In 1903, an ambitious young jeweler by the name of Joseph B. Williams arrived in Susanville and set up shop in the Emerson Hotel. Business was so good, that three years later, he decided to build a store of his own, just a few doors down from the Emerson in the 700 block. In March 1906, Andy Buchler started hauling stones from the local quarry. A month later, there was a change of plans. Local druggist, John B. Spalding bought the vacant lot on the west side of Williams. By summer, a new set of plans had been drawn for one large stone buildings for the Williams and Spalding properties. By October, the second story had been completed and work was at a frantic place to put a roof before the winter storms set in.
It was not until the spring of 1907, when the structure was completed and was commonly known as the Williams Building. After Williams departure in 1910, it gradually became known as the Spalding Building, home to the Spalding Drug Company that operated there until 1967, when after a century of business in Susanville closed its doors.
