Inside the Ruins of the Bull, Baker & Company Building of Shasta, California.

This episode of Exploring Shasta County History explores the story of the Bull, Baker & Company building and traces the rise and fall of one of northern California's most influential Gold Rush mercantile businesses. Through the lives of its founders—Alpheus Bull, George P. Baker, William Robbins, and later Adoram Coleman—it explores how commerce, fire, transportation, and changing fortunes shaped the once-booming town of Shasta. Today, the building's weathered brick ruins stand as a lasting reminder of the entrepreneurs who helped build California's northern frontier and the community that flourished before progress passed it by.

Video filmed on location.

Advertisement for the Bull, Baker & Company, of Shasta, California from the October 8, 1853, edition of the Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta. 

RESOURCES:

1850 U.S. Census

1852 California State Census

Theft - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 23, 1853

Per Adams & Company's Express - The Nevada Journal of Nevada City, Nevada, June 17, 1853

Terrible Conflagration - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 18, 1853

New Buildings - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 18, 1853

Brick Buildings - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 25, 1853

Brick Buildings - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 30, 1853

Brick - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 20, 1853

Building In Shasta - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, September 17, 1853

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 8, 1853

Bull, Baker & Co's Building - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 8, 1853

Improvement of the Shasta and Yreka Trail written by Alpheus Bull - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 7, 1854

Mules in the Shasta Trade - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, November 11, 1854

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, November 11, 1854

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, November 25, 1854

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 27, 1855

Returned - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 17, 1855

Improvements in Shasta - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 6, 1855

Hon. Wm. M. Gwin - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 12, 1856

Beautifying - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 26, 1856

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 2, 1856

Shasta Wholesale Prices Current - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta - February 2, 1856

Fruit Trees for Sale - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 16, 1856

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 1, 1856

Summons - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 1, 1856

Sheriffs Sale - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 15, 1857

Removal Hardware - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 2, 1858

Owner Wanted - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 23, 1858

Notice - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 3, 1858

Wm. Robbins - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta - April 3, 1858

District Court - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta - October 1, 1859

1860 U.S. Census

Washoe - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 10, 1860

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 17, 1860

Preparing for Harvest - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 12, 1860

Alpheus Bull - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 13, 1860

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 27, 1860

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 6, 1861

Mr. Alpheus Bull - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 19, 1865

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 30, 1865

Alpheus Bull California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 

1870 U.S. Census

City Items in Brief - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, March 16, 1869

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 24, 1870

Sarah Bull - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, September 7, 1871

Hanged Herself - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, September 16, 1871

The Death of Mrs. Bull - The San Francisco Call Bulletin newspaper of San Francisco, September 16, 1871

Sarah Bull - The Inyo Independent and Inyo Valley Progress Citizen newspaper of Lone Pine, September 16, 1871

1880 U.S. Census

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, September 9, 1882

William Robbins - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 18, 1888

William Robbins - The Weekly Sentinel newspaper of Red Bluff, February 25, 1888

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65339278/alpheus-bull

Bull's Judgement - The Oakland Tribune newspaper of Oakland, April 25, 1890

Alpheus Bull Drowned - The Evening Mail newspaper of Stockton, California, May 16, 1890

Alpheus Bull - The Oakland Tribune newspaper of Oakland, May 16, 1890

Death of Alpheus Bull - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, May 17, 1890

Alpheus Bull Drowned - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, May 17, 1890

Over the Bank - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, May 17, 1890

Alpheus Bull Drowned - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento,  May 17, 1890

Death Notice - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, May 18, 1890

Millionaire Bull Drowned - The Lyon County News and the Emporia Times newspaper of May 22, 1890

Alpheus Bull’s Watch - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, May 23, 1890

Alpheus Bull. - The Ketchum Keystone newspaper of Ketchum, Idaho, May 24, 1890

Alpheus Bull’s Estate - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, May 25, 1890

The Will of the Late Alpheus Bull. - The Sunday Oregonian newspaper of Portland, Oregon, May 25, 1890

Death of Alpheus Bull - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 31, 1890

An Argonaut of ‘49 - The Lawrence Daily Gazette newspaper of Lawrence, Kansas - June 6, 1890

An Argonaut of ‘49 - The St. Joseph Gazette of St. Joseph, Missouri, June 8, 1890

1900 U.S. Census

1910 U.S. Census

Our Storied Landmarks – Shasta County, California, written by May H. Southern, published by Balakshin Printing Company, ©1942. 

