USA > California > El Dorado County > Historical souvenir of El Dorado County, California : with illustrations and biographical setches of its prominent men & pioneers > Part 44
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The great banking houses of San Francisco, doing the express business all over the State, had their offices at Placerville from the earliest time, and other express firms branched off from their offices to bring the ex- press comfort to other places higher up in the moun- tains. The Alta Telegraph Company commenced work to connect Sacramento with most all the mining places of the Northern mines, taking a wire from said place through El Dorado, Placer, Nevada counties up to Sierra county; but the connection from Sacra- mento to Placerville, Coloma and Auburn was not finished before spring of 1854. The first newspaper in the county was started at Placerville, and this city has supported two good weekly newspapers all the time since; for a long while there were even three papers kept up and seemed to make it a profitable in- vestment.
As we have seen already the town in early days was a mining camp of the most unsettled character, and though there were some families between the multi- tude of single men, they were just as restless, chang- ing from one mining camp to another, and conse- quently this was not a favorable period for schools and school teaching at all, and the population had to settle down before these blessings of the peace could benefit
RESIDENCE OF GEO . G.BLANCHARD PLACERVILLE·
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LOCAL HISTORY.
them. The first schools kept in the town and town- ship were entirely private, and the teachers got paid for their work by the parents and guardians of the children in the district, who had been sent there. After the county had been divided into school districts and the officers for those districts appointed, the Com- missioners of common schools for the district of Placerville, transmitted to the County Superintendent, in November 1854, a report concerning the condition of the schools in the district, and a census of the num- ber of children within the same, as taken by S. A. Grantham, school marshal, from which we take the following:
"The number of schools and commissioned teachers is as follows: Richard Cole, School No. 1, Mrs. Caro- line H. Cole, School No. 2, Mrs. Mary M. Hedman, School No. 3, Mrs. Amanda Sanders, School No. 4.
"The aggregate number of scholars in attendance and under instruction is 125, and thus far the schools have been supported by parents and guardians.
"On the first of January next, the school money ap- portioned to this district will become available. The census return shows the number of children in the district to be 290. The money will be appropriated to the teachers of the several schools, and the parents and guardians will be required to pay monthly such sums as will make up a fair compensation for teachers, and pay rent and contingent expenses.
"The establishment of these schools, and obtaining a share of the public school fund, will reduce the price of tuition, and enable many to attend who would otherwise be prevented from doing so, and it is hoped that the citizens will do all in their power to sustain the schools and keep them in successful operation. The fruits will be apparent as our children grow to manhood, and become useful citizens, and ornaments to society."
These same private schools were kept in the same way as heretofore-the apportionment due them from January 1, 1855, never has been paid-until about the middle of the year 1855.
At a meeting of the Board of School Trustees, held on June 2, 1855, the township of Placerville was di- vided into two school districts, and the bounds de- fined as follows:
"All that portion of the township lying west of a line drawn due north and south to the boundary of said township, from the Methodist Church between Upper and Lower Placerville, shall be known as Dis- trict No. I, and all that portion of the township east of said line shall be known as District No. 2. The district schoolhouse No. I, has been located near the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. J. W. Bullock commis- sioned as teacher. The district schoolhouse No. 2
has been located in Upper Placerville, and Mr. Alex- ander Cooper commissioned teacher. The salary of said teachers has been set at $125. per month, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of Section 31 of the law relating to the support of schools and teachers."
The following rate bill was established for the first month, viz:
"The parents or guardians of children sent, except such as are exempt, shall pay weekly the sum of fifty cents for each child, and parents or guardians failing to pay said sum shall be deprived of the benefits of said school.
"The rate bill will be altered from time to time as the school increases in profits, and each will be re- quired to pay a less or greater sum in proportion to the increase or decrease of the school.
"The commissioners feel that the adoption of this system of common schools will extend to all the bene- fits of the school fund, and it is earnestly hoped that all parents and guardians will sustain the schools, hereby benefiting themselves and the community at large.
L. T. CARR. D. SPENCER. A. W. BEE."
June 2d, 1855.
The above stated rate bill some time later proved to be insufficient for the expenditure of the public school, and the Common Council of the city of Placerville consequently passed an 'Ordinance' to provide for the levy and collection of a tax for school purposes, ordained as follows :
SECTION I. A tax of one-fourth of one per cent. on all the real and personal property in this city, accord- ing to the valuation of the assessment roll of the city assessor for the year 1856, is hereby levied for the purpose of the support of free common schools in this city. To be collected by the City Collector.
