El Dorado County Historical Society & Fountain and Tallman Museum

El Dorado County Historical Society & Fountain and Tallman Museum The Fountain & Tallman Museum is owned and operated by the El Dorado County Historical Society. We ensure its significance will be appreciated for generations.

The El Dorado County Historical Society (EDCHS) was founded in 1938 with a clear mission: to honor the people who came before us by rescuing, preserving, researching, and displaying El Dorado County's rich history. Initially the formal collector of artifacts, we now proudly own and operate the Fountain & Tallman Museum, the oldest extant building on Placerville's Main Street. For current museum hours, and a calendar of our exciting programming and events, please visit www.EDCHS.org.

Preserving Local History: A Recap of Yesterday's Gold Star Veteran Tour & The True Meaning of Memorial Day -As we observ...
05/24/2026

Preserving Local History: A Recap of Yesterday's Gold Star Veteran Tour & The True Meaning of Memorial Day -

As we observe tomorrow's holiday, it is important to remember the solemn origins of Memorial Day. Originally called Decoration Day for the tradition of placing flowers on graves, it is a time to remember those who died in service to our country. The holiday was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, by proclamation of General John A. Logan to commemorate Civil War soldiers. That day at Arlington National Cemetery, 5,000 participants decorated the graves of over 20,000 soldiers. This built upon earlier local observances, like the May 1, 1865 gathering in Charleston, South Carolina, organized by freed slaves to honor Union troops. New York made Memorial Day a legal holiday in 1873, and after World War I, the observance expanded to honor fallen service members from all American wars. Congress officially moved the holiday to the last Monday of May in 1971.

In this spirit of remembrance, thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for our "Gold Star Veterans of Placerville Union Cemetery" walking tour.

A tremendous thank you goes to researchers Cindy Oswald and Joe Connolly. They represent the local volunteer arm of the national Stories Behind the Stars program, an initiative aiming to document and create virtual memorials for all 421,000 United States service members lost in World War II.

During the tour, Cindy and Joe shared deeply personal tributes to eight Gold Star soldiers resting in El Dorado County. As we walked from grave to grave, we were incredibly honored to be joined by members of the Ticksman, Schroth, and Fossati families. These relatives, including cousins and great nieces, graciously shared cherished memories of their fallen heroes.

The Gold Star tradition itself began during World War I when families displayed window banners featuring blue stars for serving members. If a loved one was killed in action, the star was changed to gold to publicly signify the family’s ultimate sacrifice. This profound legacy inspired the creation of the American Gold Star Mothers in 1928, National Gold Star Mothers Day in 1936, the Gold Star Wives of America in 1945, and the official Gold Star Lapel Button in 1947.

At the conclusion of each story yesterday, attendees left a penny on the monument as a tribute. Leaving coins on a veteran's headstone is an honored military tradition that evolved during the Vietnam War as a silent message to the fallen and their families saying, "I was here, and I remember." Each coin carries a specific meaning:

- A Penny indicates you visited to pay your respects.

- A Nickel signifies you trained with the veteran at boot camp.

- A Dime means you served in the same unit.

- A Quarter means you were present when the veteran died.

We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to volunteer organizations, local nonprofits like Save the Graves, and dedicated volunteers like Joe Connolly, amongst others. Thanks to their hard work, every veteran monument at Placerville Union and Westwood Hills cemeteries is marked with an American flag this weekend.

We encourage you to visit the cemetery, even if only briefly, to walk among these flags and reflect upon the lives sacrificed to secure the freedoms we so often take for granted. None of these individuals wanted to die when they answered the call to serve. May their sacrifice always be respected and honored.

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts! Welcome to this week's edition of "Deserve to Preserve," where we spotlight our c...
05/20/2026

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts! Welcome to this week's edition of "Deserve to Preserve," where we spotlight our county's historic buildings/locations and celebrate their continuing legacy. This week, we explore the "Grande Dame" of El Dorado County: the historic Placerville Union Cemetery, El Dorado County's only remaining Victorian garden cemetery.

