Placerville in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

History of Old Town Center

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 9, 2010

1. History of Old Town Center Marker

Inscription. 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 National Saloon.
1856 – 1864- After the fire of 1856 Davis & Roy’s famous Nebraska Saloon was built.
1864 – 1871- Roy & Tryon’s Cabinet Warehouse.
1871 – 1887- A.T. Culbertson’s Furniture Store.
1887 – 1920- M.Q. Meehan Hardware Store specialized in selling carload lots of Hercules Blasting Powder used in deep gold mines.
1920 – 1958- Dr. R.A. Rantz and Don A. Goodrich owned the Sportsman Shop.
1958 – 1983- Location of Atwood Insurance Co.
1981 – The Masonic Building was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. J.K. Woo who have remodeled the building to house retail shops, professional offices, and constructed a large deck over Hangtown Creek.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations

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• Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 38° 43.747′ N, 120° 48.074′ W. Marker is in Placerville, California, in El Dorado County. It is on Main Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 413 Main Street, Placerville CA 95667, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Gold Country,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Davis and Roy News Depot/Shelley Inch Building/Placerville News Company (a few steps from this marker); Placerville Hardware (within shouting distance of this marker); Lower Fairchild Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Randolph Jewelers (within shouting distance of this marker); James D. Rinehart (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Branch Saloon/Bingham's Jewelrey/Seligman Building/Ewing Building (about 300 feet away); Morning Star #20 I.O.O.F Lodge Building (about 300 feet away); The Forum Café/Union Hotel/United States Trio Hall (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Placerville.

Placerville Masonic Building and Old Town Center Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 9, 2010

2. Placerville Masonic Building and Old Town Center Marker

Marker is located at the center of the building to the right of the entrance door.

Photographed by Stephen McLendon

3. History of Old Town Center Marker

Main St looking west toward the Bell Tower c1889

Masonic Temple - 1893 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 9, 2010

4. Masonic Temple - 1893

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,349 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 3. submitted on February 27, 2019, by Stephen McLendon of Placerville, Calif. 4. submitted on September 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.