AE Brown Cabin-1875s,Long Meadow and  Butler Meadow

A.E. Brown was in fact Albert E. Brown, born April 21, 1859, Cool, El Dorado County. His father was Provost D. Brown, early El Dorado County pioneer and cattle rancher  of Cool and Pilot Hill. (Sioli, 1883)He built a cabin in Long Meadow as well as just West of the Old Ditch Tender's road, halfway  between Airport Flats/GCSHT and the California Water Company built diversion dam still visible at the head of the Gerle Creek  Ditch at the Northern end of Gerle Lake, where the natural creek now enters the Northern end of the lake, which was built 1873/1874 to divert water to Hanna's Camp for further diversion via ditches and creeks to Georgetown.   AE Brown  was another of the many valley ranchers and farmers who claimed meadow land up in the Sierras for use by their livestock in the Summer months.  His ranch building on the road to Gerle Creek Ditch Diversion Dam  is plainly located on the original Geological Survey Map. The pictures below are of AE Brown's cabin still standing on the West end of Long Meadow.

Provost D. Brown, one of eight children of Abraham J. and Mary (Provost) Brown of Brownsville, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He was born September 1st, 1824. His early life was spent as a student and working on his families farm in New Jersey. With the news of gold discovered on the American River in Coloma, he needed a practical means to reach the gold fields, so invested his savings in a company of 38 persons who purchased a sailing ship. The company purchased rations and then sailed the ship with the company members aboard to San Francisco via the Southern tip of South American, arriving in June, 1849.  They immediately sailed their ship up the Sacramento River to Sacramento City, where they sold off all the rations they brought including the ship to the highest bidder, keeping six month's rations for themselves. Brown intended to get into the merchant business, but illness changed his plans, leading to opening a restaurant known as the Knickerbocker.  Like so many businesses and early gold rush towns, it was lost to one of Sacramento's early floods and the second attempt at a eating establishment was also lost to a fire. Not to be deterred, he got into the freight hauling business from Sacramento to the mines at Long Bar on the Yuba River. Once he had saved the requisite funds, he again purchased a restaurant and a interest in two mining claims. After major efforts expended digging ditches to support the mining work on his claims, the floods of `1852 removed their hard earned work including the many diversion dams and ditches, he and others had built. Still undeterred, he continued his mining efforts, eventually becoming quite successful, taking away $17,000, quite a sum of money for the mid 19th Century. As friends were in a habit of doing during this time, he loaned an associate money which was used to purchase a ranch called the Tennessee Ranch in El Dorado County. In the end, he assumed responsibility for this ranch to save his investment, renaming it the Knickerbocker Ranch, which remains today in the area South of Cool. After more work and money invested in the ranch, he lost it and returned to the mining support business, hauling materials to the mines. He eventually began to farm and acquired 320 acres of property between Cool and Pilot Hill which he obtained land patents from the General Land Office in 1881.(Sioli, 1883)

Provost D. Brown married in 1856, having two sons, Charles C. born June 31, 1857 and Albert E. born April 21, 1859. His first wife died. He remarried a second time only to have his second wife die as well. He married his third wife, Nellie S. Bancroft on December 7, 1878, who was from Clipper Gap. This union resulted in two more children born October 2, 1879, Phillip D. and Effie N., born February 19, 1882. (Sioli, 1883)

Provost Brown and his sons were successful farmers, who raised cattle as well as grain and fruit. (Sioli, 1883)

The Georgetown Gazette of April 16, 1880 reported "Mr. Brown (of Pilot Hill) is one of our most enterprising farmers and fruit growers, being located in a district composed of as fine agricultural land as exists in the foothill belt.  Mr. Brown has planted 1500 choice fruit trees on his farm this season-embracing prunes, plums, peaches, apples, pears, walnuts, Japanese persimmons, etc.  He also has a vineyard of 10,000 bearing grape vines, besides a few hundred bearing fruit trees.  Mr. Brown came to this State thirty years ago, and is now in the vigor of manhood.  He has unbounded faith in the foothills becoming the active scene of the greatest fruit and wine producing region in the world, and that too in the near future." (Gernes; Deibert, 1999) 

The Georgetown Gazette, February 5, 1891 reported that Provost's sons, Chas. and Albert Brown owned the PD Brown Ranch in Pilot Hill and that they were continuing to plant fruit trees, including 2000 new ones which were mostly of the pear variety. the paper reported on February 26, 1891 that A.E. Brown had begun spraying the trees in his orchards to protect them from inspects. This type of activity was very new.(Gernes; Deibert, 1999) 

AE Brown's Cabin1,  AE Brown's Cabin2,  AE Brown's Cabin3

                                                                                        

 

 

Airport Camp or Camp Gerle, Gerle Creek Rest Camp, Airport Flats US Army Air Corps Rest Camp (R&R)-Gerle Creek, now Airport Flats US Forest Service Campground, Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, Ca

Here is a 1931 article from the "MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT" which gives the basis for the "Rest Camp" built by the US Army Air Corps at Gerle Creek in 1931 which hereafter gained the name "Airport Flats" in later years locally, but was referred to as "Camp Gerle" by the US Army in the historical records of 20th Fighter Wing Association    as shared by Arthur Sevigny, the association historian. This first article was contributed by Monte Hendericks,   a volunteer historical researcher with the Eldorado National Forest, whose primary interest is  military and civilian plane crash sites on the Eldorado National Forest. Have a look at this link for more information on aircraft mishap sites on Eldorado National Forest.  Many thanks to Monte for sharing this essential record. 

 

                     

The second clipping is a Sacramento Union article from June 12, 1931, reporting on the work and plans for the "Army Camp" at Gerle Creek, followed by a third clipping from the "MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT" of July 31, 1931 on the Airport Camp at Gerle Creek..........Camp Gerle in US Army parlance.

According to Arthur Sevigny of the 20th Fighter Wing Association, the historical records show that the 77th fighter Squadron (part of the 20th Pursuit Group at Mather Field and possibly the rest of the 20th, including the 55th Pursuit Squadron were at Camp Gerle , El Dorado, California from August 3 1932 till August 25th, 1932 . This would have been during the second summer of the existence of the Camp Gerle built at Airport Flats on Gerle Creek by the US Army. As indicated in the articles below, Major Clarence  L.Tinker was at the time, the commander of the 20th Pursuit Group at Mather Field, Sacramento, California. Major General Tinker was lost during the Battle of Midway Island while on a bombing mission on Wake Island.   Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma would later be named for Major General Tinker.

The following two pictures of a cottage  along with two tent platforms   at Camp Gerle were from the collection of photos from the late Mrs. Tinker, which were shared with Dr. James L Crowder, author of a book on the Major General Tinker's life during an oral history interview in August 1983.

 

During this period, the 20th Pursuit Group at Mather Field flew

P12B, pictured above. This photo of a un-identified pilot and his aircraft from the 55th Pursuit Squadron was taken in 1931 at Mather Field and kindly provided by the  20th Fighter Wing Association .

The following document is the 55th Pursuit Squadron official history for the period of 1930 till 1932, On page 2 of the history, the command devoted a paragraph to the background on the Gerle Creek Rest Camp and the squadron's usage of it. This document was provided by the 20th Fighter Wing Association historian,

According to Les Clemmens of Stone Cellar (Clemmens,'04), by the mid 1930s, the Airport Camp or Camp Gerle  at Gerle Creek was a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)  Side Camp with a local man named Joe Flynn in charge of it. Joe Flynn was a local El Dorado County resident who went off  to the Army Air Corps to fly during WWII, returning after the war to study at Oregon State and returning to work for the Forest Service eventually becoming the Forest Supervisor of Eldorado National Forest. After retiring from the Forest Service he would continue in active public life eventually being elected  as a El Dorado County Supervisor.  Below is a May 7, 1940 article from the Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada reporting on the planned June 1940 re-opening of the CCC Side Camp at Airport on Gerle Creek at what is now known as Airport Flats. A CCC Side Camp.

