Near Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Old Crimea House

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 1, 2012

1. Old Crimea House Marker

Inscription. Built in 1853 by James W. Kerrick. Having come over the emigrant trail, to Keystone District with nine covered wagons. This place originally housed a restaurant, bar rooms and stables. Located on the main road from San Joaquin and Bay Region into the Southern Mines sector and chief station for freight.
On Sept. 26, 1856 the Great Tongs War fought near by 2100 Chinese.
Burned down on Oct. 8, 1949.
The last historic landmark in Keystone District.

Erected 1990 by E Clampus Vitus, Matuca Chapter 1849.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1892.

Location. 37° 49.958′ N, 120° 28.699′ W. Marker is near Chinese Camp, California, in Tuolumne County. It is on Red Hill Road just east of La Grange Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chinese Camp CA 95309, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Green Springs (approx. 1.6 miles away); Chinese Camp (approx. 3.7 miles away); Jacksonville (approx. 5.4 miles away); Don Pedro Lake

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(approx. 5.4 miles away); Montezuma (approx. 5½ miles away); O'Byrne Ferry (approx. 6.9 miles away); a different marker also named Jacksonville (approx. 7.2 miles away); Stevens Bar Bridge (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chinese Camp.

Another marker is no longer nearby. To Honor Eddie Webb (was approx. 3.7 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. California State Highway 49: The Golden Chain. (Submitted on March 10, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
2. The Big Oak Flat Road (1955) by Irene D. Paden and Margaret E. Schlichtmann. This attributes Crimea House to a totally different person, and the other information is very interesting - (Submitted on March 10, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

3. James Kerrick. On this page is the only picture that I can find of the Old Crimea House. (Submitted on March 10, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

4. Chinese Camp. California Ghost Towns entry (Submitted on September 9, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. The Tong War of 1856
Tensions between the Tuolumne County Sam Yap Company and the Calaveras County Yan Wo Company, both headquartered near Chinese Camp erupted in violence.
In

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 1, 2012

2. Old Crimea House Marker

the Columbia Gazette of October 1856 a comment directed toward the Yan Wo by the Sam Yap stated “There are a great many now existing in the world who ought to be exterminated.” An estimated 2500 men fought in the battle that followed. Most were armed in traditional fashion, carrying long pikes, butcher’s knives, and tridents. The Sam Yap Company had purchased 150 muskets and bayonets in San Francisco in preparation for the confrontation and after a hundred rounds or so The Yan Wo clan were forced to retreat.
Surprisingly there were only 4 fatalities were recorded.
Source: History of Tuolumne County-www.tonykrieg.com/History-of-Tuolumne-County-CA.html

— Submitted March 7, 2012.

Across the Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James King, March 9, 2014

3. Across the Road

An old foundation (center) and an old stone corral (beyond and to the right).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,881 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on March 8, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 7, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on March 10, 2014, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.