In the 19th century, the Victorian garden cemetery movement completely transformed how communities honored their dead. Before this era, burials were confined to cramped and unsanitary city churchyards that posed serious public health risks. To solve this, planners began creating sweeping, parklike sanctuaries on the outskirts of towns. These lush cemeteries were intentionally landscaped with winding pathways, rolling hills, water features, and sculpted monuments to provide a peaceful rest for the departed and a welcoming space for the living. With public parks still a relatively new idea, these breathtaking green spaces served as a vital escape from the daily bustle of Main Street. Victorians frequently spent sunny afternoons strolling the scenic pathways and enjoying family picnics right next to the monuments of their departed loved ones.

Located proudly on Bee Street across from the historic Bee Bennett House, this grand 6.62 acre property has served as the final resting place for a "who's who" of leading county families over the last century and a half.

Founded in 1871 by four fraternal orders (Masons, Odd Fellows, Red Men, and Druids), the site expanded as other fraternals purchased adjacent parcels. They successfully managed the grounds through two World Wars until dwindling memberships left only the Masons in charge.

In 1966, stewardship passed to Joel Ashworth, owner of Chapel of the Pines. To generate necessary upkeep funds, Ashworth added new burial plots and mausoleums. Upon retiring in 1983, he passed the torch to his manager, Ed Ball, who continued this dedicated care and expansion.

In 1998, the massive corporate funeral chain Loewen Group bought the managing mortuaries, only to file for bankruptcy a year later. Maintenance ceased, conditions deteriorated, and Loewen even tried to tap the cemetery’s endowment.

After a brief return by Ashworth to clean up the grounds, the State Cemetery Board threatened closure. Fortunately, an agreement was reached: El Dorado County assumed maintenance and sales, while the City of Placerville provided water and oversight. The cemetery was saved, but funding for historic restoration was lacking.

True restoration finally arrived with Save the Graves. Since 2019, their wildly popular theatrical fundraisers, featuring actors portraying historic local figures at their gravesides, have completely revitalized the cemetery. Their efforts have financed road patching, headstone and fence repairs, graffiti removal, a stunning 2023 Grand Entryway Arch, and the restoration of hundreds of veteran graves.

This October, Save the Graves returns with an entirely new living history production: "Everyday Heroes"! Join us to hear the fascinating true stories of Frank Andre (“the Goat Doctor”), pioneering physician Dr. Jean Babcock, Rev. C.C. Peirce, and many others. Visit savethegraveseldorado.org to learn more or volunteer.

A special thank you to Mike Roberts of Save the Graves for the extensive research and historical summary used to create this week's post. Thank you, Mike, for your dedication to preserving our local history!

🎖️ THIS WEEKEND: A Must-Attend Event! 🎖️
To see the impact of this preservation firsthand, join us this weekend for a very special program: "Gold Star Veterans of Placerville's Union Cemetery." Researchers from Stories Behind the Stars - Cindy Oswald and Joseph Connolly will lead a powerful walking tour through the cemetery, stopping at the markers for eight WWII Gold Star veterans. They will share intimate stories about who these heroes were before the war, their contributions to our county, and where and how they died in the service of our nation and our allies.

🎟️ Tickets are still available at edchs.org! Admission is absolutely FREE for veterans and their guests. We hope to see you there to honor the heroes resting in El Dorado County's original Victorian garden cemetery!

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts! 🏛️Welcome to "Deserve to Preserve," where we spotlight our county's historic buil...
05/13/2026

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts! 🏛️

Welcome to "Deserve to Preserve," where we spotlight our county's historic buildings and celebrate their continuing legacy. This week, we explore the early surviving stone and masonry structures of the town of El Dorado.

Following the 1848 Coloma gold discovery, the Carson Emigrant Road brought thousands through a muddy stopover that soon earned the name Mud Springs. Here, in the winter of 1849-50, pioneers James and Ann Thomas built the Mud Springs House at Pleasant Valley Road and future Highway 49, offering a much needed roadhouse for weary travelers. By 1855, the booming crossroads was renamed El Dorado.

In 1856, pioneer physician Dr. Marcus D. Hinman constructed a stone building from rhyolite tuff, a local volcanic rock, to house his medical office and drug store, which sold everything from medicines to Camphene. Hinman’s building went on to serve many lives: a Wells Fargo Office (1890-1910), a gas station, Kelly’s Bar (1927-1945), and later the famous Poor Red’s, famously won in a dice game by Red "Poor Red" Sadler and Rich Opal.

