On April 16, 1857, the Marysville Herald published several classified advertisements about upcoming entertainments, including a series of horse races at Marysville Park, then located in what today we call East Marysville.
“Races! Races! Thursday, May 21, ’57. A purse of $400 will be given free for all first class Trotting Horses, of which $100 goes to the second best horse in the race. Mile heats. Three best in five. To Harness.
“Friday, May 22. A sweepstakes for three year olds. One mile and repeat, for a purse of $100, with an inside stake of $100 each. Will be run over the Marysville Park, on the first Thursday in May.”
Advertised at the “Marysville Theater” was the upcoming appearance of Mr. M. Jacobs, the “Wizard of Wizards, ventriloquist,” who apparently established his fame in Marysville by conducting “new experiments on the optics of his admiring visitors. The illusions he previously introduced will be surpassed by those he has now to perform.”
After any of these entertainments, another classified ad reminded mid-19th century readers could relax with an ale, a porter, or a lager beer in the “quiet seclusion” of the “California Garden” opened in conjunction with the “California Brewery” owned by Jacob Geiss, and located at Ninth and B streets in Marysville.
