Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....The Geysers 1877
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Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California

THE GEYSERS.

   Among the noted springs and places of interest in Sonoma county, the Geysers
are justly entitled to pre-eminence. They are located in the Mayacmas range of
mountains, one thousand seven hundred feet above the sea-level. Imagine a clear,
bold stream, a rod wide, flowing through a great canon, with lofty mountains
upon either side. Imagine a vast trench, a quarter of a mile long, appropriately
called the "Devil's canon," cutting the mountain, on the cast side of the creek,
at right-angles; in this trench or cut are the water and steam jets which form
the Geysers. The springs, uniting their waters, make up a stream hissing hot,
which falls into Pluto creek. We will not attempt a description, further than to
say that the sides of this trench are scorched and burnt, and through its whole
length issue whirring steam-jets and boiling water, some of which is black as
ink. Standing in the middle of this discord of harsh Founds, and enveloped in a
sulphurous vapor, it requires no great stretch of fancy to imagine one has
passed from the accustomed order and beauty of nature to the threshold of chaos.

   The first known white man that visited these springs was Wm. B. Elliott, in
April, 1847, though they were known to the Indians prior to that time. There is
a steam spring known as the Indian Sweat-bath, where those of the tribe
afflicted with rheumatism were brought and laid upon a scaffold immediately over
the spring, and steamed until cured, or death carried them to the hunting
grounds of the Great Spirit, where the twisting pangs of rheumatism are unknown.

   The first house at the Geysers was built by M. Levy on a beautiful flat just
west of the springs. Upon this flat the fearless hunter Elliott, the discoverer
of the Geysers, and his son killed a grizzly bear who was inclined to dispute
the right of the white man to explore the mysteries of the Devil's canon. The
house which Levy built upon this flat was known as the Old Homestead, and is
remarkable for a wild grape-vine on its site, measuring twelve inches in
diameter. In 1854 Major Ewing-erected a cloth house where the present hotel
stands. Levy, finding it a more eligible situation than his own, consolidated
his interest with Major Ewing's. After this a saw-mill was brought in, and a
part of the hotel now in use was built.

   The late Colonel A. C. Godwin, then a merchant in Geyserville, became an
owner in the properly soon after it was settled. Colonel Godwin was a man of
winning manners, and a personal magnatism that attracted all who knew him.
Together with him, and another dear friend, deceased, the writer, on his first
visit, in 1857, explored the wondera of Geyser canon. After a lapse of years we
revisited the same scene with a guide; the associations and surroundings
recalled to memory the first owner of the Geysers, and brought forcibly to mind
the beautiful words of the poet:

   "Many a year is in its grave
    Since I crossed this restless wave;
    And the evening, fair as ever,
    Shines on ruin, rock, and river,
    Then on this same stream beside Stood two comrades, old and tried;
    Take O! stranger thrice thy fee,
    Take—I give it willingly,
    For, invisible to thee,
    Spirits twain have walked with me."

   The first route to the springs was through Knight's valley to the foot of the
mountain, in stages, then on horse-back by a narrow trail over the mountain. W.
McDonald, still a resident of Knight's valley, acted as guide. Levy kept the
hotel during Mr. Godwin's ownership; he was succeeded by Major Ewing, and Major
Ewing by H. Utting. After Mr. Utting the place changed hands nearly every year,
and the hotel was kept successively by Coe & Baxter, Clark Foss, and F. H. Coe.
In 1866 it was rented by Major Shafer, who kept it until 1870; he was succeeded
by J. C. Susenbeth, who remained there three years. B. S. Hollingsworth was the
lessee for the years 1874-5-6 and 7; he was succeeded, in April of this year, by
Mr. W. Forsyth, the present proprietor. The first register kept at the springs
was in the year 1854, and there are but twenty names upon it. From that time on,
the number increased every year until 1875, when three thousand five hundred
names were enrolled. The first wagon-road made to the Geysers was from
Healdsburg over what is called the Hog's Back ridge. On the 15th of May, 1861,
R. C. Flournoy drove a double team and buggy over the new road, and to him
belongs the credit of taking the first wheeled vehicle of any kind to the Geyser
springs. He was accompanied by a lady, and reached the hotel at eleven o'clock
p. M., without breaking a bolt. The main trail to the Geysers was over this road
until 1869, when a toll-road was built from Knight's valley, and a stage-line
was put on that route. In 1874 the toll-road from Cloverdale up Sulphur creek
was built, and opened the following season. Of all the roads to the Geysers,
that from Healdsburg, over the Hog's Back, is the most interesting and
beautiful; it follows the crest of the high ridge separating the waters of Big
and Little Sulphur creeks, passing close under the shadow of Geyser peak,
affording a view of the great Russian River valley and the sea beyond,
unsurpassed anywhere in its breadth, variety, and beauty. N. W. Bostwick runs,
passengers through by this route, with first-class vehicles, and in the shortest
possible time. There are other roads into the springs from Lake county, and
there is also a good trail from Geyserville. The springs can be reached by
private conveyance in about three hours' and a-half travel from Santa Rosa.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORICAL
AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF
SONOMA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
BY
ROBERT A. THOMPSON,
EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT."
PHILADELPHIA:
L. H. EVERTS & CO. 
1877.


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