xx29YCgJpIYoPsEFAzgHixTOcwXPyQujlOhYwddPYboDbUGQuj2q1t_oMiDVaj4ZCIUKEvqu5paTeAhWspyQFIfOCYxhpTtXQeaXctMeL5KYC0E4DX4jZ8huGIoZfU/s320/Mud+Wagon+Miner+St+cropped+edge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487134259531561202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Yreka, Miner Street View Circa 1905</span><br /><br /><br /><br />Yreka was considered a major hub in the transportation world of Northern California for over 100 years. Yreka is half way between San Francisco and Portland and was also the major starting and ending point for most of the smaller towns and villages for a great many miles. The "stage" brought so many important things to the community. Mail being one of the most important. The miners would come to town to wait for the mail, and near the stage stop folks met and talked over all of the news of the day. In Yreka the main stage stop was along Miner Street right at or near the Franco-American Hotel. The post office was also located nearby.<br /><br />The stage office (often called the express office) was a thriving business. There were big steel strapped boxes often filled with gold dust that were lifted up into the front boot under the drivers seat and secured by lock and chain to the floor. This was a security measure so if some enterprising thief wanted to hold up the stage for the gold they would have to wrangle this off themselves. On board the stage was a Express messenger that carried a sawed-off shotgun loaded with buck shot. The cost of running the stage company was no little amount, estimated to be an annual expense of $40,000 in addition to paying tolls over many of the roads they traveled. This could amount to another $12,000 a year for the rights to use the roads.<br /><br />The California and Oregon system is reported to have used about 430 miles of roadway and its branches alone served from Redding to Roseburg, via Yreka, Ashland and Jacksonville; Redding to Yreka, via Shasta, Tower House, Trinity Center, Callahans, Etna and Fort Jones and others. This operation alone utilized nearly 400 horses with 20 drivers in the summer and 26 in the winter. There were 50 stablemen, 6 mechanics and horse-shoers in addition to the clerks in the offices. They ran 16 stages in summer and 21 in winter besides 2 large sleighs over Scott Mountain in snow time. Horses had to be changed every 12 miles and a new driver took the reins each 10 hours. And, this was only one of many stage lines that came through Yreka.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-30634178079457111392010-06-04T22:31:00.001-07:002010-06-04T23:33:17.880-07:00Methodist - Episcopal Church<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXm1CxU5143pOGQGxhINR_D1UyYpKuR_mdIKOFalU7gzBT6l_EfQYjVdjFYnxxaf1H7SGSOstVnY_tEP-ZU0mGfGZ5lhsAJLwTBaKTRXmBmnRj-2792fhUOCSgwMmGc_V8z8GOXlCWAo/s1600/3+churches+Yreka.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXm1CxU5143pOGQGxhINR_D1UyYpKuR_mdIKOFalU7gzBT6l_EfQYjVdjFYnxxaf1H7SGSOstVnY_tEP-ZU0mGfGZ5lhsAJLwTBaKTRXmBmnRj-2792fhUOCSgwMmGc_V8z8GOXlCWAo/s320/3+churches+Yreka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479171264217706002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMGUnWhJLmE6d5olr6AneQtUA4QkPdesc-hghjRim4sTfJyEpGmUMju0ECAalzaoXw7lNL1e5flFYln8WMSDdrb_lyuyVI772qYh3rYlK4MOwP334BPu6atIvyEWOIZLue70KmWjc_As/s1600/ME+Church+Yreka+framed.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMGUnWhJLmE6d5olr6AneQtUA4QkPdesc-hghjRim4sTfJyEpGmUMju0ECAalzaoXw7lNL1e5flFYln8WMSDdrb_lyuyVI772qYh3rYlK4MOwP334BPu6atIvyEWOIZLue70KmWjc_As/s320/ME+Church+Yreka+framed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479158334261279778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Left: Three churches around Courthouse Square in Yreka, The Union Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and the Catholic Church, circa 1889.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Right: The Methodist-Episcopal Church corner of Lane and Oregon Streets, 1898.</span><br /><br /><br />As early as 1852, only one year following the discovery of gold in Yreka, a Methodist Minister was holding services in Yreka. The first site of a Methodist Episcopal Church was on the southwest corner of Miner and Oregon Streets where the Ley Fire Station now stands. It was a humble log cabin. This little log church served the congregation until about 1854.