A Historic Downtown Redding Walking Tour, 6-28-2025.

In this episode you can learn some interesting facts about downtown Redding, and its history with this walking tour presented by Shasta Historical Society, and hosted by Gabriel Leete, whose been featured on my YouTube channel in past episodes as well. This tour features local historians Robert Frazier of California Unearthed and Jeremy M. Tuggle of Exploring Shasta County History. We spent the day educating a group of people and toured 17 plus historic sites on a 2.2 mile walk in downtown Redding. The following sites can be seen in this film here: Jesse Litle Shoemaking Shop, Bank of Shasta County, Shasta Historical Society, Old City Hall, Railroad Turntable Tracks, Railroad Semaphore, The Lorenz Hotel, Damburger and more. Please like share and comment, and if you haven't yet, please smash that subscribe button. I will see you on the next episode. 

Hamden Holmes Noble (1844-1929); and His Final Resting Place.

My newest video to date about the final resting place of Hamden H. Noble and his contributions to Shasta County. Learn about the man who created Grace and Nora Lakes and had a summer home near these lakes at Shingletown called Noble's Bungalow also known as Castle In the Sky and Noble's Castle. Filmed on location at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma San Mateo County, California, on August 31, 2024.

RESOURCES:

1860 U.S. Census

1870 U.S. Census

California Voter Register, 1866

Married - Daily Alta California newspaper of San Francisco, August 1, 1871

1880 U.S. Census

1900 U.S. Census

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 4, 1903.

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 14, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 18, 1903 

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 28, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 10, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 31, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 3, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 11, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 23, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 30, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 8, 1903

Getting Ready For A Great Smelter At the Balaklala - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 10, 1903

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 14, 1903

1910 U.S. Census

1920 U.S. Census

Hamden H. Holmes in the California Death Index, 1905-1939

Death Ends Long And Useful Life Of H.H. Noble - The Sausalito News newspaper of Sausalito, December 20, 1929

The Covered Wagon 1954, published annually by Shasta Historical Society

Here’s A Castle Ruin Not In Europe by Isabel Bedynek - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, October 18, 1959

VF 729. Noble’s Castle, on file at the Shasta Historical Society

The Covered Wagon 1975, published annually by Shasta Historical Society

Where The ‘ELL Is Shingletown? The Shingletown Story by Marion V. Allen ©1979 Printed by Press Room Inc., Redding, California, Pages 81.

A RAILWAY FROM BONITA TO DELAMAR: THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY & EASTERN RAILROAD.

The town of Delamar was established in the area in June of 1900 while construction on the Sacramento Valley and Eastern Railroad began on December 11, 1906, this railroad company was incorporated on January 8, 1907, the purpose of the Sacramento Valley and Eastern Railroad, was to conduct a 15-mile standard gauge, ore, delivery, and passenger train from Bonita 3 miles north of Kennett to the Bully Hill smelter at Delamar. It was completed in 1908 and operated until 1939, due to the flooding of Shasta Lake for Shasta Dam. Between 1942 and 1945 Shasta Dam was under construction and its reservoir flooded this railroad system under Shasta Lake. It's often seen during drought seasons. The grade and railroad bed with its ties are still intact under the lake along Pit River and Squaw Creek which is seen here in this general overview of its lucrative history. What's not well-known to railroad enthusiasts and local history buffs is the fate of Engine #2 which succeeded after Engine #1 was taken out of commission. Where is this second engine located and what became of it? Find out more in this episode of Exploring Shasta County History.

RESOURCES:

An Electric Railroad from Kennett to Bully Hill Mines - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 20, 1902

Work Begins on the Railroad from Kennet to Bully Hill - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 11, 1906

Kennet-Delamar Road Files Papers - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1907

Incorporates To Build Railroad to Delamar - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 9, 1907

A New Station Called Pitt - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 5, 1907

Contract Let for Building the Railroad - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 9, 1907

Bully Hill Coke Stored at Pitt - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 19, 1907

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 17, 1907

Train To Delamar in Seven Months - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 18, 1907

Pitt Is the Name of the New Station - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 19, 1907

“BONITA” THE NAME OF NEW SHASTA TOWN - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, February 20, 1907

Greeks Arriving for the Railroad - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 1, 1907

Two Hundred Men Are Building Railroad - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 8, 1907

Carload of Steel Girders Arrives - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 10, 1907

Many Greeks Drowned Near Kennet - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 11, 1907

Twenty Greeks Were Drowned at Bonita - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 12, 1907

Eleven Greeks Drowned While Ferrying the River - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 12, 1907

Number Of Greeks Drowned Nineteen - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 13, 1907

Five Bodies Taken from River at Bonita - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 13, 1907

Names Of Victims at Last Are Known - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 13, 1907