Prior to 1931, the Airport Flats area was a naturally open area in the trees at a natural fording point of Gerle Creek (picture of the McDowall Family Ford pickup sitting in front of the Ford on Airport Flats, 1962) on the Georgetown/Wentworth Springs road to Wentworth Springs. From 1873, it was the point where the ditch tender's road branched off to the diversion dam ( Pic#2,   Pic#3) at the head of the Gerle Creek Ditch ( 1873 Map )on Gerle Creek. Have a look at this dual picture kindly volunteered by Lint Brown using the 2001 photo of the Diversion Dam taken by myself alongside a very nice 1936 picture taken by friends of  Linton A. Brown Senior showing Lint Brown Senior and a friend at the same dam 64 years earlier. In 1927, a log bridge

[This excellent picture was taken in 1959 by John Holmes, showing the collapsed Gerle Creek log bridge at Airport Flats. Those two boys swimming in Gerle Creek are Bill and Charlie Holmes. Of further significance is the flow of the water in this picture. The creek flowed much higher prior to the removal of the Old Loon Lake Dam in late 1962 and is evident by the fact that both of the Holmes boys are swimming in deep water as opposed to the flow today which is shallow at best. Many thanks to John Holmes for sharing this very historic picture of this special log bridge long ago gone......]

was built within about 20 feet of the present modern single lane concrete bridges at Gerle Creek, Airport Flats. The first lane of the concrete bridge was  built in 1963  (Picture taken in 1962-63 by McDowall Family) and followed with the second lane in 1969. This log bridge with concrete foundations served well from 1927(Supernowicz, 1983)  till the severe Winter of 1951/1952 when the log bridge was lost in the Spring runoff. There after till the concrete bridge was built in '63, cross creek traffic returned to the natural ford South of both bridges about 100 feet. Here is a 1962 picture of the Airport Flat access to the ford across Gerle Creek (McDowal Family Photo)The primary reasons for this cross creek traffic of Gerle Creek was the road to Wentworth Springs went this way;  access to the two barracks buildings built adjacent to the swimming hole off the flats on the Southside in the early 1930's by the US Army Air Corps; access to the road from the flats to the Gerle Creek Ditch and Diversion Dam, a mile down Gerle Creek from the flats, as well as accessing AE Browns Ranch( early maps clearly list this name as "AE Brown" while some other sources suggest that his name was "AC Brown") halfway down the ditch keepers road off the flats as well as the land used by Alex Forni after 1885..  This ditch and diversion dam were constructed during the summer seasons of 1873/74 and finished late in 1874 for the California Water Company diversion of Loon Lake water to Georgetown.  The barracks buildings were  used both by the US Army Air Corps  till the end of World War II, when the custody of the two barracks buildings, the large water tank and a large garage building in the center of the flats were transferred to the Forest Service. 

Here are two historic pictures of two of the several buildings originally built by the Army in 1931 on Airport Flats and called by the US Army, "Camp Gerle."  The first picture is of one of the barracks buildings, which in later years was all that really remained at Airport Flats and was called the "Guard Cabin" or Airport Flats Ranger Station by the Forest Service. This picture was taken by W.Maule of the US Forest Service in 1959 as a means of documenting existing structures on the forest. This building was not torn down until the late 1960s.  The Forest Service survey crew who surveyed the new road up in our area, lived in this barracks during the Summers of the 1967 and 1968.  During the Summer of 1968, due to the general disrepair of the structure, the Forest Service brought in a trailer and parked it next to the barracks, which was used by the crews. Dave Orchard worked on this survey crew in both 1967 and 1968 while Jim Barnard, son of the Barnard family who had built a cabin on Lot 36 at GCSHT, worked on the same survey crew with Dave Orchard during the Summer of 1968, staying down on the Flats.

If you look close at the picture on the lower left, just sticking up above the Forest Service pickup truck bed, one can see what appears to be part of the pipe which comes out of the water tank which was over to the left and not in the picture. An additional barracks about the same size was also located between this building and the creek, very close to the 'swimming hole" which has been a favorite spot of everyone who has ever used the Airport Flats area from day one.  This barracks was already torn down in 1958, but remnants of it could be seen walking the short trail from the Water Tank down to the swimming hole. Another picture of the same building on the flats from a little different angle taken in 1962 by the McDowall Family

The second photo, also taken by by W. Maule of the Forest Service in 1959,  shows the "Old Barn" as it was referred to by the Forest Service as well as one small out building.  This Old Barn was located right next to the current  large fire pit in the Motorhome camp site immediately on the left on entry into the Forest Service campground at Airport Flats. Whether this building was one of the original constructed by the Army in 1931 or was later constructed, one cannot be certain, other than looking at the condition, it would appear to be of older age and reflecting nearly 30 years of age and use by the time this picture was taken. The Forest Service tore down this barn during 1961.

Both of these photos were made available from the US Forest Service archives at Pacific House Ranger Station by Krista Deal, Pacific District Archaeologist. Many thanks to Krista for this important contribution to the local history of our area.

During the Fall of 2003 the Forest Service was  doing a selective logging and a general cleanout of underbrush and small trees in the Gerle Creek area to make the area more fire safe. In the logged area almost directly across from the old lower road along the Southwest side of Gerle Creek which takes off from the Wentworth Springs road about 300 feet Southwest before the road goes across Gerle Creek at Airport Flats, about 75 feet into the forest, the Forest Service has flagged a general area with red ribbon about 600 square feet. Within this area are two old original concrete and granite stone foundation corners, plus remnants from the beginnings of a building, including an old metal bucket. I have taken the following photos of these foundations and the site.

Gerle Creek Foundation1a,  Gerle Creek Foundations1b,  Gerle Creek Foundations1c,  Gerle Creek Foundations 1d, Gerle Creek Foundations 1e,  Gerle Creek Foundations 1f,  Gerle Creek Foundations 1g

After over 40 plus years, I have never ever heard anyone discuss these old foundations nor have I ever known about their existence.  History wise at different times, I have heard that the summer home tract at Gerle Creek was in fact laid out in this area originally, but was eventually moved to its present location. I have also long heard over the years that the tract was originally laid out along the lower road along the Southwest side of Gerle Creek and was eventually moved to its present location due to the fact there was no interest in the tract at that time and for the fact that the mosquitoes were so much worse down along the creek. Is entirely possible that both of these old rumors were true and the layout of the tract included the area where the foundations are presently and along the road on the Southwest side of the creek.

My final thought about this foundation would be that it could very well be apart of the Commanding Officer's cabin for Major Tinker which was to be built as part of the "Rest Camp" at Airport Flats as laid out in the above article, which was referred to by the US Army as Camp Gerle. Looking over the foundation remnants thoroughly, I found no markings or impressions. Knowing that people commonly put names or dates in the initial parts of buildings etc., I found nothing along this line. I would hope that the Forest Service has plans to more thoroughly investigate this site.

After World War II, the Forest Service  barracks buildings at Airport Flats served a variety of purposes including housing fire fighting crews, El Dorado County prisoners during the summer months of 1951 or 1952 who were brought in and housed here while out cutting certain kinds of plants and vegetation. This did not work out and was only tried one Summer season. Later the  Forest Service had custody,  during the evenings, they would sometimes show movies outdoors using a large screen setup on the open area of the flats with rows of benches for people to sit. Carolyn Beam, owner of South Fork Mill  (many thanks to Lint Brown for sharing his fathers photo) remembers this well as a child during the very early 50s at South Fork Mill when she and others were invited to attend these evening movies at Airport Flats. Later in the mid 60s, it housed the Forest Service survey crews who surveyed the new paved road from Highway 50 to Loon Lake and Lawyers Cow Camp(Gurleys or Gerles). Of the two large barracks buildings, the one closest to the Gerle Creek swimming hole was gone by the late 1950s, leaving one large barracks building on the edge of the open flats area, the large water tank immediately next to it and a large tall garage building for storing equipment out in the center of the flats in what is now the motor home parking area of the Airport Flats Forest Service Campground. These were all gradually torn down by the early '70s.

In 1937,  El  Dorado County constructed a new concrete bridge to cross Rocky Basin Creek right on the Southeastern edge of Francis Cow Camp and with it a short mile of new road which eliminated the existing road section on the Western side of Gerle Creek between Airport Flats and Francis Cow Camp and the need to ford Gerle Creek at Francis Cow Camp.

[Have a look at this USGS map of 1895 where you can clearly see that the Georgetown-Wentworth Springs road cross Gerle Creek at what is now Airport Flats so that the ditch keeper road then turns off to the South to the diversion dam and halfway to the diversion dam the road makes a sharp right and dead ends at AE Browns ranch or house.]

