|
Mary Cory has been director of the El Dorado County Historical Museum at 104 Placerville Drive (next to the fairgrounds), which collects artifacts and documents related to the history of the county. Mary researches, plans, and installs exhibits, helps the public with research questions, and is responsible for all aspects of the museum. Mary provided us with fascinating information about the local history of railroads. The Gold Rush brought thousands of people to the region and with them the idea of building a railroad from Sacramento to the Gold Fields. In 1856, the Sacramento Valley Railroad track from the Sacramento River on Front Street to Folsom was completed. The track later extended to Latrobe in 1864 and Shingle Springs in 1865. Twenty-three years later, the Southern Pacific Railroad Placerville Branch extended to Placerville. Fruit, lumber, butter, and other produce was subsequently hauled from Placerville to Sacramento by the line from 1888 to 1986. There was also a thriving passenger service to and from Sacramento until the early 1940’s. The Michigan-California Lumber Company built an extensive network of narrow gauge rail connecting the vast stands of timber to lumber mills, including a cable which carried rail cars of lumber across the American River Canyon from the mill in Pino Grande on the north side of the river to the mill in Camino. Their standard gauge railroad, the Camino, Placerville, and Lake Tahoe Railroad transported lumber to Placerville where it was loaded onto the Placerville Branch railroad line. The Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe railroad right-of-way is now a part of the El Dorado Trail. The Diamond and Caldor Lumber Company also installed a network of narrow gauge rail east of Grizzly Flat with a lumber mill in Caldor and another in Diamond Springs. Much of the lumber was then loaded onto the Placerville Branch in Diamond Springs. The El Dorado Western Railroad offers rides on vintage Inspection Cars on Sundays, weather permitting, between the El Dorado Station and Shingle Springs Depot. Call 530/663-3581 for departure times. |
Officer Andrew Brown, originally from Orangevale, engaged in the CHP’s Explorer program during high school. After attending Sierra College and Sacramento State, he graduated from the CHP Academy. Originally stationed at the San Francisco Area Office, he later transferred to the Solano Area office in Fairfield and then to the Placerville Area CHP Office in 2015. In 2017, Officer Brown assumed the role of Public Information Officer (PIO), serving as a vital link between the community and the department. His responsibilities are diverse, reflecting day-to-day variations. Recognized for his exemplary service, he was awarded Officer of the Year by the Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills in 2020. Officer Brown will provide insights into the new traffic laws of 2024.
.png)