<br /><br />In early Yreka it was found that a more proper and larger church needed to be built. The various denominations, including Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian joined together to build a church at the corner of South Oregon and Lane Streets, this new church was called the "Union Church" and was dedicated in March of 1855. Later the Union Church was sold to the Methodist Conference for financial reasons. This first church building, made of whip-sawed timber and hand planed finishing lumber served Yreka until early in 1898. This original church, according to the Yreka Journal, was carefully taken down for the construction of a new church ~ the image viewed above. The corner stone for this new Methodist Episcopal Church was laid on June 11, 1898. Some of the contents laid within the corner stone were: A Holy Bible, a copy of the Yreka Journal, June 11, 1898, the names of the minister, trustees and others, and a dime found in the old church dated 1862. This new church building was completed and the formal dedication was in March of 1900.<br /><br />In 1964 the current Methodist-Episcopal Church in Yreka held groundbreaking ceremony at the corner of Fairchild and Cedar Streets where the current services are held. The building in the image above was torn down in 1970. The Girdner Funeral Home currently occupies the site where a Methodist-Episcopal Church sat for 115 years.<br /><br />For those of you that have our book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Yreka</span>, Images of America Series by Arcadia Publishing will find another copy of this image as well as one on the Methodist parsonage on page 72.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Copyright: Claudia A. East<br />*Information gleaned from a 1980 Publication titled,<span style="font-style: italic;"> Methodism in Yreka 1852 - 1980 The Yreka United Methodist Church</span>, Authored, and compiled by Verna Bray Tyrer and Harland McDonald. Printed by Nolan Litho, Yreka, CA<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-31117363851235055152010-04-19T19:59:00.000-07:002010-04-20T11:19:57.364-07:00Masonic Hall Building<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbZWKPeoJAaHFzI1iO4YrWTPPj0JBYHSNpiqQn8RfU9A8c6mVnmgwU9a9zzdhpDDHxUqBMEWGDAAQmU2B3bJHr6KElOMBnFLUnE44ovZEonWygrG3feD1OgtBOjllnlRniT33BxoW1RM/s1600/Masonic+Building.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbZWKPeoJAaHFzI1iO4YrWTPPj0JBYHSNpiqQn8RfU9A8c6mVnmgwU9a9zzdhpDDHxUqBMEWGDAAQmU2B3bJHr6KElOMBnFLUnE44ovZEonWygrG3feD1OgtBOjllnlRniT33BxoW1RM/s320/Masonic+Building.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462049433880755634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Yreka Masonic Hall Building<br />304 West Miner Street, Yreka, CA<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo Copyright: Claudia East</span><br /><br />Situated at the center of the historic district on Miner Street in Yreka is the Masonic Hall Building. This building was built in 1926 and was funded by Masonic Orders who sold shares at $50 each to finance the project. The lower level was originally drafted to house three different businesses and the rental of those spaces helped to fund the Masonic Order. The second story, or top floor was reserved for Lodge activities. A plaque on the front of the building explains that early on the Denny Bar Company (first chain store in California) operated here along with the Electric Company owned by Ernest Millbourn and for awhile the Klamath National Forest offices. In the 1933 City Directory Churchill-McDonald Builders and Hardware was listed at 300-302 West Miner, their phone number was #9. In the 1980s Cooley & Pollard Hardware purchased the downstairs portion of the building from the Masonic order and has operated at this location since the 1930s.<br /><br />Prior to this building being constructed as early as 1880 there was a brick building at this location that housed Engine & House No. 1 the Yreka Fire Department. Adjacent to the fire house was another building that was home to offices. The area that the current building sits upon was once known as the Wetzel lot and the Whiting Building in earlier times.<br /><br />For those of you that have a copy of our book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Yreka</span>, from Arcadia Publishing Image of America Series you will find photos of the building taken in the late 1920s on page 38. You will also find photos of the building that was located at this spot prior to this "new" Masonic Lodge being built in 1926 on page 116. Additional photos of the interior of the earlier lodge can also be found on pages 112 and 113.<br /><br />Information for this post was obtained from Archie Noonan's 1976 manuscript <span style="font-style: italic;">Yreka's West Miner Street Buildings, Blocks 200 - 300, 1851 - 1900;</span> from information published on the historic marker sign at the building; references to old City Directories as well as from personal knowledge.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Copyright: Claudia A. East, 2010</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-67428391762062640972010-04-04T15:37:00.000-07:002010-04-04T16:13:33.402-07:00Golden Eagle Drug Store<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1nPS-6bfVflFHxvT1vwImysHFpj-J46kQE2soYNcCgIldH2zDuaL1b3mYsqVc6Ev7dSTmfjaqA9yiaSf2-S2t-zrsCBd-_n-m4WWvgRl2waOrWNTheJrDfhz-oP5c5ORAH39gc2CAAw/s1600/Golden+Eagle+Drug+framed.