The Liberty Bay

[Shingure 56]

I like what I see so far!

Also I love the effect on the pictures.

It makes them seem like they are very old and rough.

Welcome to Page 3

^{Bienviendos á pagina tres}

[Tomasneto 20]

Nice update my friend!!!

[N106 10]

Replies

ComputerGuy890100h, yeah.  Dumb mistake on my part.

Raysfan16: Complete blooper on my part.

Hawkeye9: Then you will love this update

sEAhAwk fAn121: Thank you

Korot: The photo was facing at a different angle.  And, the city hall was "Independence Hall", a maxis made landmark.

Evillions: I used JBSimio's small town pack, and his schools.  I used many things by Simgoober and Pegasus, along with a large stock of NDEX items.  I also got everything by Sparkythepenguin that I think is good.  The rest is just lumped up in a general "other" category.

Shingure: Thank you

Tomasneto: Thank you

Update 8: Jefferson in Born!

After the 1867 survey, Joseph Leland paid 2,000 dollars(worth aproximately 1.8 googplex dollars in today's money) to the CPC to plan a city on the opposite side of the bay from Portsmouth.  The CPC worked for nearly a year before prouducing an amazing plan for the city, to be called Jefferson.  The design was to hold  about 2,000 people after a decade, and provided room for more than 20,000 people without new blocks.

In 1868, Joseph Leland led 80 settlers to the future site of Jefferson, and began planning.  Streets were laid out.  By 1870, that crew had grown to 221 people, who set up homes throughout the building site.

The plan was completed in 1871, and the Great Land Sale began.  Lots were purchased and developed like there was no tomorrow.  In late 1871, the first store, Sam's General Store, opened.

Many blocks weren't immediately developed for residential and commercial.  Instead, they were filled with farms.  No new streets would be built until 1881.

In 1872, the town square was built.  It was the first of the 3 civic blocks to be developed.  It was used for a park that would be remodeled twice in the future.

In 1873, the first schoolhouse opened.

The next year, the first Victorian styled brick building was built.  Before that, buildings were built of mud or wood.

In 1876, the Joseph Leland Estate was built in one of the farming blocks.  It would be the traditional mayor's mansion from then on.  However, in 1876, there were key differences.

1) There was no balcony or patio

2) The surrounding lot was farmland

3) There was no electricity

4) There was no plumbing

5) There were no servants or security guards

6) There was no gate

7) The decorations were less extensive

In 1877, a catholic church was built in Jefferson, and became the first church to be built there.

In 1878, the first civic cemetary was built.

In 1879, the Liberty Bank built their new headquarters, much larger than the cramped building in Portsmouth.  They would shift between Jefferson and Mission City until the late 1970s.

By 1880, the central business district had more wood than brick, though it was clear that Jefferson was growing.  Jefferson had about 1,000 people when the gold rush ended in 1875.  Many decided to go to Jefferson to open business or build a farm.  The town's population surged.  Here is downtown in 1880:

By 1880, 2,506 people lived in Jefferson.

All questions and comments welcome!

[SounderBruce 173]

Originally posted by: N106 

ComputerGuy890100h, yeah.  Dumb mistake on my part.quote>

 

Umm...another goof...Jefferson looks great though!

[De Ja Vu 117]

Looks really great! This CJ is always interesting, and nice to read a little bit of history!

Keep it up!

-Dejavu

[Hawkeye9 0]

Nice history N106!!!

Lookin forward to more!!!

[xChicago 0]

I'm confused. You keep saying Mission City, but I thought Portsmouth was suppose to replace Mission City. Anyway, I think this time you should have the region on the STEX for download, just for safety reasons. We all know it would be pretty depressing if you lost everything again =T.

[830point35 8]

This truly is a spectacular use of tools to tell a story. Two snaps up in a Z formation.

[Tomasneto 20]

Great history..., nice!!!

[Korot 6]

A very nicely done update!

[danielcote 9]

The city is developing quite rapidly. I love how you tell the story!