This map also clearly shows how the road proceeds to Francis Cow Camp where it fords the creek just above Rocky Basin Creek and then continues on to Wentworth Springs via Jacobsens and Gerles.This revision and addition to the Wentworth Springs road reflected local ranchers and resort owners needs to access their properties in the early spring of each year. Gerle Creek could be a pretty ferocious flow of water to get across in the Spring and the new Rocky Basin Creek Bridge and new road on the Eastern side of Gerle Creek resolved this. The old ford at Gerle Creek at Francis Cow Camp and the original but unused lead in road  to the ford is still visible and just a little bit North of the entry point of Rocky Basin Creek into Gerle. The original road

[shown clearly on the 1916 Eldorado National Forest Map until 1937 ]

crossed at the Airport Flats  ford/the Log Bridge (after 1927) and then followed (on the Western side of Gerle Creek) what became the GCSHT road to the associations water ram pumps and past this location fording Gerle Creek directly across from Francis Cow Camp. From there the road remained the same as depicted today. More to come.................

Barts Creek and Valley

Bennet's Range Bennet Lake-1875-1889 The farmers house on the road identified as road to Bennet's Range from Gerle's heading up to McKinstry or Bennet Lake.

Noted on the earliest of maps in the meadow area half mile West of McKinstry or Bennet Lake. Reading the Surveyor's Field notes for the original survey for this Township completed in September, 1889, the survey wrote that the cabin or farmer's house in McKinstry Meadow, below and slightly to the West of McKinstry or Bennet Lake which on the earlier survey belonged to Bennet, now belonged to Forni. The surveyor's notes also spelled Bennett with two "Ts" versus one "T." The Forni name is misspelled in the Surveyor's original hand written field notes. As to who Bennet or Bennett was, it could have been MP Bennett of Placerville who was an attorney and became an elected judge in El Dorado County. We know that he had a particular interest in this part of the county as he wrote a detailed letter published in the newspapers supporting the investment of public monies to finish the road from Wentworth Springs to Lake Tahoe.

Berts Lake      On Chipmunk Bluff  above Schlein's cabin off the road to Loon lake

Buck Island Lake

According to GeorgeWharton James, the lake was named by the Hunsaker Brothers of  the famous Hunsaker Springs (Rubicon Springs).  "The lake is very irregular in shape, about a third of a mile long, and a quarter of a mile wide in its widest part.  Near one end is a small island.  Hunsaker found the deer swam over to the island to rest and sleep during the heat of the day, hence the name."  James, 1915, pg 220.

In the words of Judge Wilbur Johnson..........."Picture 6 Vic Wikander and his wife, Alice.

Bugle Lake Headwaters for Ellis Creek which flows out of and down into the Northeast end of Loon Lake. In the days prior to the new Loon Lake Dam, the creek entered Pleasant Lake which is now a part of Loon Lake. The lake is directly above Wentworth Springs on the Northside of Jerrett Peak.

Bunker Hill-1875-Eldorado National Forest, Placer County, Ca The mountain top which was acquired inorder to put a lookout on top, was purchased by the Forest Service May 5, 1936.

Early wood low to the ground lookout structure pictured in Supernowizc 1983 History of the Eldorado National Forest of the 1930's was replaced by Joe Bauman who built the present day stone lookout tower and living quarters in the 1942 ( Forest Fire Lookout Association  http://www.lookouts.us/Sorted_By/California.htm .)This is a Lint Brown photo from 1957.

California Water Company-1874

The details of the California Water Company and all their activities in this area are covered in great detail by Bowman, 1874; Gildersleeve, 1880 and finally summarized in Sioli's history of El Dorado County in 1883.This company, originated and capitalized in San Francisco, was central to early development of resources in the Georgetown Divide area, building a Loon Lake log dam initially along with a ditch to connect Gerle Creek to Hanna's Camp by 1874. This trial dam was  followed by building the granite stone dam to replace the original nine foot high log dam at Loon Lake in 1881-1882 using Chinese labor which stood till removed in 1962 for the current earth filled dam built in 1963. The companies  need to support their ditch and flume structures to bring the water from Loon Lake to Georgetown also necessitated their building the South Fork Mill,( between 1874 and 1880) a water powered saw mill at Hanna's Camp, which still stands today.

Charles Creek...Named for one of the Gerle Brothers, either Charles W. Gerle (born 1823) or his younger brother Charles Cyrus Gerle( born 1831, who died youngest of all three brothers in 1875, or the baby son Charles of the third Gerle Brother, Christoper C. Gerle's, born 1870 and died 1871. the creek is just to the West of the Gerle Ranch in the meadow.

Dellar's Cabin-1889-Eldorado National Forest, Placer County, Ca

According to the Surveyor's field notes who completed the original survey plat on the Township including Dellar Meadow and Dellar's cabin in September, 1889, he wrote that Deller's first name was Louis.....Louis Dellar. In fact his full and complete name was Louis J. Deller, spelled with a "e" vice an "a," who was born in California in 1854 according to the official 1910 US Census. In reviewing the records of the Deller family on the 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 census' respectively, it would appear from the hand written census entries from 1860 that Deller was originally either Dellar, Doller, Daller, Duller or Deller. I believe over the years that Andrew Deller, Louis J Deller's father  elected to use the "Deller" spelling after 1870 as the census listing for 1870 lists the Deller family name as Deller. I think that in common use, so many people spoke the name as Deller, that the original spelling was changed by usage and family need to Americanize their name. The Surveyor spelled Deller's last name both on the original plat and in his field notes as Dellar which could very well have been the correct, original family name when Andrew and Eva immigrated to the US around 1849 from Germany..  For this reason and through the years, the map makers have continued to use the original spelling,  In Mountain Meadow, just above Dellar Meadow where L. Dellar  cabin was depicted in the final surveyors work and original survey plat of the area in 1889, there are another set of ruins on the South edge of Mountain Meadow, identified by the Forest Service , right on the Dellar Trail or Stockmans Trail which went on around Bunker Hill down into the Rubicon Canyon and across to the other side.  These ruins could possibly have been an earlier cabin belonging to the Deller family or some other early user of this very beautiful meadow. Krista Deal of the US Forest Service believes these cabin ruins date from approximately the 1850's. The Georgetown Gazette got the Deller name spelled as the family was to prefer in their article of 1882 below.

A report from the June 23, 1882 edition of the Georgetown Gazette on the movement of livestock through Georgetown to the ranches in the Sierras.........."A great many droves of stock and dairy cattle, sheep and goats, have passed through Georgetown during the present month for their ranges above, and many more are yet to pass before the month ends.  Among those who have already passed up with dairy stock are: Forni of Gold Hill, Sam Forni of this place(Georgetown), filippini & Co., Bacchi of Garden Valley, Schelari and Gerley(mispelled) of Uniontown, Deller and Son near this place (Georgetown) and others whose names we have not in mind.  Besides this, no less than a dozen large bands of sheep and goats have passed through town.  Much stock is also passing up by routes south of this place." (Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

In the above article in the Georgetown Gazette, the editors when they referred to Deller and Son would be referring to Louis J Deller as the "Son" of Deller and Son, while the " Deller" was Louis' father, Andrew Deller.  Andrew Deller was married to Eva, both born in Baden, Bavaria, Germany according to the US Census' of 1860, 1870 and 1880.  Andrew was born in 1812.  Eva, his wife was born in 1830.  They came to the US around 1849 as their oldest child, Emma, was born in Louisiana in 1849, while Louis J. was born in California in 1854 according to the 1860 census. The family arrived in California sometime after 1849. The oldest child Emma was not listed in the 1870 census which could mean she died or had been married off. Andrew and Eva  Deller had two other children, Lenora born approximately  1860 and Adaline or Addie born in 1865. In the late 1890s Louis married Rose, born June 13, 1872 and had three children, Anna born in 1897, Andrew J. in 1899 and Aninita in 1904. When Louis's parents, Andrew and Eva passed away in the 1880s, he took over the ranch in Greenwood township (Pilot Hill)  in the 1880s. The Mountain Democrat in the Feb 10, 1912 edition of the paper reported the real estate transfer of the Deller Ranch in Greenwood to H.B. Stacy.  Louis J. Deller was not listed in either the 1920 or 1930 census, while his wife Rose was.  I believe he probably passed away by 1920. By 1930, Louis' son Andrew J Dellar had married Florence and moved to Sacramento where he raised his family. Andrew and Rose had two children, Richard L. born in 1923 and Lorraine W. born in 1925. On the 1930 census, Andrew J. Deller was listed as a butcher in Sacramento, while his mother Rose was working in Sacramento as a servant. According to the 1930 census, the Deller family lived in the city of Sacramento.  Rose Deller, Andrew's mother, died in Sacramento on August 15, 1966.

