Anthony House and Ranch

Anthony House and Ranch. . In 1849 a Mr. Anthony staked out 160 acres on the north side of Deer Creek on the road which would become part of the Marysville-Henness Pass-Virginia City trade route, and built a house and out-buildings. While further details about Mr. Anthony are unknown, the name Anthony House prevailed through a succession of owners. The property was up for sale in 1852 and purchased by Mr. S.P. French., By that time it was a flourishing stage stop, serving as a hotel, restaurant, livery stable and post office. The original house burned down in 1876 but was quickly rebuilt. Subsequent owners included William Henry Davey, Nevada County Supervisor 1908 – 1916 and later his son, Frank Davey., Stage stop and post office operations continued to 1906 when the post office was moved to Smartsville. Thereafter, declining traffic on the trade route led to farming and cattle raising as the main use of the property. By 1970 when Boise-Cascade began development of this area, the property had fallen into disrepair and the house was burned down as a training exercise by the Penn Valley Fire Protection District. Construction of Anthony Dam here on Deer Creek submerged any remains of this historic site under Lake Wildwood.