Pioneers, Settlers of Grass Valley

Grass Valley's first house still stands, folded into a garage. Settlers raised it near this spot in 1875 on land the Ute and Paiute had long used, and the logs of that first cabin were later built into the garage west. F. P. Peterson kept the valley's first store and post office on this lot, and his wife Ingar — remembered as the "mother of Grass Valley" — raised her family in the house. Their youngest, Ethel, was born here, married David Brown in 1904, and ranched near Greenwich, where the couple brought up eleven children of their own.

What the plaque says

Near this spot in 1875, the first house in Grass Valley was erected. The garage to the west is constructed of those very logs. F.P. Peterson managed the first store & post office on this lot. In that house the mother of Grass Valley, Ingar Kjarstena Peterson, reared her family. Her youngest daughter, Ethel, was born here, and met and married David Alma Brown in 1904. They lived on a ranch 5 miles south of here in Greenwich, near the Indian camp. Eleven children, Grant, Georgia, Royal, Ruby, Blanche, Crystal, Byrl, Hazel, Hugh, Reed and Shirley, were raised there. In 1947 they retired from the ranch and spent their remaining years in this home. Alma died in 1958 and Ethel in 1962, leaving behind a heritage of love, memories, and devotion unexcelled in the world. To them this monument and park is dedicated.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Fishlake National Forest — 7.1 mi
  Home to Pando — the largest living organism on Earth
• Big Rock Candy Mountain — 16 mi
  The real mountain that inspired the famous hobo folk song
• Fremont Indian State Park — 25 mi
  The largest known Fremont Indian village ever discovered

More markers nearby

• Koosharem Amusement Hall — steps away
• Indian Peace Treaty/Cedar Grove — 4.7 mi
• Peace Treaty with Fish Lake Indians — 7.9 mi
• The First Sawmill — 14 mi