The final resting place of early Sacramento hotel and land owner, William Land, sits on the highest level of East Lawn Memorial Park. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Editor’s Note: This is part 12 in a series about the rich history of and associated with East Sacramento’s award-winning East Lawn Memorial Park.

East Lawn Memorial Park, as has been presented in other articles of this series, serves as the resting place for former notable Sacramentans. And with a walk around this historic cemetery, one can encounter the names of many more people who achieved noteworthy statuses during their lifetimes.
Among those memorialized at East Lawn Memorial Park are city mayors.

William Land
One of these mayors, William Land (1837-1911), had his legacy preserved through Sacramento’s grand William Land Park and a local elementary school bearing his name.
Land, a New York native who served as Sacramento’s mayor in 1898 and 1899, bequeathed $250,000 to the city for the purchase of property to establish William Land Park.
This former mayor also founded the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce – today’s Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce – and was the proprietor of local hotels.
In addition to his ownership of local hotels, Land also held large real estate interests in stock and grain ranches.
It is quite simple to locate the resting place of William Land, as he was entombed within a large, white, columned, Greek-inspired mausoleum on the cemetery’s highest elevation.

Clinton L. White
Another former Sacramento mayor, Clinton L. White (1850-1925), was also interred at this featured cemetery.
Long before he began his term as Sacramento’s mayor in 1908, Clinton, who was a native of Iowa, taught school in Placer County.
In 1877, he became an attorney and wrote a criminal law book, which was published in 1879.
Clinton served as secretary of the judiciary committee of the California State Senate in 1880 and 1881.
He was, at separate times, a partner in several law firms, including White, Miller & McLaughlin, which was located in the People’s Bank Building at 8th and J streets.
Together with his wife, the former Olive Margaret McKinney, he had two children, Herbert E. and Edith M. White.
Clinton L. White officially stepped away from his mayoral duties on Jan. 7, 1910, when Marshall Beard began his second term as mayor.
William Alpheus “Jimmie” Hicks
New York native William Alpheus “Jimmie” Hicks (1906-1961) had an eventful employment career, which included working as a newspaper columnist, editor of The Sacramento Valley Union Labor Bulletin and a postman.
While serving as Sacramento’s mayor in 1954, he resigned after being appointed deputy director of the state Department of Employment by Gov. Goodwin Knight.
William was married to the former Bertha Vivian Nelson for 30 years and together they had two children, Betty Marie (Hicks) Hogue and Nancy Anne (Hicks) Parson.

Hiram H. “Hi” Hendren
Hiram H. “Hi” Hendren (1903-1977), who served as the city’s mayor in 1954 and 1955, began his political life when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the city council in December 1948.
Among his notable accomplishments was his founding of the Sacramento Valley Insurance Agency in 1934.
Additionally, Hiram, who was a native of Sacramento, provided much assistance to the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and the Volunteers of America.
He also served as co-chairman of the Citizens Committee for Good City Government and played an essential role in construction planning for the Sacramento Community Center.
In a timely awarded honor, Hiram was named “Sacramentan of the Year” by the chamber of commerce six months prior to his death at Sutter Memorial Hospital on July 4, 1977.

Former Mayor Joe Serna, Jr. was laid to rest at East Lawn Memorial Park in 1999. Photo courtesy of East Lawn Memorial Park

Joe Serna, Jr.
Joe Serna, Jr., who was interred at East Lawn Memorial Park following his death at the age of 60 on Nov. 7, 1999, passed away during his sixth year as the city’s mayor.
He was considered one of Sacramento’s most popular mayors and has the notoriety of being the city’s first and only Latino mayor. He was also a professor at Sacramento State University.
Serna, who was the son of migrant farm workers and a supporter of the United Farm Workers of America, worked toward revitalizing downtown Sacramento and renamed the park across from city hall, Cesar E. Chavez Plaza.
In 2001, in honor of the life of Serna, the 25-story Cal EPA Building at the northeast corner of 10th and I streets was renamed the Joe Serna, Jr. EPA Building.
Additionally, the Sacramento City Unified School District’s office at 5735 47th Ave. is known as the Serna Center.

William Albert Curtis
Massachusetts native William Albert Curtis (1857-1914), who was interred in a family mausoleum at East Lawn Cemetery, came to the Sacramento area when he was about 14 years old.
About a decade later, Curtis, with W. H. Wood, established the Sacramento wholesale produce and fruit packing and shipping firm, Wood, Curtis Co.
Curtis, who later founded a similar firm, the William A. Curtis Company, in San Francisco, was an extensive land owner in the Sacramento Valley and served as vice president of the California National Bank, of Sacramento.
Prior to his death on Dec. 27, 1914, Curtis had established himself as one of the city’s wealthiest residents.

The gravesite of Newton Jasper Earp (1837-1928) is located on the west side of the cemetery. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Newton Jasper Earp
Many visitors of East Lawn Memorial Park enjoy visiting the gravesite of Newton Jasper Earp (1837-1928), the half-brother of Wyatt Earp (1848-1929), the notorious deputy town marshal who participated in the legendary gunfight at O.K. Corral in 1881.
The employment history of Newton, who was a veteran of the Civil War, included working as a farmer, a saloon manager and a carpenter.
Newton had a wife named Jennie, and five children, Effie May, Wyatt Clyde, Mary Elizabeth, Alice Abigail and Virgil Edwin.
At the time of his death, Newton was residing at 4426 10th Ave.

RAF Officers
Four Royal Air Force officers were interred at the cemetery in 1943 after being killed in a crash of an American aircraft in the Fair Oaks area.
The men, Fred Hodge, John R. Latour-Eppy, John H.G. Moriarty and James A. Paterson, had been testing the aircraft, and RAF pilots and co-pilots had made 12 successful flights prior to the crash.
Although these men’s graves are occasionally inspected by a British official, no attempt has been made to return their remains to their native land.

Gypsy king
On Feb. 1, 1947, The New York Times published an article with the headline, “Gypsies bury leader.”
The Associated Press report noted that during the previous day, “laughing and crying” Serbian gypsies gathered at the East Lawn Cemetery to pay tribute to the life of Dushon John (1879-1947), their “unofficial western king.”
The laughter, according to the article, occurred because it was the gypsies’ custom to “send their people into the hereafter under joyful circumstances.”
The gathering included the toasting of beer and soft drinks to the music of a 12-piece band from Sacramento.
John, who was a native of Belgrade, was buried with a mirror, hair oil, a toothbrush and other such items for his journey into the future.
Other notable people interred at East Lawn
East Lawn Memorial Park is the resting place of many other notable people, including Florence Clunie, who willed $150,000 to the city for the construction of a clubhouse and swimming pool at East Sacramento’s McKinley Park.
Also interred at East lawn are James R. Garlick (1888-1962), a former funeral director, county supervisor and city Board of Education member; Frank M. Jordan (1888-1970), who served as the secretary of state from 1942 to 1970; and B.T. Collins (1940-1993), who served as a state assemblyman, chief deputy to the state treasurer and a director of the California Youth Authority and the California Conservation Corps.

A large wooden sign on a structure on the west side of Front Street in Old Sacramento pays tribute to steamboats of the past. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Editor’s Note: This is part 11 in a series about the history of the Sacramento River.