[N106 10]

Replies

ComputerGuy890100: Thank you

De Ja Vu: Thank you

Hawkeye9: Thank you

xChicago: Don't worry. I'm sorry about the Portsmouth/Mission City confusion. And I know what to search for on the STEX.

830point35: Thank you

Tomasneto: Thank you

Korot: Thank you

danielcote: Thank you

Update 9: Bayview is built

The CPC began on their 3rd project immediately after Jefferson. A hispanic by the name of Carlos Espanoza took charge of the CPC planning. Carlos was one of Joseph Leland's personal friends. The planning finished in summer of 1870, and construction on Riverview began in a month.

The town grew very slowly. At first, there were very few people in the town. Carlos and a few of his friends lived there in 1872. In 1873, some more people flowed in, and the first business opened. By 1875, more people had moved in, and the Liberty Bank opened a local bank and store.

Though plans were made to make a town square and a town hall were originally planned for 1879. But, delays led to the town hall being delayed for decades. The town square was empty, and overgrown with grass by 1880.

In the late 1870s, the town continued to grow from 32 people by dozens every year. Growth was slowed by the Bayview swamps north of town.

South of town was the eastern part of the region's most popular area- Leland Lake. In the 1910s, a dock would be built there, and the area would become a tourist spot. But, before the swampland was cleared in 1896, the area was an undesirable, impassable home to disease.

By 1880, very few business had opened in town.

Below is a map of Bayview in 1880.

By 1880, 218 people lived in Bayview.

Feel free to read and review.

[Hawkeye9 0]

Wow, you did a really great job executing those plans!!!

Lookin forward to more of this awsome CJ!!!

[jacqulina 162]

very nice pics love the effects my friend

[Korot 6]

It has been al long time, and now there finally is a new update! Riverview looks like a nice little town, with potential to grow.

[N106 10]

Replies

Hawkeye9: Thank you

jacqulina: Thank you

Korot: Thank you

Update 10: A Mormon settlement

The first Mormons arrived to the Liberty Bay in 1853. By 1870, the figure had risen to about 4 dozen. By 1875, about 150 Mormons lived in the Liberty Bay. A priest and about a dozen other Mormons went to the San Paso River to build a temple and a town in 1875. The temple was completed in 1876, and the village, dubbed San Paso, began to grow in 1877. Here's a photo of the Mormon temple.

San Paso grew on a central intersection near the temple. By 1878, the town's center looked like the following photograph.

In 1879, a schoolhouse was built. This was the first school in San Paso, and would be the only school for several decades.

North of San Paso was the massive San Paso River. The land was mostly virgin and untouched, and would at least resemble the below painting for at least 30 years.

By 1880, San Paso had grown into a small Mormon village. It was friendly. Travelers always liked the calmness of this village. The only time that San Paso has not been calm was with the "New Year's Trumpheter". This man would go to every house at midnight on New Year's eve, and wake the entire town with his trumphet. He was hung at the Liberty County Courthouse in 1889.

By 1880, 98 people lived in San Paso. Below is a map of the village at the time.

By 1880, 9,312 people lived in the Liberty Bay area.

Comments are welcome!

[Raysfan16 5]

Hey, I've had login problems, but your towns are progressing nicely!

Hope I haven't missed anything in the CPC.

[Francis90b 748]

I must keep on eye on this CJ!

[N106 10]

Replies

Raysfan16: Thank you. Also, check in with the CPC from time to time. From now until the 1890s, it's gone public.
Francis90b: Thank you

Update 11: Jefferson and the Railroad

In 1880, Jefferson had grown to about 2,500 people. Joseph Leland had stopped being mayor 5 years ago. Already, the first political scandal was in the making.
Andrew Benson threatened the mayor to make Benson mayor. The mayor agreed, and Benson became mayor for an entire year, taking tax money to spend on himself. The people became furious. The arrived at the Leland Estate with pitchforks and knives on April 1, 1881. The vigilantes then had Benson lynched on the public square. The former mayor was returned to power.
Joseph Leland, realizing that Portsmouth hadn't even noticed, had Jefferson incorporated as a city in 1881. After that, Leland began a new political campaign. He wanted Jefferson to become the county capitol.
It took 2 years and lots of persuasion, but the county leaders and the CPC both decided to move to Jefferson. Construction began on the county courthouse in 1883, and it was completed in 1884.

