Guests at the Belvedere #3

An advertisement for the shipbuilding company James John Barnes father had started and for which J.J. worked in his early life.

Not every guest of the Belvedere Hotel lived perfect, happy lives. The guests represent a cross section of humanity living complex and storied lives.The life of James John “J.J.” Barnes is a tragic story for all involved. This is a trigger warning and it should be noted that we do not approve of the behaviors we have recounted here, but rather wish to tell the truth of Roseville History as we learn, and share it for historical posterity. 

James John Barnes was born in San Francisco in 1883. J.J., as he was called, was a meticulous man with a penchant for entrepreneurship. He was active in several businesses, local fraternities, and sporting groups.  As a member of the California Association of Cyclists, J.J participated in the annual 100-mile relay race for the Morrill Trophy. He was situated in the fifth relay which ran from Mountain View to San Jose and completed the section in 28:18. He was also a member of the California Cyclist Club and was elected to the Board of Directors in 1905. 

As a young man, began working at his father’s ship building business, The J.D. Barnes Company which would eventually become Barnes & Tibbitts Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Alameda, Ca. Barnes & Tibbitts dissolved in 1922.  In 1923 J.J. would go on to partner with W.L. Rope and start the J.J. Barnes and Company, and eventually the J.J. Barnes Construction Company. In 1938, his construction company won the contract to build the women’s custodial unit at Napa State Hospital. 

J.J.’s personal life was another story altogether. In 1906, J.J. married the love of his life, Ceva Davidson. 

A short five years later, Ceva and J.J. would suffer the greatest loss of their lives. Their daughter, Evlyn Elizabeth Barnes, had been born on January 13, 1913. Sadly, in 1916, at just 3 years of age, Evlyn passed away of unknown causes. Ceva and J.J. were devastated and handled it in very different manners. Ceva distanced herself from J.J. and began to spend time outside of the house with friends and acquaintances frequently drinking alcohol, much to J.J.’s dismay. J.J did not handle her coping mechanisms well and began to record accounts of Ceva’s habits.  One entry reads:

“October 28, 1922

I have not kept this report up to date as it would have taken too much paper for the same. But for the last three nights our lady has not been home before 2:30 and when she did come home, when I inquire where she was, I got for an answer, I do not know that it is any of your business. Tonight, she arrived home at 2:30. One night this week when I came home, I found her in the garage with a man.”

J.J. Barnes

J.J. was exasperated by his wife’s behavior. He had loved Ceva dearly and despite their difficulties, he remained smitten with her. The couple separated in 1923 and within that same year, Ceva received news of yet another tragic event. She received a letter detailing the death of J.J. stating that his lifeless body had been found floating in a river in Loomis. The letter not only contained the news of his death, but a detailed description of his funeral. Ceva soon found out it was a hoax perpetrated by J.J. himself. Exactly why J.J. decided to play such a cruel joke on his wife is unknown, but it can be speculated he had been devastated by their separation.  In 1926, Ceva petitioned for divorce and it was granted in 1927. J.J.’s love for Ceva did not falter. He had penned a letter to his potential “successor” requesting he treat her well and to let him know that “any other man will not love her as I do…” He also wrote to Ceva:

“To my Dear Wife,

You may think it funny when I say that, but I mean it. I love you. It is on account of this great love that this great and only sacrifice is being made, that of going out of your life. 

Ceva, my dear girl, I not only worship you but the ground you walk on and the air you breathe. You have grown tired of me because I could not hold up my end with the other men and still give you everything that you wanted. I made you the presents thinking that you would appreciate them more than the dancing as that only lasts for a night. But I see my mistake now and for that reason I am ready to step aside for some other fellow that will give you this side of life. 

After you have had the gay side you can then look back and see which was the best, the gay or the home and family life as I wanted. As you get older, I think that I know which you are going to decide on, but it will be too late, as you will have your second husband.”

Ceva never remarried. She unfortunately died in 1929 at the age of 41 from complications of the liver. 

At the time of the erroneous letter sent by J.J., he had been living in Sacramento and engaging in building a mining enterprise in Placer County. Forty-five acres dedicated to the mine were “located on Miner’s Ravine, on the county road between Loomis and Folsom.” The mining business did not take off as he had expected. Letters from his partner in the mining business, Art Thebo, give an account of the struggles faced by the business. Ultimately and unfortunately, he had lost most of his savings investing in the mine business in Loomis. 

In 1942 J.J. Barnes moved to Roseville. He took up residence in the Hotel Belvedere where he remained for the next 14 years. During his time in Roseville, J.J. was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the Selective Service Board at Westwood. While living in Roseville, he would take vacations and travel to places such as Santa Cruz or the mountains of Lassen County. J.J. passed away in Roseville on January 9, 1956, and a funeral was held at Lambert Funeral Home.

J.J. Barnes at far right and members of his Cycling Club