What do the names McKim, Chrysopolis, Senator and Washoe all have in common with each other in regard to Sacramento history? The answer lies in the topic of the Sacramento River.
These names were given to some of the more notable steamboats that plied this waterway during the 19th century.
And there were certainly many other steamers, as well as other vessels, that operated along the river during that era, considering the mass increase in population that came with the Gold Rush and the establishment and growth of Sacramento City.
For instance, the Sacramento Transcript noted in its Sept. 12, 1850 edition that during the previous month “there arrived at this city seventy-four steamers and seventy-four sailing vessels – the latter with a tonnage of seven thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight and one-quarter tons.”
These non-steamers were 58 schooners, three brigs, three barks, two sloops and two launches.
The 1880 book, “History of Sacramento County, California,” noted that 25 steamers were making their way to and from Sacramento in 1853.
In memory of some of the earlier-running steamers that transported passengers and cargo along the Sacramento River during the 19th century, summaries of these vessels are presented, as follows:

This 1861 steamer Chrysopolis freight receipt was presented for the reception of 30 boxes, which were arranged to be shipped at a cost of $2.50. The Chrysopolis was among the Sacramento River’s most notable steamers for her beauty, size and speed. Photo courtesy of Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento Room

McKim

The 326-ton steam propelled McKim, which was owned by Simmons, Hutchinson & Co., was recognized as the first large class steamboat to come to Sacramento City.
The vessel left San Francisco for Sacramento City on Oct. 26, 1849 and arrived at its destination 17 hours later.
According to the aforementioned 1880 county history book, the McKim received a very positive welcome upon its arrival at Sacramento City.
This description reads: “On her arrival at Sacramento (from San Francisco), the people turned out en masse and joined in an ovation to the first big steamboat, which had arrived in Sacramento.”
The same book notes that while the McKim, which made regular trips between Sacramento City and San Francisco, was then under the command of Capt. Macy, $16,000 in proceeds was collected for one trip on the steamer.
Regular rates for the McKim were presented in the San Francisco newspaper, Daily Alta California, on Dec. 21, 1849. They were $25 for passage, and for freight, $2.50 per 100 pounds and $1 per foot (measurement of goods).
As she was leaving the Carquinez Straits on June 11, 1850, the McKim was involved in a wreck with Simmons, Hutchinson & Co.’s steamer Gold Hunter.
The Gold Hunter suffered little damage, but the McKim nearly sunk.
In reporting on the accident in its June 14, 1850 edition, the Sacramento Transcript noted that there was a question whether the McKim would “be worth anything hereafter.”
However, on July 1, 1850, the Transcript reported the following: “The Herald informs us that the steamer McKim arrived at San Francisco on Thursday night (June 27, 1850) under steam. Her damage is much less than was anticipated, and we understand that in a few days she will be in order to resume her trips to Sacramento.”
Two days later, the Daily Alta California announced that the McKim was once again operating between San Francisco and Sacramento City.

This gravestone at East Lawn Memorial Park in East Sacramento was created in remembrance of a victim of the steamer Washoe tragedy on the Sacramento River in 1864. Photo by Lance Armstrong

The McKim continued its regular runs along the Sacramento River under the command of Capt. Chas. J. Brenham until about early November 1850.

Senator

The 755-ton Senator first arrived in Sacramento City on Nov. 6, 1849 and ran between there and San Francisco.
The fare for her first trip under the command of Capt. John Van Pelt was $30.
A brief description regarding the Senator was presented in the Nov. 17, 1849 edition of the Placer Times, as follows: “The Senator followed the McKim within a few days after her first trip. The speed and accommodations of the (Senator) are unsurpassed and her officers are gentlemanly and obliging. During the week, trips from this place have been performed every other day.”
The agents of the Senator were Minturn & Co. of San Francisco.
Regular rates aboard the Senator were $25 up river, $30 down river, $2 for meals, $10 for state rooms, and the charge for freight was from $40 to $50 per ton.
The 1890 book, “History of Sacramento County, California,” notes that for a long time, the Senator and the steamer New World made alternate trips between Sacramento and Benicia.
The Union reported on Jan. 9, 1869 that the Senator was undergoing extensive repairs prior to running in Holladay & Brenham’s California, Oregon and Mexico line.

Chrysopolis

Constructed for $200,000 in 1860, the Chrysopolis was among the Sacramento River’s most notable steamers for her beauty, size and speed.
She measured 245 feet in length, had a 40-foot beam, could carry 1,000 passengers and was described in The Union’s June 6, 1860 edition as being “as beautiful, perfect and agreeable as she is large and commodious.”
The Union, on June 4, 1860, reported: “Over eight thousand persons were present at the launch last night of the new steamer Chrysopolis, at Steamboat Point. The steamer Eclipse was beautifully illuminated and in attendance.”
E. C. M. Chadwich, captain of the Chrysopolis, died of heart disease on April 16, 1865, and Albert Foster later became the steamer’s captain.
The Union reported on March 17, 1869 that a keg of powder exploded on the Chrysopolis the previous night while it was crossing the San Francisco Bay en route to a St. Patrick Day celebration.
More than a dozen people, including a child, were injured in the incident, and a fire began in the gentleman’s smoking room, but was quickly extinguished.
The Chrysopolis was later converted into the ferry boat Oakland, which did service on the San Francisco-Oakland run for many years.

The steamer Antelope came to the rescue of survivors of the steamer Washoe tragedy on Sept. 5, 1864. Photo courtesy of Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento Room

Yosemite

The steamer Yosemite, which was constructed in 1862 and was commanded by Capt. E. A. Poole, began operating on the Sacramento River with the Chrysopolis during the following year.
The steamer Yosemite had a boiler explode after she was departing from the Rio Vista wharf on Oct. 12, 1865.
According to the aforementioned 1880 county history book, the disaster resulted in the deaths of two-thirds of the about 150 passengers on board the vessel. Thirty-two of the casualties were Chinese.
The Chrysopolis responded to the scene and carried away the survivors and the deceased to Sacramento.
In recalling the Yosemite, The Union, in its Oct. 14, 1865 edition, noted, “The Yosemite was a first-class steamer, constructed throughout with an eye to regular, permanent service, as well as speed and elegance, and she had consequently gained confidence of the traveling community.”

Washoe

The first trip of the steamer Washoe was made on May 8, 1864.
The Washoe, which was under the command of Capt. G. W. Kidd, left the Pacific Street wharf in San Francisco for Sacramento on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m.
On July 1, 1864, the Washoe and the steamer Yosemite collided near the Benicia wharf, and although the Yosemite was not damaged, the Washoe was in a sinking condition before she was saved.
About a week later, the grand jury of Solano County indicted Poole and the pilot of the Yosemite for assault with the intent to commit murder on the basis that the collision was an intentional act.
A dispatch to The Sacramento Bee from San Francisco, dated July 9, 1864, read: “The man injured by the collision of the Yosemite and the Washoe is dead. Captain Poole has just been arrested on a charge of manslaughter in connection with the above.”
In a commentary about the collision, the California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, in its July 15, 1864 edition, noted that “the event was one likely to occur at some time from the very (unpleasant) nature of the relation held by these lines of steamers.”
While the Washoe was traveling about 35 miles below Sacramento on Sept. 5, 1864, about half of its 175 passengers were killed as a result of a boiler explosion on this steamer, and about half of the survivors were severely injured.
Capt. Albert Foster with the steamer Antelope picked up survivors and delivered them to the foot of R Street.

Steam navigation company

As a tribute to steamers of the past, a large wooden sign on a structure on the west side of Front Street in Old Sacramento reads: “California Steam Navigation Co.’s steamers for San Francisco.”
The company was formed in 1854 by leading steamboat owners with the intention of controlling river traffic and earnings.

An American flag adorns the gravesite of Robert T. Matsui at East Lawn Memorial Park. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Editor’s Note: This is part 11 in a series about the rich history of and associated with East Sacramento’s award-winning East Lawn Memorial Park.

