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Miners eager to spend their gold and relax after a hard day's work no doubt supported a thriving local industry, beer making. As early as 1858, 44,000 gallons of beer were produced by seven breweries. By 1879, 50 local breweries were producing 500,000 gallons. First on the scene was E. Weiss, a native of Alsace, France who learned brewing in Strasbourg. He arrived in Sacramento in 1850, walked to Nevada City, and built a house and brewery. Weiss expanded his holdings in 1880 and claimed he had been in business in California longer than any other brewer.

Experienced in the hotel business, Elijah J. Rector and his younger brother Bayless S. Rector took over the ailing National Exchange Hotel in 1886 on a lease agreement becoming the owners five years later. Under the Rectors, this Broad Street landmark, built in 1856, became the best hotel in the state north of San Francisco. They expanded the building and added the distinctive second floor balcony. There was also a large second floor dining room famous for its cuisine. Here local dignitaries and their families dined Sunday nights seated each week at the same table. After dinner, they would gather in the next door parlor to listen to music.

Nevada City resident George Kidd was small in stature, but contributed a huge amount to the area’s growth. He was involved in mining, real estate, banking, water and freight. He was also involved in an incident that has gone down in history as “The Big Scare.” On January 14, 1865, Nevada City’s sheriff got wind of a plot by secessionists from Grass Valley to sack the town. The Light Guard met to prepare, and Kidd was given the military trappings of a man twice his size and made quite a spectacle marching down Broad Street in the huge uniform with his cartridge box striking the ground with each step. The sheriff fortified himself with whiskey, women and children were sent from town, sentinels watched through the night. As it turned out there never was any sign of the “enemy.”

Eccentric Lyman Gilmore, Jr. came to Grass Valley in 1907 to pursue his aviation interests and build an air field at what is now site of a middle school that bears his name. Gilmore had no business sense and was unable to promote his ideas. He was also secretive and afraid people would steal his inventions. Therefore, Gilmore left out certain aspects in the patents he applied for, and so, was granted few. Despite his strange ways, today his vision is unquestioned. The monoplane, retractable landing gear, an enclosed passenger cabin, the need for stability rather than power all Gilmore concepts that became part of the development of modern aviation. more on Lyman Gilmore

Benjamin Taylor arrived in Grass Valley in the fall of 1849. He did mine, but he also established a ranch with stock purchased from emigrants. Not satisfied with the breed of horses and cattle found in California, he returned twice to his home state of Oklahoma to bring out improved stock. The first trip back involved building wagons and hiring 16 men to move the 300 head of cattle, horses and mules. On his second trip, he brought back 500 head of stock for his Buena Vista Ranch located in Peardale. Probably the first rancher in the area, Taylor was far from the last. By 1858, there were 271 ranches to meet the demand created by thousands of miners. Taylor can be credited with contributing to the quality of the California beef industry.

Lotta Crabtree

Lester Pelton (Deer Creek School Project)

Lyman Gilmore (Deer Creek School Project)

Nellie Pooler Chapman (Deer Creek School Project)

Sarah Davis (Deer Creek School Project

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