Secrets of the Silver Dollar Saloon: Marysville’s Wild West Brothel Hotel

[Music] [Applause] So, we're in Mary'sville, the Silver Dollar Saloon, but upstairs is the Grand Hotel, which was a bronze. I'm Pat Patterson, and I love California. Let's go check it out. So, I'm so excited. We're in Mary'sville and we are in a historic place with a historian, Russ Hogue, and and thank you for joining us. You're >> right. >> And and you glad to be here. >> You are the Grand Hotel historian and and tell me about this place. >> So, the building was built in 1851. It's been around been around a minute, as they say nowadays. Wow. >> Um and the upstairs has been the Grand Hotel its whole life. The downstairs has been a number of different things, but yeah. >> And the Grand Hotel operated as a brothel most of its life, >> right? >> And it was one of the last running brothel in California. What year do you think it ran till? >> I I'm going to be surprised. Like the ' 50s or something? >> 70s, mid70s. >> '7s. Oh my gosh. I could No, never mind. >> I found one historical rendition that talked about it had 46 bars and 53 brothel. >> So there was definitely a a red light district in Mary'sville. Mary'sville was known for the red light district. Found in several different books that I read that in that era, Mary'sville was bigger than San Francisco. >> Wow. >> Cuz nothing was going on in Northern California. They got off the docks of the Clipper ships, got on a paddle with her, came up river for gold. Everybody's coming for the gold. So that's right. >> The saying is many of Miner lost his heart and his gold to the women of the Grand Hotel. >> Oo, that's a good one. That's a good one. >> So all of these buildings up the street were hotels upstairs, but in actuality they were brought. >> Okay. some other business downstairs and then a brothel upstairs business and then down here you say this has been through and we're we're meeting we met with Joe who's the current owner he is a wonderful >> well his wife owns it she lets him think >> she she lets him think that's her that's exactly what he said >> but uh at one point it was the Guadalajara cafe >> okay >> and that was owned by Nativid Corona >> okay >> who had a very famous brother named Juan Corona >> so you have heard of Juan Yeah. >> Yeah. He actually they coined the term serial killer for one, >> right? >> He was one of the first ones. He was >> What years? >> Was in the 70s. Yeah. >> He was the most prolific serial killer of the previous century. And his brother ran the >> the Guadalajara Cafe right here. So, it's it's had a little background. >> It's got a history. Old West, new west. Well, Russ, let's uh let's go up and check out the hotel. >> Sure. [Music] Russ, you were saying there's only two of these Winchester repeating arms. Is that every caliber of bullet they make? >> Yeah, this particular display, they only made two. And it's the twin to this is in the Winchester mystery house in San Jose. >> Wow. >> So that's kind of cool. Yeah, >> that is amazing. And you said another family kind of brought all this. There's >> the local Nicoleti family. They were engineers, contractors. Um, and when Joe and Megan took over, they recently went through and did another revamp on it and kept the kept the spirit and the history alive. So, there's actually the second step has contacts and when you step on it, it rings a bell in the back. >> Oh, >> and then somebody would have been at the door to see who was here and what they wanted. >> Wow, look at this place. [Music] So, this bar came out of the local o lot fellows hall. So, were good about repurposing things, >> right? >> When Joe and Megan took over um and embraced the history, the a lot of the community had things that they like to donate. The piano over there was actually donated. I'm just glad I wasn't here when I came up those stairs. >> Well, jeez. >> Yeah. But it's, you know, it looks and fits the period. >> So, so a lot of the stuff was here when they bought it, but they've redecorated, >> right? >> Yeah. >> If you look at the top card there. What's that? >> Oh, look at this. Frequent flyer club. The frequent flyer club for the brothel. >> Oh my gosh. >> Nine visits at 10 visits free. >> We are bent on pleasing you. Oh, there's so much inappropriate sex worker stuff that we won't even get into it, but this is this is history. >> So, that's our look at the historic Silver Dollar Saloon and Russell Hulk. Thank you so much. >> This has been great. >> Appreciate you stopping by. >> Come out to Mary'sville. Check out a great historian, a great historic legacy here in Mary'sville. Talk to you soon. [Music] I'm Pat Patterson and I love California.