East Lawn Memorial Park serves as the resting place for many notable Sacramentans of the past.
In addition to those who have been featured in previous articles of this series, there are many others who were interred at East Lawn who have stories worth being retold.
One of the more notable people who made their post mortem home at East Lawn was movie and television actor Neville Brand (1920-1992), who was interred in the two-story mausoleum at East Lawn.
Brand, who was born in Griswold, Iowa and raised in Kewanee, Ill., served in the Army as a platoon sergeant in Europe during World War II.

Robert T. Matsui (1941-2005) was one of the most notable Sacramento-born politicians. Photo courtesy of East Lawn Memorial Park

His many Army decorations included a Purple Heart, as he was struck by a bullet in his right arm.
After residing in New York’s famed Greenwich Village, working in off-Broadway shows and attending drama school in Los Angeles, Brand began his film career in Hollywood in 1949.
Among the films Brand appeared in were “Stalag 17” (1953) with William Holden, “Love Me Tender” (1956) with Elvis Presley, and “Bird Man of Alcatraz” (1962) with Burt Lancaster.
On television, Brand was seen playing roles in episodes of such series as “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke,” “Rawhide,” “Tarzan” and “Kojak.”
Brand, who resided in Sacramento for about the last decade of his life, passed away at Sutter General Hospital on April 16, 1992, three days shy of his 72nd birthday.
When it comes to music, East Lawn is well represented through Dick Jurgens (1910-1995), who gained his fame as a prominent composer and big-band leader during the 1930s and 1940s.
Jurgens, who was a 1933 graduate of Sacramento Junior College (now Sacramento City College), wrote his theme song, “Day Dreams Come True at Night,” in the college’s instrumentation class of music, which was led by its director David Burnham.
While attending the college, Jurgens and his orchestra performed at school events, including a Halloween dance on Oct. 30, 1931 and the Art Ball on Nov. 7, 1931.
Jurgens signed with Decca Records in the 1930s and performed at various sized venues in Sacramento, San Francisco, Berkeley, Catalina Island, Chicago, Denver and elsewhere.
Today, there are many people who grew up in Sacramento during the big-band era who recall the music of Dick Jurgens.
The marker on Jurgens’ grave appropriately includes a G clef musical symbol and the words, “Day Dreams Come True at Night.”
Also interred at East Lawn was Democrat Robert Takeo “Bob” Matsui (1941-2005), one of the most notable Sacramento-born politicians.
After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley in 1963 and the Hastings College of Law three years later, Matsui founded his own law practice at 1214 F St. in 1967.
During the 1970s, he served as a member of the city council, including his time as the city’s vice mayor in 1977.
A year later, Matsui was elected to Congress, following the retirement of Rep. John E. Moss, and he represented Sacramento in the U. S. House of Representatives for a quarter century.
Matsui, who was interred at the Tule Lake, Calif. relocation center with his family following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, co-sponsored a 1988 law that preceded the federal government dispersing $1.6 billion to Japanese-Americans, who had been interned and their heirs.

Dick Jurgens gained his fame as a prominent composer and big-band leader during the 1930s and 1940s. Photo by Lance Armstrong

His activities also included leading the congressional effort to preserve Social Security and serving as regent of the Smithsonian Institution.
Locally, Matsui was a leader in the efforts to ensure federal assistance for flood control, light rail, parks and housing projects.
In response to the news of Matsui’s passing, former President Bill Clinton and his wife, U. S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, issued a statement, which, in part, read: “Bob Matsui leaves behind a rich legacy of service that improved the lives of his own constituents, all Americans and people throughout the world. He also leaves a loving family and a legions (sic) of friends who were touched by his grace and goodness.”
Another notable Sacramentan who was interred at East Lawn was Frank Fat (1904-1997), the founder of Frank Fat’s restaurant at 806 L St.
Today, this business has the notoriety of being Sacramento’s oldest eatery that has been operated by one family in the same location.
An early advertisement for Fat’s restaurant reads: “Most beautiful Chinese café, regular Chinese and American dinners served daily, featuring charcoal-broiled steer steaks, private banquet room for parties, clubs, lodges, etc., finest mixed drinks served in our cocktail lounge.”
As the popularity of Fat’s restaurant grew, so did the number of the Fat family’s restaurants. The first of these non-L Street restaurants was located at 2312 Watt Ave. in Country Club Plaza, accompanying the Stop-N-Shop grocery store in the Gourmet Lane food court.
Fat, a Canton, China immigrant who interacted with many notable political figures at his L Street restaurant, would eventually become involved in politics himself. This involvement included his work as a lobbyist for the interests of Chinese-Americans.
He later assisted in the founding of the Chinese-American Council of Sacramento.
Fat retired from his many years in the restaurant industry in 1971 and passed away on April 5, 1997, about a month prior to his 93rd birthday.

Note: This is part 10 in a series about the history of the Sacramento River.

The topic of riverboats on the Sacramento River is undoubtedly a rich part of the river’s history.
These vessels played an important role in transporting freight and passengers.
In the January 1920 edition of the Southern Pacific Bulletin, it was noted that “long before the railroad came, the Sacramento River was the ‘roadway’ along which commerce first traveled.”
Among the earlier vessels to ply the Sacramento River was a schooner known as the “Sacramento.”
In an article in the May 27, 1858 edition of The Sacramento Union, this schooner was described as having been purchased by Capt. John A. Sutter in 1841.
A July 7, 1860 letter written to The Union by a newspaper correspondent known as St. George refers to this vessel, as follows: “The only regular packet running between the embarcadero of New Helvetia (now the beautiful city of Sacramento, capital of the state of California), and Yerba Buena (now the great city of San Francisco, the New York of the Pacific) was Captain Sutter’s launch, ‘Sacramento,’ a schooner of seventeen tons. She was built by the Russian American Company, I think, at Sitka, for the sea otter service at Bodega and Presidio Ross, and sold to Capt. Sutter in 1839. I last saw her laying (sic) at Washington (now part of West Sacramento), opposite our city, in 1858, roofed over and used as a house for salmon fishers.”
In being that the 1858 Union article and 1860 St. George letter differ as to when Sutter acquired the Sacramento, it should be recognized that this event occurred in 1841.
The 1858 Union article noted that the Sacramento remained in operation until as late as 1848-49, and “after performing a number of important offices during the (Mexican) War, was, in the spring of 1848, the first to take down to San Francisco the tidings of the gold discovery.”
It was also mentioned in the same article that the Sacramento continued to be the largest schooner on the Sacramento River “up to the period when the commerce with the mines began.”
According to St. George’s letter, Sutter also had another line, which ran from New Helvetia to his Hock Farm agricultural settlement along the Feather River. The riverboat of this line was referred to as the “‘White Pinnace’ – an open boat, rowed and poled by six nude (Indians).”
The aforementioned 1920 edition Southern Pacific Bulletin article referred to the first steamer to travel on the Sacramento River.
That vessel, which was known as the Sitka, made its way from San Francisco to today’s city of Sacramento in 1847.
Nearly four decades later, The Union received a letter, dated Feb. 6, 1885, from a Mrs. James Greyson of Sebastopol, Calif., who claimed to have been a passenger aboard the Sitka.
The letter included the following words: “In the San Francisco Call of January 24th, I see the request for the name of the first steamer that plied on the Sacramento River, and being a passenger on the occasion of the first trip, I feel myself competent to give the information desired. She was a beautiful steam yacht, bearing the name of Sitka. She was, I believe, presented by the Russian government to Captain (William Alexander) Leadsdolph (Leidesdorff, Jr.). She left San Francisco on the 15th of December 1847 and arrived at the embarcadero on the Sacramento (River) on the 24th of the same month.”
Different dates for this voyage were presented in another account of the Sitka in the St. George’s aforementioned 1860 letter.
The 1860 letter noted that the vessel left San Francisco on Nov. 28, 1847 and “arrived at New Helvetia December 4th – six days and seven hours out.”
Also included in St. George’s account were the following words: “I made the first and only trip on Captain William A. Leidesdorff’s little Russian steamer from San Francisco to New Helvetia (today’s Sacramento). She had no name, but has since been called the ‘Sitka.’
“I have the notes I took at the time to be published in (the San Francisco newspaper) The California Star. I was the Sacramento correspondent for the paper, but did not publish them, as my friend, Captain Leidesdorff, was very sensitive at that time on the subject of steamboats.
“The day after her arrival from the Sacramento (River), she was sunk by a south-easter in what is now Battery Street (in San Francisco). She was raised and hauled up with an ox team in Bush Street, above Montgomery (Street), the engine taken out, and she was made a schooner yacht, christened the ‘Rainbow,’ and ran as a packet on the Sacramento River after the discovery of gold.”
The 1890 book, “History of Sacramento County, California,” also describes the Sitka, which is referred to in some 19th century and early 20th century references as the “Little Sitka.”
It was mentioned in that book that the steamboat arrived at the Port of San Francisco aboard a Russian bark from Sitka on Oct. 14, 1847.
Leidesdorff, who had been in business with the Russians at their American settlement for seven years, purchased the steamer from the Russians for his hide and tallow commerce.
The Sitka was described in the 1890 book as being “long, low and what the sailors termed very ‘crank.’”
It was also noted in the book that the weight of a person on her guards would throw one of her wheels out of service.
Various historic accounts refer to the Sitka as having made two trips in California.
According to the 1890 county history book, on Nov. 15, 1847, the Sitka left Yerba Buena Island – in the San Francisco Bay – where she had been reassembled, and took a voyage to Santa Clara, “with indifferent success.”
The book also notes that during its second trip, the Sitka, after making its way up the Sacramento River in the latter part of 1847 and arriving safely, took a long time to return to San Francisco.
This portion of the book reads: “Nearly a month elapsed, however, before her return; and in the meantime, various were the jokes and jibes ‘launch’-ed at her and on the proprietor, who nevertheless persisted that he would yet ‘make the smoke fly on the bay,’ and hand the name of his first steamboat ‘down to dexterity,’ as he pronounced the word.”
But, as previously noted, the Sitka made two trips in California before being dismantled.

