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Overview

The Sacramento Board of Supervisors commissioned the San Francisco architect M.F. Butler to design an Agricultural Hall for the use of the State Agricultural Society in Sacramento in 1859-1860. It hired Butler to serve as architect and superintendent for $1,000, but also paid $50 to the architects William Patton of San Francisco and A.F. Eisen (1824-1873, who was moving from Sacramento to San Francisco in 1860) for pavilion plans. It spent $87.50 for two surveys performed by the San Francisco architect George H. Goddard, as well.

Interestingly, one of the largest payments was to Charles Crocker (1822-1885), a Sacramento dry goods merchant, who furnished window shades, carpets, etc., for the Agricultural Hall at a cost of $913.50. Crocker would go on to become one of the "Big Four" of the Central Pacific Railroad, and one of the richest men in the US by the late nineteenth century. (See "Proceedings of the Supervisors," Sacramento Daily Union, vol. 20, no. 3012, 11/21/1860, p. 2.)

Building History

The California State Legislature established by statute the California State Agricultural Society (CSAS) on 05/13/1854. (See The Statutes of California passed by the Fifth Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California, [Sacramento: B.B. Redding, State Printer, 1854], "An Act to Incorporate a State Agricultural Society and Appropriate Money for its Support (passed 05/13/1854)," Chapter LI, pp 56-58.)

The State of California opened the first Agricultural Pavilion in 1859. This first structure was replaced by a second, larger pavilion in 1884. A writer for the Sacramento History Museum wrote on a Facebook.com account: “The State Legislature created the society as an incentive to promote agriculture as the longstanding future of California, rather than gold mining. James Lloyd Lafayette Franklin Warren, who introduced the camellia flower to Sacramento and founder of the California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences newspaper, was among the society’s founding members. The State Agricultural Society was authorized to hold an exhibition of livestock, manufactures, and productions. Later that year, on October 4, the society held the first California State Fair in San Francisco. A different city hosted the State Fair each year until Sacramento became the permanent location in 1859. In 1859, a pavilion was constructed on M and 6th Streets in Sacramento to house the Agricultural Society’s offices and annual State Fair exhibitions. A larger pavilion replaced this hall in 1884.”

The location of the CSAS Annual Fair rotated in the earliest years of the entity's existence, moving from San Francisco in 1854, Sacramento in 1855, San Jose in 1856, Stockton in 1857 and Marysville in 1858. The society decided to hold its 1859 fair in Sacramento, and commissioned the architect M.F. Butler to provide plans for the building's design and construction. The State Agicultural Society's Commissioners requested $25,000 from Sacramento County for the erection of the fair pavilion, and selection of a building site occurred by 05/26/1859. "Plans had already been procured, and an architect and superintendent (M.F. Butler) appointed. As soon as possible the contract was let and the work commenced--A. Henly [sic], contractor, at $21,000. The corner stone was laid, with appropriate exercises, on the 1st of July, and the job completed, according to contract, on the 1st of September--an example of rapid work with few parallels and no superior." The building, when not utilized by the California State Agricultural Society, would "...be used by other Agricultural, Horticultural, Mining and Mechanical Societies." According to this report, the $25,000 obtained from the county paid only for the construction costs and land. The CSAS paid an $7,450.95 to cover the expenses of "...the architect, gas fittings and fixtures, finishing and furnishing the rooms and halls, the sidewalks and fences, and a multitude of extras necessarily incidental to the execution of so large an undertaking." (See "Report of the Board of Managers to the California State Agricultural Society," Sacramento Daily Union, vol. 18, no. 2750, 01/19/1860, p. 1.) The state legislature promised the CSAS that it would be reimbursed for the added costs.

The above Sacramento Daily Union article described the building as specified: "The ground purchased was 160 feet square on the northeast corner of M and Sixth streets, and the building erected has a front of 108 feet and a depth of 140 feet; the front 20 feet deep, projecting 4 feet on either side, arranged in three stories, each containing two rooms 20x30, and an arcade 10x48 feet, 15 feet high, leaving the main body 100x120 feet, with two stories, the first 15 and the second 80 feet high in the clear, with a self-supporting roof, this leaving the principal hall 100x120 feet, 80 feet high, without pillar, column, or any other obstruction whatever." In early 01/1860, the CSAS indicated that "We are now occupying permanently the entire front on the first floor, a space equal to about 20x108 feet, viz: one room of 20x30, as an office, and another of the same size, and the intervening arcade, 48 feet long, for the Library and Cabinet. These rooms could not be procured in town at a montly rental of less than $100. Nor is there likely to arise a contingency by which there will be any difficulty in enlarging quarters for the Library and Cabinet to any extent that the accumulations in those departments may require." (See "Report of the Board of Managers to the California State Agricultural Society," Sacramento Daily Union, vol. 18, no. 2750, 01/19/1860, p. 1.)

