Photo: A rare (and rough) photo of Greenview and Hayes Hotel at the end of “Main Street.” Courtesy Betty Jane Young Collection.
Greenview, California – located in the middle of Scott Valley – was first known as Hayes Corner. A large and stately hotel, the Hayes Hotel, was built “up on the hill” in the late 1850s or early 1860s (original date unknown), and it was a popular dance hall and gathering place; later the Ford Motor Company of Yreka bought the location and tore the hotel down.
The Green family, an early pioneering family, established its residence here, and story has it that from “Green’s view” the new name evolved. Other businesses established around Greenview included Hughes’s Blacksmith, a Denny-Bar store (now the remodeled Senior Nutrition site), the Siskiyou Creamery, a butcher shop, a theater, and Judge Baldwin’s Store and house (later known as the Palmer house). Judge Baldwin was a local circuit judge. Another store, run by Charlie Harris, also served as the post office.
Private Perry LaForest Harris, the son of Charles Harris of Greenview, died in France during World War I. In his honor, the local American Legion adopted his name as its individual chapter name. His grandfather was John Cash Dyer, a miner in Oro Fino. The local American Legion is still the Perry Harris Post #260 and is well known throughout Scott Valley.
W.A. Egli served as Greenview’s Postmaster for many of its early years. In an interesting tidbit, the Feb. 1918 Siskiyou Standard reported: “Our friend W. A. Egli of Greenview, while returning from Yreka with a load of passengers last Monday evening, ran his auto off the McAdam’s Creek bridge near the Mello place. Fortunately nobody was hurt, nor was the machine injured. Evidently Mr. Egli will have to readjust the sights of his machine.”
During its heyday, Greenview was a popular place for dances and concerts, as announced in its Feb. 15th issue, 1918: “The date set for the big Red Cross ball to be given in Greenview by the Etna Brass Band, is March 29th. Every effort will be made to make the affair a perfect success in every particular, as the band boys wish to see a neat sum netted for a worthy cause. Tickets will be sold at $1.00 and it is anticipated that a representative attendance will be present from all portions of the Valley.” ♦