Desolation Valley "Indian Hatie told the Rupleys about trouble between the white men and the Indians when she was a little girl.  One day her mother hid her in the woods and told her not move.  She came back day and said the white men had driven off the Indians.  the Indians started back for Carson Valley, but there was a storm....in the Spring they were found frozen to death.  They say that is how Desolation Valley got its name." (Yohalem, pg 214)

Ellis Creek Probably named for Jock Ellis, a Squaw Valley dairyman and sheep herder whose name is on Ellis Peak, Ellis Lake and Ellis Valley  in Placer County above the Georgetown-Lake Tahoe road.  Jock Ellis had a dairy on the West side of  Ellis Peak for many years before he gave it up to shift to raising sheep. Ellis would sell during the summer months all the butter, milk and cream he could generate to those passing on the Georgetown-Lake Tahoe road as well as the Lake Tahoe community. (James, 1915)This creek flows out of Bugle Lake into Loon Lake. In the days prior to the new Loon Lake Dam in 1962, the creek entered what was then Pleasant Lake. Pleasant Lake is now part of the new Loon Lake. Where Ellis Creek crosses the Georgetown-Wentworth Springs-Rubicon Springs-Lake Tahoe 4WD road is where the new (since the 1980s) Jeepers 4WD trail joins  from Loon Lake Dam.

Francis Cow Camp-AA Francis-1872s,Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, Ca

In 1872, Allessandro A. Fransioli, one of several Swiss-Italians to establish ranches in the area, constructed a log bunkhouse at Francis Cow Camp.  Born in Canton Tieno, Switzerland, May 29, 1817, Alessandro came to America with his father Joseph, arriving in California in 1852. Like many others before them, they became miners on the Georgetown Divide with some success.  Allessandro's father Joseph returned to Switzerland where he died at age 68, leaving his son alone in California. Allessandro continued to engage in mining, before leaving the Divide for San Francisco where he became a fruit and cigar merchant in 1857. In 1858, he returned to the Georgetown Divide, changing his focus and got into the butcher business. He eventually purchased the business from the firm he was working for, continuing in the business very successfully for another 25 years. Additionally, he owned a saloon and livery business in Georgetown. Alex Francis also owned a sheep ranch near Folsom. Georgetown Gazette Jan 14, 1881 He had 1500 sheep on this ranch as well, again reported in the Georgetown Gazette June 3, 1881(Gernes; Deibert, 1999).   In a late 1880 edition of the Georgetown Gazette, a quarter page advertisement for the "Bonanza", on Main Street, Georgetown was displayed.  "Verbiage in the ad included the following recommendation from the proprietor, A. A. Francis...."Nothing but the finest brands of Liquors, Cigars and Tobacco kept.  Best French Brandy "The Pete" Whisky, Gin, rum, bitters of all kinds, Mountain Brewery Lager for sale by the bottle or gallon.  Club Room with Pool Table."  In a late 1890 advertisement in the Georgetown Gazette, AA Francis ran a near quarter page ad for his butcher business called "City Market, Main Street, Georgetown, A. A. Francis .  The editors of the Gazette referred to Francis as Georgetown's Butcher.  Later in a editors note from the July 19, 1900 edition of the Georgetown Gazette, it was reported that....."Alex Francis has decorated his place of business with a handsome new sign - Arcade Saloon - from the brush of Trask, the artist."(Gernes, Deibert, 1999)  In 1870, "Alex" Fransioli married Florina Forni, daughter of another local Swiss-Italian immigrant.  They had seven children. He eventually retired in 1897.  (Jerrett, 1963; Errington, 2000)  However the retirement was due in part to the fire of 1897, whereupon, he soon reopened his butcher shop after finding it difficult to "remain idle" (Morgan;Rambeau; Wurm, 2003).  Review of these early maps shows that AA Fransioli's name was shortened or misspelled to read AA Francis, which may have been related to how he was commonly referred. For a picture of Alex Francis, see Rambeau, 1998, page 21 for a group photo of the I.O.O.F. lodge in Georgetown, 1889. There is a group picture showing members Alex Francis, Charles Forni, Dan Jerrett, Gus Orelli and Charles Wentworth, all significant men in the history of Gerle Creek

Here are some 1973 pictures of Francis Cow Camp, picturing my wife Pat, sister Karen looking over the historic cabin and the ranch site including the original cattle loading ramp made of logs.......Pic#1,  Pic#2,  Pic#3, 

I recently obtained a copy of the Georgetown Historical Walking Tour Brochure which includes a wonderful illustration of AA Francis' Georgetown home 1880 which is on Church Street in Georgetown. Jacqueline Morgan did the drawing while Sheryl Rambeau was the historian and author, with Bonnie Wurm doing the layout in the original brochure, 2003

(Morgan; Rambeau; Wurm, 2003)

Francis Lake  Named for the Francis family Georgetown Gazette

Recent Francis Cow Camp Ranch building pictures of the remains of the ranch buildings taken October, 2001. Pic#1,   Pic#2,   Pic#3  Francis CC after collapse winter of 90-91, July 91, Pic#4

Forni-Van Vleck-Orelli-Bassi-Swift-Rupley Families- A little history and background researched and written by Jonni Hill-Tanner. This edited e-mail historical review of local ranching families was the result of the exchange of between Jonni and I on a wedding notice from the pages of the  Mountain Democrat.  This e-mail is from April 4, 2004. You will find this a very interesting read and in the near future, apart of the book she has written on our local mountain ranching families...................

"In regards to the Forni/Van Vleck connection: This came from the mouth of both the Forni and the Van Vleck families...First of all...where to start? Samuel Q Forni was the father of Virginia (Forni) Bassi, wife of Giosue (pronounced Jisuway) Bassi who was the owner and builder of what is now the Upper Bassi. 160 acres of the upper Bassi was purchased from John Ramelli in 1867 and an ajoining 160 acres was purchased from Daniel Lombardi in 1889 completing what is now known as the Upper Bassi. Alex Forni was Samuel's nephew, making Virginia, obviously, his aunt. Alex's father was Dennis, Samuels brother. Dennis and another brother had gone to the area between what is now El Dorado and Plymouth and bought a lot of land for ranching there. They didn't stay in the Georgetown area like Samuel or for that matter, a lot of the Orelli's. Alex must have liked the area where his Uncle Sam lived better than where his father was at. Alex returned to the Georgetown area and bought out most of the Fillipini-Pedrini holdings from Rinaldo Fillipini, both in Garden Valley and also the Tells Peak Mountain Ranch which is now the Van Vleck. (Just a side bar incase you don't already know this: Ciperano Pedrini changed his name here in America to William Tell because he wanted his name to sound a little more American...That is where the name Tell's Peak, Creek and the Tell's Peak Mountain Ranch originated. Prior to the sale of the property to the Van Vlecks in 1933, this is the name to reference for the property.) At the time of purchase of the high country ranch the acreage was approximately 2,240. Alex was a very successful cattle rancher and the Forni beef was some of the best in the county. Alex had a meat market in Placerville located somewhere on the west side of main street near to what is now the bell tower. The Forni's owned the Tells Peak Mountain Ranch for almost 18 years when Alex died on September 30, 1927. Alex's widow Nettie and his only child, son Loren, then just 20, tried gallantly to keep the Forni holding in tact. They were too wide spread as they also had sizeable holding somewhere in between Galt and Latrobe in the Sacramento Valley. This has to tie into the Orelli connection as the one of the Orelli's also had a sizeable ranch in that area too as well as the Swift family. In 1932, Nettie made the decision to sell the high country ranch but it was a very bitter sale. She didn't want to relinquish it but too many of Alex's business dealing were made on his word and reputation and when he was no longer there to insure success, too many of his investors wanted to take their money and run. They didn't have much faith in a widow and a wet behind the ears kid of 20. Nettie made the sale of the upper ranch very hard on the Van Vlecks. They were unable to take possession of the main ranch buildings until late in 1933 and it almost turned into a war of wills. Oren Van Vleck, Stanley's father, built a small cabin out in the back meadow so they at least had a line shack to use until the completion of all the negotiations of final sale on the property. I saw the remains of the cabin which was there in a pile when I first came to the ranch and that was when I first heard some of this history. Dennis Forni, Jr...only Grandson of Alex, who lives right on Forni Road in Placerville, right behind the fairgrounds property which, by the way, was Forni land at one time too, told me the Forni side of the story and showed me pictures of him as a two year old sitting on the front grass in front of the ranch house. The pictures are more than interesting because they show the ranch house before the big picture window was installed years later by the Van Vlecks. Stanley inherited the upper ranch when his father passed away. He(Standley) had one too many failed marriages and his last divorce prior to 1974 was his financial downfall. He had to sell off a lot of property to settle the divorce. One of his decisions was to sell the ranch that had been in the Van Vleck family for almost 40 years to William J Pendola out of Grass Valley for the tidy little sum of $2 million dollars.

