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BRIDGE
STREET
10010
JIBBOOM STREET - THE STONE GARAGE:
Presently
occupied by Sierra Mountaineer and formerly by Alpenglow, this stone
building is on the exact location where Truckee's first building, Gray's
Station, once stood. The
current stone building was constructed around 1907 and served as a
carriage house and blacksmith shop for horse drawn wagons and later for
cars. In the 1940's, Tom
Dolley bought the garage as a headquarters for his ambulance business. It
was later used by Zirbel's Liquor Store as a storage warehouse until 1972.
In recent years it has housed a number of businesses.
10007
BRIDGE STREET - THE TRUCKEE HOTEL:
This
three-story hotel has been on the corner of Donner Pass Road and Bridge
Street for well over 100 years. Numerous
fires and names are associated with the commercial Victorian building.
The hotel was first called the American House and following the
fires and changes in ownership over the past century, it has been called
the Whitney House; the New Whitney House, the Blume Hotel, Riverside
Hotel, Alpine Riverside Hotel and finally the Truckee Hotel.
During the 19th century, the hotel served as a stagecoach stop.
Today, this remodeled hotel maintains much of its original
integrity and importance as a local landmark. The owners received a
preservation award for their restoration efforts.
CHURCH STREET
Although the Methodist Church is the most prominent building on Church Street, its name was actually named after the town's well-known pioneer citizen and stagecoach driver, Eli Church who, for many years, drove John Moody's eight-horse team and coach between the Truckee Hotel and Lake Tahoe.
1. 10160 Church Street (east of Highway 267)
This 2 1/2 story wood framed residence was built during the 1880's before Highway 267 bisected the Church Street neighborhood and the old Catholic Church used to be located directly across the street. Built by Dave Cabona, one of Truckee's most prominent early Italian residents. At one time it served as the town's hospital. Many Truckee residents were born in this building.
2. 10069 Church Street - Community Methodist Church
The Methodist Church has been on this location in Truckee since 1869. The church has burned a couple of times and by the 1890's this building was erected as a wood framed Victorian Gothic Church. The building has served the community's needs for public meeting space and as an architectural landmark for over one hundred years.
The original church bell was cast in Baltimore, Md. in 1889 and brought to Truckee around Cape Horn. It was hung in the bell tower in 1892.
The church's name officially became "Church of the Mountains" in 1958. Atop the new steeple is the original four-foot iron cross made and donated by Tony Ghirard, a long time Truckee resident and local blacksmith.
Assumption Catholic Church:
Truckee's Catholic Church dates back to 1869 when the Central Pacific Railroad had just been completed over the summit. During construction of the railroad, many of the 9000 men employed on the project were Catholics. Truckee's first priest was Rev. Father John Mevel, a Frenchman, who served the railroad line and the fledgling town from early 1869 to 1872.
The church was originally located near the site of today's Truckee Lumber Company. When the church was destroyed by fire in 1890, the present Church was built just east of the large rock behind the Methodist Church. The church was then moved to its present location when the state highway was constructed in 1949.
The south wing was added in 1954. Foundry owner W.T. Garratt in San Francisco cast the church bell in 1878.
3. 10030 Church Street: Joseph Gray's Cabin:
The original part of this structure is the log cabin built by Joseph Gray, who built the cabin in 1863. This was the first building in what was later to become Truckee.
In 1909 D.J. Smith gave the cabin to the Native Sons, Donner Parlor No. 162, and the members moved it approximately 300 feet from the corner of Bridge and Jibboom Streets, where it was originally located. Reconstruction and restoration required taking the entire cabin down piece by piece. It measured twenty four by twenty feet and was built of tamarack and lodge pole pine.
Joseph Gray was Truckee's first resident, who was partner with George Schaffer in the town's first lumber mill on the Truckee River. Gray was an important part of the town's social and economic foundations. He was a defender of the Chinese community and their rights to live and work in the Truckee area. The log cabin is the only one of its kind in Truckee.
4. 10035 Church Street: Schaffer's Daughter's Home
George Schaffer built this 1 1/2-story balloon framed residence in the 1890's as a residence for one of his daughters. Schaffer's early involvement in the region's lumber and transportation industries makes this an important contributor to the Church Street neighborhood. A later resident was Frank Titus, a longtime Truckee constable and deputy sheriff.
5. 10110 Church Street: Tom Dolley Home
Built between 1885 and 1890, this 1 1/2-story house was once the residence of Truckee's longtime Constable and Deputy Sheriff, Tom Dolley, a giant of a man who also served as Truckee's fire chief. It is presently the home of Reg and Arlene Smart who owned and operated the Wagon Train Restaurant for many years.
6. 10126 Church Street: Truckee-Tahoe Mortuary
This building was constructed between 1885 and 1890 and has undergone several additions and modifications since its original construction. The present owner, Joe & Claire Aguerra, bought the home in 1968. Alva Hooper previously owned it. At one time Tom Dolley was a partner in the mortuary business. Before it was a mortuary, it was a boarding house operated by Marie Cabona.
7. 10020 Church Street: The Old Englehart House
This was once the home of William Englehart who was one of Truckee's prominent businessmen. Mr. Englehart owned and operated Truckee Soda Works.
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