Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....The Geysers 1877 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 24, 2006, 4:57 pm 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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