 The Orelli is a relationship to the Bassi connection. Virginia Forni's mother, Florinda was an Orelli before her first marriage to Joseph Fripp. He died and Florinda married Sam Forni. Virginia had three sisters. Louisa, Josephine (Swift)...hence the Swift connection, Adelaide (Fredricks), one brother...Amelio who is buried in the Georgetown Cemetery and one Half brother Joseph Fripp. Virginia died in child birth at the ripe old age of 24 leaving Gisoue with three small children. Daniel, Josephine(Campenosi) and Kitty Angelina (Davis). Gisoue sent his children to live with relatives in Oakland and he never remarried. Daniel returned as a young adult to help his father but the two girls remained in the bay area. Daniel married Annie Grother of Lotus. They had three kids. Joshua, Lillian (Viccini) and Marcella (Maninwaring). To the best of my knowledge Marcella is still alive but I do know her son Dan and his wife Roberta. I have been in touch with them and Bert has offered to provide all the old pictures and information to me on the Bassi part of the story.

The Swift connection to the Bassi came into the picture when Daniel sold the upper Bassi to Michigan California Lumber Company and a cousin, Rufus Swift was able to acquire the lands back in a land trade. Rufus had three daughters who inherited the property on his death. Phyllis Swift (Williams, Fox) who has now passed away continued her fathers business and used the upper Bassi like her father did. The three sisters could never get along and there was a really big family feud. The Upper Bassi is now in control of the 13 grandchildren of Rufus Swift.

The Rupley/ Askew information you  mentioned about the quiet wedding at the home of Alex Forni might be a connection from Alex's wife Nettie. Somewhere in all my things I have her maiden name and some of the connections she had to all of this history. I will have to go in search for all of that. Jonni " 

GCSHT-1953/1957- Lot 24-GA Brattland Family Cabin-1958-Old and Current Pictures

Georgetown Gazette(GG)- Mountain Democrat(MD) Newspaper Reports on interesting events on the Georgetown Divide from 1860 to the Present..............Gernes, Diebert, 1999

GG June 19, 1890 "Theodore Schlein, while engaged in building a new flume for the California Water Company at South Fork on Wednesday 11 inst., the flume , not being securely braced, went down precipitating Mr. Schlein upon the rocks, severely injuring his hip and side. He was brought down Saturday for treatment. He is under the care of the Odd Fellows."

 

GG June 10, 1898  "Among the stockman who passed through our town the past two weeks for their alpine ranges were: Murphy Bors. of Weaver Creek, for their range at Mckinney's(Lake Tahoe); G. Bassi for silver Creek: Sam and Amelio Forni, for Forni's(Stone Celler, Butler Meadow, Fornis's Ranch(Tell's Ranch, Fillipinni's eventual Van Vleck). Wm. Bachin and Son from Garden Valley; McCollough from near Folsom, for South Fork; Rodoni Bros: Butler from near Folsom, with sheep: Jake Drairer from Cool."

Georgetown Wentworth Springs Rubicon Springs Lake Tahoe Road

This road was described by James in 1915 as a "stern road, that would make the "rocky road to Dublin" look like a "flowery bed of ease.  The Georgetown Road is an important and historic feature of the Tahoe Region, for it connects Georgetown with Virginia City, and it was the former place so many Tahoe pioneers came." James, 1915, pg 220,347.

In a short informational note in the Tahoe Tattler in the Fall of 1881, the current owner of Rubicon Springs reports on plans for the road........"Hunsucker Bros' proprietors of the Rubicon Springs, say they will have a road open to Georgetown next year, to give visitors a better chance to see the wonders of that wonderful place and to expedite the ways and means of getting out the famous soda water.  Up to date the demand has been much greater than the supply."(Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

Later in the Georgetown Gazette edition of July 1st, 1885, the editors offer their thanks to to Mr. Hunsucker for this personal effort in getting the road from the Rubicon Springs to Lake Tahoe in serviceable condition.............."Good!  the new road from Rubicon Springs to Lake Tahoe is in splendid order, and Mr. Hunsucker deserves much credit for the good job in its construction.  Johnny Poor, who is running the stage on that road now sends a four-in-hand down the road as though it was level ground.  At the Springs the thermometer during July 5, 6, and 7th stood during the warmest part of the day at 85 degrees.  Since the 4th the health and pleasure seekers are coming in more freely.  There remains only a short piece of road to be made between the Rubicon and Wentworth's to complete the wagon road from Georgetown to Lake Tahoe."(Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

Even with the best efforts of the Hunsuckers and Wentworths, the road remained unfinished in 1887 when the editor summarized the history and need for the road to be finished by the county in the July 16, 1887  edition of the Georgetown Gazette..............."During the past twenty years there has been expended, by the citizens of the Georgetown Divide in opening a wagon road to Tahoe, no less than $10,000.  It is now completed to Wentworth Springs, 42 miles from Georgetown, and from Lake Tahoe to Hunsucker's Springs (Rubicon Springs) about 10 miles. leaving about 10 miles between those points to be opened.  the road has always been free to anyone who desired to travel it, and no person ever received back any of the money expended. To complete the road will cost at least $3000.  To raise that amount by private subscription has been found impossible; yet a portion could be raised, and if some assistance had been rendered by the County, the road could have been opened this year."(Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

In a further very short note or tidbit in the July 12, 1888 edition of the Georgetown Gazette, the editors reported........"Arrangements have been made for completion of the Georgetown and Tahoe wagon road."(Gernes, Deibert, 1999)

During the Summer of 1888, the Gazette reported on the progress of the Lake Tahoe road completion in the August 2, 1888 edition as follows.........."The wagon road now being completed from Georgetown to Lake Tahoe will make this the most direct and best route for people coming from the lower Counties who have not visited this great lake.  Georgetown being a central point is a very convenient place for procuring supplies for a mountain trip, and we believe that goods can be brought at as low figures here as in any mountain town." (Gernes, Deibert, 1999)

Finally, in the late Fall of 1888,   the final part to the Georgetown to Tahoe wagon road was completed and reported upon  in the October 4, 1888 paper..........."The wagon road is now completed through to Lake Tahoe from Georgetown, so that loaded teams can pass over to the lake.  With tow daily stage lines plying between Placerville and Auburn, making Georgetown an important junction, it is believed that by next Spring business will justify a daily line between Georgetown and Lake Tahoe." (Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

