Frederick Sieg “planted the Druidic oak on the western shores of the nation.” He founded California Grove #1 of the United Ancient Order of Druids in 1859 and helped found and lead the state organization. Sieg was one of the earliest settlers in Placerville. He went to work with his gold pan in Cedar Ravine […]
Michele.Martin
Headstone Symbols: The Anchor and the Cross
The “anchor and the cross” is an intriguing tombstone symbol. What does it mean? An anchor often appears on the gravestones of sailors to commemorate a life at sea. But the cross changes its meaning. The anchor-embellished cross is typically a religious symbol; a reminder to be anchored in faith, hope and love while engaging […]
Headstone Symbols: Woman at the Well
The story of the woman at the well is one of the most iconic encounters in the Bible. It depicts Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well and asking her for a drink of water. The ensuing conversation leads to her acceptance of a Jewish God. The encounter was unusual because Jews and Samaritans […]
Lesser Known Placerville Cemeteries Tour Review
On Saturday, January 25th, Mike Roberts from Save the Graves led the second annual tour of lesser known, really cool Placerville cemeteries. Thirty guests braved the cold, wet weather to visit six cemeteries: the Placerville Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery, Placerville Old City, Saint Patrick’s, Uppertown, Pioneer Jewish Cemetery and the El Dorado County Hospital […]
Placerville St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
“I love this place. It’s the first cemetery I visited in Placerville. That wooden marker leaning on the fence on the way in amazed me. And it’s still there. Right from the start I loved statuary grave markers and all the religious symbology on the headstones… clearly an undiagnosed taphophile. These days I love it […]
El Dorado County Hospital Cemetery and Pestilence House
Timeline: 1848-early ‘49 – Nearest hospital is in San Francisco. 1849 – Immigrants arrive in force. Four Placerville doctors practice in Placerville. Care is expensive: $16/day. Board and lodging for sick person: $20-$30/day. Death rate is “appallingly high.” 1850 – Drs. Asa Clark and O. Harvey began lobbying for a county hospital. 1855 – County […]
Placerville Jewish Pioneer Cemetery
The Placerville Jewish Pioneer Cemetery dates to 1854. Yes, there was an active Jewish community here early. The first known burial was in 1856. The last was in 1968. There are 22 headstones visible, but as with cemeteries of the era, there are likely more burials. Local Jews organized the Placerville Hebrew Benevolent Society in […]
Placerville M.E. Church and Cemetery
Federated Church has been an important local institution for the last 173 years. It began life as a Methodist Episcopal Church, right here in Placerville in 1851. A guy named Frank Goyan donated the land and went to San Francisco to purchase building materials not available locally. Beams and studs were hand cut from local […]
Placerville Old City Cemetery
One of Placerville’s oldest, most historic, and most tormented cemeteries lies directly above the shoe repair shop at the west end of Main Street and provides a great view of downtown. For many years this important cultural resource was a disgrace: vandalized, overgrown and trash strewn. The cemetery has a long history of abuse. As […]