History of the Forest House

Early Development 1852-1860

The Forest House was built by Horace Knight and Marshall Short in mid 1852. Construction continued through 1853 and 1854 and was completed in 1855 as a hotel.

Throughout the years that Knight and Short owned and operated the property it served many purposes for them and the community. It had a sawmill, water-powered by Yreka Creek, the sawmill operation eventually included a box mill, used to build packing crates for the Forest House orchard operations as well as barrel repair. The Forest House operations included fruit and orchard production.

To create and develop large orchards Short took a horse pack train, over the Siskiyou Mountains, into Oregon and returned with some 10,000 young fruit trees. Short's 10,000 trees were the first step in developing the large orchard, you can still see parts of today.

The Forest House also had a toll road. One gate was located beside the hitching post / rack in front of the Forest House and was kept by the owners. The other gate was between Robber's Rock and the Fort Jones summit, and was maintained by "Yank" Johnson.

19th Century Expansion

During the 1860s and 70s, they continued operation of the toll road and fruit operation and expanded to "Forest House Gardens". A three story fruit dryer was built to dry excess fruit, however sales of fresh apples, pears and other tree fruits and grapes accounted for most of the orchard's production. The orchards kept as many as 30 women employed to sort, cut, core and can the products for distribution throughout northern California. Early labels from canned fruit, champagne, apple cider, wine and brandy read "packed at Knight & Company's Forest House Gardens".

In addition to many agricultural purposes the Forest House made a good stopping point for cowboys on cattle drives moving their herds across the pass between the ranches of the Scott Valley and the markets of Yreka. Cowboys stayed at the Forest House and kept their herds and horses in the corrals and barns at the ranch. The property also distributed ice, which was froze and cut from the ice pond and taken into town on wagons.

The Forest House itself served and hosted as a resort and a destination for those that attended elaborate balls, known to have the best dance hall in the county. Visitors to the Forest House arrived on horseback, by buggy and carriage. Forest House expanded, the hotel operations also gained in reputation, with local couples finding the site an appropriate wedding venue, and the relaxing environment becoming increasingly popular as a "resort". Forest House became popular during the hot summer, when the slight rise in elevation and proximity to mountains made the Forest House a retreat from the hot weather of the Shasta Valley. In the winters sleighing parties became a popular entertainment.

The Transition 1880- 1909

By 1880 at the Forest House, Marshall Short was now in charge of the entire operation. He and his family ran the operations as he entered into his elderly years. Short passed on April, 10, 1909, at 82 years of age, while sitting in front of the fire at the Forest House.

Five and half months later, on September 2, 1909 the Short family sold the Forest House to Fred C. Burton. The property included the House, the land, water rights and it's operations that included well over 7,000 acres. The price was a ten dollar gold piece.

The Burton Family and the Forest House 1909 - Present

Fred C. Burton, was born in Scott Valley, California on March 28, 1879 and was married to Gertrude Bryant was born May 18, 1880. The two were married in June of 1907

Once Fred C. Burton bought the property he immediately started to seek information on the ranch and the Forest House from it's early days. As a long time resident of Fort Jones and having passed the iconic building and property all his life. As the house was now over 50 years old he wanted to gather the history of the building and the property as a way to honor it's history and stature. He reached out to old pioneers and ranchers for their stories, memories and pictures.

The house had electricity and indoor plumbing installed sometime in the 1930's. Only the bottom floor was furnished with indoor plumbing.

Fred and Gertrude raised their family, continued to run the Forest House operations through the 1950's. As the years went by the remnants of the fruit evaporator and saw mill were taken down and other structures such as barns and out buildings were built as the focus of the Forest House operations shifted from the aging orchards to ranching and raising cattle.

In 1961 the State of California rerouted the highway in front of the Forest House and built a new more robust road, the old toll road was abandoned by the public, but still remains as the private route that serves as the entry to the property.

Fred C. and Gertrude raised their family of three children and ran the ranch and house for more than 50 years. Their grandchildren came to stay at the ranch later in their lives and learned to tend and butcher chickens, and pigs. They rode horses on cattle drives, caught crawfish in the creek and enjoyed all the ranch had to offer.

Gertrude Burton passed away on July 29, 1961 and Fred C. Burton continued to reside at the Forest House for the remainder of his life, he passed away at 89 in May 1968. The ownership of the Forest House and a good portion of the original land has been handed down generation to generation and has been in the Burton family for over 107 years and now the 5th generation is active in it's ownership and stewardship. The ranch remains to be an active part of the ranching and agriculture community of Siskiyou County.