We recently inspected the historic Wells Fargo Building in Sierra City. The city, situated along the banks of the North Yuba River, had just days before received about 5 feet of snow in 48 hours and was truly a sight to behold! The inspection proved to be interesting with evidence of the 1948 fire still visible on areas of the rear brick wall and roof structure, and the original Wells Fargo Express office safe still intact.

A.C. Busch built his building of bricks made from clay brought down from “the Cups,” an area on the Buttes above the present transfer station. These bricks were formed in a brickyard right below the construction site between the present Hwy 49 and the No. Yuba River called Busch’s Flat. This building cost $16,000 in 1871 money, measured 73’ x 36’, and had three stories.

The ground floor was commercial and held four businesses; a Clampers store, a Wells Fargo Express office, the Busch-Heringlake Mercantile and a meat market. The 2nd floor was a private residence and the 3rd floor had a spring dance floor used as a community hall. In October 1948, it is reported that either electrical problems in the adjacent Buckhorn Club or a careless employee there started a fire. This fire burned the Buckhorn Club to the ground.

It also sent flames into the Busch-Heringlake (aka Wells Fargo Express) Building completely destroying the 2nd floor deck and the 3rd floor community hall. As with many gold-rush era buildings, understanding the effects of fire, which normally reach temperatures of about 1000 ºC, on the loadbearing capacities of structural bearing elements proved to be an important part of inspecting this building.