In 1864, Joseph I. Steward had a large hotel constructed at the corner of Main and Gay Streets, the location known today as the former Bank of America parking lot. It was the most pretentious in Susanville at that time and it was a signal to the end of the log cabin era. Steward sold the hotel the following year to Miller & Kingsley for $12,911.80. The property changed hands numerous times over the years, but it always retained the Steward House name.

Whatever the case may be, the Steward House was Susanville’s social hub during its existence. On July 18, 1893, the Steward House, as well as the majority of Susanville’s business district, was destroyed by fire.

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This short street along the Susan River was originally known as River Street. For a time it was referred as Slippery Gulch. When the railroad arrived in Susanville in 1913, not only did bring prosperity, but attracted “camp followers,” which was not welcomed with open arms by city officials. These followers established a small encampment at the Richmond Road Bridge with gambling dens and houses of prostitution. Something had to be done and fast. After all first time visitors to Susanville traveling by train would have to pass through this seedy area, before they got to Susanville proper. A solution was found, they moved the encampment further up River Street towards Lassen Street, with the philosophy “out of sight, out of mind.” When prohibition came along, new element was added to the “gulch” bootleg joints.

When the Lassen Townsite was subdivided in 1912, it too, had a River Street. When it was annexed to Susanville, something had to be done to correct the issue of two River Streets. This was purportedly, i.e., not verified, that it was named for Frank Carroll, an Indian agent who lived there in the 1930s.

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