Articles by Michael Otten
Stealing our past July 2013
The plaque bandits have struck again.
Last year it was the 1950 Ophir plaque. This year it is
the Virginiatown plaque, State Registered Landmark
No. 400, dedicated by the Placer County Historical
Society on Sept. 28, 1952. It was my sad duty in June
to report the theft of one of the last vestige of this once
famous Wild West gold rush town to the Placer County
sheriff. What remains is the huge granite rock base
along bucolic Virginiatown Road less than a quarter
mile southeast of Fowler Road. This is what the
marker says:
“VIRGINIATOWN - Founded
June 1851, the town was commonly called 'Virginia.' Over 2,000 miners
worked rich deposits here. In 1852 Captain John Brislow built California's first
railroad to carry pay dirt one mile, to Auburn Ravine. It was the site of Philip
Armour's and George Aldrich's butcher shop, said to have led to founding of
the famous Chicago Armour meatpacking company. State Registered
Landmark No. 400. Marker placed by California Department of Natural
Resources in cooperation with the Placer County Historical Society and the
County of Placer. Dedicated September 28, 1952.”
I was alerted to the theft by Kris Grasberger of E Clampus Vitus after a
member noted it missing and wanted the organization to put the plaque
restoration on its list of projects. He said because it must meet state
requirements for its distinctive design (including a grizzly bear and two star
logo) the cost of a new marker only will be more than $3,000.
The colorful fun loving Clampers have played an important role in working
with the state in marking history. Kris in ECV terms is known as Mr. Kristian "Stilts" Grasberger, the
vice noble grand humbug of Lord Cholto Douglas Chapter 3, of the Ancient and Honorable Order of
E Clampus Vitus.
° ° °
Exploring 1913, a Placer Perspective
What a difference a century makes. Look back to 1913. For me, it was the year Dad was born. It was at
home on a ranch on land where the Maidu once flourished. The ranch became known as El MoVoJo,
my grandparents' novel way of honoring their three children, Marjorie, Virginia and John Otten. The
ranch, now part of the Sierra Gardens subdivision off Douglas Boulevard in Roseville, then was a
buggy ride outside of town off a narrow lane known as Rocky Ridge Road.
If any of the Ottens then were able to take a look today, they would be dumbfounded at what
they would see just as I might be if able to take a look at what Placer County might look like in 2113
compared to today.
By my reckoning of various state reports, Placer County's population grew from about 18,335 to
more than 355,000 in the last century. Auburn's population grew from less than 2,400 in 1913 to 13,468
as of last year; Roseville had shot from some 3,000 residents to more than 122,000, Colfax went from
less than 600 to 1,977, Rocklin, from under 800 to 58,296, and Lincoln, from less than 1,400 to 43,572.
In 1913 Placer County seemed like train and agricultural county USA. In Auburn there were six
passenger trains passing through daily both east and west bound. There was seemingly unbounded
growth in the Southern Pacific yards in Roseville, still accused by some in Rocklin of stealing its
roundhouse in 1909.
Yet 1913 was still an era of horse and buggy for most, stagecoaches continued to operate and
fire, like now, was a major danger. Auburn City Trustees were pushed to install service phones in the
city's three hose houses. Auburn's sewage plant was described as inadequate and Trustees were
pushed to hold a bond election to erect a new one.
W. B. Lardner, a primary founder of the Placer County Historical Society and one of Auburn's
leading lights, wrote glowingly of the county seat in 1913. "We have a fine water system, under heavy
pressure, a good sanitary sewer plant, and plenty of electric lights, wrote Lardner for the Placer County
Republican.
"The last and greatest satisfaction is to know that Auburn and Placer County are on the great
inter ocean Lincoln Highway" that was dedicated that year. Lincoln Way was then called Railroad
Street.
Gambling was prohibited wherever liquor was served with the City Marshal warning Auburn
saloon keepers they could lose their license. An Auburn Taxpayers League was organized to assist in
opposing prohibition on moral and financial grounds. The city and county continued the $5 poll tax: $2
went to the state, $2 for the hospital poll tax and $1 for the road poll tax. Banks were paying 4 percent
interest on savings, a princely sum compared to today's rates. City Clerk L. F. Morgan salary was $30 a
month. For City Attorney William Lardner, it was $25.