Many Mules Go to Bonita - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 13, 1907

Names of the Dead Greeks - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1907

Fixing The Blame for The Death of Nineteen - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1907

Accidental Drowning Verdict of Jury - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 15, 1907

Hundreds In Line at Greek Funeral - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 16, 1907

Little Hopes Now for Recovery of Bodies - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 20, 1907

Hundred Greeks Were Discharged - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 2, 1907

Shasta County May Buy Pit River Bridge - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 18, 1907

Ten Tons to Pitt from Redding - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 7, 1907

Graders Knock Out Juice and Smelter Stop Work - The Marysville Daily Appeal newspaper of Marysville, July 13, 1907

Cars to Delamar by November 1st - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 16, 1907

By November Next - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 18, 1907

Rapid Work on the Pit River Railroad - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, August 29, 1907

Town Site Laid Out on Pit River - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 6, 1907

Track-Laying on the Railroad to Delamar Will Begin This Week - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 13, 1907

Getting In Shape - The San Jose Mercury newspaper of San Jose, October 22, 1907

Railroad Work Near Delamar - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, November 6, 1907

Railway to Electric Smelter - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, December 15, 1907

First Load of Freight - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, December 16, 1907

Bully Hill Smelter Has Been Remodeled - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 24, 1907

The Courier-Free Press, January 6, 1908

Another Railroad Is Now Completed - The Fresno Evening Herald newspaper of Fresno, January 16, 1908

Tracks Are Laid to Copper City - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 17, 1908

Copper City A Port of Entry - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1908

Railroad Completed as Far as Horse Creek - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, February 4, 1908

Tracks Laid into Delamar - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, February 20, 1908

Delamar Furnace to Begin Reduction - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 22, 1908

Round Trip Between Delamar and Redding - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 26, 1908

Seek $110,000 Damages from Pit River Road - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 13, 1908

Telephone Line Completed - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, March 19, 1908

Local Traffic to Mining Towns to Be Great Factor - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 21, 1908

Summary Of News from Many Towns and Cities - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, March 24, 1908

Regular Trains from Delamar to Redding - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, March 25, 1908

Smoke From Stacks of Smelter at Delamar - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 28, 1908

New Enterprise at Copper City - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 14, 1908

Freight Rates on Delamar Railroad - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 24, 1908

Delamar Eats Up Big Store Team - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 3, 1908 

Special Train for A Sick Man - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 9, 1908

The Smelter Town Has Three Names - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 10, 1908

Seventeen Damage Suits Call for $110,000 from the Railroad - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1909

A High Valuation Is Placed on the Greeks - The Red Bluff Daily News newspaper of Red Bluff, January 29, 1909 

Blockade Is Lifted - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, February 25, 1909

Laying Track Up Pitt River - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 7, 1909

Sues Railroad for $50,000 Damages - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 22, 1909

Big Damage Suit Filed in Shasta - The Red Bluff News newspaper of Red Bluff, December 24, 1909

Steel Company to Lease Railroad - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 18, 1915

Railroad In Shasta County Has Deficit - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 13, 1916

Will Extend Road 4 Miles - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, October 5, 1920

Pit River Work Started - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, October 6, 1920

Sacramento Valley And Eastern Railroad Shows Profit - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 29, 1922

HAMDEN HOLMES NOBLE AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SHASTA COUNTY

Hamden Holmes Noble was a son of James W. Noble, a farmer of Somerset County, Maine. Hamden was born in that county at Fairfield on August 16, 1844. This is where he earned his education. Later, he relocated to San Francisco where he first registered to vote in 1866. At that time, Noble was employed as a clerk. He married his wife Grace Chalmers on July 27, 1871, and their wedding was performed by the Reverend L. Walker, in San Francisco. During this union three children were born to them:

1. Grace (Noble) Johnson (1870-1957) married Edwin V.D. Johnson (Edwin V.D. Johnson was the manager/superintendent of the Northern California Power Company, Johnson and his wife Grace lived in Redding from 1903-1910.) 

2. Nora (Noble) Mead (1880-1935) married Ernest E. Mead.

3. Hebe (Noble) Grolle-Crawford (1896-1950) married 1st: Grolle, first name unknown, then she married 2nd: John Crawford. 

Above: Hamden Holmes Noble (1844-1929) poses for a photograph. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society. 

Later on, Noble became a stockbroker and then he established the Keswick Electric Power Company in 1900 to provide the Iron Mountain Copper Company’s smelter at Keswick with hydro electric power, and later the Balaklala Consolidated Copper Company at Coram. This is when they created Nora Lake near Shingletown which was named after his second daughter, Nora (Noble) Mead (1880-1935). It was a combined fore-bay and storage reservoir for the Volta Powerhouse. This company was renamed as the Northern California Power Company in 1902, and Noble became its president.

