Sierra County CA Archives History - Books .....Sierra City 1882
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Book Title: Illustrated History Of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

SIERRA CITY

   Twelve miles above Downieville, on the south fork of the North Yuba, at the
base of the Sierra Buttes mountain, Sierra City is very prettily located. The
town owes its origin and present existence, in a large measure, to the proximity
of the Great Sierra Buttes quartz-mine, where a large number of men are
employed. In the spring of 1850 P. A. Haven and Joseph Zumwalt came over the
divide where the great mine is situated, and were about the first white men in
this locality. Signs of Indians were plenty along the river, but there were no
indications that any crevicing or prospecting for gold had been done prior to
this time. Later in the year a settlement was made where the town now stands,
and the Sierra Buttes quartz-ledge had been located upon by a man named Murphy
and another party whose name is unknown. In 1851 John Lavezzolo settled on
Charcoal flat, but removed to his present place in the fall of 1852, his ranch
below having been jumped during the year. Locations were made on the
Independence lode in 1851, and considerable quartz was soon worked by arrastras.
In 1852 twenty arrastras, run by mules, were pulverizing rock in the
neighborhood, which, with the numerous tunnels piercing the hill in every
direction, caused the employment of a large working force. Sierra City then
consisted of two large buildings (one on the site of the Catholic church), a
baker shop, and several gambling-houses and saloons. During the succeeding
winter the town was entirely demolished by the heavy snows, so much of this
element accumulating on the roofs of the frail buildings as to crush them to the
ground. Food being exceedingly scarce, everybody went away, and not a soul was
left in the embryo village. At this time a snow-slide on an adjacent hill
covered up and killed two men who were trying to get away. A third miner named
Dillon escaped the fate of his companions, and lives a half mile below the town.
For some years matters did not look very promising for a revival of the
settlement. Each of the mines had its own little settlement, with its
store-house and saloon; and it was not until 1858 that a permanent town got a
foothold on the soil now covered by so many pleasant homes and sightly business
houses. The discovery of rich diggings on the flat caused a large number to rush
to the spot; shanties were erected, and the real inauguration of the village
commenced. In 1855 Doyle & Co. put up a saw-mill at Sierra City, which remained
in operation until 1878, when it was washed away by a flood. At the time of its
erection there was one solitary log cabin standing back of Peter Goff's present
residence. Harry Warner first visited the place at that time, but did not settle
here until three years later, when the Buttes, Independence, and Keystone mines
were in full blast. Stephen L. Clark came to the Independence mine in 1858; oaks
were then growing on the site of Sierra City; Lavezzolo had resumed mining on
Charcoal ranch, and also had a potato ranch east of Scott's hotel, where he
raised fine tuberous specimens. Lafayette Thompson, uncle of the immortal
Philander Doesticks, and the father of that pleasant humorist, built a hotel
soon after on ground which is now the Goff place. In 1860 Michael Carrigan and
several others built a saw-mill on the flat, which afterwards fell into the
hands of John Doyle. One year after Wilcox & Hutchinson put up another hotel on
the site of Scott's hotel, which two years after was owned and run by Samuel
Williamson. In 1866 Mr. A. C. Busch purchased the property, and for six years it
was a popular place of resort under his management. In 1872 Stephen J. Clark and
Alexander Black became the possessors. Mr. Black was murdered on the second of
November, 1872, a mile above town, by Winchester Doyle, who is serving out a
thirty-years term in the state penitentiary for his crime. In 1873 the Yuba Gap
hotel, as it was called, was sold to J. A. Scott, who has since run it. The
present roomy structure was erected in 1874, the main part of which is three
stories in height, and covers an area of 56 feet by 86. With side additions and
the back part, Scott's hotel forms one of the largest and best-regulated
institutions of the kind in Sierra county.

   Miss Hannah Riley, now Mrs. John Scott, started a private school in Sierra
City, in the winter of 1863, under the Masonic hall, which had been erected a
year before. She had only seven scholars. The school lasted six months, when it
was discontinued for a period, of five years, children being too scarce in that
region for the support of an educational institution. In 1868 the building now
used for educational purposes was erected by the people, and Mrs. Scott again
became the tutor. The building was then in an unfinished state, rude benches
being used for seats. She taught but three months this time, when she was
superseded by others. In 1869 the district began to draw state money, and a
public school was opened, which has continued to the present time, Mr. J. S.
Wixson, county superintendent, being the teacher. The district has sixty-two
scholars in regular attendance, with school property valued at $1,100.

   A post-office was established at Sierra City in 1865, when S. M. Wilcox
received the appointment as postmaster. In a few months he resigned, and Sierra
City existed a portion of a year without any postmaster at all. Finally, at the
solicitation of the citizens, A. C. Busch took the office, and without
intermission to the present date he has been the incumbent. Wells, Fargo, & Co.
established an express office here in 1871, appointing Mr. Busch also as their
agent, who has since continued to transact their, large business at this point.
In 1870 the county voted bonds to the amount of $20,000 for the construction of
a wagon road from Downieville, through Sierra City, to Sierra valley. Sierra
City is connected by a line of daily stages with Downieville, a distance of
twelve miles, the route being owned by Weir & Mead; she has communication by
tri-weekly stages with Forest City, twenty-five miles distant, under the
management of J. F. Mayott; G. H. Abbe runs tri-weekly stages to Sierraville,
where connection is made with G. Q. Buxton's line southward, that extends to
Truckee, fifty-four miles from Sierra City. A telegraph line from Downieville to
Taylorville, via Sierra City, was built in the fall of 1874. To aid in its
construction, the people of this town subscribed one thousand dollars, five
hundred of which were given by the Sierra Buttes Mining company. Another line
runs to Forest City, while telephonic communication is had with the Buttes mine.
  Mr. Busch is the operator at this point.