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1nPS-6bfVflFHxvT1vwImysHFpj-J46kQE2soYNcCgIldH2zDuaL1b3mYsqVc6Ev7dSTmfjaqA9yiaSf2-S2t-zrsCBd-_n-m4WWvgRl2waOrWNTheJrDfhz-oP5c5ORAH39gc2CAAw/s320/Golden+Eagle+Drug+framed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456415458708542274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Golden Eagle Drug Company, circa 1931<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Golden Eagle Drug Store once occupied the lot at 112 West Miner Street in Yreka, California, today this spot has a small city park that is adjacent to a community art gallery and public restrooms.<br /><br />Prior to the "great fire of 1871" there were reportedly several early Yreka buildings at this location, but following the fire in about 1877 a J. W. Riddle constructed a sturdy brick building. A historic plaque mounted on a post with information from the Siskiyou County Museum explains that Mr. Riddle created a basement of sandstone so he could rent storage to local farmers for their grain. By 1885 the majority of this building at the street level was being used as a saloon with a very small tailor shop on the East wall of the structure. In the rear of the building were small lodging accommodations. In 1888 the building was largely vacant with a boot-smith operating in a small area of the building, and by 1890 the boot-smith was gone and a portion of the building was home to a cobbler.<br /><br />By 1897 the building had been partitioned into two distinct business buildings. With the West side of the building being a little larger than 1/2 of the structure. At this time the Riddle Building was home to a Hardware and Stove business with a Confectionery store on the smaller East portion. We discover that in 1908 the Confectionery business is gone and has been replaced by a Stage (or taxi) Office. Early in 1927 the Stage Office moved to the rear of the building where there were former lodging areas and a general office occupied its former unit. The larger portion of the building was now home to a Billiard Parlor.<br /><br />In 1927 the Golden Eagle Drug Store opened for business and occupied the area where the Billiard Parlor once was. One can view the two separate entrances for the building in the image above (the tile under the windows show the division). The Golden Eagle Drug Store operated for quite some time and later became Cumming's Drug. We find Cumming's Drug Store listed in the 1949 City Directory. The two drug stores operated in this location for 56 years. The building was home to a thrift and collectibles store in July of 1990 when the building burned and was unable to be saved.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Copyright: Claudia A. Eat</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-88586966956510523962010-03-28T21:12:00.000-07:002014-09-29T16:53:39.180-07:00Livingston and Brothers Building c. 1854<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqTMd_oTH-8OQilOkJoY257SrmazuzaR33QQcpaixeBol80xjD4p_WRdpePCm_dGF8sD5F8DIfC82dGFpHKx0DbejfwrYaENZBKkTfO_8El8Ux18qG-srfhbv6iKuMcTjAdPPI4jMjqQ/s1600/Edward+Jones+Building.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqTMd_oTH-8OQilOkJoY257SrmazuzaR33QQcpaixeBol80xjD4p_WRdpePCm_dGF8sD5F8DIfC82dGFpHKx0DbejfwrYaENZBKkTfO_8El8Ux18qG-srfhbv6iKuMcTjAdPPI4jMjqQ/s320/Edward+Jones+Building.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453904874752453762" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 234px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 203px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7abqMI4nJbknin30xHqoh2pr_vVRGwcF18os8irck3cGLP-tc8u_fd8tHHcNJU33rzXpH91o9A6qdj7lxQlE3dOxXs4hEQ2nhJHdI6wHMbq9NzgLVIVygeDQTPXkPtM9un-dkE5vIaU/s1600/Pollocks+Store.+jpg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7abqMI4nJbknin30xHqoh2pr_vVRGwcF18os8irck3cGLP-tc8u_fd8tHHcNJU33rzXpH91o9A6qdj7lxQlE3dOxXs4hEQ2nhJHdI6wHMbq9NzgLVIVygeDQTPXkPtM9un-dkE5vIaU/s320/Pollocks+Store.+jpg.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453904870440155266" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 145px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 184px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Views from today and "yesterday" on the corner of Miner and Fourth Streets. (311 - 313 West Miner St.)</span><br />
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Pictured above is the building known historically as the Livingston and Brothers Building. Research by Robert Noonan in 1976 indicates that this building was erected in 1854 or 1855. He explains in his work <span style="font-size: 85%;">(<span style="font-style: italic;">Yreka's West Miner Street Buildings Blocks 200 and 300 1851-1900</span>)</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> that this lot and building, according to the first recorded property deed, as belonging to a H. S. Westbrook and J. B. Pierce who sold the </span>building to Livingston and Brothers in May of 1855 for the sum of $7,000. Several different owners came and went until 1865 when the Forest House Fruit and Cider store conducted business in one half of the building, sharing the space with the California/Oregon Stage Company.<br />
