This is the first installment of a regular column on Lake County history.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lower Lake was founded in 1848 and was, at that time part of Napa County.
After the boundaries changed, many citizens voiced an opinion to have Lower Lake as their county seat.
The selection of the county seat swirled under much controversy.
The county’s first courthouse, at Lakeport burned in 1867, six years after the county of Lake was formed by an act of the Legislature.
Then, all of the records of Lake County were destroyed, with the exception of one of the treasurer’s books, as he had taken it home with him.
The cause of the devastating fire was believed to have been an act of arson. The reasons for this suspicion stem from the debate over the selection of a county seat, but no one could prove this.
Voters had a sizable decision to make with regard to the town that named the county seat. The vote was between Lakeport and Lower Lake.
In 1869 Lower Lake was voted in as county seat, but the election was contested on the grounds that “fraud was practiced at Lower Lake.”
Through an act of the Legislature another vote was held, with the results as follows: Lakeport, 479 votes, and Lower Lake, 404 votes.
Lower Lake’s first house was built by E. Mitchell in 1858. Shortly after, in 1860 a store was constructed by Mr. Herrick and Mr. Getz.
Then followed C.N. Adams’ saloon and L. B. Thompson’s blacksmiths, both in 1861, then Dr. Bynum’s hotel in 1865.
Lower Lake soon became a bustling town with a drug store that held the unique distinction of being operated by one of the few young women who ran a drug store on the West Coast.
The druggist was in her 20s, and according to Slocum, Bowen, & Co’s. History of Lake County: “She began at the age of fourteen, and in two years assumed full charge of the business, and now conducts it in her own right and title, giving eminent satisfaction in a place so fraught with responsibilities.”
Soon to be found in Lower Lake were two more blacksmiths and saloons, a livery stable, flour mill, restaurant, shoe store, barber shop, planing mill, two meat markets, printer and a livery stable.
There was a post office with three-times-a-week delivery and a Wells Fargo & Co.’s express office that contained a telegraph office within. Lower Lake also sported two doctors, a law office, and a brewery.
Travel was made easy by its two stage coach lines. One ran from Lower Lake to Woodland, and the other could deliver you to Calistoga.
There were three early newspapers in Lower Lake. The “Observer” was published in 1866. That same year the “Sentinel” newspaper started publishing, then the “Bulletin” was begun in 1869.
The Lower Lake Brewery produced the sudsy product in 1870 by Keitz & Co. It was located just north of town.
In 1875 the business was sold to Mr. C. Hammer and C. F. Linck.
According to old records, “A market is readily found for the product at the mines and neighboring towns.”
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
Lake County Time Capsule: Beautiful Lower Lake
- Kathleen Scavone
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