Approved, November 10th, 1856.
GEORGE M. CONDEE, Mayor.
J. M. GRANTHAM, Clerk.
For the custody and disbursement of the common school fund, and also for the organization of the city into school districts, and the establishment of school officers and the duties of the same, the Mayor and Common Council passed the following ordinance :
SECTION I. The district of country comprised within the corporate limits of the city is hereby de- clared a school district, and the same shall be known as the Placerville Common School District.
SEC. 2. On or before the first day of January, of each year, the Common Council of the city of Placerville, shall elect by ballot three Trustees of School, who shall comprise a city Board of Education
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
for this city. The said Common Council shall also at the time and place elect by ballot a Superintendent of common schools for said district. The said Board of Education and the Superintendent shall hold their respective offices for the term of one year, from the date of their election or until their successors are elected and qualified.
SEC. 3. The said Board of Education are hereby clothed with all the authority conferred by law upon the school trustees of other school districts of this State, and it is hereby made their duty to comply with the provisions of said law.
SEC. 4. The City Superintendent shall have power, and it shall be his duty in accordance with the pro- visions of the school laws, 1. To visit each school in this district, personally, at least once in every three months; 2. To aid the city Board of Education in the examination of teachers; 6. To make a full quarterly report; 7. To receive from the County Superintendent all school money apportioned to this district ; 8. To deliver at the close of his official term, to his successor, all books, papers, documents and records belonging to his office.
SEC. 5. The Common Council of this city hereby reserves to itself the power to expel from office or The first theater was built and opened in the city of Placervil'e in 1852. This was the " Placer Thea- ter," and it was used for theatrical performances, for concerts and for lectures, as well as for public meet- ings. The "Empire Theater" came next, and was quite successful in doing some opposition. But the suspend any and all school officers in this district for any malfeasance in office, or any failure on the part of said officer to comply with any school ordinance of this city, or any of the provisions of the school law en- joined upon him or them as a duty of office; pro- vided, that no person shall be expelled or suspended big fire of July 6th, 1856, destroyed them, with many from office except upon the written charge of a citizen of this district, verified by his or her oath, and not then until after due examination and a fair hearing of the charges so preferred.
SEC. 6. The Common Council of this city shall fill any and all vacancies that may occur in the said Board of Education or in the office of the City Super- intendent.
SEC. 7. It is hereby made the duty of the City Col- lector to pay over to the City Treasurer all money collected by him for school purposes, and the City Treasurer shall receive the same, and all money so re- ceived shall be kept separate as a special fund for the support of common schools in this district, and the Treasurer shall render a separate report of the same to the Common Council of this city.
SEC. 8. The City Superintendent shall receive five per cent. of all moneys received and disbursed by him during his term of office, and the same shall be his full compensation as such officer.
Approved, December 6, 1856.
GEORGE. M. CONDEE, Mayor. J. M. GRANTHAM, Clerk.
Mrs. Caroline Cole, who had started one of the first private schools in the town of Placerville and kept it up for years, on June 7th, 1856, about a year after the former had to close up, on account of the arrange- ment in the public schools, opened a boarding school for young ladies, where all branches of a thor- ough English education, including vocal and instru- mental inusic, were taught. This school was started on Bedford avenue.
The Placerville Academy was organized in 1861, and continued with much favor and a large measure of success for seven years, and was reopened under more favorable auspices, and with a view to perma- nency, on the 2d of October, 1871. Prof. George P. Tyndall, formerly of the Michigan University, Ann Arbor, bought the property in August, 1881, and en- larged it to the present capacity of about fifty large rooms for boarding school purposes, etc. The build- ing fronts on two streets, Main and Clay. The other sides are surrounded by gardens, laid out with walks and croquet grounds. Building and grounds are well supplied with water through hydrants and connected with baths and a well appointed gymnasium, under control of the institution.
other buildings, and a new theater was built on the site of the former Empire by O'Donnell & Russell. It was arranged with a capacity for 1,500 people, and opened on October 30th, 1856, under the manage- ment of John S. Potter, with an address composed for the occasion and read by Miss Granice, and a play of the Risley Troupe. Mr. Schulz was the architect of the house. The year 1871 saw the springing up-or rather the " rolling up "-of the rink mania, and most every town was anxious to have its own skating-rink. Placerville, of course, took the lead in El Dorado county, and Mud Springs, Shingle Springs, George- town, Coloma and others followed to procure or build up a hall for this purpose. Messrs. Creighton & Childs built a new two-story building for this enter- prise, now Sierra Hall, which was opened September Ist, 1871, and as long as the people took a fancy to this healthy exercise the hall was crowded every night, and old and young, gentlemen and ladies, all were amusing themselves on the rolling skates, and for quite a while all other public places were deserted, the skating rink absorbing all interest for amusement and entertainment.
