From a bank to a candy kitchen,
Standing on the southwest corner of Fulton and Main streets in Columbia is a one-story yellow painted brick building. Built in 1854, it has a history ranging from the home of large gold nuggets to an even greater source of wealth, the Tuolumne County Water Co., and finally the Columbia Candy Kitchen.
Originally, the lot with a frame building was owned by Daniel Walker and A.C. Moore and sold to James Mills, D.O. Mills and E.S. Townsend in 1852 to be used in their banking company. Later that year, Townsend sold out to D.O. and James Mills.
In 1853, the bank was advertised as James Mills & Co. Bankers. After the death of James early in 1854, D.O. Mills became the sole owner and had his brother Edgar come to Columbia as resident partner of the D.O. Mills & Co. Bank.
The bank was doing very well and in one week in April 1854, the company purchased 2,000 ounces of gold. That same month saw them display a pure gold lump weighing 28 pounds, 8 ounces, valued at the time at $4,800.
Following the 1854 fire, the building was rebuilt of brick with a counter of mahogany, with black walnut trim and carved moldings. The Tuolumne County Water Co. (in which Mills had an extensive interest and controlled many voting shares) had offices in the room at the west end. Mills also purchased a few feet of the next adjoining lot on the southside from William Daegener for a passage from the bank to the smelter at the back of the building.
By 1855, the first Columbia telegraph was also in the building. In 1857, the Mills sold the building to W.O. Sleeper and A.E. Hooker, who were doing business as W.O. Sleeper & Co., for $10,000. While under Sleepers’ ownership, as a way to attract customers and proving their worth as trusted bankers, they continued the tradition of purchasing large nuggets such as the Strain nugget which, after it had been melted down, resulted in 401.5 ounces or 33.5 pounds of gold worth at the time $7,438.50.
In 1865, facing financial reversals, Sleeper had to sell his bank to William C. Ralston. Following that sale, many businesses rented the building until 1880, when Lyman Tibbits had a drugstore in the building. The ad painted on the side of the building can be seen behind the men in the photo above. When Tibbits became postmaster, the post office returned to the building. The water company remained in the back section.
Tibbits moved out in 1911, and the building remained empty until 1922, when Mrs. Naegele bought it for only $10 as the roof had fallen in and the floor had rotted.
She added a second story with sleeping rooms and had a candy store on the main floor.