The Searls Historical Library is now open to the public in it’s new location. The Nevada County Historical Society, which operates the library, was able to buy the old Immaginarium Building on the corner of Zion and Nevada City Highway and has spent the past several months getting it ready to house all the historical documents of not only the Searls family, but dozens of other collections that contain the records of Nevada County.
Pat Chestnut is the Searls Library Director and says Niles Searls came west initially to mine for gold, but then he decided that practicing law might be easier.
Eventually a cousin from New York, Adison C. Niles, joined the law firm. Niles Searles went on to become the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.
If you want to learn more about the Searls family or research other history of Nevada County, the Searls Historical Library is now open to the public. The hours are 1-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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