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LOCAL HISTORY.
This sport gone to rest, the people soon found out that they needed some new attraction, and some one proposed the idea to combine some horse races with the County Fair. This idea found acclamation and friends between the members of the Agricultural So- ciety, and in April, 1878, Messrs. Thomas Frazer and C. H. Wetherwax undertook to look around for sub- scriptions to a race track fund, with a view to locate the track at Fr. Hunger's field, north of town. Be- tween other subscriptions, Mr. Hunger offered to do- nate the ground, worth about $500; T. R. Stephens subscribed $100 ; Varozza & Co., $50 ; Rafetta & Co., of Smith's Flat, $200 ; Thomas Potts, $100, and other sundry small sums were signed with equal liberality, so that the work seemed to be secured. The prelim- inaries of the work immediately began. The original survey for the race track was made by Captain E. A. Smith, County Surveyor, who laid out the track and superintended the work. It is a half-mile track, and, notwithstanding the uneven location, is the best that could be laid out here. The grand stand is thirty six by fifty-six feet, and the stable contains ten large and two smaller stalls for the accommodation of racing horses. Besides, there is a pen building for the ex- hibition of stock. The expenses for the building of the race track and buildings counted up to $1,500.
The first Fair on this new ground came off Septem- ber roth to 13th, 1878, and the following is a record of the races that came off in connection with it:
September 10th. Running race, in which Cord- wood Johny, Nep and Billy Hanlon were entered for half a mile and repeat. The first named horse took the race, making the first heat in 53 seconds.
September 11th. Trotting race; mile heats, best 3 in 5, contest between Placer Belle and Young Dia- mond, the former won the race in three straight heats. Time, 2.58, 2.56, and 2.571/2.
Running race; half mile and repeat, Cordwood Johny and Zephyr, the former winning in two straight heats in 54 and 53 seconds.
September 12th. Running race; single dash, half mile, Smith mare and Proctor horse, won by the mare in 55 seconds.
Mile and repeat. Black Willow and Ecliptic, won by the former in 1.53 and 1.54.
September 13th. Half mile dash between Smith mare and Proctor horse, the mare winning in 55 sec- onds.
Trotting race; between Jack Steward, Haymaker and Elko, mile heats, best 3 in 5, Haymaker took the first two heats in 2.42 and 2.41; Elko being distanced on the second heat, Steward was an easy winner of the next three heats in 2.40, 2.41 and 2.42.
one, few places of its size can boast of as many secret orders and other societies, all full of membership. There are two Blue Lodges of F. and A. M .; one commandery K. T .; two lodges I. O. O. F .; one En- campment I. O. O. F .; one Tribe I. O. R. M .; one Grove Druids; one Division Sons of Temperance. Several of these orders have a membership of one hundred and upwards. In addition to these there are: a Post of the Grand Army of the Republic; a Military Company; two well organized Fire Engine Companies; a Dramatic Society; an Eclectric Society; a Brass Band; a Philharmonic Society; four well-sus- tained churches.
E CLAMPSUS VITUS, is the name of a benevolent so- ciety, organized in Placerville on November 28, 1855. The following is a list of the first elected officers:
D. K. Newell, N. G. H .; Dr. B. F. Keene, R. P. J. M. Grantham, C. P .; Dr. Ober, C. V .; W. Hender- son, Chap .; Dr. Rankin, R. G. S .; F. H. Harmon, R. G. M .; W. A. January, R. G. F .; John Ballard, O. H .; N. Cisco, J. H .; L. B. Hopkins, D. F. D .; J. T. Devoe, Tyler, D. W. Gelwicks, Secretary; W. Salmon, Treasurer.
The membership of the society was growing fast, as it was a point of honor to obtain admission. Other towns were anxious to organize similar societies at their places, and the Grand Consistory of Placerville granted a charter to Brother D. K. Newell to organ- ize a lodge of the society of E Clampsus Vitus, first in Coloma, then in El Dorado, and again in Georgetown.