The (Women's) Improvement Club of Auburn not only placed garbage cans all over the city, took
care of Sierra park and planted a rose garden at the train depot, they installed a drinking fountain in the
plaza in front of the Shanghai Restaurant dedicated "To the memory of Placer County Pioneers: Lest
we Forget, 1848-1913." It was torn down in 1950. Can you find the plaque today?
A. W. Kenison Co., Placer County agents for the Buffalo Brewing Co. of Sacramento, ran this ad
"Good Advice to those who are tired or run down or who are affected with 'that tired feeling' is to try
Buffalo Lager Beer. There is nothing so bracing, so appetizing, so healthful as a glass of BUFFALO
LAGER BEER." Next to it was an ad for "Hall's Family Pills for Constipation," sold by all druggists for
75 cents.
Senator E. S. Birdsall and Assemblyman William A. Dower introduced legislation to construct an
approximate 130-mile scenic bridle trail to connect Lake Tahoe and Yosemite with strong support from
the Native Sons of the Golden West Auburn Parlor 59.
There was a joint meeting of the Placer and El Dorado Boards of Supervisors on a permanent
boundary line between the counties.
District attorney L. L. Chamberlain died from spinal meningitis. George W. Hamilton appointed to
take his place on a 3-2 vote of Board of Supervisors. John Henry Robie, who organized the Auburn
Lumber Co. and Auburn Savings Bank, died after a long paralytic illness. Survivors included son E.T.
Robie and grandchildren Wendell and Edwina Robie.
Considerable improvements were made to the County Hospital with the old jail building moved
nearby to "accommodate insane persons when necessary."
Birdsall Shoe Co. on Central Square advertised Grover's handmade shoes for $4. The Auburn
Restaurant, A. M. Sather, prop., phone Red 57, boasted the "best restaurant in the county for oysters
prepared any way."
Placer County Coroner J. G. Bisbee reported a prolific year for death in 1913, requiring 67
inquests, including 15 on Southern Pacific tracks and another on the Mt. Quarries railroad. Five
involved suicides and 11 homicides by gunshot.
One touching death was that of Florence White, 6, who appeared to have been slightly injured
when bitten by a dog while with her father, Edward White, the Wells Fargo agent at Bowman. She died
about three weeks later at the home of her grandparents, the Walter Connelleys, in Newcastle.
Lake Spaulding Dam was put in operation with the Drum Powerhouse activating "Pacific Service"
that included completion of carrying electrical energy from the summit to Cordelia Junction.
Yes dad, 1913 was quite a year. We planted a new Mr. Lincoln rose.
For a broader look elsewhere in 1913 explore our website and try your wit at the first newspaper
crossword puzzle that was printed that year.
You can reach me at: otten@ssctv.net
° ° °
Relive History circa 1852, 1952 and 2013
Time: 12:03 pm
Date: Friday, Sept. 20, 2013
Place: 4725 Virginiatown Road, east of Lincoln off Highway 193.
Circa 1852: Virginia, likely named by some Gold Rushers from the
state of Virginia, was among a series of communities established
along the Auburn Ravine below Auburn where the first reported gold
discovery was made in May 1848 by Frenchman Claude Chana.
Claim to fame: First Placer railroad, possibly state.
1952: The Placer County Historical Society, County of Placer join
forces with the State Department of Natural Resources in putting up
the plaque denoting State Registered Landmark No. 400, one of the
last of the Centennial plaques denoting the anniversary of California
becoming the 31st State in 1850. The Virginiatown plaque on
Virginiatown Road was formally dedicated Sept. 28,1952, with only
two crumbling buildings left of the ghost town now remembered as
Virginiatown.
2012: Plaque stolen. Only the granite base remains.
2013: An identical shiny new plaque put in place. The rededication is made possible by the Placer
County Historical Society and E Clampus Vitus, Lord Sholto Douglas Chapter 3, Newcastle.
Contact: Michael Otten, PCHS president. otten@ssctv.net 530 888-7837
° ° °
Clampers Patrick Bryant and Kurt
Hexberg ready new Virginiatown
Plaque for Sept. 20 dedication
A second marriage generally means you quit celebrating the anniversary of the first one. The City
of Auburn is no different. This year marks a century and a quarter since Auburn's two precincts
voted overwhelmingly to reincorporate.
Placer County Historical Exhibit can be seen through early October. Photographs, articles,
and other items give one an idea what the year 1888 was like. There’s even a photograph of
Auburn’s first mayor in 1888.
