As early as 1868, Mendocino boasted around five saloons and bars for a population of 400-500 men. The men, mostly loggers, craved entertainment and something to spend their hard-earned money on. Similar to reward programs common in retail today, repeat customers were rewarded with metal tokens, stamped with the name of the saloon and the phrase “good for one drink” to encourage saloon loyalty. It was not long until residents took serious issue with Mendocino’s saloon culture, leading to a special election in the summer of 1909 that led to prohibition being passed in Mendocino ten years before it was enforced nationally.
One early establishment was the Lemos Saloon on Mendocino’s Main Street. Born in Flores, Azores Island in 1853, Fernando Lemos was the second of six brothers to move to Mendocino around 1885. He bought the building from Joseph F. Lazarus, who had built the 26 by 40’ two story building in February 1886. The Mendocino Beacon reported that it was “One of the greatest feats of building ever witnessed in this place.” Lazarus ran it as a saloon before selling it to Lemos soon after. The second floor of the building was divided into rooms for lodgers, but it was rumored that it was used as a brothel.
When the 1909 prohibition law was passed, every local saloon was forced to shut down. Herman Fayal, who would have been sixteen at the time, reported that Fernando went to some of his loyal customers and friends to help him clear out his stock. Fernando said “Well boys, I’ve got 50 gallons of wine in the back room. I can’t sell it so you might as well drink it.” They drank all afternoon, left to eat dinner, and returned to finish off the wine. “I was sick for a week,” Herman said.
After this major binge, Fernando converted the saloon into a grocery store, with a lodging house still operating upstairs, and a pool table in the backroom. Outdoor signs advertised “F.A. Lemos—Groceries & Mens Underwear,” “New Potatoes,” and “Star Tobacco.” Fernando ran this business until 1932, and he passed six years later.
The building was sold in 1939 to Riccardo Cecchi, who converted the building into two rental apartments. A plethora of businesses have moved in and out of the building over the years, including Ted Watkin’s Tax Service and Pepperwood Potters, making it one more building in Mendocino with a long, storied history.
Kelley House Museum curator Averee McNear writes a weekly column on Mendocino County history for Mendocino Voice. To learn more, visit kelleyhousemuseum.org.