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Shasta: The Queen City by Mabel Moores Frisbie and Jean Moores Beauchamp, published by California Historical Society, ©1973.

Shasta State Historic Park Brief History and Tour Guide, published by Shasta State Historic Park, ©July 1985

Ball's Ferry: the ferry, the townsite and the fishing resort.

From its beginnings as the site of Shasta County, California's earliest lumber operations in 1844 to its growth as a vital Sacramento River crossing during the late 1860s Ball's Ferry played a significant role in the development of northern California. This episode of Exploring Shasta County History explores how a small ferry landing evolved into a thriving community that served travelers, miners, and ranchers for nearly half a century, leaving a lasting legacy in Shasta County history. Please hit the like button, comment on the video, and smash that subscribe button. Until next time, enjoy…

RESOURCES:

1850 U.S. Census

1852 California State Census

1860 U.S. Census

Board of Supervisors - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 9, 1868

Left Town - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 19, 1868

1870 U.S. Census

1880 U.S. Census

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 21, 1884

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 20, 1884

A Flying Trip - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 17, 1885

That Free Bridge - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 5, 1885

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 4, 1886

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 13, 1890 

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 3, 1894

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 17, 1894

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 19, 1894

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 21, 1894

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 22, 1895

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 7, 1895

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 23, 1895

Balls Ferry Items - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 31, 1895

Balls Ferry Items - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 2, 1895

Tolls Again - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 12, 1895

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 23, 1895

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 5, 1897

Supervisor Proceedings - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1897

Balls Ferry Bridge - The Daily Free Press of newspaper of Redding, January 19, 1897

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1897

Papers Filed - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 27, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 8, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 11, 1897

From Ball's Ferry - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 20, 1898

A Ball's Ferry Tragedy - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 24, 1898

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 3, 1899

Luke Lukes Sells Ball's Ferry Mill - The Free Press newspaper of July 13, 1901

Found His Pig in the Butcher Shop - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 8, 1902

Ball's Ferry Dances Through the Storm - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1902

Ball's Ferry Bridge Is Made Secure - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 19, 1902

Ball’s Ferry Is a Political Center - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 13, 1902

Ball's Ferry News Items - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 22, 1902

Some Doings of Ball's Ferry Folk - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 9, 1903

Ball’s Ferry Now a Boating Resort - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 17, 1903

Post Office and Saloon Building - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 18, 1903

Ball's Ferry Post Office and Store Burned - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 18, 1903

Ball's Ferry Fire Unsolved Mystery - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 19, 1903

360 Tons of Fruit from Ball's Ferry - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 12, 1903

Social Event at Ball’s Ferry - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1904

Power Plant at Horseshoe Bend - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 5, 1904

Ball's Ferry Has Library - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 16, 1904

Telephones and More Telephones - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 19, 1904

Has Lived for Nearly One Century - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 28, 1904 (telephone line.)

Ball’s Ferry is Saying “Hello” - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 3, 1904

Found A Coin Over Two Hundred Years Old - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 21, 1904

The Ball's Ferry Hotel is Sold - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 27, 1904

Big Prices for Dried Fruit - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 11, 1905

Found Dead in Bed in Hotel at Ball's Ferry - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 16, 1906

November 24, 1906

The Courier-Free Press newspaper, March 15, 1907 (power company hello line.)

Ball's Ferry - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 21, 1915

One More Ferry Landmark Gone - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 23, 1920

Balls Ferry Items - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 9, 1927

My Playhouse Was a Concord Coach, an anthology of newspaper clippings and documents relating to those who made California history during the years 1822-1888, by Mae Hélène Bacon Boggs. Published by Howell-North Press ©1942

Ball’s Ferry Was Bustling Town of Many Varied Personalities Written by Rosena A. Giles - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 29, 1946

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Echoes from the Past written by Rosena A. Giles - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 19, 1951

Place Names of Shasta County by Gertrude A. Steger revision by Helen Hinckley Jones, ©1966 by La Siesta Press, Glendale, California

Balls Ferry Resort Sold - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 29, 1978

U.S., Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971