Noble would often stay at his daughter’s house in Redding when they made trips to check on their properties in Shasta County. However, Noble felt it was time to build a summer resort for his family to use at Shingletown. In January of 1903, the Northern California Power Company fenced off all the property they owned in Shingletown. Two months later, the Northern California Power Company relocated their office into the north-west room of the Lorenz hotel in Redding.

Above: The headquarters of the Northern California Power Company inside the north-west room of the Lorenz hotel in Redding on Yuba Street. This postcard image was taken between the years: 1904 and 1915. From the collection of Jeremy Tuggle. 

Later that year, a two-story building called Noble’s Bungalow was erected by Hamden H. Noble who utilized the native rocks and stones from the bluff it was built upon, near Shingletown. It had a beautiful view of the Manton Valley below it. It featured a circular design to it and the roof was made of wood. The structure included a square tower and a wide porch supported by stone pillars around the tower. It was a two-story building with the downstairs being one large room which featured a circular fireplace. The upstairs included three wedge shaped bedrooms. 

There was a second building on the property which was used as a kitchen and a servants headquarters. There was also a stable on site as well. Noble installed a pipe in the structure which conveyed fresh water from a nearby spring. The Noble family used this structure as a summer resort when they came north to Shasta County so they didn't have to stay at his daughter's residence in Redding all the time. It was also known as the Castle in the Sky and Noble’s Castle. 

Above: this undated photograph shows Noble's Bungalow which was erected in 1903. It was also known as Castle in the Sky and Noble's Castle. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society. 

A secondary fore-bay and storage reservoir for the Volta Powerhouse called Grace Lake was created in 1906, approximately one mile north of Nora Lake. It was named after Noble’s eldest daughter, Grace (Noble) Johnson (1870-1957). Two of his three daughters received man made lakes named after them while Hebe didn’t receive one in her honor, at least in Shasta County. 

In 1917, a forest fire gutted the castle. It also destroyed the secondary building and the stable on the property. After the fire, the Noble family returned to the property and they were surprised to see parts of the structure still standing. Later on, his wife Grace died in 1927, and her husband survived her by two years when he died on December 19, 1929 at San Francisco. He was also the founder of the Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in San Mateo County, California where he is buried with his wife. 

The tower and the fireplace remained standing in 1959. It then began a slow deterioration process which made it crumble to the ground. Today, the only remains at the site are a pile of rocks from the castle like structure. A historic plaque was dedicated on July 10, 1988, by the Mt. Lassen Historical Society (now the Shingletown Historical Society), Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and the Trinitarianus Chapter 62 of the E. Clampus Vitus. 

Above: An unidentified boy stands near the center of the circular fire place of Noble's Bungalow. Circa 1955. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society. 

Above: the remains of Noble's Bungalow. Circa 1955. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society. 

Above: Noble's Bungalow historic plaque dedicated July 10, 1988 by the Mt. Lassen Historical Society, P.G.& E., and the Trinitarianus Chapter #62 of E. Clampus Vitus. Photograph taken by Jeremy Tuggle on August 18, 2019. 

Above: the ruins of Noble's Bungalow. Photograph taken by Jeremy Tuggle on August 18, 2019. 

Above: a different view of the ruins of Noble's Bungalow. Photograph taken by Jeremy Tuggle on August 18, 2019. 

Above: after a long days work, Jeremy Tuggle poses for a photograph next to the historic plaque for Noble's Bungalow. This photograph was taken by Gabriel Leete on August 18, 2019. 

RESOURCES:

1860 U.S. Census

1870 U.S. Census

California Voter Register, 1866

Married - Daily Alta California newspaper of San Francisco, August 1, 1871

1880 U.S. Census

1900 U.S. Census

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 4, 1903.

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 14, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 18, 1903 

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 28, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 10, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 31, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 3, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 11, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 23, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 30, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 8, 1903

Getting Ready For A Great Smelter At the Balaklala - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 10, 1903

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 14, 1903

1910 U.S. Census

1920 U.S. Census

Hamden H. Holmes in the California Death Index, 1905-1939

Death Ends Long And Useful Life Of H.H. Noble - The Sausalito News newspaper of Sausalito, December 20, 1929

The Covered Wagon 1954, published annually by Shasta Historical Society

Here’s A Castle Ruin Not In Europe by Isabel Bedynek - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, October 18, 1959

VF 729. Noble’s Castle, on file at the Shasta Historical Society

The Covered Wagon 1975, published annually by Shasta Historical Society

Where The ‘ELL Is Shingletown? The Shingletown Story By Marion V. Allen ©1979 Printed by Press Room Inc., Redding, California, Pages 81.