| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — "Stone House" — Circa 1865 |
| | The last remaining building
of the Gold Rush era Chinese community
in Old Hangtown
Stone House is famous
for its historical significance
as an old Chinese brothel
Restored by
John R. Berry – Attorney at Law
Architectural and design by
Caywood, Nopp, Ward & Associates — Map (db m36815) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Bee-Bennett House |
| | One of the oldest preserved homes of Placerville (Old Hangtown) originally built in 1853 by Col. Fred A. Bee, pioneer merchant, and enlarged in 1889 by Judge Marcus P. Bennett, early jurist, retaining redwood ornate paneling woodwork and fireplace of pioneer period.
Now home of B.P.O.E. Lodge No. 1712 — Map (db m42260) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Cemetery of Lost Souls |
| | These headstones, removed from their gravesites as a result of vandalism, were found throughout the county on roadsides and in backyards. The headstones have been given a temporary resting site, here, until their rightful places can be located. — Map (db m13613) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Confidence Engine Company — City Hill |
| | Erected in 1860, this part of City Hall housed the Confidence Engine Company which was originally formed as The Mountaineer Engine Company. When flames engulfed most of the town in 1856, concerned citizens of Placerville realized that even the best organized fire company would be lost fighting another major conflagration without a fire engine. In 1857, the group of volunteers solicited the funds to purchase a used engine and 250 feet of fire hose from Sacramento’s Engine Company No.1. Finding . . . — Map (db m35540) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Confidence Hall |
| | This building was erected in the Fall of 1860 for Confidence Engine Company No.1, organized in June 1857. City government located here since 1902. — Map (db m35546) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — County of El Dorado Courthouse Restoration |
| | Board of Supervisors
John M. Caswell – District 1, William V.D. Johnson – District 2, Thomas M. Goodloe, Jr. – District 3, Raymond E. Lawyer, Chairman – District 4, Gerald E. Martin – District 5.
Robert Mason, Architect
Buettner-Carter, Denton & Assoc., General Contractor — Map (db m12755) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Davis and Roy News Depot / Shelley Inch Building / Placerville News Company |
| | Fisher’s Oasis Coffee House and Wadsworth’s Chicago Dining Saloon occupied this site from 1851- 1855. In 1853 F.A. Bee, founder of the Placerville Herald, printed his short-lived newspaper here. Early pioneer doctors, Harvey and Sholer and businessman, Davis and Roy purchased the property in 1855 and built a wooden two-story edifice composed of two portions. The building’s western half served as a post office while Davis and Roy ran their periodical depot to the east. Davis and Roy . . . — Map (db m65253) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Douglass – Hines Building Bricks |
| | The antique bricks that were used on the façade of this building were originally used to build the “Dougalss – Hines” Building.
The “Douglass – Hines” Building stood where the Fountain Plaza now stands at 312 Main Street.
After the disastrous fire in July of 1856, the merchants on Main Street decided to rebuild with fireproof materials. Many of the Main Street buildings were constructed of brick and stone with a layer of sand between the ceiling and . . . — Map (db m13144) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — El Dorado County Veterans Monument |
| |
[Marker located on right planter stand on walkway of entrance to Monument:]
El Dorado County
Veterans Monument
Dedicated on Veterans Day
November 11, 2006
By
The Friends of the Monument
And
The Grateful Citizens
Of El Dorado County
To Honor Those Who Have Served
The Cause of Freedom
Marker located on Stand Holding Eagle Sculpture - left side of entrance walkway.]
El Dorado County
Veterans Monument
Monument Founders
Richard W. . . . — Map (db m21750) WM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Emigrant Jane |
| | Drove a band of horses across the plains and from the proceeds of their sale she erected this building in 1861. — Map (db m13272) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Fountain and Tallman Soda Works |
| | This building erected in 1852
withstood the fire of 1856.
Dedicated to the memory of
of the
PIONEERS — Map (db m13269) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — 141 — Hangmans Tree |
| | This city in the days of ’49 was called “Hangtown”
This was the site of Elstner’s Hay Yard on which stood the ‘Hangman’s Tree’ where vigilantes executed many men for various crimes. The stump of the tree is under this building. — Map (db m10504) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — History of Old Town Center |
| | The Masonic Building was built by S.G. Beach and Company in the fall of 1893 for the Placerville Masonic Hall Association, using 85,000 first quality bricks shipped from Sacramento. It housed some of the finest legal talent in the county, attorneys such as Charles Swisler who served in the state legislature beginning in 1895 and George H. Blanchard, a legislature and the foremost mining attorney in the area. The lodge rooms were upstairs.
Chronology
1853 – 1856- The site of the . . . — Map (db m35590) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — In Respectful Memory of Joseph M. Staples — Deputy Sheriff of El Dorado County — Placerville, California |
| | On Thursday, June 30, 1864 at about 10 PM two west-bound stage coaches of the Pioneer Stage Company were held up and the passengers robbed at gun-point at a location approximately 15 miles east of Placerville.