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Following the fruit and cider store a Mr. A. E. Raynes and Postmaster C. H. Pyle operated both a bookstore and the Post Office at this location during the years from 1866 to 1898. Around 1920 a dry goods store began business here that is still remembered, Pollock's store operated until about 1955, or 35 years in this building. In the older image above if you look carefully at the store in the corner you will see the name Pollock's boldly displayed on the front of the building above the striped awning. Following Pollock's Store a specialty shop called Tic Tok's Clock Shop operated here and then for a number of years the building was home to a fine stationery store at this corner location, Tyrer's Stationery and Books. Over the years there have been other business establishments located here and they have come and gone, but the ones listed are the ones who have made their mark and are recalled in our history.<br />
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On the side of this building in the back section a fine clock shop is currently in operation known today as "Dave's Clocks". It is perhaps interesting to note that in the 1950s the same back area was home to another clock shop known as the "Tick Tock Shop". I personally recall going by the window of the clock shop and looked at the intricate movements of the clocks displayed as a child, it is fun to once again walk by the same window and see similar displays.<br />
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In 2010 the main portion of the building along Miner Street was home to Edward Jones Investments.<br />
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Information on the history of this building has been ascertained from Robert Noonan's fine research <span style="font-size: 85%;">(<span style="font-style: italic;">Yreka's West Miner Street Buildings Blocks 200 and 300 1851-1900</span>), <span style="font-size: 100%;"> from information scribed on a plaque provided by the Siskiyou County Museum</span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;">,</span> and from personal memories.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">Copyright 2010, Claudia A. East</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-24324869910523686052010-03-15T16:56:00.001-07:002010-03-15T19:41:33.299-07:00Montgomery Wards Building<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7qUTaBr3Qf5w67aAeJCF39nB0v936BWtAwDFqUdSO6rkWnWHw9LehfbvfadtbRzu-hN3boqqjAI5luOEjXOwEzOTAvz031SjP6yXyhyphenhyphenAjBNzK5OudRmSQG4fYLQh3EFHVe_5m2U12KI/s1600-h/Montgomery+Wards+Early.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7qUTaBr3Qf5w67aAeJCF39nB0v936BWtAwDFqUdSO6rkWnWHw9LehfbvfadtbRzu-hN3boqqjAI5luOEjXOwEzOTAvz031SjP6yXyhyphenhyphenAjBNzK5OudRmSQG4fYLQh3EFHVe_5m2U12KI/s320/Montgomery+Wards+Early.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449014299127638530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Early view of the Montgomery Wards Building at 201 South Broadway, (formerly Second Street) Yreka, Ca</span><br /><br /><br />On June 7, 1929 a news article appeared in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Siskiyou Times</span> explaining that the new "Ward Structure" was now underway as ground breaking was imminent. Local capitalist, Victor Warren was financing the building, he also constructed the large "Warren's Building" located adjacent to the Wards Building, and his sister built the Broadway Theatre as seen in the above photo as well.<br /><br />The building was under the supervision of a J. P. Brennan, a Redding builder who won the contract for the job. The article explained that the building would be located on the corner of Second and Center Streets and would have an investment of approximately $50,000 ~ no small change for 1929! Further explanation of the structure said it would be one story in height with a mezzanine and have a frontage of 101 feet on Second Street and 102 feet on Center. All together the building was to provide 17,000 feet of floor space. The building completion was set for August 1, 1929. The news article further explained that to fill the store with stock it would take between 10 to 12 train carloads of merchandise! It was also anticipated that the new store would employ from 20 to 30 persons and they would be local hires with the exception of the chief executives.