The continuing condition of the Georgetown to Lake Tahoe Road via Wentworth Springs and Rubicon Springs was in yearly need of work to keep it in passable condition. the attraction of Lake Tahoe and its resorts as well as Wentworth and Rubicon Springs made it necessary to keep the pressure on the county supervisors for road maintenance. The following letter was, I am sure, a sincere request for support for the county infrastructure but it should also be noted that Judge Bennett was running for re-election at the time of this letter. This letter may have also been a means of reminding the citizens of Georgetown of his name and his obvious civic interest in the county.  He was subsequently re-elected shortly here after.  In a letter to the editor of the Georgetown Gazette of September 14, 1896 by Judge M.P. Bennett of Georgetown, he wrote......"Most residents of the county are familiar with the natural advantages of the Placerville road, the liberal hospitality of the Inns along the way, and the climax of scenic grandure, when from the western summit of the Sierras, Lake Tahoe, fifteen hundred feet below, breaks into view....there has been for many years a road from Georgetown to Wentworth Springs and despite some pretty steep hills, it is a good mountain road.  I first traveled it in the summer of 1877 and it was a most delightful renewal of my early impression through the mighty timber....Wentworth Springs....owned by Nathan Wentworth whose well built hotel is in a beautiful valley, in which a number of sparkling, health-giving springs are an attraction that annually bring thither numerous tourists from this county as well as Sacramento and Placer counties.  Many stop here and venture no further because the wonderful beyond, like all the fabled wonders of antiquity, is approachable through only the most perilous way.  From Wentworth Springs to the Rubicon Springs, is not exceeding ten miles, measured in feet and inches, but a mile of good road is a mile, and how far a mile of this is, I do not dare to state.  Some portions of it are called "Sluicebox" and one of our party designated it "Devil's Sluice Box" to go with "Hell Hole", not far off.  To make this road passable, from three to five hundred dollars should be spent on it and the investment would be a most judicious business proposition for El Dorado county.....As McKinney's stands for progress on the western shore, so does Tallac with its beautiful new hotel building, at the south end of the Lake, but there is woeful want of land communication between the two places.  A good road is constructed from Tahoe City to McKinney's, and from Tallac to Brigham's, and a wagon has been through from McKinney's to Mr. Frost's Rubican Park, but from that place to Dr. Brigham's, a distance , I think, of probably five or six miles, there is no wagon road....We have in Lake Tahoe one of the greatest natural wonders and beauties of the world....does not fairness to the North Divide...demand that the approach to the Lake over the Georgetown road be made safe and comfortable?....(signed) M.P. Bennett"(Gernes, Deibert, 1999)

Gerle Creek(Gurley) The creek was named for early El Dorado County settler, Christopher C. Gerle, a Swedish immigrant who arrived before 1860(Gudde). One of three Gerle brothers who came to California in 1851,Christopher C. Gerle was born in Sweden in 1833, marrying his wife, Mary Clausen in El Dorado County in 1865. Mary was daughter to Paul and Mary Clausen, both emigrating from  England to Coloma. Her father Paul was born in 1806 while her mother was born in 1815. Her father Paul was a boot maker. Christopher C. Gerle and his wife, Mary initially had two boys, Peter C. Gerle, born 1869 and dying in 1871 and a second boy, Charles Gerle, born 1870 and died in 1871. Both are buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Coloma with their two uncles, Charles W. Gerle and Christopher Cyrus Gerle. Christopher C. Gerle and his wife Mary later moved to Plymouth, in Amador County, California, having a third son George and three girls, Mary, Charlotte and Maggie. Charles W. Gerle was the oldest brother, born in Sweden in 1823 and dying March 4, 1907, while Christopher Cyrus Gerle was born in Sweden in 1831, but died in Coloma in 1875. Charles W. Gerle lived in Coloma with  Minnie Johnson, who was previously married to an Englishman and had two boys Juan Johnson and Charles W. Johnson  in Sweden, with a third child George M. Johnson, born in Coloma in 1878.

According to original Land Patent records,  Charles W. Gerle filed on 4 pieces of property within MD 11N, 09E, sections 10 & 3, of which 3 pieces were in 10 and 1 piece in 3 in Uniontown, El Dorado County, Ca..  The attached map outlines these sections which are basically Northwest or down the South Fork of the American River from Coloma and Uniontown.  Their ranch was most certainly on the North side associated with the land along the section line between 3 and 10.  The land is flat and was close or on the river directly. The Gerle Brothers needed that water for their livestock.  When they drove their cattle to their cabin (Gerles) on Gerle Creek, they drove it Northeast up to Georgetown and then on the road to Gerles on Gerle Creek each Summer. These land patents were issued in 1874, 1879 and 1892 to Charles W. Gerle by the General Land Office.

According to the Mountain Democrat of Sept 30, 1916, the Gerle Brothers bought their ranch property (Gerles/ Wagner Brothers/Lawyers Cow Camp) on Gerle Creek from the Indians in the early sixties(1860s). By 1880, Christopher Gerle and his family had moved to Plymouth in Amador County. Gerle Family sources indicate that Christopher may have lost his portion of the Gerle Ranch in Uniontown and on Gerle Creek in a poker game in Carson City to his own brother Charles W. Gerle, which would account for his move with family to Plymouth. In 1889, the California Water and Mining Company purchased the Charles W. Gerle's  interest in the property and had the land surveyed. The survey reported that the property was swampland and overflow lands which made it the property of the State of California. In 1895, CM Fitzgerald, the superintendent of the California Water and Mining company, was granted a patent to the 440 acres of property in section 36 of  T.13N, R. 14E.. He then deeded it to his company and who in turn deeded to each of the other companies who have taken ownership since.

The Georgetown Gazette reported in their August 20, 1880 edition about Charles Gerle's trial in justice court.........."The trial of Chas. Gurley (misspelled), for drawing a rifle on James Smith, took place in Justice McLains court last Saturday.  Dist Attorney Ingram represented the prosecution, with Jas. Smith and Chas. Harris as witnesses for the complaint, while Gurley testified for himself.  The weight of the testimony told against Gurley, but the matter was compromised by Gurley pleading guilty to simple assault and paying a fine of $50.00."Gernes; Deibert, 1999

A report from the June 23, 1882 edition of the Georgetown Gazette on the movement of livestock through Georgetown to the ranches in the Sierras.........."A great many droves of stock and dairy cattle, sheep and goats, have passed through Georgetown during the present month for their ranges above, and many more are yet to pass before the month ends.  Among those who have already passed up with dairy stock are: Forni of Gold Hill, Sam Forni of this place (Georgetown), Filippini & Co., Bacchi of Garden Valley, Schelari and Gerley(mispelled) of Uniontown, Deller and Son near this place (Georgetown) and others whose names we have not in mind.  Besides this, no less than a dozen large bands of sheep and goats have passed through town.  Much stock is also passing up by routes south of this place." (Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

 The Gerle Brothers used their Sierra ranch on  Gerle Creek (Gurley; Lawyer's Cow Camp; & Wagner Bros.) from the early 1860s to raise hogs  and cattle during the Summer months, hauling the pork products over the Sierra's on the Georgetown/Wentworth Springs/Rubicon Springs/Lake Tahoe Road to sell in Virginia City, Nevada. The earliest maps including Bowman's 1874 Map of the whole Georgetown Divide show their  ranch and the creek identified with Gerle misspelled  and written as it sounded; "Gurley." Gerle's Ranch dates from the early 1860s and became a very important way stop on the road to Lake Tahoe from Georgetown, remaining so well into the 20th Century after the ranch property was sold off in 1889.

Gerle Creek Summer Home Tract(GCSHT), US Forest Service Summer Home Tract, first established/located on Southwest side of Gerle Creek opposite from Swimming Hole on logging spur  by the the Forest Service.  A November 5, 1953 article in the MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT entitled "Plan New Recreation, Homes on Wentworth Springs Road," 

 "A new summer home and recreational area is being planned by Eldorado National Forest for Gerle Creek,  on the Wentworth Springs Road approximately 40 miles East of Georgetown.  The site selected embraces an area large enough for 50 to 60  summer homes, one public camp area and two organizational areas.  Fishing, swimming and hiking will be the principal attractions.  The area is only eight miles west of Desolation Wilderness area.  Work on the proposal is being carried out under direction of County Supervisor Gene Chappie and Ranger George Ramstad." 

 This original plan and layout of the summer home tract lots along the Southside of the creek did not work out.  Interest in the lots was basically lacking and some of the old stories indicated due to the location directly on the creek, the mosquitos made it difficult.  In any case, with no interest in the original location, the Forest Service went back to the drawing boards and re-laid out the summer home tract in the present location on the North side away from the creek and up on the hillside above the Airport Flats area as laid out in the map below.   Have a look at this original US Forest Service Map of the GCSHT, a compass and tape survey, dated Feb 1953. By the time the FS offered lots at Gerle Creek, they had eliminated the lots on the Southside of the creek in favor of the current position up the hill on the Northside of the flats.