lance@valcomnews.com

The Sacramento Brewery was located at 28th and M (now Capitol Avenue) streets.

Editor’s Note: This is part nine in a series about the rich history of and associated with East Sacramento’s award-winning East Lawn Memorial Park.

Among Sacramento’s identity during its earlier years was undoubtedly its position as a brewery city. And with a recent review of the records of East Lawn Memorial Park, the remains of at least seven high level local brewery men are interred at this East Sacramento cemetery.
Among these men was Philip Scheld, former owner of the Sacramento Brewery, which was located at 28th and M (now Capitol Avenue) streets.
The brewery, according to the 1880 book, “History of Sacramento County, California,” was established in 1849 by a German immigrant named Peter Kadell, who during the following year began brewing beer at that site. Peter’s surname is also spelled “Cadel” in other historic references.
According to The Sacramento Union, in its June 15, 1872 edition, the brewery was rented by Philip Scheld in 1853 and purchased by him a year later.
The 1880 county history book indicates that Philip became involved in the brewery business in Sacramento in 1852.
Another version of this story, as described in the 1890 book, “An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California,” notes that Philip “rented the brewery on the East M Street, and a month later bought it.”
Prior to becoming a Sacramentan, Philip, who was born in the town of Giessen in the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt in Germany on Oct. 13, 1827, attended government schools and worked on his family’s farm.
He later immigrated to the United States with his brother, Henry. They arrived in Philadelphia after a five-week voyage on July 11, 1845.
While residing in Philadelphia, Philip worked in the bakery industry and Henry dedicated himself to the cabinet making trade.
Both brothers eventually made their way to California. Henry arrived in 1849 to become a miner.
A year later, Philip, who was then living in Baltimore, was inspired by a letter that he received from his brother to head to California immediately.
After arriving in San Francisco on March 24, 1850, Philip traveled to Sacramento aboard the steamer “Hartford” before heading to El Dorado County.
He reunited with his brother in Volcano (Amador County) several weeks later.
Philip and Henry eventually worked together teaming between the mines and Sacramento.
Both the 1880 and 1890 county history books recognize Philip as becoming involved in the hotel business outside of Sacramento.
According to the 1890 county history book, this venture began after Philip and his business partner, Daniel Troy, acquired a hotel as a default method of payment for their work baking for that hotel.
Philip and Daniel had a larger hotel built to replace the hotel they acquired, and they also had a second hotel built. They continued in this business until the fall of 1852.
After Philip became the proprietor of the Sacramento Brewery, the brewery underwent many changes, including the construction of new buildings, an increase in its property size, and the addition of Switzerland native John Oschwald as co-owner of the brewery in 1869. That partnership continued until 1876.
The aforementioned June 15, 1872 edition of The Union notes that in 1860, Philip had the old brewery moved to the rear portion of the property and had a 61-foot by 42-foot, brick building constructed on the site’s northeast corner.
The 1880 county history book described the building as having been expanded to a size of 120 feet by 100 feet. The “two-story, brick addition” was built at a cost of $4,000 by Martin Madden, who was described in the Jan. 1, 1883 edition of The Union as “the leading builder in this part of the state.”
On Oct. 2, 1873, a fire occurred at the brewery’s two-story, 24-square-foot, brick, malt house.
The fire began when the malt that was being burned in the kiln overheated. The damage, which was contained inside the building, was financially covered by the brewery’s insurance.
Another building at the brewery caught on fire on Oct. 11, 1877, resulting in $1,500 in damages.
In between these fire years, Philip, who married Germany native Margaret Fritz on April 7, 1858, was involved in a near fatal accident.
During the early afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 14, 1874, following a morning of hunting several miles east of Sacramento, Philip Scheld was driving his buggy with his son, Adolph.
As Philip was resting his arm against the muzzle of his rifle, one of the buggy’s wheels ran into a squirrel hole, causing the firearm to discharge. A shell passed through his left arm, just below his shoulder, and exited out the other side of the arm.