The bandits demanded and obtained Wells, Fargo & Co. treasury boxes plus several sacks of bullion, stating that they were Confederate Soldiers trying to raise funds for the Confederacy.
Following the robbery, the outlaws separated into two groups, one heading west to Thirteen Mile . . . — Map (db m13150) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — J. Wonderly House / N.C. Fassett Groceries & Provisions / Burn & McBride / Lofty Lou’s Yarn Shop |
| | Boarders and guests of the Cedar Ravine House that once stood two doors up the street purchased groceries and provisions here from 1853 to 1856. Proprietor N.C. Fassett sold a variety of goods from beans to brandy, candy to coffee, lard to lead, molasses to matches, and quince jelly to quicksilver. William Burns and Robert B. McBride who bought the Cedar Ravine stables on the south side of the street in 1860 continued operation of a grocery and provisions store here. The building also served as . . . — Map (db m65252) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — James D. Rinehart |
| | In Memory of
James D. Rinehart
Viet Nam – 1968 — Map (db m65255) WM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — John Mohler Studebaker |
| | 1833 - - - 1917
Pioneer – Blacksmith – Soldier
Inventor – Builder — Map (db m35536) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Joseph M. Staples |
| | Re-Dedicated July 1, 1986
To The Memory of
JOSEPH M. STAPLES
El Dorado County Deputy Sheriff
Who Was Killed In The Line
Of Duty July 1, 1864 — Map (db m13970) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Lower Fairchild Building |
| | F.A. Gerbode began construction of this building for W.A. (Will) Fairchild in 1903. Family legend says that when excavation began, enough gold was found to finance the project which totaled $16,000. The building’s two stories, much like today, housed two stores on the first floor, including Fairchild’s Pharmacy, and 15 office rooms on the second floor.
In the early days, Fairchild’s Pharmacy featured and elaborate marble-topped soda fountain. Here also customers could purchase “Real . . . — Map (db m35579) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Methodist Episcopal Church |
| | Erected in 1851, Oldest church building in El Dorado County. It originally stood on the corner of Cedar Ravine and Main Street. The Ponderosa Pine beams are hand hewn. First church bell was purchased from the sailing ship “Staffordshire.” Restored by public contribution. — Map (db m11055) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Morning Star #20 I.O.O.F Lodge Building |
| | Morning Star Lodge #20 was instituted February 9, 1854. The Lodge met for several years on the second floor of a 48 x 24 foot hillside building near here. In 1859, the members erected a building on this site. On May 15th, 1910, a fire started in the woodshed behind the County Court House and both buildings were destroyed.
The members rebuilt this current edifice which was completed December 6th, 1911. That evening, the members hosted a Grand Ball on the newly installed spring floor, the . . . — Map (db m35518) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — 475 — Placerville — Originally Known as “Hangtown” — Incorporated May 13, 1854 |
| | Established on banks of “Hangtown” Creek as rich mining camp in spring of 1848. Millions in gold were taken from its ravines and hills. Supply center for surrounding mining camps and transportation terminus for famous Comstock Lode. John M. Studebaker, Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, Phillip Armour, and Edwin Markham were among well-known men who contributed to Placerville’s early history. Also, “Snowshoe” John A. Thompson who carried from 60 to 80 pounds of mail on skies . . . — Map (db m12732) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Placerville |
| | . . . — Map (db m16024) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Placerville Clothing Co. Building |
| | Branch Saloon Bingham’s Jewelry Seligman Building Ewing Building Collins Auto Parts Placerville Clothing
A log building owned by C.C. Williams once stood on the western portion of this lot. In 1853 thirsty miners stopped here for a drink at Mrs. Little’s Branch Saloon. For a short time, Bingham’s Jewelry crafted gold into keepsakes at this location.
As the town grew with the increased presence women, so did the demand for quality clothing. According to the December 2, 1854 issue . . . — Map (db m35585) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Placerville Hardware |
| | Oldest continuously operating
hardware store west of the Mississippi River
One hundred forty years in business — Map (db m13154) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — 701 — Placerville Pony Express — Station and Terminus |
| | Gold Rush town and Western Terminus of the Placerville – Carson Road to the Comstock. Placerville was a relay station of the Central Overland Pony Express, April 4, 1860 – June 30, 1861. Here on April 4, 1860 the first east-bound pony rider, William (Sam) Hamilton changed horses, added one express letter to his mochila, and sped away for Sportsman’s Hall. On July 1, 1861, Placerville became the Western Terminus of the Pony Express, until its discontinuance on October 26, 1861. — Map (db m57973) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Randolph Jewelers |
| | The oldest jewelry store
In the West
Established 1852 — Map (db m65254) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Sgt. J. Scott Lindsay |
| | Dedicated to the memory of all those veterans,
down through the years, who fought so valiantly
for their country.. Those who returned..
and those that did not.
