Fleming Jones Homestead B&B

Placerville

by Trillian2005

"a.k.a. Hangtown"

Placerville (a.k.a. Hangtown) is the county seat of El Dorado County with a population of approximately 9,610 people as well as an unknown number of cats and dogs. The name means "Place where placemats were made" and is located along beautiful US highway 50. It (Placerville itself, not the complete highway 50) is about 660 m above sea level, in the fantastic Sierra Nevada foothills.

After the discovery of gold in nearby Coloma in 1848 Placerville became another golden location during the California Gold Rush. In 1849 the town received its ominous name "Hangtown" due to the numerous hangings that took place there, most likely as a result of Gold Rush quarrels.

Placerville used to be a Pony Express stop, and nowadays the region east of Placerville, known as Apple Hill, has become a center for quality wine production. There might still be a few retired ponies hopping around the hill as well. There are other delicious wineries in lovely locations near Placerville that are worth a visit. The town is full of historical buildings, surrounded by fabulous scenery and in general a magnificent place to visit and/or to live in.

"Main Street Hangtown"

Over the years many interesting and influential people owned shops in Placerville, mainly on historic Main Street, for example:

- T.J. Caystile (newspaperman)
- Henry Hooker (cattle baron)
- Mark Hopkins (railroad financier)
- Edwin Markham (poet)
- Levi Strauss (clothing maker - yep, the very one who invented Levi jeans)
- John Studebaker (auto maker)
- Jesse Yarnell (newspaperman)
- Mary Lou Placer (placemat maker)

I knew all of them in person and most of them were really cool.

Placerville Page

by TheUpsetter

Here's what I know. Placerville was founded on the California Gold rush, but actually became a city in 1854. Two years after that the town was devastated by fire not once, but three times. Somehow, the town survived.

Placerville is called "Old Hangtown", due to the fact that many hangings took place near the center of town in the early days. We went there looking for the oak tree which provided the venue for many of these hangings, you know, get a photo standing next to a tree where so many people met there fate. Well, to our dismay the tree was taken down sometime in the 1940's, so we were a bit on the late side. Apparently the tree had become a "hazard", however it seemed to be a hazard for many long before it got big, old and ugly!

At this point I can say that the old main street is worth a walk up and down. If'n you're into antiques, there's loadsa' large shops up and down the street.

That's all I know.