May Day Picnic

Saloon-Restaurant-Ranch-Railway Station

By Adam S. Eterovich

Martin Bracanovich had a saloon at Quiney and Pine Streets in San Francisco, California in 1854 and a restaurant at 252 Stewart Street in 1862.

He had a restaurant in Austin, Nevada in 1867 and another restaurant at Columbus, Nevada in 1876. It appears from newspaper accounts that he had a ranch, saloon, restaurant, and train stop at Soda Springs in 1880 or earlier. Martin married a Mexican girl in San Francisco in the 1850's and had a son, Nicholas, and two daughters, Ana and Virginia.

He appeared on the Federal Census of 1860 as Martin Brazzanovich and the 1870 Census as Martin, B. Martin Brazzanovich and his wife located at Soda Springs near Candelaria offered the public health springs containing sulfur, magnesia, and borax. Martin operated the Bracanovich Soda Springs Station for the convenience of Carson and Colorado Railway passengers. He provided saloon, restaurant, health springs, and picnic facilities.

He must have been a gracious and honest man as one notice he placed in the Candelaria paper stated: Come to my premises, Soda Springs, Esmeralda County, Nevada on or about the 27th of August 1880, a small sized, buckskin colored horse five or six years of age, branded JO on the left hip. The owner may recover property by calling at my place and paying all legal expenses. Martin started a “May Day Picnic” at his grounds and place of business for the people of Candelaria and the surrounding area. They had dancing, hunting, drinking, and other socially acceptable activities. Martin came from the Island of Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia as he baptized the children at Old St. Marys Catholic Church in San Francisco.