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Valley
Springs: In 1885, Valley
Springs was the eastern terminus for the San Joaquin and
Sierra Nevada Narrow Gauge Railroad, which carried freight
and passengers from the Valley and beyond.
Upon arrival in
Valley Springs, travelers found horses and wagons their
means of transportation. But once the Southern Pacific
Railroad bought the line in 1888, rail travel was extended
to somewhat farther than the County Seat in San Andreas.
The rail lines have been closed for many years, but the
population of Valley Springs and the businesses in the
vicinity continue to grow. The area is also a well known
recreational destination. Within a few miles of each other
are New Hogan, Pardee, and Camanche Reservoirs where great
fishing, boating, and camping are year round activities.
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Angels Camp:
Angels
Camp , aka the "real" City of Angels and the
only incorporated city in all of Calaveras County, was
named after shopkeeper Henry Angel of Rhode Island who
started a trading post here in 1848.
Several good strikes were made by early miners and within
the year over 4,000 miners were working the surface gold
of Angels. The source of gold played out quickly but
hardrock mining kept the gold industry flourishing in
Angels until recently. The town is honeycombed with
tunnels from the many successful mines.
In 1864, Mark Twain wrote his first successful short
story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras
County" and Angels Camp became linked with frogs
apparently for all time. The Jumping Frog Jubilee and
Calaveras County Fair is held annually the third week in
May.
Angels Camp's population today is about 3,000. Its main
industry is tourism which boasts such attractions as
caverns for public viewing, challenging golf, a beautiful
lake and marina with houseboat and fishing boat rentals,
historic buildings and monuments, interesting shops and
great eateries. |
Mokelumne Hill:
Founded in
1848, "Moke Hill", as the locals call it, was
among the richest of the digs. Claims in some areas were
confined to sixteen square feet and many fortunes were
made.
It was the county seat in the early days and,
although it held no exclusive rights, it was known as one
of the most violent, bawdy towns in the Mother Lode.
As the gold
played out, Mokelumne Hill shrank from a wild and woolly
15,000 to the much less populated, quiet historic village
that it is today. Main Street Mokelumne Hill is directly
adjacent to Highway 49 between Jackson and San Andreas and
is well worth a stop.
Many of the original buildings are
still in place and an air of Gold Rush authenticity
exists. Ask at the historic Hotel Leger for stories about
the ghostly cattle stampede in the middle of the night and
the heart-wrenching sobs that sometimes emanate from one
of the hotel rooms.
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San Andreas:
San
Andreas was settled by Mexican Gold Miners in 1848. By
1850 over 1000 tents dotted the hillsides.
The first
church, built in 1852 was a canvas structure with a simple
cross over the door designating it a church of the Roman
Catholic faith. It was named for St. Andrew (San Andreas)
and the name of the town was taken from this church.
In August 1852 the large San Andreas Nugget was found in a
claim just north of where the town is located and sold to
the Wells Fargo company for $12,000. In 1859 over $500,000
in gold dust was shipped. The channels were producing
gold, although lack of water hampered the efforts of the
miners until the miner's ditches were completed.
In 1866, the County Seat was moved to San Andreas from
Mokelumne Hill and in 1869, a county hospital was moved to
the Gold Hill house. Today, San Andreas is a progressive
community with several organizations working to improve,
promote and enhance the climate and growth in the San
Andreas area.
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