Construction occurred between 07/01/1859 and 09/12/1859. The first California State Fair to use this pavilion opened on the latter date.

Building Notes

An article of 07/02/1859 in the Sacramento Daily Union indicated that the cornerstone had been set on 07/01/1859: “The ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new Agricultural Hall, on the northeast corner of Sixth and M streets, was announced to take place at 6 P.M. yesterday. In consequence, however, of some unavoidable delay the ceremony did not come off till near 7 o’clock; at which time N. Greene Curtis, Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of California, accompanied by the officers of the Grand Lodge, appeared on the ground, under escort of the City Guard and Turn Verein Rifles. The space being cleared in the immediate vicinity of the place of deposit, a prayer was offered by Rec. Mr. Hill, Grand Chaplain; after which, the President of the State Agricultural Society, C.I. Hutchinson, delivered…[an] address. There were probably one thousand persons present, including a large number of ladies, all of whom evinced marked interest in the proceedings. The fact that the building will be of two stories, and cover an area of one hundred by one hundred and twenty feet with self sustaining floor and roof, leaving the halls free and clear of all obstructions, will enable our readers to appreciate the force of the remarks of Mr. [O.C.] Wheeler in this connection. It will certainly exceed in size any Agricultural Hall in the Union, and reflect credit upon the reputation of our citizens for their public spirit and enterprise. The contractor, A. Henley, intends pushing the work forward energetically.” (See “New Agricultural Hall—Laying the Corner Stone,” Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 17, Number 2579, 07/02/1859, p. 3.)

In his address Hutchinson mentioned how much difficulty the CSAS went through to get to the point of laying the cornerstone. “No one is more fully aware than myself, of the difficulties which have thus far surrounded this undertaking. Conflicting interests, real or imaginary, are ever prone to crowd themselves upon and embarrass any great public improvement. Yet, now that the first struggle is over, and the storm which for a time threatened to crush our plans in its destructive sweep, is allayed, it is gratifying to behold the general acquiescence in the result attained, and the unanimity with which all concur in bidding God speed to the glorious work.” (See “New Agricultural Hall—Laying the Corner Stone,” Sacramento Daily Union, vol. 17, no. 2579, 07/02/1859, p. 3.)

Initially exhibition of cattle occurred separately from the main agricultural exhibits. A pen for animals was established on land at 9th and I Streets. In part due to the odors emanating from the cattle area, a more isolated parcel was set aside on a plot bounded by E, 20th, H and 22nd Streets by 1861. Rail transport for the delivery of cattle also had to be considered. An article in the Sacramento Daily Union of 01/16/1861, under another detailing early aspects of the Civil War, stated: “The subscription for the purchase of six blocks of ground, within the city limits, to be presented to the State Agricultural Society for their cattle grounds, by the citizens of Sacramento, is progressing nicely. The names of seventy-five subscribers, two-thirds of the whole number necessary, are already procured, and its is designed to select the blocks in the vicinity of Eighteenth or Twentieth streets, if practicable. The probability of the success of this movement, united with the wants of property-holders and residents in the extreme eastern portion of the city plat have revived the plan of a city railroad, and a bill is already drawn up to be presented as soon as the Legislature is organized, for the establishment of such a railroad between the eastern city limits and the Levee.” (See “The Stock Ground Subscription,” Sacramento Daily Union, vol. 20, no. 3059, 01/16/1861, p. 2.)

Demolition

The California State Agricultural Society Pavilion #1 was superceded by the Pavilion #2 on 15th Street between M and N Streets in 1884. The Pavilion #1 lasted until 1922 before being razed.

In 2024, two buildings at 605 Capitol Mall and 609 Capitol Mall stood on its site.

PCAD id: 20583