Across the street in 1857, J.R. Crocker built a blacksmith and wagon shop that doubled as a carriage house for the elegant Oriental Hotel. Over the decades, it shifted identities, becoming a saloon, dry goods store, auto repair garage, antique mall, and Bob Kilby's Army Navy Surplus Store. After falling into disrepair by the 1990s, Dolores Kilby offered the structure to the U.S. Postal Service. Architect Randy Davis and contractor Lowell Smith carefully renovated it in 1999, preserving its original stonework to create today's El Dorado Post Office. ✉️

A stone building on the town's western edge, typical of segregated Chinese settlements, likely served as a Chinese run general store, featuring iron shuttered openings for added security and fire protection. In the late 1850s, it became the Seymore Hill Feed and Fuel Depot, adding a wooden second story for theatrical performances and dances. Tragically damaged by fire in the 1950s, only the ground level stone ruins survive today.

El Dorado continued to bustle, serving as a Pony Express remount station in 1860-61. By 1862, the town boasted 20 elegant stone and brick fire proof stores. Among these was a dry goods and grocery store built circa 1856. An 1871 map shows this one story brick store, featuring stone side walls and a series of brick arches facing Main Street, belonged to shoemaker Frank Tracy and his partner Kinzel. It was once attached to a two story stone structure owned by James Weatherwax.

While the thick stone exteriors were intended to render these buildings 'fireproof,' their wooden porches, balconies, and roofs remained tragically vulnerable. Once flames ignited these wooden features, the roofs would often collapse, reducing the entire interior and its contents to ashes.

Disaster struck on September 17, 1923, when a massive fire destroyed most of El Dorado's historic district. The Tracy & Kinzel building's brickwork survived the blaze. Though the front brick arches were eventually removed, the remaining stone walls were incorporated into a new building on the site. This structure later housed an Art Gallery and today (2026) operates as Pizza Norcia. 🍕

To help foster appreciation for these surviving landmarks, El Dorado County Historical Society researcher Lolly Jones, who undertook a project to survey all surviving 19th century stone structures in the county, and historian Dee Owens led a guided walking tour of El Dorado's surviving stone buildings in May 2025. Thanks to community preservation efforts, the legacy of these structures lives on!

05/11/2026

🇺🇸 Join us for a profoundly moving morning of local history and remembrance. 🇺🇸

This Memorial Day weekend, we invite you to step back in time with us for a special walking tour at the historic Placerville Union Cemetery.

Join us as local researchers Cindy Oswald and Joe Connolly share the incredible lives, service, and stories of eight local WWII Gold Star Veterans. Partnering with the amazing Stories Behind the Stars project, our goal is to turn names on stone monuments into deeply personal, remembered narratives.

On this tour, we won't just explore their military service—we’ll celebrate who they truly were. Through archival family photographs and family interviews, we will learn about their hopes, hobbies, passions, and loves. We are also deeply honored that family members of these fallen El Dorado County heroes will be traveling from across California to walk alongside us in remembrance. 🕊️

🗓️ When: Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
📍 Where: Placerville Union Cemetery (650 Bee Street, Placerville)
🎟️ Tickets: edchs.org/events (Will-call check-in—just give your name at the gate!)

Every ticket makes a lasting impact. All net proceeds are dedicated exclusively to projects celebrating and memorializing El Dorado County's Gold Star Veterans.

Join us in ensuring the stories of these hometown heroes are celebrated and never forgotten. We look forward to walking through history with you! 👇

🔗 edchs.org/events

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts! 🏛️🍇Welcome to the latest edition of "Deserve to Preserve," where we shine a spotl...
05/06/2026

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts! 🏛️🍇

Welcome to the latest edition of "Deserve to Preserve," where we shine a spotlight on our local historic buildings, uncover their fascinating pasts, and celebrate their continuing legacy.

This week, we are looking at a unique property off Deer Valley Road near Rescue that is steeped in history and represents the very roots of our local wine industry.

Did you know El Dorado County viticulture traces back to 1849? A man named Mr. Stevens planted what are believed to be the county’s first non-Mission, European-style grapes on a parcel along Sweetwater Creek. In 1854, German immigrant brothers Jacob and Antone Zentgraf purchased that 520-acre property. Jacob, a trained stonemason who had arrived in California just a year earlier with only $5 to his name, began developing the land.

By 1858, Jacob had a thriving vineyard, a two-story stone and lumber winery, and a distillery producing brandy. He even sold vines to other aspiring vintners—including Scottish immigrant James Skinner, who would go on to establish his own highly successful vineyards along Green Valley Road.

