Lincoln Highway / Route 40 - Newcastle, California

DATE VISITED:  03/15/2015

HISTORICAL SITE:  Hwy 40 Historical Scenic Route

LOCATION:  Ophir Rd., Newcastle, Placer Co., CA

"This monument was erected in recognition of the historical significance of this transportation corridor by the Placer County Water Agency, and dedicated to the California Chapter of the Lincoln HighwayAssociation. Ophir Road was formerly U.S. 40 which was the main route over the Sierra's until the construction of Interstate 80. Prior to U.S. 40, the Lincoln Highway traversed this section of Ophir Road. The Lincoln Highway, the first road across the United States, was conceived in 1913 by the Lincoln Highway Association which originated to promote automobile travel in the United States. The pieces of pavement below were taken from these two historic segments of highway."

 

Marker Placed By:  Placer County Water Agency

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: There will be times when something catches my eye and I want to write about it. A site may not have a governmental designation of historical significance and really, may not have any other designation other than it interests me.

This is one of those places. People feel, and rightly so in this case, that it has historical significance but it has not been acknowledged by any governmental entity. 

The idea of a transcontinental highway was the brainchild of the creator of the Indianapolis Speedway as a "rock highway" and was initially financed by the fledgling automobile industry to promote automobile travel.

In 1921, the United States recognized the importance of governmental maintenance of the roadways and so took over the financing of the project.

Noted as the very first transcontinental highway, it traversed over 3,400 miles. Travel from one end to the other was touted to only take 30 days if you averaged 18 miles per hour for 6 hours each day. Seeing the condition of parts of the highway over the Sierra's makes you understand why the average was only 18 MPH.

Gas stations, really gas at all, was very scarce and travelers were warned to top off every chance they got even if they had just gotten gas. The trip would cost approximately $5.00 which included gas, oil and food.

The Lincoln Highway, aka Route 40, no longer exists as an official route in most western states having been replaced by Interstate 80.

In 1928, with the organization of the federal highway system, named highways such as the Lincoln Highway were changed to numbers. In honor to Abraham Lincoln, the Boy Scouts put up the mile posts all along the route, totaling, in the end, 3,000 markers.

 

I found out later while researching Route 40 that the tunnel I had photographed for the Portuguese Hall was a part of Route 40. 

 

Wise Power House - Newcastle, California

DATE VISITED:  03/15/2015

HISTORICAL SITE:  Wise Power House

LOCATION:  Cross roads of Ophir & Wise, Newcastle, Placer Co., CA

MARKER #:  65001094

DEDICATED:  March 13, 1984

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: My next stop was to be the town of Auburn where there are several national, state and county landmarks. The road from Ophir to Auburn is very, very windy and on goes my air conditioner.  I was telling Dirk that it isn't fair that someone who likes travelling should suffer so much from motion sickness. Someday I'll have to tell the story of my Mexican cruise.

I pass by an old building that says something about a powerhouse but I didn't stop. I got to Auburn and quickly realized that everyone else decided the day was perfect for a trip to Auburn and there was no parking to be found.  There was even an article in the Sacramento Bee that day, talking about the parking nightmare in Auburn because of the popularity of Hidden Falls Park. While this park isn't in Auburn proper, people who get turned away or who want to spend time nearby end up in Auburn with all the rest of us who just want to visit. Needless to say, I turned around and headed out of Auburn.

I wasn't ready to go home quite yet and decided I wanted to go back to the powerhouse I had seen earlier. My GPS was trying to take me back to Ophir so I turned it off and made my way back...with no problems! Sometimes my internal GPS is great.

You know how they say a little knowledge is dangerous...well, since getting the tour at the Folsom Powerhouse, I understand a bit more about the production of electricity, so I need to make sure not to get boring here with details.

Building of the Wise Powerhouse started in 1913. The site for these Powerhouses was not random. Since hydraulic mining or hydraulicking for gold had been outlawed, there were lots of creeks, streams, rivers that opened up for other uses and the locals were thrilled. The hydraulicking  run off had caused lots of problems for downstream homes and farms.

The facility started producing electricity in 1917. The thing that makes this powerhouse unique was that PG&E installed the largest single discharge turbine in existence; one that, up until its installation, had only been viewed Panama-Pacific Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915.