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Friday, December 09, 2022

Placerville (Hangtown) California

Placerville was only ten miles from the January 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill that started the California Gold Rush. Gold was discovered in a creek in Placerville later that year. 

Placerville was called Old Dry Diggins back then, but soon took on a new name, Hangtown. Three men were convicted of robbing a local successful miner in his hotel room in 1849. When caught they were charged with another robbery and murder and sentenced to death by hanging. A large oak tree in Elstner’s Hay Yard on Main Street was chosen for the triple hanging.
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11 comments:

  1. Bright EyesDecember 9, 2022 at 6:10 AM

    Intresting. Why the bell tower? Due to all the fires the town has had in the past?

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    Replies
    1. wirecutterDecember 9, 2022 at 6:47 AM

      I'm sure that's a bell on or near a fire station, but it may be on top of a church.

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    2. ElmoDecember 9, 2022 at 10:10 AM

      https://www.cityofplacerville.org/the-story-of-the-belltower

      The bell tower stands alone in the center of old town Placerville, in the middle of Main Street. If you went through town on four lane Highway 50 you'd never see it. Likewise, if you went through town on 49 you'd also not see it.
      https://www.mtdemocrat.com/files/2018/06/belltower.jpg

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    3. wirecutterDecember 9, 2022 at 10:15 AM

      I was waiting for you to chime in. Thanks.

      Delete
    4. ElmoDecember 9, 2022 at 10:27 AM

      I figured you'd never seen it because I knew you'd traveled through Placerville on both 49 and 50 but probably hadn't driven down the old main drag.

      All these old gold rush towns are laid out oddly, especially when they've been split in two by a new route, or bypass, through the middle of town. A lot of history was lost when that happened, too.

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    5. wirecutterDecember 9, 2022 at 10:36 AM

      Yeah, I've been through the town on a few occasions, but I don't recall ever seeing it. And until today when you gave the links, I don't think I'd ever even heard of it.

      Delete
  2. edutcherDecember 9, 2022 at 8:16 AM

    They changed the name to Placerville after a Mexican girl was lynched for defending herself against the American trying to rape her. She acquitted herself so bravely and chastely at the hanging that the men were ashamed of themselves.

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  3. RTinWeimarDecember 9, 2022 at 8:29 AM

    Old Town Auburn Fire Station has a bell tower as well. Still stands today.

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  4. ElmoDecember 9, 2022 at 10:21 AM

    I just freshened my memory to see what ever happened to the effort to erase Placerville's nickname of Old Hangtown. It seems the sane people running the city beat back the attempt.

    The city leaders fighting the Snowflakes were three men. The people wishing to erase history were all women.

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  5. ShermDecember 9, 2022 at 12:41 PM

    A Hangtown fry is pretty good if the ingredients are fresh.

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  6. SgtBobDecember 10, 2022 at 10:57 AM

    Remembering history with The Hangman’s Tree Ice Cream Saloon. Miners might have enjoyed ice cream now and then, but not as often as whiskey. Just a guess.

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