On or around the first day of every month, the El Dorado County Historical Society (EDCHS) features a photo from El Dorado County’s past. See below for a brief history of the subject of each featured photo.
Stella Ralston Tracy (1876 - 1968) was a gifted musician and singer, trained by her mother with whom she frequently performed duets across the region. At the young age of 7, Stella composed her first piece of music, and she continued to develop her musical talents through her youth, culminating in her graduation from San Jose State Normal School (now San Jose State College) in 1895. After graduation, Stella taught at the local Brandon school house. She later married her lifelong friend, Perry Tracy. She ended her teaching career because married women were barred from teaching until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed such regulations.
Photo courtesy of the El Dorado County Historical Museum. Photos are subject to copyright. Permission to reproduce must be requested.
Stella was a founding member of the El Dorado County Historical Society. Four years before her death, she generously bequeathed her home and belongings to the society. Her legacy was highlighted in the 2021 Buried History performance at the Union Cemetery. Stella's preserved collections and her story, alongside those of other pioneering women of El Dorado County, can be explored at the Fountain & Tallman Museum located at 524 Main Street, Placerville, and the El Dorado County Historical Museum at 104 Placerville Drive. These venues provide a window into the significant contributions made by early women pioneers and leaders in the region.
Do you have more to add to the story above? We want to hear about it! Please contact the El Dorado County Historical Society!
April 2024
At the age of nineteen, John Studebaker embarked on a journey westward, hoping to strike gold in the heart of California. However, fate had a different plan for him, steering him towards a path he never anticipated – that of a wheelbarrow maker.
Upon his arrival in Old Dry Diggings, known today as Placerville, in late August 1853, John found himself amidst a bustling town vying for recognition as the capital of California. Placerville stood out prominently amid other towns of the Gold Rush era, such as Poker Flat, Red Dog, and Angel’s Camp, primarily due to its strategic location along the transcontinental trail.
Having traveled from his hometown of South Bend, Indiana, John carried with him a wagon he had crafted himself. Despite possessing a meager fifty cents in funds, his entrepreneurial spirit burned bright. Yet, his initial aspirations of seeking gold were thwarted by a chance encounter upon his arrival.
As local residents gathered around the wagon train, seeking a skilled wagon maker, John’s craftsmanship caught the eye of H.L. Hinds, the town's blacksmith. Despite his desire to pursue gold mining, John was swiftly presented with a job offer, a rarity in a land teeming with disillusioned gold seekers.
Intrigued by the advice of a stranger, John seized the opportunity, opting to work at Hinds' blacksmith shop, where repairing miners’ tools and stagecoaches became his daily tasks. However, it was the demand for wheelbarrows that truly fueled his newfound occupation.
Despite initial setbacks, John persevered, mastering the art of wheelbarrow craftsmanship and earning himself the moniker of “Wheelbarrow Johnny.” By 1855, his wheelbarrows were fetching $10 each, enabling him to amass savings amounting to $3,000.
Though a brief stint as a gold miner proved unfruitful, John's dedication to his craft paid off handsomely. By 1857, his savings had swelled to $7,000, prompting a pivotal letter from his brother Clem, beckoning him back to South Bend to join the family wagon-making business.
Recognizing the untapped potential in South Bend, John resolved to bolster the family enterprise with his savings, envisioning a future marked by prosperity and growth. His journey culminated in the establishment of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1868, marking the inception of a legacy that would transcend generations.
As the company flourished, venturing into the realm of automobile manufacturing, John Studebaker, once known as “Wheelbarrow Johnny,” emerged as a visionary leader at the helm of a global enterprise, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.
On April 16, 1912 (two days after the Titanic sank), John Studebaker finally returned to Placerville and held an by-invitation only reunion at the Ohio House (intersection of Main and Sacramento Streets in Placerville) with old-timers to celebrate his humble beginnings in Old Dry Diggings. The guest list included some of the County’s most well-known citizens, including Charles Weatherwax, Robert Blair, John Pearson, M.P. Bennett, James Madison Anderson, N.D. Arnot, A. Darlington, Fred Irwin, C.G. Celio, and George Henry Thompson.
Do you have more to add to the story above? We want to hear about it! Please contact the El Dorado County Historical Society!
Photos courtesy of the El Dorado County Historical Museum, as well as the Bruce Maclin Collection, property of Sean Manwaring and Jacob Rigoli.
March 2024
The picture above was taken on March 20, 1903, in the dining room of the Ohio House, located at the intersection of Sacramento and Main Streets in Placerville, El Dorado County, CA. Originally opened in the 1850s, it was one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the county and was often hailed as the “finest hotel in the state outside of the major cities.”