PLACERVILLE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
In accordance with a meeting held on April 28, 1870, at Placerville, the committee on permanent organiza- tion and business reported a code of laws for the gov- ernment of the society, recommending its name: "The Placerville Philharmonic Society," that the admission fee for active members is $3.00, and for honorary members $5.00 per annum, giving power to the Board of Managers to levy assessments, should the finances of the society demand it. The code of laws were adopted as recommended by the committee. The fol- lowing officers, also recommended by the committee, were unanimously elected:
H. S. Morey, President; Levi Shepherd, Vice-Pres- ident; Al. Stewart, Secretary and Treasurer; A. L. Frost, H. S. Hernandez, and H. S. Morey, Board of Managers.
PLACERVILLE GUARDS.
A military company was organized on January 30th, 1855, under the name of Placerville Guards. After the performance of the necessary preliminary business, the company proceeded to the election of
The society life of Placerville is a very accomplished | the following officers :
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
L. A. Norton, Captain; A. W. Bee, Ist Lieutenant; Frank S. Roff, 2d Lieutenant ; T. M. White, 3d Lieu- tenant ; J. W. Shields, Ist Sergeant ; E. Church, 2d Sergeant : Wm. Walker, 3d Sergeant ; T. S. Wilcox, 4th Sergeant ; A. Coleman, Ist Corporal ; S. S. Lewis, 2d Corporal; James Carson, 3d Corporal; T. G. Douglas, 4th Corporal ; J. W. Shields, Secretary.
This company of figure-reads made a failure before the year, when they had organized, came to an end, and in a meeting on November 28th, 1855, the Placerville Guards were re-organized. The following gentlemen who had belonged to similar companies, prior to their arrival here, and who thoroughly understood the busi- ness, were elected officers :
Alex. Hunter, Captain ; Wm. Jones, Ist Lieuten- ant ; I. S. Titus, 2d Lieutenant ; Mr. Dorsey, Brevet 2d Lieutenant ; Sam. Lion, Orderly Sergeant.
COMPANY A, PLACERVILLE VOLUNTEERS.
Organized January 23d, 1858. The following is a list of the first officers ; Wm. Jones, Captain ; O. A. Crandall, Ist Lieutenant ; George T. Cromwell, 2d Lieutenant ; Benjamin F. Harrover, 3d Lieutenant ; E. Nickerson, Ist Sergeant ; Wm. Reynolds, 2d Ser- geant ; S. W. B. Wilson, 3d Sergeant ; S. H. M. Bon- nell, 4th Sergeant ; Wm. Justice, Ist Corporal ; J, H. Naper, 2d Corporal ; J. W, Redman, 3d Corporal ; Calvin Van Eaton, 4th Corporal. The Company numbered 102 rank and file.
PLACERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Prior to the spring of 1853, there existed no such thing as a regularly organized fire company in Placer- ville, although a number of unwieldy hooks had been purchased by contribution some time previous, which had for their depository the backyards or the allies of the embryo town.
On the evening of June 23d, 1853, a number of the young men of the town met together at White's Hall, with the intention to form a band that had for its purpose the protection of life and property from the ravages by fire. The meeting was called to order, Alex. Hunter called to the Chair, and Robert Cum- mings appointed Secretary ; the object of the meeting having been stated, those present proceeded to organ- ize the Neptune Hose Company No. 1., and adopted as their motto : "We're ready!" Of this company Alex. Hunter was elected Foreman, Joseph H. Fisher, Assistant Foreman. But now it became necessary to have a carriage, hose, etc., and a committee was appointed to obtain them. Mr. Frank Allerton under. took to build a carriage, and the hose was ordered from San Francisco. The company thus becoming involved in expenses, that nearly caused an embarass- ing pecuniary situation ; but just then Mr. Alfred bauer, Treasurer.
Bell generously came to its assistance, by advancing the necessary means. Mes rs. Lee & Marshal, of the Pioneer Circus, on a visit to Placerville tendered the company a benefit, which realized $900.00, and this generous act enabled the company to pay off all its indebtedness, and free itself from liabilities.