2 years later, Jefferson became the region's first city to have electric power, with a small coal plant being completed outside of the city. By 1887, one shop had electric lightbulbs. Two years later, the first telephone line was strung.
That same year, a fire department was organized. It was centered in the following building.

During the middle of the 1880s, Jefferson became increasingly wealthy. Many more wealthy people began to move to the northern parts of town.

In 1887, a train depot was built. It was the Jefferson Union Station. The railroad connected Jefferson to Portsmouth, helping both cities. The Union Station would last for about 35 years.

In 1887, a horsecar system was organized in Jefferson. It would serve the growing city for a few years before being replaced by electric streetcars.
Finally, in 1889, the first city hall was built. It would also house the county government until the county capitol was built in 1902.

The railroad brought an explosion of business to the previously stuggling downtown. In the first half of the decade, business was stagnant in downtown. After the railroad, Jefferson became a regional business hub. By 1888, several new businesses had developed around the central square.

By 1890, downtown had grown significantly, even though at least 40% of the lots were still empty.

If you look on one of the street corners, you will see the Herald Building. Edward Johnson founded the Daily Herald in 1882, and completed the Herald Building the next year. I will show you a newspaper article from the 1880s right now...
APRIL FOOLS!
No newspaper article from the 1880s could be found.
By 1890, 3,456 people lived in Jefferson.
Comments and questions welcome!

[danielcote 9]

Nice story but I can't see any pictures.

[Quzo 0]

Well this is different. I mainly see cities from the present or the future. Ah the gold rush era. Nice to see a little piece of history. I like the old black and white photos.

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull story my friend,greatpics too.

[Korot 6]

Nice update, I should check more often.

[N106 10]

Replies

danielcote: What do you mean by "can't see any pictures"? Do you mean that there's too much photoshopping, or can you actually not see the pictures?

Quzo: Thank you

jacquilina: Thank you

Korot: Thank you

Update 12: Portsmouth Harbor

By 1880, Portsmouth was not only the unchallanged economic capital of the region, but had all major regional entrepenuers and businessmen. If Jefferson were to disappear, the economy would take a major hit, but would recover by the end of the decade. Portsmouth's disappearance would permenently cripple the regional economy. If it wasn't for Portsmouth, Jefferson couldn't have grown into the suburban monster it is today.

This was the golden age for Portsmouth. Between its incorporation as a city in 1876 and the Grand Plan in 1911, Portsmouth was the largest city in the region, constantly growing, sometimes explosively. It was always expected that Portsmouth would grow to join the ranks of great cities like San Fransisco, Portland, Seattle, Dallas, and other great Western cities by the end of the 20th century.

The railroad helped the city in the 1880s. In 1880, 4,678 people lived in the city. Entrepenuers, farmers, and others came to Portsmouth by the railroad throughout the 1880s to join the city. An entire small community developed near the railroad, mostly composing of railroad workers, farmers, and immigrants.

In 1885, the old schoolhouse was demolished. A fairly large new school was completed the next year. It was a mixed elementary and high school. It was the first high school in the region, and the only one for 9 years.

In 1886, the CPC moved their headquarters to a new 3-story building in downtown. This would be their headquarters until the 1910s.

In 1888, William Smith opened a drugstore in Portsmouth. It was managed by him and his teenage son, Harold Smith. Harold was 15 at the time the store opened, and his father was 38.

In 1886, the original owner of the Liberty Bank died of a heart attack. Jacob Bacon took over the bank. In 1889, the new Liberty Bank building was completed in Portsmouth. It would serve as the Liberty Bank headquarters for 40 years.

During the 1880s, the decision was made to expand the harbor. Two new piers were added. By 1890, the harbor was capable of handling steamships up to 3,000 gross tons and 300 feet long.

By 1890, the downtown area had grown significantly. Several new brick buildings had been built. The town itself had grown, which had increased the demand for business.

Below is a map of Portsmouth by 1890.