In 1871, Jacob and his wife Marie constructed a remarkable two-story family home across the road from the winery. Built with 22-inch-thick rammed earth walls and tongue-and-groove pine floors, the house was ingeniously designed with hinged partitions. These walls could be raised to convert individual rooms into a massive ballroom for community dances!

(Architecture note: Rammed earth is a sustainable, high-thermal-mass, and fire-resistant construction method that uses damp soil compacted into forms to create sleek monoliths—distinct from adobe, which uses sun-dried sand-clay-straw bricks).

Thanks to the incredible stewardship of its current owners—who are historians and archaeologists—the historic Zentgraf property was successfully listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2025!

Last June, the El Dorado County Historical Society celebrated this milestone with our sold-out "Pioneer Vintners of the Sierra Foothills" event. Descendants of both the Zentgraf and Skinner families joined us as guests enjoyed historical reflections, tastings from Skinner Vineyards, and behind-the-scenes tours of the original Zentgraf distillery, wine cave, and rammed-earth home.

What's Next? 🍷
The EDCHS is currently planning the second installment in our wine history series! Next time, we will feature the early winemakers of Uppertown Placerville, Smithflat, and Camino, exploring the history all the way up through the 1970s and 80s renaissance that revived the El Dorado County wine economy we know and love today. Stay tuned for dates and details!

🛑 Please note: The historic Zentgraf home and winery are private property and are not open to the public. We are deeply grateful to the current owners for their dedication to caring for and conserving this foundational chapter of our local history. Images courtesy of the El Dorado County Historical Society and the El Dorado County Historical Museum.

What a spectacular night! ✨ The Edwardian May Day Ball transported El Dorado County back in time for an unforgettable ev...
05/04/2026

What a spectacular night! ✨ The Edwardian May Day Ball transported El Dorado County back in time for an unforgettable evening of historic elegance, all in support of the Morning Star Lodge #20 IOOF building preservation fund.

The room truly came alive as guests took to the 1911 "floating" sprung dance floor. The evening was perfectly reminiscent of an era long past, opening with a grand processional march and featuring a beautifully woven Maypole dance.

Throughout the night, attendees danced to the incredible live music of the brass band Brassworks, with professional instructors Cassiane and Christopher Mobley guiding everyone through classic period steps like the waltz and polka. When not sweeping across the dance floor, guests enjoyed period parlor games led by the talented Jeri Mitchell, and indulged in fantastic gourmet hors d'oeuvres, local wine, and an Edwardian champagne punch. A very special thank you to Diane Wilkinson Catering!

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of our incredible volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to bringing this vision to life. To everyone who purchased tickets, attended, and supported this fundraiser - thank you! Your generosity and spirit made this event a success.

It was a magical evening of community, celebration, and living history right here in Placerville! 🎩🌹✨

05/02/2026

Are you a history buff? Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner? Then join us at the Placerville Library, 345 Fair Lane, on Friday, May 15 at 3:00 pm as we welcome historian Etsuko Haegele for a presentation on her family’s internment camp experiences during WWII.

Etsuko explains, “It was through searching for my mother’s side of the family tree that I discovered what the family went through during WWII.” She will be sharing a DVD of her family’s life prior to World War II and of the incarceration in the camps during the war as well as sharing stories from a friend who lived in Oahu and family who lived in Japan. “This may be a small unit of history which we all may have missed in high school.”

This presentation is part of One Book, One Coast – the largest West Coast book club uniting more than 140 libraries across California, Oregon, and Washington as they celebrate literacy, learning, and community by featuring George Takei’s “They Called Us Enemy.”

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts -Welcome to the latest edition of "Deserve to Preserve," where we shine a spotligh...
04/26/2026

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts -

Welcome to the latest edition of "Deserve to Preserve," where we shine a spotlight on our local historic buildings, uncover their fascinating pasts, and celebrate their continuing legacy!

This week, we are looking at the magnificent Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Morning Star Lodge No. 20 building, a true architectural gem standing proudly on Placerville's Main Street.

🏛️ From Ashes to a New Beginning
The story of Morning Star Lodge No. 20 is one of incredible resilience. Originally instituted on February 9, 1854, by nine charter members, the Lodge built its first hall in 1859. That building served the community faithfully for 50 years until tragedy struck on May 15, 1910. A massive fire originating in the adjacent County Courthouse swept through, completely destroying the Lodge and all its contents.