For a number of reasons not clear, there were no takers for the summer home tract between the original offering in 1953 and when they began again to create interest in the summer home tract. In a January 31, 1957  article entitled "SPRING OPENING  OF SUMMER HOME TRACT ON GERLE CREEK PLANNED," published in the MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT,

"Plans were announced this week by Ranger Kenneth St. John of Georgetown Ranger station for the opening of a summer home tract along Gerle Creek.  The forest service will offer 40 lots for lease this spring or early summer, said St. John.  The tract, about three and a one-half miles north  of South Fork on Gerle Creek., will be reached  either from  the Georgetown-Wentworth Springs road or  by the Icehouse road from Highway 50.  The area is 39 miles northeast of Georgetown on the Georgetown-Wentworth Springs  road and 28 miles north of Riverton on the Icehouse road.  The lots, each of one-quarter to one-third acre in size, will be leased on a standard forest service permit, reissued  annually, according to St. John.  This is the first summer home development area opened along Gerle creek."

As originally envisioned, it was laid out for lots 1 through 47, but later lots 1 through , 8,9 and 16 were removed from this original plan. The exact position of the Summer Home tract center is 38 Degrees, 59.205 Minutes North; 120 Degrees, 23.010 Minutes West.

Later in the Summer of 1957,  the MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT reported in a July 11, 1957 article entitled "FIVE SUMMER HOME SITE APPLICANTS AWARDED LOTS AT GERLE CREEK,"

"Summer home sites along Gerle Creek above Georgetown have been awarded to five applicants in the first allotment of 42 sites in the Forest Service development it was announced this week by Georgetown Ranger Kenny St. John.  Lots were awarded to Steven R. Camber, Oakland; D.C. Young, Orinda; Albert H. Somner, Garden Valley; John Holmes, Sacramento; and Harry Heckenliable, Stockton.  The five were among a list of applicants which has been building up since 1952, it was explained and many who had previously applied apparently were no longer interested, accounting for the small number of applicants appearing to select sites.  Later applicants now on file will be notified of a date to be announced later when further selections may be made."

I believe that due to the rather remote location, the unfamiliarity of people in general with this area on the forest and real difficulty in reaching this area in the early 50s, that interest was lacking for few interested folks who were willing to trek to Gerle Creek. The roads to Gerle Creek then were little more than two tire tracks whether coming from Riverton or Georgetown. The narrow old log roads  took considerable time and navigational skill to make your way to places like Gerle Creek. The initial offering of summer home sites in 1953 was coming at a period of time when the country was just 8 years past a major World War and currently was involved in the Korean War. Recreation opportunities for people were not high on the scale when balanced against the need to reestablish their basic needs including housing and work. Among the other difficulties of Gerle Creek was the fact that the original log bridge crossing Gerle Creek at Airport Flats in 1927 had been washed out in the Winter of 1951/52. So besides the isolation presented by the summer home tract at Gerle Creek was the fact you had to ford the creek every time you came or went to the summer home tract. In the days before the new Loon Lake Dam, this was no small feat and nearly impossible during the early Spring and Summer, due to the snow runoff. All tract residents as well as other users of Airport Flats barracks buildings, including the South Fork Mill ditch keeper had to ford the creek till 1963 when the first lane of the new concrete bridge was completed.

By 1957, 1958 people were ready to take up the opportunities presented by the Forest Service offering of summer home tracts. My parents, Gordon and Joy Brattland found out about Gerle Creek as a result of applying to the Forest Service for a summer home lot at Wright's Lake. Our family camped regularly at Wrights Lake from the mid 50s and fell in love with the isolated setting and the cabins around the lake.  The Forest Service advised that they had no more lots at Wright's Lake, but they had a summer home tract at Gerle Creek and plenty of available lots. My parents then visited the tract in the early Summer of 1958 via Georgetown with my sister and I in tow and selected  lot 34 next to the Holmes on Lot 33. After completing the paperwork and being awarded the lot, the Carey Brothers, who had also wanted Lot 34, had begun to build on the lot. When we showed up after being awarded  lot 34 by the Forest Service, the Carey family indicated  they had earlier actually selected lot 34 and that one of the three Carey Brothers was supposed to go to Georgetown and sign the required paperwork with the Forest Service, but had failed to do so. They were so intent on this lot that my father and mother decided to pick another lot, selecting instead  Lot 24. They  reported the problem to the Forest Service, who corrected both lease documents, awarding Lot 24 to the Brattland family, while allowing the Carey family to retain Lot 34.

Gerle Creek Summer Home Tract Association

Original Association Hydraulic Ram Pumps for the water system picture 1 Here is a later picture with my friend Dave Orchard standing in front of the hydraulic ram pump house built over the ram pumps, picture 2.

Lot 24 History Brattland Family Cabin

Lot 41 History  McDowall Family Cabin

Aerial shot 1968

Gerle Creek Reservoir-Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, Ca  

In 1885, Alex F. Forni applied for a patent on 560 acres near what is now Gerle Reservoir in the Butler Meadows area, where he operated a ranch (Errington 2000). Review of the earliest map of the area, shows AE Browns ranch house and fence in this area, but no mention of Forni. Butler Meadows is more than likely named for the Samuel Butler and his pioneer family who were early cattle ranchers, arriving in about 1860. This same area was also an area frequented by Indians, most likely Southern Maidu, making use of several areas around the juncture of Angel Creek and Gerle Creek, "during the Summer months, hunting, fishing and gathering seeds, fruits, and bulbs" underneath the current reservoir, according to Wilson and Dyson(1962)

For a picture of Charles Forni, see Rambeau, 1998, page 21 for a group photo of the I.O.O.F. lodge in Georgetown, 1889. There is a group picture showing members Alex Francis, Charles Forni, Dan Jerrett, Gus Orelli and Charles Wentworth, all significant men in the history of Gerle Creek

Gerle Creek Reservoir Dam

Gerle Creek Reservoir Dam was completed in 1962 and is on the East side of Butler Meadows. As an interesting piece of background on this eventual site for this storage reservoir for SMUD, in 1916, hearings were held on the water rights of the Truckee River General Electric Company to water from Gerle Creek.  These rights had been assumed when they acquired them from the California Water and Mining Company (California Water Company). The company wanted to build a dam and reservoir to produce electricity. This claim was disputed and became part of rather complicated and extended federal hearing. The most interesting part of the proposal, was the  intention to build this dam on Gerle Creek at Jacobsens, creating water storage lake in the meadow adjacent to Jacobsens extending back into Gerles Ranch or Lawyers Cow Camp.  The hearings were reported on extensively, including the names of witnesses who testified, including Jacob  Jacobsen (Mt Democrat Sept 30, 1916). In the April 17th issue of the Mt Democrat in 1917, it was reported the federal government found in favor of the Truckee River General Electric Company and confirmed their rights to the water for use of Gerle Meadow for a dam and reservoir. By 1924, these rights had been passed along to the Georgetown Divide Water Company (Mt Democrat, March 8, 1924). All real action to actually create a dam and reservoir were put off till the early 1950s when El Dorado County in the push to resolve their increasing need for water with the post WWII boom revisited creating a a number of dams and reservoirs in the county for electricity generation. From early 1951 till at least 1955, the  planning of the SMUD Upper American River Project on the divide included the Gerle Creek Dam and reservoir in Gerle Meadows next to Jacobsens. The Mountain Democrat carried a very extensive and detailed article including a map showing 68 proposed dam sites in the June 23, 1955 newspaper, including the actual proposed reservoir site at Gerles Meadow, next to Jacobsens and not in its present location. As the proposed SMUD Upper American River Project progressed after 1955, the Gerles Meadow site was dropped in favor of the eventual and current site in Butler Meadow.

Aerial shot of the Lake 1968

Granlees Ranch (Forshoda) Diversion Dam and Ditch ........ A stone diversion dam and ditch to divert water from Big Silver Creek to supply water for the ranch and cattle in the meadows of Union Valley. The ranch was removed with the construction of Union Valley Dam and Reservoir in the early 1960s. According to the markings in the top of the rock diversion dam, it was most recently rebuilt and repaired in October of 1947. My original thought was the diversion dam was built to support Millionaire Camp, but according to Krista Deal of the Forest Service at Pacific House, the  old diversion dam was built to support Granlees Ranch in Union Valley.   The remnants of the original ditch are still there in places down to the lake.

