Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Lee Bros. Building - 1906

Photographed by Loren Wilson, July 22, 2012

1. Lee Bros. Building - 1906 Marker

Inscription. Brothers William H. Lee (born 1854) and Charles E. Lee (born 1856) came to California from Michigan and by the 1880’s had established a successful warehousing and drayage business. The earthquake of 1906, which caused greater damage to Santa Rosa than to San Francisco, destroyed the brothers' original building, and they rebuilt this building, with 18” thick brick walls, immediately. Lee Bros. and Company Express began with horses and wagons switching to trucks in the early 20th Century. The company became one of the most reliable businesses in town, counting Standard Oil and the Press Democrat as customers. In 1914 Charles Lee was the Mayor of Santa Rosa. The building was purchased by the Montague family in 1972 and underwent substantial earthquake retrofitting and extensive restoration.

Erected 2006 by Sam Brannan Chapter #1004 and Yerba Buena Chapter #1 E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 38° 26.239′ N, 122° 43.236′ W. Marker is in Santa Rosa, California, in Sonoma County. It is at the intersection of Wilson Street and Fourth Street, on the right

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when traveling north on Wilson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 294 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa CA 95401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Wine Country,

in the North Coast,

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Santa Rosa Post Office and Federal Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Isaac De Turk 1843 - 1896 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Luther Burbank Home (approx. half a mile away); Luther Burbank's Garden (approx. half a mile away); Mableton (approx. 1.2 miles away); Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery (approx. 1½ miles away); Hogan Building (approx. 6.1 miles away); Votes For Women (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Rosa.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Comstock House Restoration (was approx. ¾ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Additional commentary.
1. Additional Information Regarding the Marker Dedication
John Dolzadell was Noble Grand Humbug when this plaque was dedicated. Plaque wording by Loren A. Wilson.

— Submitted April 23, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California.

Lee Bros. Building - 1906 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Loren Wilson

2. Lee Bros. Building - 1906 and Marker

Lee Bros. Building Under Construction image. Click for full size.

circa 1906

3. Lee Bros. Building Under Construction

The Lee Brothers and Earthquake Post Office image. Click for full size.

circa 1906

4. The Lee Brothers and Earthquake Post Office

Lee Bros. Building with Fruit Boxes Ready for Shipping Stacked on Sidewalk image. Click for full size.

5. Lee Bros. Building with Fruit Boxes Ready for Shipping Stacked on Sidewalk

Sign on building reads "Sonoma County Fruit and Produce Co. Inc.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California. This page has been viewed 1,806 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 26, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California. 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California. 4. submitted on April 23, 2012. 5. submitted on April 23, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.