Inside SRO Replacing the One That Housed Emperor Norton's Room, A Glimpse of How Cramped His Quarters Were

April 14, 2025 / John Lumea

Obituaries for Emperor Norton noted that his room at the Eureka Lodgings, 624 Commercial Street, was about 5 or 6 feet wide and 9 or 10 feet long.

It can be difficult to get a sense of how small, in practical terms, such a tiny space would be — and, for some, still is — to live within. In a room of this size, adding even the sparest amount of furniture potentially increases the claustrophobic impact, (a) by making the space register visually as even smaller than it already is and (b) by exponentially reducing the square footage available for moving one’s body around.

A 2022 photograph taken inside a rentable room of the SRO that replaced the Eureka building in 1910 gets us closer to an understanding of what this must have felt like for the imaginary Emperor and for the very human Joshua Norton.

Emperor Norton at Swimley's

February 24, 2023 / John Lumea

Joshua Norton made many visits to Sacramento in the early 1850s.

But, after declaring himself Emperor in 1859, his first imperial visit to California’s capital was in December 1863.

By 1863, Emperor Norton already was becoming a legend.

And, on this 1863 visit, he is reported to have dined at a restaurant run by someone who was becoming a legend of his own.

The restaurant was the Cincinnati. The proprietor was William Swimley. And the eatery — known locally as “Swimley’s” — was half-way through a 20-year run as “oldest, neatest, best and cheapest” food spot in Sacramento.

The building where Swimley’s was located from c.1861 until its closing in 1871 occupies a fascinating place in the history of early Sacramento.

In the course of researching this wonderful story, we’ve found evidence that the building is older than has been believed.

Deep documentation and rare photographs included.

Early 1950s Push to Find a Home for Storied But Snubbed Emperor Norton Plaque

July 07, 2021 / John Lumea

When the fraternity of E Clampus Vitus sought in 1939 to place a plaque honoring Emperor Norton at the Transbay Terminal, in San Francisco, the California Toll Bridge Authority — the developer and de facto owner of the Terminal — said No.

Finally, in 1955, the plaque was installed at the Cliff House. But, a lingering question has been: What did the Clampers do to find a home for the plaque in the 16 years between 1939 and 1955?

Certainly, World War II made it difficult to push the project forward. But, even allowing for that, we’ve uncovered some news accounts suggesting that there was more behind-the-scenes activity than previously thought.

It appears that the Clampers continued to make appeals to the Bridge Authority for at least 18 months in 1939 and 1940.

And, the effort that resulted in getting the plaque at the Cliff House in 1955 started at least 5 years earlier, in 1950 — with several brick walls on the path to the first proper dedication.

The Emperor Norton Trust

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Inside SRO Replacing the One That Housed Emperor Norton's Room, A Glimpse of How Cramped His Quarters Were

Emperor Norton at Swimley's

Early 1950s Push to Find a Home for Storied But Snubbed Emperor Norton Plaque