From one who did not return from “Desert Storm”
Sgt. J. Scott Lindsay
5 April 1963 – 1 March 1991 — Map (db m35524) WM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Site of Original Raley’s Grocery Store |
| | Site of original
Raley’s Grocery Store
opened on February 16, 1935
by
Thomas P. Raley, Founder of
“Raley’s Super Markets
&
Drug Centers” — Map (db m35508) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Site of Placerville Drive In Market |
| | Owned and operated by the
Ray Gier Family
From 1946 to 1955
Owned and operated by the Bing Peterson
and Thomas C. Smith Families
From 1955 to 1967 — Map (db m35510) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Snowshoe Thompson |
| | A Viking Son of Norway who fulfilled California’s motto:
“BRING ME MEN TO MATCH MY MOUNTAINS”
For twenty winters from 1858 to 1878 he was the lifeline between Utah Territory across the Sierras, and the new state of California. On skies he carried mail, medicine, supplies and information between Placerville, California and Genoa, Nevada, and mining camps of the Mother Lode and Washoe areas. He was a true pioneer of early California.... A legend in his own time.
1827 – 1879 — Map (db m12750) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Swift Berry — “Mr. Clamper” |
| | Born Nebraska 1887. Educated Biltmore Forest School, North Carolina. Began career 1908 in California with U.S.F.S.
Major U.S. Army A.E.F. 1917 – 1919
General Manager
Michigan California Lumber Co. 1925 – 1949
California State Senator 1952 – 1960
We salute our esteemed Clampatriarch and Clamproctor,
Historian, Forester, Banker and Tireless Civic Leader
A “MAN TO MATCH OUR MOUNTAINS.” — Map (db m57974) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — The Druid Monument |
| | The Druids of California
Erected
This Memorial
to
Frederick Sieg
Who Instituted
the Order
in this State
A. D. 1859
Presented to the City of Placerville
Sept. 5, 1926 — Map (db m16460) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — The Forum Café / Union Hotel / United States Trio Hall / The Forum Café / The Blue Bell Café — The Bookery |
| |
Saloons and gambling halls provided the main form of entertainment for miners during the gold rush. One of Old Hangtown’s largest gaming halls, The United States Trio, once stood on this site. Owner and entrepreneur, Benjamin Nickerson, first engaged in the business of promoting the short-lived bloody sport of bull and bear and donkey fighting on Circus Hill. When public opinion shut his bull ring down, Nickerson turned his marketing skills toward liquor and cards. The gaming tables of his . . . — Map (db m65251) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — The Luse Ditch Flume |
| | The Luse Ditch Flume. (1900–1924) On this site stood the Luse Ditch Flume carrying water from Placerville to the ranching and mining operations in the eastern Gold Hill area. The ditch and flume system was managed by George and John Luse from 1920 to 1924. This structure is believed to be the tallest flume built in El Dorado County standing 153 feet high and running 750 feet in length between ridges. Timbers from the immense Doug fir found on site supported the flume.
The . . . — Map (db m437) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — The Old Vet’s Building |
| | In 1852 Phillip L. Platt preempted a ½ quarter section here. He erected a log building for the lodging of miners. He named his hotel The Kossuth House. Dr. Platt died in 1853. His widow sold the property to Anna W. Clark for $200 in 1856. She was still owner of record on the town site map of 1872. In 1923, the County of El Dorado purchased the property from Marcus P. Bennett, a very notable and highly respected Superior Court Judge for the sum of $1100. The property was purchased by the . . . — Map (db m13165) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Eld-007 — The Smith Flat House — Point of Historical Interest - Eld-007 |
| | A hotel originally built in 1853 with substantial additions including a blacksmith shop in 1863. In the cellar is the famous opening to the Blue Lead Mine. Known early as "3 Mile House" the building has served as a stage coach stop, general merchandise store, hotel, post office and community hall for 135 years. This building is perhaps the best preserved frame structure of its size in the entire Mother Lode. The earliest owner of record was Elihu Meredith who owned hotels in Coloma and on Green . . . — Map (db m52512) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Thomas Maul — Superior Judge — 1885 – 1954 |
| | Lawyer
This plaque is a memorial
To our beloved citizen
Who sponsored this park
and many other civic improvements — Map (db m13172) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Three Unfortunates Hanged |
| | “Somewhere here lie the remains of the three unfortunates hanged in late 1849 from the oak tree in the feed corral after fair trial by the vigilantes. This incident changed the name of Dry Diggins to Hangtown.
Let us not judge them too harshly for those were the rough days of the great Gold Rush.” — Map (db m57972) HM |
| California (El Dorado County), Placerville — Upper Central House |
| | First operated by Elias Parker, only Gold Rush hotel still standing in Placerville. Used as the Placerville Academy School from 1871 – 1894. Dedicated May 6, 1962, by Marguerite Parlor No.12, Native Daughters of the Golden West on their 75th anniversary.
Note: Marker states building is still standing (as of May 1962). Building was torn down in 1964] — Map (db m12760) HM |
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