1888 was also the year the
Ladies of the Auburn Library
Association came out with its first
cookbook. See what was cooking
then. The main object was to establish
a public library in Auburn.
The modes of transportation
were walking, horseback, horse and
buggy, stagecoach and rail. The city's
population was about 1,500, one ninth
of what it is today. Then about one in
10 of Placer County's residents lived in
Auburn, the county seat. Today it is
less than one in 27. Mining,
agriculture, transportation were major
economic driving forces compared to
health care and government today.
Few, if any, had any idea how California would change in 125 years. In 1888 the state's less
than 1.2 million population accounted for less than 2 percent of the nation's population. It was the
22nd most populated state. Today more than a quarter of the nation's 325 million residents live in
the Golden State.
The City of Sacramento, the seat of state government, had a population of about 25,000
within a county of 40,000. San Francisco with nearly 300,000, or a quarter of the state's
population, was the most populated and was the first to crack the top 10 most populated cities in
the nation. --Michael Otten
° ° °
Library Exhibit Celebrates Auburn’s 125th
Join the high noon festivities Friday, April 11, at Lozanzos and Bald Hill Roads near the Auburn Ravine
Bridge. Parking will be limited so car pool from the Ophir Park and Ride. Arrive early.
The bronze plaque replacement dedication will feature the entire award winning historic Ophir School
student body, Ophir's rich history, The Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band and Temperance Society Inc
and so much more.
Brought to you by the joint efforts of Ophir Area Property Owners Association, E Clampus Vitus, Chapter
3, the Placer County Historical Society and Ophir principal Mary Zuan.
Additional help provided by Supervisor Jim Holmes and the Placer County Board of
Supervisors, Parlor 59, Native Sons of the Golden West and others.
Taking a biblical name, Ophir quickly became a center of quartz mining, the county's most populous city
and nearly became the County seat. Many still regard it as the place at the end of the Rainbow. See why
Friday, April 11.
° ° °
The Marker's Coming Back to Ophir Friday April 11
1913--Income Tax, Federal Reserve Begin and Other Things
Join us as we step into our time machine for a look at the past
In 1913 it was unlikely that anyone could fathom what was ahead, including two World Wars, the
Great Depression, the shape of inventions and conveniences to come and a host of other changes,
including computers and the digital age.
Remember the past. Imagine the future. We all do it. For example, take a look at some of the ways
we entertained ourselves. During the Gold Rush folks would travel from miles around for a good hanging
or a bear and bull fight. Hundred years ago to bring crowds to the California State Fair, erstwhile
promoters had quite a hit on their hands when they fired up two steam engines for a head-on crash. It
was a big deal. Families dressed up in their Sunday best.
Luckily, we can get a glimpse of how it looked by going on line and viewing a six minute plus video
of vintage film. Put http://archive.org/details/Californ1913 in your browser for your peek at the 1913 State
Fair. Please watch the entire silent footage. It includes the grand livestock parade, a shot of Gov. Hiram
Johnson in his viewing booth in the grandstands, the hot rods of the day going through antics on the dirt
track and concluding with the head-on crash.
Let's look at some other things in 1913:
A State Commission on Immigration and Housing was created to
prevent what Gov Johnson called the "dreadful conditions of poverty"
that could be found in the immigrant ghettos on the East Coast. Its job
was to examine farm labor camps and promote housing standards for
migratory workers.
The California Alien Land law was enacted banning Japanese
from owning land.
The Raker Act was enacted to grant San Francisco the right to
dam Hetch Hetchy for its water supply.
California became the first state to make the use of marijuana
illegal.
Two future California baseballs meet in the 10th World Series
with the Philadelphia A's beating the New York Giants 4 games to 1.
Two future presidents were born: Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
William Howard Taft finished his term as president. He was the
nation's the first president to own a car and the only one to serve as
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Taft was succeeded by Woodrow Wilson who was inaugurated as
the 28th President on March 4, and 11 days later became the first president to hold a press conference.
By the end of 1913 Wilson signed the Owen-Glass Act, creating the Federal Reserve, the first major
banking reform following the Civil War.
Taft and John F. Kennedy are the only two presidents to be buried at Arlington.
The 16th Amendment, the federal income tax, was ratified on Feb. 3 with the first personal income
tax year starting March 1.