<br /><br />Because this building project was given only 2 months to complete some "fancy footwork" had to be completed. The first was to seek a new place for the Chautauqua tent that currently occupied the spot and find a place for their next performances. The tent was subsequently removed and according to the news, the next performance was given in the Agricultural Hall which would have been right behind this lot.<br /><br />Montgomery Wards came and went but served Yreka for many years, the building also served as a Rasco's during the late 1970s and early 1980s and currently serves as offices for Choices for Children and the Broadway New to You Thrift store that helps fund the Choices for Children programs. Around 2003-4 the building had some interior renovations when the Choices for Children's Program moved into the building.<br /><br />For those of you who have our <span style="font-style: italic;">Yreka</span>, Images of America book you will find other images of this store on pages 44, and 43.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Copyright: Claudia A. East</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940611489190367707.post-44294303914998160902010-02-19T21:56:00.000-08:002010-02-20T11:00:07.103-08:00Yreka and the 1930s<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE35v6nH2WH6jjcRwXi1bzDwmCUs9WnJZYMRleRKmrl6CDbxcbsChRHIsC2znSH2PUyB_onD6ypsi8hrD30qCCjp5Rvcn6Wyy7n0_ql23LcO9vdVx6PM3kPJDa_850KsQ7fF4Pe5IDcU0/s1600-h/Miner+St+Depression+Era+framed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE35v6nH2WH6jjcRwXi1bzDwmCUs9WnJZYMRleRKmrl6CDbxcbsChRHIsC2znSH2PUyB_onD6ypsi8hrD30qCCjp5Rvcn6Wyy7n0_ql23LcO9vdVx6PM3kPJDa_850KsQ7fF4Pe5IDcU0/s320/Miner+St+Depression+Era+framed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440201115934460354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz-EqxNsb_ecPhdyg0a_nDxg2xnnAU14FvmCJIK6OJKbTY9xqkzXroTs7PcODeiNJP7UYN58L90FAAbNHNfCg6O8q8_FbuW22vDAFpG8RKhgF7AexcjBnDZkj1FuN4ncVBdh526Ao49o/s1600-h/Front+1933+Yreka+Directory+framed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz-EqxNsb_ecPhdyg0a_nDxg2xnnAU14FvmCJIK6OJKbTY9xqkzXroTs7PcODeiNJP7UYN58L90FAAbNHNfCg6O8q8_FbuW22vDAFpG8RKhgF7AexcjBnDZkj1FuN4ncVBdh526Ao49o/s320/Front+1933+Yreka+Directory+framed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440201108217991202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo of Miner Street during the 1930's from the National Archives. </span><br /></div><br /><br />During the 1930s our country faced the "Great Depression", Yreka certainly had its trials, but on the whole the local economy fared better than many. During the early part of the 1930s major road work was completed through town with the widening of Highway 99 (The Pacific Highway) and many buildings along Main Street were either moved back, suddenly became very close to the road, or were demolished and new ones built. Also in the early 30s the new Highway 99 was completed through the Shasta Canyon just north of town. This was a major feat and news paper accounts of the new bridges and the road conditions were touted throughout California!<br /><br />In addition to the road construction, the early 30s also brought some major commercial building to town. The new Montgomery Ward Building on Broadway opened in Sept. of 1929, the Warren's Building opened for business in 1930 as well as the new Broadway Theatre! In 1931 the new Ley Fire Station was built, and towards the end of the decade the new Lake's Building was constructed just to the south of the Broadway Theatre.<br /><br />In public service we see familiar "old family" names such as A. L. Herzog, Mayor; B. F. Ackerman, Councilman; V. W. Hart, Councilman; John Goodrich, Councilman; and J. G. Goble, Councilman. Bernard Pollard was Fire Chief, and U. F. Brown was City Clerk. Charles Doggett served as Chief of Police, and R. C. Collier was Police Judge.<br /><br />Reviewing the City Directory it can be learned that there were many businesses in town, at least 5 Auto Camps, 5 Auto Dealers with names like Graham-Paige, Chrysler-Plymouth, Chevrolet, Ford, and Studebaker. There were three Drug Stores, dry cleaners and laundry, furniture stores, and gold buyers, six different grocery stores including Safeway and Purity, two lumber stores, three hotels, four meat markets, and six different places to shop for millinery goods! In addition there were 11 restaurants and a host of other businesses and services!<br /><br />During the 1930s the economy was fueled by gold, lumber, agriculture, and county and city government as well as travelers along the new Highway 99. People did business locally and "going to town" meant going to Yreka! The population was much smaller, an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people within the city limits.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Copyright: Claudia A. East</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0