The Ohio House boasted unmatched luxuries and accommodations, including a well-appointed dining room, electric lighting, hot and cold water bathrooms on every floor, “sample rooms” (stores within the hotel), and a luxurious bar. For this reason, the county’s “Club Shoot,” a local rifle club, held a banquet at the Ohio House in March of 1903 after competing among teams of local “crackshots” at the indoor rifle range (see second photo, below). The losing team, led by Jay Fox, committed to treating the winning team, led by Frank Young, to an oyster supper at the Ohio House at the conclusion of their competition. (Continued below…)
Built after the peak of the Gold Rush, the hotel burned to the ground in 1893 but was rebuilt from 1894-1895 by owners, Messrs. McKee and Melton, as a three-story structure with additional annexes to the rear.
In 1912, a very successful John Studebaker made the journey from South Bend, Indiana, back to Placerville. A much younger Studebaker, also known as “Wheelbarrow Johnny,” made his home in Placerville during the Gold Rush where he achieved early success in fabricating quality wheelbarrows for miners. Using the money he earned during his days in Placerville, he later returned to the Midwest where he launched a successful buggy and, later, automobile manufacturing business with his brothers.
Studebaker selected the Ohio House to host his 1912 invitation-only reunion with the “Who’s Who” of old pioneer friends from the county’s rough and tumble days. Studebaker’s return to Placerville was considered one of the most momentous occasions in early 20th-century El Dorado County.
Sadly, the Ohio House was destroyed again by fire in 1921, never to be rebuilt. Even more tragic was the death of John C. Horn, who perished on the third floor after refusing to vacate the building until he had ensured that every last person was evacuated. Horn was a beloved educator and newspaperman who had married into the Hulbert family of Georgetown, owners of the Georgetown Gazette. Today, the Mel’s Diner parking lot occupies the site where the Ohio House Hotel once stood.
Do you have more to add to the story above? We want to hear about it! Please contact the El Dorado County Historical Society!
All photos courtesy of the Bruce Maclin Collection, property of Sean Manwaring and Jacob Rigoli.
February 2024
The above picture is believed to have been taken in 1887 in Shingle Springs, El Dorado County, California.
The history of railroads in El Dorado County began in 1853 with a dream. Theodore Judah, a visionary engineer, surveyed a route for the Sacramento Valley Railroad, aiming to connect the bustling docks of Sacramento to the idyllic Tahoe Lake Valley. However, this dream faced harsh reality. Bankruptcies and fierce competition from the "Big Four" building the Central California Railroad through Auburn plagued the project. Finally, in 1865, after years of struggle, the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad reached Shingle Springs.
But the journey wasn't over. Placerville residents, hungry for connection, refused to give up. Through relentless effort and community support, they secured the funding and manpower to extend the tracks. In 1888, Placerville finally welcomed the iron horse, marking a momentous occasion in the county's history.
This captivating photograph from the El Dorado County Historical Museum captures the excitement of that era. Decorated wagons transformed into a makeshift locomotive and passenger car, symbolizing the community's spirit and anticipation of a brighter future connected by rail. [Credit: El Dorado County Historical Museum]
Born during the Gold Rush:
In 1855, the Sacramento Valley Railroad reached Folsom, laying the foundation for later expansion.
Over twenty years later, in 1888, the tracks finally arrived in Placerville, connecting the towns and boosting lumber and fruit transportation.
Changing Hands and Losing Steam:
Southern Pacific Railroad took over in 1888, but the lumber industry's decline led to the line's closure in 1989.
Years of neglect followed, leaving the tracks overgrown and damaged.
Preserving the Past, Reviving the Rails:
In 1991, a coalition of local entities preserved the corridor as a potential trail or future railroad.
In 2008, the Placerville and Sacramento Railroad Association took on the role of operating excursion trains, reviving the route with volunteer repairs and restoration.
Riding the Rails Today:
The Placerville and Sacramento Railroad Association offers scenic train and motorcar rides, wine tasting adventures, and an annual festival, bringing history back to life on the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad.
Sources:
Do you have more to add to the story above? We want to hear about it! Please contact the El Dorado County Historical Society!
January 2024
Pictured above in the early 1960s are Robert Greenwood (standing, holding a reference book) and Newton Baird (seated at the typewriter), founders and proprietors of “The Talisman Press”.
The Talisman Press was a fine press operated from approximately 1958 to 1969. After publishing "Talisman" magazine, they turned to publishing two to three books a year on the subjects of Western American history, American literature, and bibliography. The business began in the San Jose area, but moved to Georgetown, California in 1962.
In the 1950s, Newton and Baird recognized that many historic artifacts, ephemera, stories, and knowledge were being irretrievably lost. They devoted their lives to the identification, protection, preservation, cataloging, and retelling of the stories of early El Dorado County pioneers. Through their book publishing, they protected and revived many of the stories of our history that may otherwise have been lost.
Although they stopped printing books in 1969, Greenwood and Baird continued as book dealers until their retirement in January, 1991.
Pictured to the right are Robert and Newton at their press, and Robert in front of their home/business in Georgetown, El Dorado County, California.
Sources:
Collection of Sean Manwaring and Jacob Rigoli
Do you have more to add to the story above? We want to hear about it! Please contact the El Dorado County Historical Society!
