In the early part of the 1900's, lumber mills were established in the Lassen County area because of the
arrival of the railroads. This transformed the community of Susanville into a growing and expanding center
of activity. A building bonanza followed, led first by the Pardee Building on S. Lassen Street, the first to
not be built on Main Street. Next came the Greehn Building, built on the South side of the 700 block of
Main Street.
1914 added serveral more building, the Del Mar on the southwest corner of Main & Roop, the Star Hotel on the northeast corner of Main & Gay, and Franceska Neuhaus' two-story St. Fancis Hotel on the southwest corner of Main & Union. All of these three buildings were designed by Frederick J. DeLongchamps, a well-known Nevada architect.
The Neubaus', Franceska and Benjamin had been ranchers in the area, and sold their ranch in Willow Creek and moved to town where Franceska began buying business property. In 1913, the lot at 830 Main Street was purchased by Franceska, and in 1914, the St. Francis hotel and built and opened for business. The ground floor was the restaurant and the second and third floors housed the lobby and guestrooms.
Franceska died in 1918 and her son, William(Bill) Neubaus inherited the property and continued the operation with his wife, Flora. By the way, Flora became the second mayor of Susanville. In 1925, an addition was built which expanded the lobby, established a residence for the owners added eight additional guestrooms, and expanded the restaurant area on the ground floor to add a bar and banquet facilities. The addition also created a central courtyard on the second floor which is quite expansive and airy. Flora and Bill continued the business established by Franceska until the sale on Feb. 17, 1944 to Charlie Evans for a price of $50,000.
Two subsequent sales took place quite quickly, the first being a sale to Evans in 1946 for $68,468.64 and then to the Goni family, from the Reno area, on November 19, 1947.
During the time the Goni family operated the establishment, it was known as the favored easting establishment because of the fine family-style fare and it's Basque menu. The Pyranees Room was an area favorite and the hotel rooms were frequented by by travelers and business customers visiting local cattle, sheep and hog ranches, area business and outdoorsmen at a rate of $25 to $35 per week. This continued for 53 years under the Goni family management until it was sold to Fred and Rhonda Mallery, local cattle ranchers in 2000.
The Mallery's then sold the building/business April 2005 to us, John and Jackie Nicoli.
The exterior of the building has remained relatively untouched since built and added onto in 1925 and has many unique elements in it's design. Along the roofline, it is adorned with terra cotta colored lion heads, clay tile roof treatments, moldings in various patterns including dental, diamond and linear designs. The exterior walls are cement finish. All windows have raised trim treatments to add dimension and form.
The interior has had some remodeling/changes over the years but thankfully, the Tennessee Oak staircase and hotel check-in desk area remain as they were originally crafted to make the hotel lobby a prime architectural and aesthetic element of the building. The lobby's large picture windows overlook both Main and Union Streets and allow ample light into the lobby interior.
The guestrooms are still represenative of their era with tall ceilings, large windows, wash basins in the sleeping rooms. Some rooms have private baths and those which do not, are served by common baths on each floor. The hotel's 2nd and 3rd floors now serve as apartments, not hotel rooms, and are available on a month-to-month or lease basis.
The restaurant, lounge and banquet facilities which occupy the entire ground floor have seen many changes over the years, the latest being the St. Francis Bar & Grill.
1914 added serveral more building, the Del Mar on the southwest corner of Main & Roop, the Star Hotel on the northeast corner of Main & Gay, and Franceska Neuhaus' two-story St. Fancis Hotel on the southwest corner of Main & Union. All of these three buildings were designed by Frederick J. DeLongchamps, a well-known Nevada architect.
The Neubaus', Franceska and Benjamin had been ranchers in the area, and sold their ranch in Willow Creek and moved to town where Franceska began buying business property. In 1913, the lot at 830 Main Street was purchased by Franceska, and in 1914, the St. Francis hotel and built and opened for business. The ground floor was the restaurant and the second and third floors housed the lobby and guestrooms.
Franceska died in 1918 and her son, William(Bill) Neubaus inherited the property and continued the operation with his wife, Flora. By the way, Flora became the second mayor of Susanville. In 1925, an addition was built which expanded the lobby, established a residence for the owners added eight additional guestrooms, and expanded the restaurant area on the ground floor to add a bar and banquet facilities. The addition also created a central courtyard on the second floor which is quite expansive and airy. Flora and Bill continued the business established by Franceska until the sale on Feb. 17, 1944 to Charlie Evans for a price of $50,000.
Two subsequent sales took place quite quickly, the first being a sale to Evans in 1946 for $68,468.64 and then to the Goni family, from the Reno area, on November 19, 1947.
During the time the Goni family operated the establishment, it was known as the favored easting establishment because of the fine family-style fare and it's Basque menu. The Pyranees Room was an area favorite and the hotel rooms were frequented by by travelers and business customers visiting local cattle, sheep and hog ranches, area business and outdoorsmen at a rate of $25 to $35 per week. This continued for 53 years under the Goni family management until it was sold to Fred and Rhonda Mallery, local cattle ranchers in 2000.
The Mallery's then sold the building/business April 2005 to us, John and Jackie Nicoli.
The exterior of the building has remained relatively untouched since built and added onto in 1925 and has many unique elements in it's design. Along the roofline, it is adorned with terra cotta colored lion heads, clay tile roof treatments, moldings in various patterns including dental, diamond and linear designs. The exterior walls are cement finish. All windows have raised trim treatments to add dimension and form.
The interior has had some remodeling/changes over the years but thankfully, the Tennessee Oak staircase and hotel check-in desk area remain as they were originally crafted to make the hotel lobby a prime architectural and aesthetic element of the building. The lobby's large picture windows overlook both Main and Union Streets and allow ample light into the lobby interior.
The guestrooms are still represenative of their era with tall ceilings, large windows, wash basins in the sleeping rooms. Some rooms have private baths and those which do not, are served by common baths on each floor. The hotel's 2nd and 3rd floors now serve as apartments, not hotel rooms, and are available on a month-to-month or lease basis.
The restaurant, lounge and banquet facilities which occupy the entire ground floor have seen many changes over the years, the latest being the St. Francis Bar & Grill.