Al Capone, who later went to Alcatraz for income evasion, was expelled from school at age 14
after getting in a fight with a teacher.
Federal Reserve Act of was passed, creating the Federal Reserve System as the nation's central
bank to regulate the flow of money and credit for economic stability and growth. It led to the Federal
Reserve Notes, now the only U.S. currency produced
In an odd pairing, R. J. Reynolds came out with the first packaged cigarette, Camels, and the
American Cancer Society was founded.
The still standing record high temperature of 134 degrees was reached on
July 10, 1913, in Death Valley.
Henry Ford introduced the automobile assembly line.
Pennzoil is founded in Los Angeles.
The National Temperance Council is founded.
The first newspaper crossword puzzle is published.
The site of Cabrillo's first landing in California was made a national
monument.
The state expanded its 1909 first in the nation sterilization law to allow
for the neutering of anyone "afflicted with hereditary insanity or incurable
chronic mania or dementia." The new law created the State Lunacy
Commission with the power to order sterilization.
"I love you, California." was written by Francis B. Silverwood and
Abraham F. Frankenstein for their fellow Shriners to perform at a convention
and warmly embraced by Californians after a rendition by Grand Opera singer
Mary Garden. In 1951 the Legislature made it the state song. But it wasn't
until 1988, "I Love You, California" was put into law; section 421.7 of the
Government Code, supposedly to put to rest a popular sentiment that
"California, Here I Come" was the state song.
The world population was 1.65 billion. Today: 7 billion plus.
The federal budget was $6.9 billion. Today, it’s pushing $4 trillion.
The price of a 1st class postage stamp was 2 cents. It’s now 46 cents.
"Rustless Steel,” now known as “stainless steel,” was invented by Harry
Brearley of Sheffield, England.
° ° °
Fill in the small squares with words which agree with the following definitions:
Arthur Wynne had the job of devising the weekly puzzle page for Fun, the eight-page comic
section of the New York World. When he devised what he called a Word-cross for the
Christmas 1913 edition, published on 21 December he could have no idea that he would be
starting a worldwide craze. Can you figure it out? --source: Think.Com
1913 fun: The First Crossword - The History
Heritage Trail 7 set for Aug. 2-3, 2014
"I never knew this was a school," said one surprised Auburn resident visiting the Benton Welty
Classroom in the 1915-built Auburn Grammar School at 1225 Lincoln Way. "All these years I just
thought it was an old town City Hall."
Others were surprised Aug. 10th and 11th to learn the Auburn City Council, Planning Commission and
others meet in the restored school auditorium where the late Joe Carroll usually sat in the balcony
taking notes for the old Placer Sentinel.
Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the William H. Weeks designed building may be the
only City Hall in the state housed in an old schoolhouse.
The sixth annual Heritage Trail Aug. 10-11 was such a success for the 19 museums taking part the
steering committee has started work on No. 7 and set the date for Aug. 2-3, 2014. It is being moved up
a week so as not to conflict with the Tevis Cup Ride Aug. 9-10 that involves the Native Sons of the
Golden West and other volunteers who work with Heritage Trail.
Be a part of the fun and help us work up new creative displays for next year. Make believe you were a
teacher of the early years by contacting Jean Allender (530) 885-5334.
Sarah Hudson, 10, started the 5th grade at Fiddyment Farm Elementary School in Roseville on Aug. 19
with an unexpected basket of school supplies, games and
other items. Sarah was the
lucky 2013 Heritage Trail winner of the Benton Welty Historical
Classroom basket drawing.
She and her parents, Chris and Andi Hudson, said the Placer
County Historical Society
museum at City Hall was among about nine museums they
visited.
Special thanks to board member Jean Allender, who chairs the
tours at the classroom.
Thanks go to those who helped with donations, City Historian
April McDonald-Loomis
and the city. Thanks too to Eula Marriott, Sally Palmer Dawley,
MaryLue Hardey, Jane
Mispley, Dorothy Hall Overton, Bonnie and Walt Wilson, Karen
Bleuel, Jane Hamilton,
Professor Bones and Betty and Karri Samson who were among the tour guides that special weekend.
Can you solve the Ruby Benjamin Mystery?
I have a special prize for the first person who can clear up the mystery about who is Ruby Benjamin
and why her large Class of 1909 diploma from the Oroville Public Schools is hanging in a corner of the
Benton Welty classroom. --Michael Otten
° ° °
Where is it?