Undeterred, Morning Star Lodge #20 absorbed the local Franklin Lodge No. 74, sold their old lot to the County, and purchased a new site lower down on Main Street.

⛏️ Striking Gold in the Foundation!
While excavating the basement and foundation for the new building, the Odd Fellows were said to have actually mined the site. Allegedly, they extracted a substantial amount of gold dust, which went right back into funding the reconstruction.

On June 18, 1911, the cornerstone was laid with grand ceremony by Grand Master George F. Hudson.

🏗️ A Modern Marvel of 1911
Designed by San Mateo architect J. B. Ogborn and built by local contractor Phileas Cote, the new 54x106-foot structure was completed in just 7 months and 5 days at a total cost of around $30,000 (roughly $1M in 2026). It was dedicated on December 16, 1911, hailed as one of the handsomest and most convenient lodge structures in the interior of the State. It boasted cutting-edge 1911 technology, including a steam heating plant, electric lights, and telephone service.

Architectural highlights include:

Romanesque Revival Style: Featuring massive forms, thick walls, and a dignified sense of weight and solidity. This structure is one of the only surviving examples of this popular turn-of-the-century aesthetic in El Dorado County.

Rocklin Granite: The front facade is constructed of dressed granite blocks transported by train from Rocklin, forming a distinctive pyramidal design along the top edge.

Blind Arcades: The second-floor exterior features three semi-circular fascias with prominent keystones. The central arcade proudly displays the letters “IOOF,” “Morning,” “No. 20, 1911,” a star, and the three chain links symbolizing "Friendship, Love, Truth."

Historic Markers: A stone at the stairwell entrance bears the recessed numbers “1859,” honoring the year their original hall was established.

💃 Commerce & Community Hub
The building was strategically designed with a basement and two "commodious stores" on the ground floor to generate rental income for its upkeep. For years, locals frequented the popular Arcade Bakery and a grocery store that leased space at the street level.

Upstairs, the Lodge featured an assembly hall, banquet rooms, and beautiful plate and stained art glass windows. But the real hidden treasure is the unique spring floor on the second level, specifically engineered to provide a bounce for dances! Over the decades, this building has served as a vital hub for numerous fraternal organizations in Placerville, fostering a deep sense of community and shared purpose.

The building stands today as a testament to the community spirit of Placerville’s early residents, but it needs our support. Help us keep this history alive! The upcoming ball scheduled for May 2 has been organized by the El Dorado County Historical Society (EDCHS) in partnership with the Lodge. This event will help raise vital funds for a number of repairs and improvements to preserve this beautiful, historic building for the next 100 years. We hope to see you on the spring floor! edchs.org/events

- Historical exterior images of the IOOF Hall, Arcade Bakery, & Main Street Placerville courtesy of the Bruce & Laurie Maclin Collection, property of Jacob Rigoli & Sean Manwaring

🕰️✨ Ready to DANCE like it’s 1911? The Edwardian May Day Ball is THIS SATURDAY! ✨🕰️Step out of the modern world and into...
04/26/2026

🕰️✨ Ready to DANCE like it’s 1911? The Edwardian May Day Ball is THIS SATURDAY! ✨🕰️

Step out of the modern world and into an evening of historic elegance right here in Placerville! On May 2nd, the beautiful Morning Star Lodge #20 IOOF is opening its historic ballroom with floating dance floor for a spectacular night of dancing, community, and celebration to benefit the building's preservation fund.

Whether you're a seasoned dancer or have two left feet, this night is for you!

🎼 Enjoy live music from the incredible brass band, "Brassworks"

💃 Learn fun, simple period dances (like the polka and waltz!) from our expert instructors

✨ Experience the magic of dancing on a rare 1911 "floating" sprung dance floor (one of the last of its age and style in California!)

🥂 Indulge in gourmet hors d'oeuvres by Diane Wilkinson Catering, local wine, and an Edwardian champagne punch

Period attire (Edwardian/late-Victorian) is highly encouraged, but your Sunday best is perfectly fine—the most important thing is that you come ready to have a wonderful time!

🎟️ TICKETS: The ball is less than a week away! Grab your tickets today and help support the preservation of one of Main Street Placerville's most iconic stone buildings.