The Scheld family mausoleum is located on the Folsom Boulevard side of the cemetery. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Although the injury resulted in Philip losing his arm to amputation, it was believed that he would have bled to death had the powder of his rifle not severely burned his arm, thus slowing the bleeding.
Oddly, 20 years later, Adolph accidently shot and killed Frederick C. Glueck while he was target shooting with some of his military friends.
The Union, in its Jan. 1, 1877 edition, noted that the brewery included extensive sheds and outhouses and had utilized 200 tons of barley and three tons of hops and produced 3,000 barrels of beer in the past year.
At that time, the brewery also included a 40-foot by 100-foot malt kiln and a 40-foot by 100-foot storehouse.
In the 1880 county history book, the operation of the brewery, which was then located on nearly a whole block of land, was described as follows: “It has steam power for mechanical purposes, three steam pumps, and is complete in every particular, employing throughout the year six or seven men, and having a capacity of eighteen barrels per day.”
The Union, in its Jan. 1, 1880 edition, noted that the brewery’s advantages for the manufacture of beer and shipping throughout California were “unsurpassed by those of any competitor in business.”
The 1913 book, “History of Sacramento County, California,” recognizes the financial rewards that the brewery brought Philip, as follows: “Still in the pioneer period of the ‘50s, (Philip) identified himself with the brewery business that by his own industry and sagacity brought him a fortune.”
The same book also referred to the Sacramento Brewery as “one of the most profitable properties of the kind in the state.”
Evidence of the wealth of Philip, who was a millionaire, could be seen through his stately home, which he had built at 1105 L St. in 1880.
In February 1869, while still dedicating himself to the brewery as its proprietor, Philip became one of the original directors of the Capital Savings Bank of Sacramento at the southwest corner of 4th and J streets.
And from about 1878 to 1913, he was involved with Sacramento Savings Bank at the northwest corner of 5th and J streets.
In the final 12 years of that time, Philip served as president of this latter named bank.
Following his aforementioned accident, Philip continued his role in the brewery’s ownership for many years thereafter.
Beyond his brewery and banking activities, Philip also owned a considerable amount of property in Los Angeles County, served as a longtime local firefighter, president of the Sacramento Rifle Club and a director of the Sacramento Beet Sugar Company, and was a member of the Sacramento Turn Verein.
He died at his L Street home at the age of 85 during the early morning of July 30, 1913.
His funeral was a private affair held at his home two days after his passing and he was interred at East Lawn Cemetery during the same day.
Philip’s remains are located inside the Scheld family mausoleum on the Folsom Boulevard side of the cemetery.
This mausoleum is East Lawn’s only private, family mausoleum that contains both large and small crypts.
Also interred in this mausoleum are the remains of Margaret, who passed away at the age of 80 in 1916, Adolph, who died at the age of 84 in 1946, and three other members of the family – Adolph’s wife, Leila C. Scheld (1869-1936); Adolph and Leila’s daughter, Margaret Scheld Cook (1897-1961); and Philip’s niece, Ottilie Fritz (1865-1917).
Another Scheld family member, August C. Fritz, a Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany native who died at the age of 21 on Feb. 27, 1872, had his funeral services at the Sacramento Brewery during the afternoon of the following day. He was originally buried at the New Helvetia Cemetery at 31st Street (today’s Alhambra Boulevard), between H and J streets.

Fernando Arroyo of Luther Burbank High (1970) / Courtesy photo

Butch Metzger and Fernando Arroyo—two rival pitchers from the old Metro League who eventually  pitched in the major leagues—head the list of eight ballplayers and one journalist to be inducted in the  2013 Class of the La Salle Club Baseball Hall of Fame.

Also inducted in this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame will be: Tom Dicktakes, Joe Gill, Mike Green, Leon  Lee, Nick Peters, Gene Sackett and Gary Szakacs.

The 59th annual Hall of Fame event is set for Saturday, April 27 at Christian Brothers High School Field  House. It will begin with a no-host social at 5:30, followed by a sit-down dinner at 6:30.

Arroyo, a three-sport star at Luther Burbank High (1970), compiled a 24-37 career mark while pitching  eight seasons in the American League for Detroit, Minnesota and Oakland.  He also played 13 seasons  in the Mexican Winter League, where he once pitched a record 17-inning contest. After retirement, he  coached in the minor leagues for Detroit, Florida and Oakland, and spent two years in the Taiwan  Major League.

Dicktakes (Sacramento High 1954) played bush baseball into his ‘40s, culminating his long career with a  championship with the Sacramento Smokeys in 1981. He is better known as “Twin Cam Tommy” for  developing a high-powered overhead cam nitro dragster that has topped out at 240 mph.

Gill (Bishop Armstrong 1963) recently passed away after a long illness. He starred for the Falcons and  Southside American Legion, played at USF where he was drafted and played one season in the New  York Yankees minor league system. He coached Christian Brothers baseball team from 1993 to 2006,  leading the Falcons to two Division II North section titles.

Green (Bishop Armstrong 1962) was twice voted the area’s top baseball player while leading the  Falcons to a 22-2 record in 1962. He twice hit over .400 and went 9-0 his senior season with a 0.28 ERA  and 127 strikeouts in 75 innings—all area best stats for pitchers.

Butch Metzger of Kennedy High (1970), taken at a New Faze youth baseball camp in 2010. / Photo by Rick Cabral

Lee (Grant 1971) starred at Grant High and Haggin-Grant Legion when those teams had some of their  best seasons. He spent seven seasons in the Cardinals farm chain before playing nine years in Japan,  often dominating that league in tandem with brother Leron Lee (Grant 1966). He is the father of  former major leaguer Derrek Lee (El Camino 1993).

Metzger, who prepped at Kennedy High (1970) and twice made All-City as a pitcher, pitched five years  in the major leagues for San Francisco, San Diego, St. Louis and New York Mets. He was selected the  National League 1976 (Co-)Rookie of the Year and tied a major league record of winning 12 consecutive  games without a loss. Metzger also played in Night League and Men’s Baseball League and was a staple  of the Sacramento Smokeys pitching staff.

Peters—Beginning in 1962 the San Francisco-born sportswriter covered the Giants for 45 years,  including his last newspaper stint with the Sacramento Bee from 1998-2007. He also covered most  major sporting events involving Bay Area teams, including the 49ers and Raiders Super Bowls, the  Warriors championship and many others. In 2009, Peters was elected to the writer’s wing of the  National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Sackett (McClatchy 1969) was the perennial catcher for the Lions and Post 61 Legion in the late ‘60s.  He played one season in the Dodgers minor league system, and coached locally as an assistant at  Christian Brothers High for eight years, including their Division I North Section title in 1988.

Szakacs (Mira Loma 1969) led his team to the Capital Valley Conference title in 1969 and played  professionally three minor league seasons, two with the Phillies organization. A fixture in the Night  League and Winter League, from 1973 through the early 1990s Szakacs was a mainstay on the  Sacramento Smokeys.    Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are $25 per person. To order online, go to:    http://www.cbhs-sacramento.org/eengine/index.php/alumni.

For more information call Chairman Joe  McNamara at 916/813-5699.  The La Salle Club is a non-profit organization that has raised funds for Christian Brothers High School  since 1939. The Club inducted its first Hall of Fame member—former Sacramento Senators’ manager  John “Buddy” Ryan—in 1953. Since that time, more than 460 individuals have been inducted into the  Sacramento Baseball Hall of Fame.  For the complete biographies of the 2013 inductees and a list of all Hall of Fame members, go to:  http://www.baseballsacramento.com/LaSalle_Club_Baseball_HOF.html

Arthur Serviss Dudley was a resident of East Sacramento during the 1920s and 1930s. Photo courtesy of Aerospace Museum of California

Editor’s Note: This is part eight in a series about the rich history of and associated with East Sacramento’s award-winning East Lawn Memorial Park.

