Siskiyou
County
Biographies
VICTOR E. WARRENS
Among
those who have in a very definite way contributed to the growth and development
of Siskiyou County, and the Sacramento Valley mention should be made of Victor
E. Warrens and his sister, Miss Bernice M. Warrens, whose activities have been
directed along real estate lines, so that they are now owners of some of the
leading business properties in various parts of the valley. They are natives of Missouri, from which
state Mr. Warrens came to California in 1899 and his sister in 1913. On reaching this state Mr. Warrens engaged in
the hotel business at Corning, Tehama County, for a short time, and then went
to Mount Shasta, where he conducted the El Monte Hotel which stood on the present
site of the Park Hotel, and was in partnership with Henry McGinnis, under the
firm name of Warrens and McGinnis. His
former partner is now a lawyer and a member of the state legislature from
Dunsmuir. This partnership lasted for
four years, and Mr. Warrens then went to Kennett, near Redding when the Mammoth
Mine was opened by the Mammoth Copper Company who built large smelters for
treating the ore. This was the largest
copper mine in California at the time and a thriving mining camp was there
developed, with large pay-rolls. Mr.
Warrens built the hotel and business block known as The Diamond, which he still
owns and now leases. He also erected the
building at Hilt known as The Diamond, which was first a club house, but more
recently has been utilized for mercantile purposes. At Yreka also, where he makes his home, Mr.
Warrens has erected and still owns the First National Bank building, a fine
business block, on the ground floor of which are the bank offices, the post
office and eight mercantile stores, while the second story is designed for
offices. Most of the time since coming
to this state he has been engaged in building, and still owns and leases most
of the buildings which he has erected.
He has, also at time accepted money for deposit, handling some accounts,
and in 1915 at the time of the organization of the First National Bank of
Yreka, he became a heavy stockholder.
Shortly afterward he was elected president of this institution, in which
capacity he served for eleven years or until it was merged with the Bank of
Italy in 1928. At this time, however, he
holds no office with the bank. He
acquired a goodly amount of unimproved property in Yreka and has done considerable
building here of both business and residential structures, among which is the
Montgomery Ward building. He also
erected a building in Redding especially designed for Montgomery Ward, which is
leased to them.
Miss
Bernice Warrens erected the present fine Broadway Theater in Yreka, of which
she is owner, and she also acts as secretary to her brother. She takes care of their fine home, which they
built in 1921 and have occupied since the following year. It is a very attractive and comfortable home,
surrounded by a spacious lawn, ornamented with shrubbery and flowers and
provided with a sprinkler system. They
are generous in their support of all worthy causes, civic or benevolent, and
stand for all that is best in the life of their community. Mr. Warrens was a member of the city council
while residing in Kennett and is a member of the Lions Club of Yreka. Cordial and friendly in manner, but
unassuming, he merits and receives the unreserved confidence of the people
among whom he lives and is recognized as one of Yreka’s substantial and useful
citizens.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 224-225. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Siskiyou County Biographies