👉 Click here to secure your tickets: www.edchs.org

📍 Historic Morning Star Lodge (467 Main St, Placerville)
🚪 Check-in begins at 5:30 PM; Event runs from 6:00 - 9:00 PM
🍷 21+ Event

🇺🇸 Honor their sacrifice. Remember their stories. This Memorial Day weekend, join us for a profound journey through loca...
04/23/2026

🇺🇸 Honor their sacrifice. Remember their stories. This Memorial Day weekend, join us for a profound journey through local history at the Gold Star Veterans of Placerville Union Cemetery Walking History Tour.

Step back in time with local "Stories Behind the Stars" researchers Cindy Oswald and Joseph Connolly for a specially curated tour into the lives, service, and ultimate sacrifice of eight WWII veterans whose memorials stand in Placerville's Union Cemetery. We will explore not just their military service, but who they were, and how their memories have lived on through their families and the dedicated work of volunteer historians.

This tour highlights the incredible mission of Stories Behind the Stars, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to research and write personal digital memorials for all 421,000+ U.S. service members who died in WWII. By digging through casualty records and family archives, volunteers turn names on stone monuments into remembered, accessible personal narratives shared through a virtual database.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

📍 Location: Placerville Union Cemetery (650 Bee Street, Placerville)

🎤 Led By: Cindy Oswald & Joseph Connolly

🎟️ Tickets & Impact:
Join us in honoring the fallen! All net proceeds from ticket sales are restricted to projects celebrating and memorializing El Dorado County's Gold Star Veterans. 👉 edchs.org/events

Come help us ensure that the individual stories of these hometown heroes are celebrated and never forgotten. We look forward to walking through history with you!

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts!During Saturday's historic home tour, many of you asked about the old Placerville ...
04/21/2026

Greetings, Fellow History Enthusiasts!

During Saturday's historic home tour, many of you asked about the old Placerville Sanatorium. The building still stands today, though it has since been repurposed for multi-family housing.

While it wasn't a stop on this year's tour, we wanted to share its long and storied history with you—did you know it originally started out as a single-family residence? 🏡 Every month, our website highlights a 'Historical Picture of the Month' from El Dorado County's past. Looking back at our August 2024 feature, here is the fascinating history of the Placerville Sanatorium: 👇

- A Pioneer's Home: Constructed in 1855 in the Gothic Revival style by Henry Robinson (a prominent pioneer, miner, and entrepreneur), the elegant residence at 2980 Coloma Street (first image) served as a private home until the early 20th century.

- Becoming a Hospital: Around 1904, the neighboring Placerville Sanatorium was built next door. Soon after, the structures were joined. For years, the sanatorium was operated by leading area physicians Dr. W.A. Reckers and Dr. Stephen Hester Rantz.

- Improvising Care: Because the building lacked fire sprinklers and elevators, patients had to be carried upstairs for surgeries and deliveries. If the doctor or nurse couldn't carry the patient, they enlisted the help of a local police officer!

- Curbside Service: Doctors' main offices were located upstairs on Main Street. If a patient was too ill to climb the stairs, doctors treated them in their cars or on the street, then transported them back to the sanatorium in their personal vehicles. (Meanwhile, Memory Chapel Mortuary's station wagon doubled as the county ambulance!)

- The Marshall Hospital Transition: When Marshall Hospital opened in 1959, the sanatorium was sold. 13 employees, medicine, food, and linens were transferred—and for a time, Marshall Hospital patients found "Placerville Sanatorium" printed on their sheets and towels.

After the sale, the building became the Placerville Rooms Boarding House and is currently known as Ridgeview Manor, offering single-room rentals. But for many longtime county residents born at the old Sanatorium, its history lives on.

📜 From an original advertisement for the Sanatorium:

"Situated in El Dorado County at an elevation of 1,800 feet, above the fog but below the snow. Steam heated, electric lighted. All medical and surgical cases treated in an up-to-date manner. Special electrical appliances, massage, and dry air apparatus for treating rheumatism and sciatica."

Each month, we rotate our featured historical picture to showcase a different snapshot from El Dorado County's past - https://edchs.org/monthly-historic-photo

- Photos courtesy of the Bruce & Laurie Maclin Collection

Address

524 Main Street
Placerville, CA
95667

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(530) 497-4647

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