DATE VISITED: 03/21/2015
HISTORICAL SITE: Coloma - Gold Discovery Site
LOCATION: Hwy 49, Coloma, El Dorado Co., CA
DEDICATED: 1961 (Federal) & January 24, 1948 (State)
"Coloma has been designated a registered national
historic landmark under the provisions of the historic sites act of August 21,
1955. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating
the history of the United States" (Federal)
"This rock monument marks site of John A. Sutter's saw mill in the tailrace of which James W. Marshall discovered gold, January 24, 1848, starting great rush of Argonauts to California. The Society of CaliforniaPioneers definitely located and marked site in 1924. Additional timbers and relics, including original tailrace unearthed in 1947, were discovered after property became State park. Marshall Monument, overlooking this spot, was erected following movement inaugurated in 1886 by Native Sons of the Golden West." (State)
**closer look below
Marker Placed By: U.S. Department of the Interior National
Park Service (Federal)
Placed by Historic Landmarks Committees Native Sons and
Native Daughters of the Golden West on centennial of gold discovery (State)
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
This entry will have more pictures than others have just because there is so
much to see at the park. After all, it was the discovery of gold that brought
people to California. No other single event in the United States caused a
migration of thousands in so short of a time. It truly was "gold
fever" and everyone wanted a part of it. It was also the discovery of gold
that hastened California's statehood. Funny, our government, even back then,
was thinking of how they could get their hands on our money.
One of the great things about spending this time with David
wandering from site to site is that we had the opportunity to catch up with
each other. There is nothing a mom loves more than to hear from their child how
things are going and their plans for the future. A bonus is that he also likes
history.
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We parked on the side of the road at the far end park so we
had a bit of walk, but it was a nice warm sunny day, so it’s all fine. We
decided to go to the Visitors Center first and then walk around. When we
entered, we were asked if we had paid for parking. Deja vu....didn't this
happen at the Folsom Powerhouse? State park there...state park here...*slaps
forehead*
We paid for our entry and walked back to the car. Rather
than go back to the Visitors Center, we chose to walk down the far side of the park.
I’m not going to describe each building...boring!We stopped in the Blacksmith's shop...a working blacksmith's shop. The guy explains he's a volunteer and an apprentice. His "pay" is being taught how to blacksmith by a master.
Our next stop was at The Argonaut Cafe, which really
surprised me to find a place to eat here. It's one of those organic farm to
table places...vegan and gluten free. What wasn’t surprising was the price.
David had a bagel with cream cheese and I had a piece of apple pie and
water…over $13.00
There's this great bridge, built in 1915 that is not even wide enough for two cars and pedestrians are warned to go across single file. A sign before the bridge notes one very enterprising guy who built a foot bridge and then charge people .25 cents to cross. He made, within 6 months, about $20,000.00. Of course, David had to see if he could figure out what that was in today's money.The area was “Culluma” which the books say is Miwok Indian for "Happy Valley".
When James Marshall picked up that pea sized nugget of gold
in 1848, he rode down Coloma Road to Sutter’s Fort and reports to John Sutter.
Sutter, wanting to protect his investment in the mill, asked Marshall to stay
quiet. Problem is Sutter himself bragged
in a letter to General Vallejo. Mormon Elder Sam Brannon went to the mill and received
tithings in gold from the Mormons workers employed at the mill. Brannon’s next
trip to San Francisco included running through the streets of San Francisco
announcing the discovery.
In the end, what Sutter thought might happen…did. He lost
his mill, his land, and his cattle. There was no way to control the traffic
moving in and out of the gold fields. Finally, Sutter deeded some of his land
to his son, who created a new settlement and called it “Sacramento” which
infuriated Sutter who had hoped the town would be named after him. Both Sutter
and Marshall, for everything they mean to Sacramento, California, The U.S. and
world, died penniless and bitter.Communication coming from the “frontier” to the east coast was not instantaneous but it didn’t take long for the news to reach across the planet. People from every country and all walks of life came to the gold fields. Some had been told it was as easy as bending down and picking up nuggets.
Between the period of 1848 to 1900, an astounding $25 billion dollars worth of gold was removed from the Mother Lode and Klamath gold fields.
Law and order was difficult to maintain and justice could be swift. As I mention in the blog for Orphir, there were several vigilante committees. And there was plenty of wildness to handle. Drinking and gambling was the major entertainment for most of the men. Drinking in liquid courage caused many to do really stupid things.
A great example is when a dispute arose over a plot of land that was sold to the Chinese but claimed by some Irish. The courts ruled in favor of the Chinese, but the Irish said they would get rid of them. Pour a goodly amount of liquor in a group of men who think they have been wronged, and you have a mob led by James O'Donnell who mustered up courage at Bell's Bar and attacked the Chinese community. |
Chinese were killed or badly beaten and their property was vandalized and stolen. The sheriff ordered the Irish to disperse but they ignored him. So what is a lawman to do when faced with an angry crowd? He took down their names and arrested 18 of them the next day. Sort of makes you wonder what the mob was allowed to continue doing? Many of the rioters either left town for good, went into hiding to escape prosecution or spent the summer in jail.
Then there's the case of Jerry Crane who has the dubious distinction of being the first to be hanged in Coloma. He murdered one of this students because he "loved" her but it was found there was already a wife and children back east. He was arrested and there was a lynching attempt. However, the sheriff got him out of town and into the Coloma jail. Guess he had to go through a trial, but it didn't save him for long. On the gallows at his execution, Crane sang.
Next in line after Crane was the notorious Mickey Free, who was involved with a gang that specialized in raiding and robbing Chinese camps and murdering lonely miners. After being caught he wrote a confession, "Life of Mickey Free" which was published by the local paper. At his execution following Jerry Crane's, he cocked his hat over one eye and tossed peanuts into his mouth. When his turn came, he tried to sing, but couldn't muster up the courage and broke down completely.
Years after James Marshall's death, the State of California dug up Marshall's remains, and reburied them on a hilltop, next to an 31 foot tall monument and statute. The figure clutches a gold nugget and points down to the spot where it was found. David and I looked for the monument; going down what is said to be California's shortest highway...Hwy 153.
Instead of looking at the map that was provided to us by the park, we (really meaning me) decided the road was taking us back to the Visitor's Center and I turned around. Later that evening, I looked at the map and saw that we were very close but like I told David...oh well, guess I'll just have to go back someday.