Among the most notable people to make their final resting place inside East Lawn’s two-story mausoleum was former East Sacramento resident Arthur Serviss Dudley (1883-1977).
Born in West Salem, Wis., where he attended elementary and high schools, Arthur was the son of Lewis R. Dudley, a public school principal, and Nora (Serviss) Dudley.
In 1903, three years after receiving his high school diploma, Arthur graduated from the Illinois College of Photography in Effingham, Ill.
During the same year, he married Ada Broome of Effingham and moved with her to Palo Alto, Calif., where he established his own photography studio.
His successful professional photography career also included founding the California College of Photography in Palo Alto.
After the institution was severely damaged by the 1906 earthquake, Arthur and Ada returned to the East, where Arthur spent three years editing a 10-volume publication – “The Complete Self-Instructing Work of Practical Photography” – for the American Photo Text-Book Co. of Scranton, Pa.
Arthur remained with the company promoting the publication in various parts of the country, and then served as the business’s manager until 1911.
He later worked as the editor and advertising manager of The Camera and The Bulletin of Photography for Chambers Press of Philadelphia.
In 1913, Arthur was once again residing in California, this time farming on a 10-acre piece of property that he purchased in Riverside County. But that venture ended when his farmland washed out during a major storm.
This incident caused Arthur to return to his photography endeavors during the following year, as he moved to San Jacinto (Riverside County) and opened a photography gallery.
It was also in San Jacinto, where he assisted in the organization of that city’s chamber of commerce.
As a representative of Riverside County, Arthur assisted with the famous 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, which many Sacramentans traveled to San Francisco to attend.
In April of that year, Arthur was elected to serve as the secretary of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce. And a year later, he became the assistant secretary of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
During his time in Riverside County, Arthur assisted in the effort to have the Army establish the airfield that eventually became known as March Air Force Base.
Arthur, who had one son and three daughters, became a resident of Sacramento for the first time in August 1920 after being named as the new secretary of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce – today’s Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to his service with the local chamber of commerce, Arthur was a member of the advisory board of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, president of the Secretaries of the California Chamber of Commerce and director of the National Association of Commercial Organization Secretaries.
He also led efforts for the early 1920s construction of the $100,000 Chamber of Commerce Building at 917-21 7th St. and was a driving force behind the city’s “Days of ’49” celebration in 1922.
During his initial three-year residency in Sacramento, Arthur lived at 2162 33rd St. (1920-21) and 530 21st St. (1921-23).
In August 1923, he moved with his family to Portland, where he was instrumental in the formation of the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce. He also served as that chamber’s manager.
A year and a half later, Arthur was residing in San Joaquin County and working as the secretary of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

Arthur Serviss Dudley resided in this Fabulous Forties home at 1445 42nd St., just north of today’s East Lawn Children’s Park, from 1928 to 1929. Photo by Lance Armstrong

However, Arthur was not through moving, as he became the secretary-manager of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce in 1927 and a resident of East Sacramento at 1445 42nd St.
Although the Dudleys moved downtown about three years later, they would return to East Sacramento. The family lived at 1426 41st St. from 1933 to 1935, and altogether the Dudleys had at least 10 Sacramento area home addresses.
Arthur, who enjoyed camping, hunting and occasional games of tennis, belonged to various Sacramento civic organizations, including the Sacramento Trade Club and the Rotary Club of Sacramento, which then met on the mezzanine level of the Hotel Senator at 1125 L St.
Among the major highlights of Arthur’s many years with the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce was his noteworthy work with the military.
Arthur, who was the local chamber’s first paid executive, was involved with various aspects of both Mather and McClellan airbases.
Although he led efforts to halt the early 1930s closure of Mather Field – as Mather Air Force Base was then known – it was officially placed on inactive status on Nov. 1, 1932.
But after about a decade of maintaining its inactive status, Mather Field, with the assistance of Arthur, who used his chamber of commerce experience and status to his benefit, had a timely rebirth, less than a year prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
In his early 1960s writings about Arthur’s contribution to the U.S. air defense, Fenton L. Williams, who served as the historian for the Sacramento Air Materiel Area at McClellan Air Force Base, wrote: “As a result of his activity – his able, enthusiastic pushing – the country became conscious of the need to begin air defense work without delay. It is safe to say that no other one person in our whole country did so much to stir interest and get action when it was so badly needed – action that resulted in an effective air defense. Not only Sacramento, but the whole country and the free world owe a debt of gratitude to Arthur S. Dudley.”
Although McClellan Field (later known as McClellan Air Force Base) was named after Maj. Hezekiah McClellan, who died as a result of a flight test accident on May 25, 1936, Arthur is known as the “Father of McClellan.”
Arthur, who at separate times served as president and chairman of the National Air Frontier Defense Association, which was comprised of chamber of commerce secretaries, led a nationwide drive to establish more air bases.
His efforts resulted in seven new bases, one of which would become McClellan.
In his writings about Arthur, Williams noted that few people were initially informed about the plans to establish the base.
“Those who had information as to what was in the making guarded it closely to avoid a skyrocketing of prices,” Williams wrote. “Dudley confided in one person – Alden Anderson, president of the Capital National Bank. He, in turn, commissioned Carroll A. Cook of Artz and Cook real estate (and insurance) company to obtain the options (from landowners). Cook, himself did not know the purpose, so he acted naturally and did not create any wonderment.”
Arthur, who married Elizabeth Trumbo in 1946, about two years after the death of Ada, announced on May 7, 1936 that Sacramento’s new $7 million, 1,100-acre Army Air Corps repair and supply depot, which would later be known as McClellan Field, would be constructed. The base had its formal dedication nearly three years later.
Considering the economic impact that local air bases had on Sacramento, Arthur’s legacy on that point alone is grand.
His name is also preserved through Arthur S. Dudley Elementary School at 8000 Aztec Way in Antelope, and Dudley Boulevard and Dudley Way on the old grounds of McClellan Air Force Base. A small section of Dudley Boulevard was formerly known as Dudley Loop.
Arthur, who continued to serve as the local chamber’s secretary-manager until 1950, led efforts to have the Port of Sacramento constructed and witnessed McClellan’s expansion to more than 2,600 acres, passed away at the age of 94 on Feb. 16, 1977.
Services in his remembrance were held two days after his passing in the East Lawn chapel.

The flood of 1849-50 resulted in efforts that led to Sacramento City’s notoriety as the “Levee City.” Photo courtesy

Editor’s Note: This is part three in a series about the history of the Sacramento River.