By 1890, Portsmouth had grown from 4,678 residents to 6,881 residents.

Questions and comments welcome!

[Korot 6]

Portsmouth has grown a lot. The station seems to be a bit far away from the rest of Portsmouth though.

[jacqulina 162]

growth is great your doing really great keep it up my friend

[N106 10]

Replies

Korot: Thank you. The station is far away because the company building the railroad didn't want to have to deal with the complaints of farmers when the railroad is built through the farms.

jacqulina: Thank you

Update 13: Fort Jackson booms

The 1880s was a good decade for Fort Jackson. It was the beginning of 3 decades of prosperity that would be considered the "best years" in the city's history. Even though the population wouldn't grow during the 1880s, the commercial district would.

The cause of this boom was the railroad. In 1886, the railroad was completed through Fort Freedom. A train depot was also built. A few failed farmers left, and were replaced by aspiring businessmen. Here's a photo of the train depot.

Before we go to the 1887 business boom, lets examine some of the earlier events of the decade.

In 1882, the first mansion was built in Fort Jackson. It was owned by Joseph Leland's younger brother, Alexander Leland, who was the father of a youthful Thomas Leland, who would be one of the most influential developers of the early 20th century.

In 1884, a volunteer fire department was established in Fort Jackson. Here is a photo of the fire station, completed the next year.

In 1887, business was booming. The Boom of 1887 would last until 1893. During the last 3 years of the 1880s, 5 important buildings were built.

In 1887, Miller's Tavern was built in a rapidly developing part of downtown.

In 1888, the Union Hotel was built in downtown. It provided a luxurious hotel with electric lighting, plumbing, gas, and telephone service to travelers, and was the most luxurious hotel in Fort Jackson for 12 years.

In 1889, the Liberty Building was built. It would be the largest building in Fort Jackson for 11 years. On the bottom floor, to the right, there was the Liberty Bank. The left side held a saloon. The second and third stories were boardinghouse accomodations.

The three buildings below are all popular saloons. The photo was from 1889. The building to the left was built in 1881, and is nameless. The center building is the Main Street Inn, built in 1887. The second story is a hotel, and the first story a tavern. The third building is the Main Street Tavern, built in 1889. Both stories are part of the same saloon.

In 1889, the statue that was going to go into the central roundabout was finally completed. It was a statue of Joseph Leland.

The growing Statue Avenue district had the city's largest building by 1890, and was a thriving part of downtown.

Drunkard Row was also thriving. Here is an 1890 photo.

By the train depot, there was the Union hotel, and some single story development. The Fort Jackson Union Station had helped that part of town become of vital commercial importance.

By 1890, downtown itself had grown. The empty lots were gone. Here is a photo.

By 1890, 1,772 people lived in Fort Jackson.

Questions and comments welcome!

[jacqulina 162]

the old pic effect look fantastic my friend,very nice work.

[danielcote 9]

Nice cities and hehe I was on my touch wi fi internet its sort of glitchi I guess the pictures were big planks with x's in the middle but its ok now im on my computer.  

[N106 10]

Replies

jacqulina: Thank you

danielcote: Thank you

Update 14: "Little Jefferson"

"What is the nickname of Bayview?"

If you asked a resident of Bayview or any other city in the Liberty Valley in 1880, they'd say "I don't know" "Bayview has no nickname" or "Get off my property".  If you asked in 1890, most everybody would say "Little Jefferson"  Exactly how Bayview got that nickname isn't quite known, even though Bayview did build their town hall and fire department within 1 year of Jefferson building the same buildings.

However, we must also cover other events of the decade.

In 1882, the first school opened in Bayview.

In 1884, the mayor built a house in Bayview, similar to the Leland Estate in Jefferson.  It became the Erinstein Estate, named after the mayor who had it built.

In 1887, a fire station was built in Bayview.

In 1888, town hall was constructed in the large, triangular town square.

By 1890, business had grown in Bayview.  Several new stores and saloons had opened, along with a fire station, town hall, and a sherriff's department.

Here is a photo of downtown.

By 1890, 561 people lived in Bayview.

Comments and questions welcome!