Welcome to Our Beautiful Town

Historical Information

As far as is known today Hudson Bay Company trappers were the first white men to enter Scott Valley. One of these trappers, Stephan Meek, returned many times and eventually settled here in the 1830s. Meek remarked that “it is the richest place for beaver I have ever seen”.

With the discovery of gold (1851-1852) at Scott Bar and Yreka travel through Scott Valley increased greatly. One of the main trails to Oregon led through the valley from the south. Another trail, leading to the Salmon Mountains, branched off the main trail near the site of Old Etna.

Supplies for the miners came mainly from Humboldt Bay. This route was long and dangerous, and in winter, often impassable. As a result, prices were extremely high. A closer source of supplies was badly needed.

In response to this need, Captain Charles McDermit, Charles Moore, William and Dr. Davidson built a flourmill in 1854 on Etna Creek near the foot of Salmon Mountain. This mill, said to be the first in Northern California, was named Aetna Mill. Grain for the mill was grown on the Davidson Brothers’ farm, and as demand increased, was also grown by other valley farmers.

The mill owners were able to supply flour to the miners at substantial savings over that which was brought in from the coast. Several pack trains made regular trips over Salmon Mountain to Sawyers Bar carrying flour and other necessities such as whiskey from the local distillery.

The little town, which bore the name of the mill, grew rapidly. A hotel was built by the Davidson Brothers. Other buildings included a sawmill, blacksmith shop, machine shop, two mercantile, a furniture shop, saloons and a post office.

The prosperity of the town was cut short during the winter of 1861-1862 when Whiskey Creek became a raging torrent, which washed away the distillery and the Davis family home. The house, with Mrs. Davis and her four small children was carried down the creek until its progress was blocked by a huge boulder. Much damage was done to the homes and property that lay in the course of the flood.

After this disastrous flood most of the residents moved to the nearby town of Rough and Ready. The post office, which retained the name of Aetna Mills, was moved to Rough and Ready. Although little remains today of this early town, people still refer to it as “Old Etna” Rough and Ready had started with the building of a sawmill in 1853.

The mill owners dug a ditch from what is now Etna Creek to furnish water for their mill. Two years later, in1855, a flourmill was erected not far from the sawmill. The new mill was christened the Rough and Ready Mill; therefore the settlement that grew up around the mill was given the same name.

After the flood destroyed Aetna Mills the swampy area west of Rough and Ready’s

Main Street was drained and mapped out unconventional blocks and narrow streets to provide home sites for the growing population. Perhaps the most prosperous business to be established in Rough and Ready was the Kappler Brewery.

In 1868 Charles Kappler bought a brewery from P.A. Heartstrand on the east side of Scott Valley. In 1872, Mr. Kappler moved the brewery to Rough and Ready. Although the original building burned down in1875, Mr. Kappler built a larger brewery and greatly expanded his business.

An electric plant built at Johnson Creek Falls west of town, provided electricity to operate the large refrigerating plant. Power was also supplied to the town until water shortage forced Mr. Kappler to obtain electricity from the California Oregon Power Company.

Mr. Kappler had four wagons transporting beer far and near. It is said that his business netted a quarter of a million dollars annually. As the town grew, considerable confusion resulted from the fact that the name of the town and the post office differed.

Locals began calling the town Etna Mills. Also there were two towns in California with the name Rough and Ready so in 1874 the state legislature changed the name of the town to Etna Mills. Four years later the town was incorporated as a sixth class city. About 1930 the town petitioned the legislature to drop the “Mills” from its name.

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