When presenting a history of the city’s rivers, it is important to not only provide details about major floods, but also measures that were made to combat potential floods.
The 1880 book, “History of Sacramento County, California,” notes that prior to the great flood of January 1850, “nothing had been attempted in the matter of protection from flood or high water.”
Capt. John Sutter and the Indians, who showed him where to build his fort, recognized that the proposed location for the new Sacramento City was in a natural flood plain that was regularly inundated in the winter months.
Flood control became an immediate concern of the citizenry and politicians.
The Saturday, Jan. 19, 1850 edition of the Placer Times included the following words: “A week ago last night, our city experienced one of the most terrific southeast storms known in this region, which had the effect of swelling the Sacramento (River) by Wednesday afternoon, so that the water commenced running over the slough on I Street, at various points between First and Third (streets). On Thursday morning, the entire city, within a mile of the embarcadero, was under water. The damage to merchandise and to buildings and the losses sustained by persons engaged in trade is very great – vast quantities of provisions and goods having been swept away by the rushing waters. The loss in livestock is almost incalculable; many persons have lost from 10 to 50 yoke of cattle each, and horses and mules have been carried down the stream in great numbers.”
It was obvious to all people concerned that flooding in the area needed to be stopped and the waters held at bay.
But there were some people who found a “gold lining” in the inundation.
The Times also reported in its Jan. 19, 1850 edition that “large numbers (of people) have been washing gold within the limits of our city during the week, without any great degree of success.”
It was also noted in the 1880 county history book that “waters had scarcely begun to recede from the city (following the January 1850 flood) when surveyors were employed to survey lines for and make a location of the proposed levee.”
A levee commission was established on Jan. 29, 1850 and one of the commissioners was Hardin Bigelow, who on April 1, 1850 became Sacramento’s first elected mayor, largely because of his support of building levees.
The need for building levees was immediate, but the funds for doing so were nonexistent.
Bigelow arranged for the city to borrow funds beyond the city’s $10,000 limit, and he also provided $6,000 from his personal assets.
With this money, the city was able to construct temporary embankments, which held off the anticipated second flood of 1850 and demonstrated the need and efficacy of levees.
On April 29, 1850, voters approved a special $250,000 tax assessment for a permanent levee that was built between September and December 1850.
The contract for the levee was given to Irwin, Gay & Co. on Sept. 6, 1850 and the labor began several days afterward.
Although the levee was not yet completed by Oct. 25, 1850, on that date, the San Francisco newspaper, the Daily Alta California referred to Sacramento City as “our sister, the Levee City.”
The levee, which commenced to the south at the high ground near Sutterville, ran for about nine miles along the northern and western boundaries of the city. And with this levee, the people of Sacramento City felt safe.
But less than a year and a half later – on March 7, 1852 – new raging waters broke through the sluice gate at Lake Sutter, breached the levee and once again inundated the city.
As a result, Sutter’s Fort, the knoll at the current site of Cesar Chavez Plaza and Poverty Ridge on the southeast side of the city stood as islands in a lake that in low spots reached 12 feet deep.
While once again the economic devastation was extensive, according to an article, titled “Sacramento defies the River: 1850-1878” by Marvin Brienes, “No lives were lost, and warnings before the levees gave way enabled many Sacramentans to remove their most valuable goods to high ground.”
Three days after the city was flooded, Mayor James Richmond Hardenbergh called for a new levee to be constructed on I Street, from the Front Street levee to 5th Street, from 5th Street along the edge of Lake Sutter and then to the levee of 1850, along the American River.
The proposal was adopted by the common council and this $50,000 project was completed after about two months of labor in November 1852.
Although local citizens were once again feeling safe in the Levee City, this feeling lasted only three weeks, as the American River levee was broken on Dec. 19, leaving a 40-foot-wide crevice.
Eventually, 150 feet of the levee was destroyed and Sacramento City was under water.
In its Dec. 25, 1852 edition, the Daily Alta California reported the following: “The water was running through Eighth Street, some six feet deep. Several lives were supposed to have been lost. One man was seen floating down the river on the top of his house. At the foot of L Street, a whole block is afloat; the Eagle Saloon is washed away and is floating round.”
As mentioned in the previous article of this series, on New Years Day 1853, the water level of the Sacramento River was 22 feet above the low water mark and two feet higher than the great flood of 1850.
By Jan. 2, 1853, floodwaters once again entered the heart of the city.
Frustrations mounted for the city’s “burned out and flooded citizens,” as one local man described the area’s residents.
In an early January 1853 letter to the editors of The Sacramento Union, the man wrote: “Our city government has been in operation nearly three years, has expended more than two hundred thousand dollars upon the levee, and very large sums for other purposes. Our taxes have been greater perhaps than those of any other city in the world; our city debt is now very large; and after all this taxation and expenditure, the city has not received a benefit commensurate with the costs. We have received nothing like a fair equivalent for our money.”
On July 29, 1853, a city ordinance “for widening, altering and improving the levee, and providing for the payment of the expense” was approved by the mayor and common council.
The cost was set at no more than $50,000 and the work, which was completed by the latter part of 1853, was paid for in scrip known as the “Levee Scrip.” The levee along Burns Slough at the eastern end of the city and down R Street was separate from this approximate sum and was paid for through a loan.
The levee system, which later underwent various improvements, proved to be a successful barrier against major floods in the city for several years. But that level of prosperity quickly changed on Dec. 9, 1861.

Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two-part series regarding Manuel Silva Nevis and his wineries.

When it comes to reviewing the history of early wineries of Sacramento, it is important to recognize Manuel Silva Nevis, who was associated with three Sacramento wineries.

Nevis’ early start

THE CALIFORNIA WINERY office on 21st Street is shown during its post-Manuel Silva Nevis era in 1909. / Photo public domain, Courtesy of The Lance Armstrong Collection

As explained in part one of this series, Nevis was able to establish himself in the winemaking industry through the financial assistance of his father-in-law, Joseph S. Miller, who was reported to have been the first Portuguese person to settle in the Freeport/Clarksburg area.

With this financial backing, Nevis founded the Eagle Winery at 1519 18th St. in 1881.

Nevis’ success with the Eagle Winery led to his ownership of two other Sacramento wineries, the California and Pioneer wineries.

Although Nevis sold his remaining share in the 18th Street winery to the Azores Islands-born cousins, Manuel Joaquim Azevedo and Joaquim Leal Azevedo, on April 27, 1889, this business transfer did not mark the end of his use of the name, Eagle Winery.

A second Eagle Winery

According to a historic advertisement in The Sacramento Union, Nevis – who officially established M.S. Nevis & Co. on May 2, 1889 – was already operating a separate winery by the same name by as early as May 18, 1889.

The advertisement noted that this winery, which was located on 21st Street, between R and S streets, was “prepared to fill orders at wholesale (prices) for all kinds of California wines and brandies upon the shortest notice.”

The wording of this advertisement is of additional interest, since a special arrangement regarding wine sales had been made as part of the Azevedos’ complete acquisition of the 18th Street winery.

As part of the transaction, for the following two years, Nevis would not be permitted to sell retail wines and the Azevedos would not manufacture wines or offer wholesale wines in the city of Sacramento.

Legal battles

Unfortunately for these businessmen, their relationship suffered greatly due to legal battles between them.

The California Winery was located on 21st Street, between R and S streets. / Photo courtesy, the Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society

On Oct. 10, 1889, The Union reported that in response to a suit brought on by Nevis, Superior Court Judge W. C. Van Fleet had issued a temporary order requiring the Azevedos to discontinue their use of the Eagle Winery name.

Nevis, who had completed a large addition to his 21st Street winery about a month earlier, claimed that he had legal right to the Eagle Winery trademark and sought $500 in damages.

The Azevedos, who were represented by attorneys A.L. Hart and Joseph W. Hughes, filed a cross-complaint claiming their own right to the name and demanded $5,000 in damages.

Two weeks after filing his first suit against the Azevedos, Nevis, through his attorneys, Johnson, Johnson and Johnson, began another suit, claiming that the Azevedos had violated their contract to refrain from selling wholesale wines for two years.

The legal issues between Nevis and the Azevedos were officially resolved in Superior Court by Van Fleet on March 29, 1890, as Van Fleet ruled completely in favor of the Azevedos.

In regard to the name, Eagle Winery, the judge determined that Nevis made no effort to retain the trademark at the time of the transfer and that the name would officially be considered part of the business deal.

Winery renamed

As a result of the judge’s decision, Nevis renamed his 21st Street winery, the California Winery.

The earliest reference to the California Winery name discovered during research for this article appears in an advertisement in the Nov. 29, 1890 edition of The Union.

Under an artistic drawing of the winery, the advertisement includes the words: “Finest wines and brandies for holiday trade. All orders will receive prompt attention. M.S. Nevis, proprietor.”

Despite its legal battles, Nevis’ 21st Street winery continued to prosper, as is evident through an Oct. 11, 1890 Union classified advertisement, which called for the hiring of 20 men at the winery.

Depression troubles, name changes

Nevis continued the operation of the California Winery until 1894, when the winery, due to financial struggles during a national financial depression (the Panic of 1893), became the property of the California State Bank, which was located at the northwest corner of 4th and J streets.

The winery was renamed the Calutha Winery and operated under this name for about year.

It was at this time that George Peltier, the bank’s vice president, and Fred J. Kiesel, a resident of Ogden, Utah, purchased the winery and reinstated the name, California Winery.