"Auburn, My Home Town." This is from a September 1950 State Theatre movie
advertisement. One of the main features then was "Fancy Pants," starring Bob Hope and
Lucille Ball. Does anyone have a copy of this movie? The Placer County Historical Society
would like to borrow it so it be put on a DVD and given to the Placer County Archives. An
additional DVD will be provided. We would also like to show at least a portion of the movie
on our website. Any clues to the whereabouts of this special Auburn movie welcome. Please
contact PCHS president Michael Otten at 530 888-7837 or at otten@ssctv.net
Ronald Reagan Plaque
If the world of the Foresthill Divide, Placer County and the Northern Sierra was
anyone's oyster, it belongs to Gene Markley. Markley, 78, a life member of the Placer
County Historical Society, made his mark reinventing the early Mountain Man in novel
ways.
He came west from his native Wisconsin. He loved the mountains. He loved the
Indians and how they survived for thousands of years in harmony
with nature. He led the way and wrote the book on gorge scrambling
for the Sierra Club. Best of, all for more than a half century he kindled
a passion among legions of followers through his Sierra Club outings
and 37 years of popular Placer Adult School Gold Camps, wilderness
skiing, snowshoeing and other outdoor adventure outings. He made it
fun to learn about history, uncommon literature and preserving what
we can of nature and the past.
We enjoyed the paths less traveled to places we never may have seen but for Gene.
For some of us, it included Placer County's Damascus, a once small Gold Rush
community.with a school, a post office, a brass band and a scattering of homes that
started as Strong's Diggings about 1852. Since the 1960s Damascus has mostly
disappeared from maps and memory.
On Dec. 10, 1988, Markley led one of his adult classes with a group from the Foresthill
Historical Society to Damascus to install a marker on a nearly flat rock the old
fashioned way. The adventurers took turns using star drills to hammer in one inch
holes to anchor the plaque to memorialize a spot whose remaining buildings were
virtually eliminated by a 1920s forest fire.
This Markley pearl came to mind as the man dubbed "The Old Buffalo" took what may
well be his final trip back home to Wisconsin last month to be cared for by his loving
kin. If you haven't heard by now, Markley suffered a near fatal stroke in his Orangevale
home in February. His family frantically worked these past several months to put his
affairs in order here and to cut through legal and other red tape to fly him back to
Wisconsin where they feel they can better care for him.
Nearly 100 friends and relatives showed up for a potluck picnic at Regional Park in
Auburn on Oct. 14 to say goodbye and pose for photos with Gene. Thanks to Gene's
and his family's wishes, part of his vast collection of books, photos, research and maps
is working its way into the Placer County Archives, the Placer County Library history-
genealogical collection and the Foresthill Museum. Some of his devoted followers are
continuing the outings, developing an Atlas of Gene Hikes and putting together photos
and coordinates on early mines and markers as a lasting legacy.
If you would like to write to Gene, here's his new address: Waunakee Manor, Room
B5, 801 South Klein Drive, Waunakee, WI 53597.
° ° °
This article was originally published in the Nov-Dec 2012 edition of The Placer.
Footnote: The City Council for the City of Auburn, Ca. approved a commemorative
plaque honoring Gene Markley. This plaque has been placed in Auburn's Central
Square.
Gene Markley The Old Buffalo
by Michael Otten, PCHS President
Commemorative plaque on display at the Central Square, Auburn, CA
Gene’s plaque is located near the sculpture of the Nisenan Indian Dancer
Auburn City Hall 1225 Lincoln Way
This building was origninally built to be a school. In 1915 it served as the Auburn
Grammar School. At the present time the building serves a dual purpose as the home for
the Auburn City Hall as well as a museum named ‘The Benton Welty School Room.’Get a
rare sense of old school days in a classroom packed with photos, scrapbooks, maps and
old school books. Step back in time reading the Eclectic McGuffy Reader found on every
desk. Try your hand at string games and penmanship. Due to its historic significance the
building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Click here to learn more about the man the school room is named after;.Benton Welty.
There is ample parking available at the rear of the building. Normal Hours of Operation:
Open by appointment only.
Benton Welty School Room
1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn
Call for an appointment 530-906-0712
The Benton Welty School Room is located in the Auburn City Hall building.
Auburn City Hall 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA