Butte Avenue 1897
Amazing Activity Looking East on Butte Avenue 1897.
This photo of Randsburg's Main Street appears to have been taken in very early 1897. Little development of the mines on Gold Hill is apparent and there are many tents on Butte Avenue. William H. Hevran, a native of Connecticut, and H. S. Meyer both recently of Visalia, opened the Great San Juan Valley Supply Company in January of 1897. It was the largest wholesale liquor dealer in this part of the state. They hired the popular Jo P. Carroll, who was a correspondent for a Visalia newspaper as their bartender. Mr. Carroll also had the distinction of being one of the first members of the Randsburg School Board of Trustees, along with J. M. Crawford and Ed Hammond. The first board of trustees was appointed in March of 1897. The Saloon was located on Butte Avenue in the heart of the business district. The building was lost in the May 1898 fire at a loss of $6,000. It was among the first buildings rebuilt and continued operation until it was burnt again in the 1903 fire. In 1899 Mr. Gerhardy was listed as having replaced Mr. Meyer in the partnership. After the fire of 1903 the building was rebuilt and sold to J. E. McGinn. Mr. Hevran had interest in the mines in the local areas among which were the Sisters and Blackhawk. In later years after doing a stint as part owner and manager of the Grand View Hotel in Avalon, he became President of the Consolidated Mines Company of Los Angeles and made frequent trips to the Randsburg area on mining business.
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