Pioneer Winery

Nevis’ involvement with the aforementioned Pioneer Winery at the corner of 21st and R streets began in the late 19th century and by at least 1899, he was working as the winery’s manager.

According to the 1901 city directory, Nevis had recently become the owner of the Pioneer Winery, and his son, Joseph, was working as the winery’s manager. Nevis and his wife, Emma, also had five other children, Morvin, Roy, Cecilia, Henry and Leo.

Untimely end

Manuel Silva Nevis, an immigrant from the island of Pico in the Azores Islands of Portugal, was a proprietor of three early Sacramento wineries. / Photo courtesy, the Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society

Nevis’ ownership of the Pioneer Winery ended abruptly through a fatal tragedy.

On Saturday morning, Sept. 21, 1907, one of the winery’s employees, Joseph L. Manica, who resided at 1621 R St., began to search for Nevis at the winery to receive orders regarding a new carload of grapes that was to be unloaded.

After searching for Nevis for several hours, Manica eventually discovered Nevis’ straw hat lying alongside a vat.

In worrying that Nevis might have fallen into the vat, Manica went to the bottom of the vat, where his worst fear was quickly realized.

Details regarding this incident were published in The Sacramento Bee in Manica’s own words, as follows: “(At the bottom of the vat), I found him in a sitting position and when I shook him, I knew he was dead. I am convinced that he fell into the vat accidentally while on his way to the door.”

The drowning was the second drowning by a Nevis family member in a year’s time, since Nevis’ brother, Antonio, drowned in Graham’s Pond, about three miles southeast of Elk Grove, on July 16, 1906.

Following Nevis’ death, Emma became the sole owner of the Pioneer Winery, which was then managed by Harry B. Kingsbaker.

Kingsbaker moved to San Francisco in 1908, but Emma continued the operation of the winery for another two years.

Local orchestra conductor Michael Neumann studies the music of Beethoven’ Symphony No. 9. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

During his exclusive interview with this publication, Michael presented a chronological summary of his personal musical journey, which began in Durban, South Africa.

Michael said that he was born in South Africa, because his parents, Gary and Lilo Neumann, had fled there during World War II.

“I was the son of basically refugees from the Holocaust,” Michael said. “They came from (Berlin) Germany and went to South Africa. That’s why I was born there (in South Africa in 1948).”

During his years growing up in South Africa, Michael gained a love for classical music through concerts that he would attend with his parents.

Inspired by this genre of music, Michael began studying violin, and was taught at a young age by Maria Neuss, the great-great granddaughter of the famous Czech

In addition to his notoriety as a premier orchestra conductor, Michael Neumann enjoys playing the violin. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

composer Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904).

It was not until the early 1960s that Michael immigrated to America with his family, which also included his brother, Frank.

Michael’s family eventually resided in San Francisco, where Michael was enrolled in the prestigious Lowell High School.

Continuing his schooling through a music scholarship, Michael studied at San Francisco State College (present day San Francisco State University).

During his first semester at San Francisco State, Michael applied for and received a full-ride music scholarship from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for violin performance.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the Cincinnati university, Michael earned a master’s degree in orchestral conducting at the same institution.

Michael Neumann shows off his Beethoven Symphony No. 9-themed gate, which leads to his home studio. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Shortly after receiving his master’s degree, Michael obtained employment with the Birmingham Symphony in Alabama. For about five years during the 1970s, he played in this symphony’s first violin section and conducted the Birmingham Youth Symphony.

Michael’s longtime connection with Sacramento followed his time with the Birmingham symphonies, as he was hired in 1978 as the assistant conductor and as a violinist in the orchestra for the now-defunct Sacramento Symphony.

A year later, Michael began the first of his 32 years as the conductor of the Sacramento Youth Symphony.

Additionally, Michael continued his work with the Sacramento Symphony, which promoted him as its associate conductor, a position he obtained in 1989 and continued until the symphony disbanded in 1997.

Fortunately for Michael and the Sacramento Youth Symphony, the youth symphony filed for independence prior to when the Sacramento Symphony was discontinued. The youth symphony became its own non-profit organization, which is still in existence today and is led by Michael as its artistic director.

Michael, who is the conductor of the youth symphony’s premier orchestra, said that he made a very conscious decision to dedicate himself to and develop the youth symphony, which debuted as the Northern California Junior Philharmonic Orchestra in 1956.

Michael Neumann conducts a performance by the Sacramento Youth Symphony. / Photo courtesy, Michael Neumann

With the support of the youth symphony’s board, Michael has contributed greatly to the youth symphony’s success.

Since the time that Michael became involved with the Sacramento Youth Symphony, the symphony has grown from 55 youth and one orchestra to 400 youth, three 90-piece orchestras, a summer chamber music workshop, flute and clarinet ensembles and a beginning string orchestra, called the Vivace Strings.

And next year, the youth symphony will add a beginners’ orchestra, called the Prelude Strings.

Michael, who has a wife named Allison and two sons, Gary, who is a guitarist, and Joshua, who plays cello in the nationally touring, major label band, Brandi Carlile (visit www.brandicarlile.com), explained that the Sacramento Youth Symphony, which has performed in several countries outside of the United States, offers a very important educational opportunity for many youth in the Sacramento region.

Michael Neumann spends a moment with members of the Sacramento Youth Symphony during one of the symphony’s tours. / Photo courtesy, Michael Neumann

“There are many, many young people in Sacramento and the surrounding vicinity who want to play music, and especially now with the school systems, as many schools don’t even have an orchestra, because of the budget cuts, etcetera, etcetera,” Michael said. “Well, we provide a very high quality musical education for our young people.”

In addition to his work with the Sacramento Youth Symphony, whose performances have included tribute concerts such as its popular Veterans Day concerts at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Michael is also the music director and conductor of the Folsom Symphony and is occasionally a guest conductor around the country.

As a well accomplished and highly recognized conductor, Michael has received many awards, including the “Arts Educator of the Year” award from the Arts and Business Council of Sacramento – an award which he received last year.

Michael said that one of his favorite items of recognition that he has received is a hand-carved, wooden gate that leads to his former one-car garage, which was converted into his home studio in about 1999.

“There was a gentleman whose daughter took violin (lessons) from me and whose daughter was in the (Sacramento) Youth Symphony and he was so grateful for what I was doing that he said, ‘Michael, I do woodwork and I want to make you a gate, because I want to show you how much I appreciate what you do.’” Michael said. “He said, ‘I’ll put anything you want on (the gate) and all you have to do is pay for the lumber.’”

Pointing to the hand-carved portion of his gate, Michael, whose favorite composer is Beethoven, said with an upbeat tone to his voice, “This is the opening of Beethoven’s 9th. This is the violin part.”

Michael Neumann has won many awards for his work as an orchestra conductor. / Photo courtesy, Tom Thompson

In reviewing his career in music, Michael said that he is grateful to have spent so many years working in a field that he loves.

“There’s a certain satisfaction level that I feel (working in music),” Michael said. “When I see people in their work, in their jobs, who hate their work and look at (the clock) and say, ‘In another 10 minutes, I’m out of here,’ well, I’m never on a podium going, ‘In 10 minutes, I’m out of here.’ So, I’m grateful to be doing what I’ve set my mind and my heart to be doing. There’s a great deal of satisfaction in that.”

For those interested in attending a performance by Maestro Neumann and the Folsom Symphony, the symphony will perform a special concert, called “Land That I Love,” at Three Stages at Folsom Lake College, 10 College Parkway, in Folsom on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information, call (916) 357-6718 or visit www.folsomsymphony.com.