The first hose house of the company was situated on Maiden Lane, now Center street, which location involved great inconveniences; and when the city was incorporated the company applied for an appropria tion to purchase a house and lot in some more con- venient locality with. After the preliminary instances were passed and the means raised, the city authorities went on to purchase a house and lot for the use and benefit of the department on Main street, where after- wards Dorsey's block has been built up. The fire of July 6th, 1856, that swept everything before it, ren- dered the company homeless, not only losing all their furniture, hose and fixtures; the Council, a few days after the fire, sold the lot upon which the house had stood to Mr. Dorsey. For a full year the Neptunes without a home, destitute of enough means to provide a house for their carriage or accommodations for them- selves, they kept their regular meetings at any place they could obtain the privilege for doing so, and more than one time the idea of disbandment turned up; but they went through the struggle victorously and about a year after the big fire they again came in the possession of house and lot situated on Coloma street, purchased from Mr. Conrad. Here the Neptunes found their home, and have kept it there ever since, and from here this body of courageous men, an honor to the town, started out to their obliging and effective work in all kind of danger, or when called for. A subscription was made up in January, 1858, towards purchasing an engine for the Neptune Hose Co. No. I. whose name then was changed into Neptune Engine Co. No. 2. A new fire engine was ordered from the cele- brated manufacturing place of Messrs. Hunneman & Co., of Boston, which arrived by the ship Hesperus, about the first of February at San Francisco. Theengine bears the following inscriptions: "Neptune No. 2." "We're Ready," the motto of the company. The engine house of the Neptunes was built in the fall of 1860, the stone for the beautiful front was quarried by county prisoners at Stony Point.
The "Hope Hook and Ladder Company" of the Fire Department was re-organized in March 1855, and the following gentlemen elected officers of the com- pany :
James C. Pinney, Foreman; Peter Quinlin, Assis- tant Foreman ; Alfred Bell, Secretary and D. New-
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LOCAL HISTORY.
The great damages by fire of the year of 1856 had shown the citizens of Placerville that even the best organized fire company will be lost confronting a great fire without a fire engine; and thereupon a meeting was held on the 13th of April, 1857, for the purpose of organizing an engine company, Charles Gowan, was called to the chair, and A. Hoffmeister appointed Secretary.
On motion, a committee of five were appointed to solicit subscriptions to purchase an engine, hose etc., Messrs. E. B. Carson, John O'Donnel, Charles Gowan, T. Hogsett and A. Hoffmeister were ap- -pointed such committee. Thomas Hogsett was elected Treasurer, pro-tem., and J. H. Vanderbilt Cor- responding Secretary.
· The company was organized as "Mountaineer En- gine Co. No. 1", at a meeting held at Concert Hall, on May, 22, 1857, and the following officers elected: Foreman, J. H. Vanderbilt; Assistant Foreman, John O'Donnel; Secretary, Wm. Jones; Treasurer, Wm. Lacey; Delegates, Chas. Gowan and Gus. Hoffmeis- ter.
A committee was appointed to purchase an engine, which was bought from Engine Co. No. 1 of Sacra- mento, together with 250 feet of hose, for the sum of $2,500.
At a meeting of the company in the first part of June, 1857, the name was changed from "Mountaineer." to "Confidence Engine Company No. I." On account of the latter namne, being so deeply carved into the engine that its removal was considered quite an im- possibility; and therefore the members agreed to rather adopt the name than to deface the engine, which was built by John Agnew, of Philadelphia.
This Confidence Engine Company No. 1, after having kept up their organization for twelve years, with only very little assistance from the city, withdrew as an active company in the Placerville Fire Department, on June, 19, 1869, stating that the company had been forced to succumb on account of indebtedness on their building, and pretty heavy taxation to themselves in order to keep their property.
The citizens of Placerville, however, were not satis- fied with the withdrawing of the engine company, and opened a subscription list; the ladies of Placerville also willing to participate in the interest and welfare of the city, gave a festival on July 13th, at the Pavil- ion, for the benefit of Confidence Engine Company No. 1, which proved a fine affair and financially an entire success. The receipts were $396.35, this, to- gether with the amount subscribed by the citizens, ag- gregated a sufficient sum to pay off all the indebtedness of the company, and to make all the necessary repairs
on their buildings. Thus, Confidence Engine Com- pany No. I was reorganized on July 9, 1869, and with their new Jeffrey's Engine, they have been taking active part, when called for assistance, ever since. Confidence Engine house, after the old building had been partially destroyed by fire, on September 1860, was erected at the present site in the fall of 1860, the expenses were covered to a certain part by subscrip- tion.
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