   In 1871 a grand Fourth-of-July celebration was held at Sierra City, on which
occasion J.J. Tinney read the declaration of independence to a vast audience,
and Frank Anderson of Downieville delivered an eloquent and thrilling oration. A
prominent feature of the day was the laying of the corner-stone of Busch's
building on Main street, by the E Clampus Vitus society, with appropriate and
impressive ceremonies. The brazen serpent, and other insignia of this ancient
and honorable order, were displayed to the public gaze; while Harry Warner, in
an able peroration, dilated at some length on the benefits accruing to its
members and their families by their connection with a secret order possessing
such broad and liberal principles. Many an old "Clamper" was fired with
enthusiasm at the recital, the public mind was stirred, and the effect of the
address was an immediate numerous batch of applications for admission within the
pale of the favored order. The E Clampus Vitus was first organized in Sierra
City in 1857, with Samuel Hartley as the pioneer N. G. H. Since that time it has
received accessions from every side, and now numbers in its ranks many of the
most honored and respected citizens of the town and vicinity. The Busch
building, a view of which may be seen on another page, is one of the finest
buildings in the county, costing in the neighborhood of $16,000. Its dimensions
are 73 by 36 feet, with three spacious stories. The brick used in its
construction was made in Sierra City. The first floor is occupied by Busch &
Heringlake with their large stock of general merchandise; the second used for a
residence; while in the third is a large public hall.

   Sierra City has never been visited by any great conflagration, though she is
well prepared for the occurrence of any such catastrophe. Reservoirs are owned
by A. C. Busch, H. H. Bigelow, and G. B. Castagneto. Mr. Busch brings water from
a point two miles up the river to his reservoir; while the other two are filled
from the ravines. Three fire-plugs are on Main street, with a quantity of hose
for each. Water can be thrown over the top of Busch's flag-staff with the
regular pressure. Three years ago Hose company No. 1 was organized, and a
hose-cart purchased by the town. The Catholic and Methodist churches, both neat
roomy structures, were built in the summer of 1881. Father Kerley of Downieville
presides over the former, and B. F. Rhodes over the latter.

   Several breweries have at various times been in operation at Sierra City, but
the present one, called the Sierra Buttes brewery, was erected in June, 1881, by
Casper Joos and William Junkert. In October F. L. Fisher bought out Joos'
interest. An excellent article is manufactured here. The business of Sierra City
is considerable, a large section of country drawing its supplies from this
place. Dr. J. J. Sawyer, surgeon of the Buttes mine, enjoys a very large
practice throughout the county. Two saw-mills are at present in operation: one
on the South branch, owned by the South Branch Water Company, is situated a mile
and a half above the town; the other is about the same distance from town, and
is the property of James Kirby, who erected it in 1872. A very pretty cemetery
has been laid out west of the village.

   HARMONY LODGE NO 164, F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation of the
grand lodge in 1861, with Harry Warner, W. M.; E. R. Davis, S. W.; Alexander
Black, J. W. A charter was granted the following year, when E. R. Davis became
W. M.; there being fourteen charter members. The Masonic hall was erected the
same year. At present the elective oflicers are: Thomas L. Williams, W. M.;
Thomas Mills, S. W.; Thomas Crossman, J. W.; A. C. Busch, treas.; George Black,
sec.

   SCEPTER LODGE NO. 262, I. O. O. F., was established June 15, 1877. For a year
and a half meetings were held in the Masonic hall, but in the fall of 1879 the
handsome Odd Fellows hall was erected on Main street. J. M. Gorham was the first
N. G.; Isaac Martinetti, V. G.; C. A. Heringlake, treas.; William Cocks, sec.
The last officers installed are: John Pellow, N. G.; William Rickard, V. G.;
John A. Scott, treas.; Emil Schultz, sec.; membership, 57.

   SIERRA CITY LODGE NO. 125, A. O. U. W., was chartered September 2, 1879, with
A. C. Busch, P. M. W.; I. T. Mooney, M. W.; W. H. Hutchinson, F.; G. H. O.
Sunderhouse, O. The present officers are: J. M. Gorham, P. M. W.; Joseph
Guirovich, M. W.; A. C. Busch, F.; I. T. Mooney, O.; J. W. Kane, Recorder; A. L.
Moore, Financier;. I. Martinetti, Receiver; Joseph Pires, G.; Joseph Davis, I.
W.; T. Bendixon, O. W. Meetings are held in Good Templars hall.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sierra/history/1882/illustra/sierraci155nms.txt

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