Site of Spear’s Saloon

Mr. Spear rented out the now removed second floor of his saloon to serve as the first City Hall in Ventura as well as the first County Courthouse. He served his beer to supervisors, councilmen, judges, and jurors during their frequent breaks from the tiresome work of government. The saloon won another place in Ventura’s history when, in 1874, it offered the first ice cream served in Ventura as a fundraiser for the Ventura Library Association.