Thomas F. Ricks (1855–1908) was born in Eureka, California, the son of 49-er Caspar S. Ricks (November 10, 1821 Rome, Indiana - June 21, 1888 San Francisco) who built many business and residential blocks in Eureka and Adaline A. Fouts of Clark County, Indiana who also owned Eureka property independent from that of her husband.[4] The children of C.S. Ricks were well-to-do, socially prominent and influential.[5] Thomas Ricks owned the Ricks Livery Stable.[4] Thomas' younger brother, Hiram Lambert Ricks (1860 - January 27, 1921) established the present day Eureka water system, then named the "Ricks Water Company", served as Mayor of Eureka, and began campaigning for the Northwestern Pacific Railroad to Captain A.H. Payson, then president of the line.[5] Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ricks had extensive property holdings in Eureka, and Mrs. Rick's business extended as far as San Francisco, to which she traveled frequently.[2] Thomas Ricks died in 1908, aged 53.[2]
The building served as a private home from 1885 until Mrs. Ricks leased it to the privately owned St. Francis Hospital from 1907 to 1910.[2] While the exterior was unchanged, the interior was modified to support hospital operations.[2] Subsequently, from 1910 to 1925, it became Sequoia Hospital.[2] In 1925 the building was sold to Charles J.A. Nelson who turned it into a boarding house named "The Palms."[2] In 1935, the building became the Y.W.C.A. local chapter headquarters.[2] The Y.W.C.A. owned the house until the late 1980s when College of the Redwoods purchased it.[2]