Additional pictures............pic 3, pic 4, pic 5, pic 7, pic 8

Gurley's Ranch(Gerle) Lawyers Cow Camp, Wagners Cow Camp Early 1860s,Gerle Brothers-Natives of Sweden-Hog Farmers-Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, Ca

Summer range location for the Gerle Brothers, early emigrants and farmers on Gerle Creek, 2 miles West of Wentworth Springs (USGS Map of 1895) on the Georgetown/Wentworth Springs/Rubicon Springs/Lake Tahoe road, next to Gerle Creek. Their ranch property butted up against the Jacobson Ranch  property on the West side of the section, also on Gerle Creek.  One of three Gerle brothers  who came to California in 1851,Christopher C. Gerle was born in Sweden in 1833, marrying his wife, Mary Clausen in El Dorado County in 1865. Mary was daughter to Paul and Mary Clausen, both emigrating from  England to Coloma. Her father Paul was born in 1806 while her mother was born in 1815, both in England. Her father Paul was a boot maker. Christoper C. Gerle and his wife, Mary initially had two boys, Peter C. Gerle, born 1869 and dying in 1871 and a second boy, Charles Gerle, born 1870 and died in 1871. Both are buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Coloma with their two uncles, Charles W. Gerle and Christopher Cyrus Gerle. Christopher C. Gerle and his wife Mary later moved to Plymouth, in Amador County, California, having a third son George and three girls, Mary, Charlotte and Maggie. Charles W. Gerle was the oldest brother, born in Sweden in 1823 and dying March 4, 1907, while Charles Cyrus Gerle was born in Sweden in 1831, but died in Coloma in 1875. Charles W. Gerle lived in Coloma with  Minnie Johnson, who was previously married to an Englishman and had two boys Juan Johnson and Charles W. Johnson  in Sweden, with a third child George M. Johnson, born in Coloma in 1878. The Gerle Brothers used their Sierra ranch on  Gerle Creek (Gurley; Lawyer's Cow Camp; & Wagner Bros.) to raise hogs and cattle during the Summer months, hauling the pork products over the Sierra's on the Georgetown/Wentworth Springs/Rubicon Springs/Lake Tahoe Road to sell in Virginia City, Nevada. The Gerle Brothers and the Wagner Bros were long time neighbors in the Sierras during the Summers with Murray Camp folks just a mile North of their ranch on the way to Bennett's Ranch in the McKinstry Lake area, as well as the Jacobsons, Francis, Wentworths, Dellars and Jerretts. By 1880, Christopher C. Gerle and his family had moved on to Plymouth in Amador County. Gerle family sources indicate that he may have lost his share of the Gerle properties in El Dorado County in a poker game to his brother, Charles W. Gerle in Carson City. According to the Georgetown Gazette, reprinted in the Mountain Democrat of Sept 16, 1916, the Gerle Brothers bought their ranch property (Gerles/ Wagner Brothers/Lawyers Cow Camp) on Gerle Creek from the Indians in the early sixties(1860s). In 1889, the California Water and Mining Company purchased the Charles W. Gerle's interest in the property and had the land surveyed. The survey reported that the property was swampland and overflow lands which made it the property of the State of California. In 1895, CM Fitzgerald, the superintendent of the California Water and Mining company, was granted a patent to the 440 acres of property in section 36 of  T.13N, R. 14E.. He then deeded it to his company and who in turn deeded to each of the other companies who have taken ownership since. The earliest maps including Bowman's 1874 Map of the whole Georgetown Divide show their  ranch and the creek identified with Gerle misspelled  and written as it sounded; "Gurley." 

Gerle's Ranch became a very important way stop on the road to Lake Tahoe from Georgetown in the "Sixties", remaining so well into the 20th Century after the ranch property was sold off in 1889 to the California Water Company.  The Wagner Brothers eventually purchased this property and have retained ownership among their family, Wagner and Veer Kamp, of the majority of Gerle Meadow around the old ranch house to this day.

In the early part of the 20th Century, Archie and Irma Lawyer leased Gurley's Ranch from the Wagner's about the same time they actually purchased Uncle Tom's Cabin, at which point it became known as "Lawyer's Cow Camp" after 1920(Errington 2000). Reviewing the original Eldorado National Forest Map of 1916 shows this old ranch still listed as "Gerles." Later, the historic ranch was returned to the Wagners, who referred to it as Wagner Bros., Wagners and or Wagner's Cow Camp. The 1950 Forest Service map clearly shows the ranch listed as Wagner's but in later years returned the name to Lawyers when in fact the ranch was never owned by Lawyers and long since not leased anymore.

The US Forest Service acquired 80 acres of section 34 of Township 14N, R14E, of the original Gerle Ranch property May 3, 1920.

The Gerle Brothers lived on their ranch in Uniontown -Coloma during the rest of the year when not using their high sierra ranch on Gerle Creek.

Gurley's Ranch1, Gurley's Ranch2,  Gurley's Ranch3,  Gurley's  Well, Gurley's Ranch 4,

Gurley' Ranch 5

See Gerle Creek.

Hales Camp Cabin  on the North side of the Rubicon River, near Hales Crossing, 4 miles down the Rubicon River from Hell Hole Dam. Hales Crossing is located at the Western point of the Charles Creek Trail which began at Jacobsens on Gerle Creek and wound its way West and down into the Rubicon Canyon. Lent Brown photo

Hanna's Camp-South Fork Mill-California Water Company-Water Operated Saw Mill, 1874-1880, South Fork of Rubicon River, Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, Ca .

"The upper mill (Hanna's Camp South Fork Mill, Ditch Camp), near the terminus of Gurley Creek Canal, has a capacity for all present requirements of the company, and also brings a small revenue from sale of lumber to stockmen, for building in that section. The saw is an upright band-saw. A supply of sawed lumber is kept here for use of company to repair flumes below, which can be floated to desired points in the canals. The mill in this locality is a most desirable auxiliary to the company's works.  The location is in the midst of superior pine timber."  E.P. Hutchins, California Water and Mining Company Report, 1880)

 Hanna's Camp1,  Hanna's Camp2,  Hanna's Camp 3

Hanna's Camp was later known as South Fork Mill or Ditch Camp.....wonderful Lint Brown photo Ditch Camp Early 20th Century

Hannas Camp could have been named for a Georgetown miner named Andrew Hanna, born in Scotland in 1844 and married to Martha  Hanna, born in California in 1862and residents of Greenwood, in El Dorado County, or David Hanna of Grizzly Flats who also was a miner and originally born in Delaware in 1843.

Georgetown Gazette report of June 19, 1890 "Theodore Schlein, while engaged in building a new flume for the California Water Company at South Fork on Wednesday 11 inst., the flume , not being securely braced, went down precipitating Mr. Schlein upon the rocks, severely injuring his hip and side. He was brought down Saturday for treatment. He is under the care of the Odd Fellows."(Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

A report of shooting in the August 27, 1891 Georgetown Gazette........."A Shooting affair occurred at the South Fork sawmill, yesterday between R. Jerrett and Domengo Veril, resulting in Veril receiving a charge of shot in his shoulder and breast from a shotgun in the hands of Jerrett.  Veril shot at Jerrett with a Winchester rifle.  the wounded man brought to town last night and is being treated by Dr. Hickman."(Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

South Fork Rubicon River Bridge Georgetown Wentworth Springs Road South Fork Mill, Ditch Camp, 1932

Hartless Mountain is named for Benjamin W. Hartless, a Garden Valley dairyman and farmer. Hartless received formal land patents from the General Land Office in 1892 on land  immediately around Hartless Mountain and Uncle Tom's Cabin which he used for Summer grazing of his livestock. The Hartless Guard Station, on Hartless Mountain was the original Hartless Summer grazing cabin.  Originally born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, Feb 15, 1828, he moved with his widowed mother to Carroll County Missouri, living there for 6 years, before heading to California. As so many new arrivals to California, Hartless took up mining initially in Nevada City before eventually migrating to the American River as well as Dry Creek , near Georgetown. By 1858, he gave up mining and began farming and running dairy cattle at Garden Valley. Hartless married a widow, Mrs Wakefield with six children on April 23rd, 1871. The children's names were Claudis B., William B., Jefferson D., Frank, Thomas and John. Mrs Hartless was a native of Saratoga County, upstate New York, who arrived in California in 1853.  She first made her home in Sacramento County at Brighton before moving on to Negro Bar and then to Garden Valley. Benjamin Hartless owned 160 acres in Garden Valley in 1883.(Sioli, 1883)

                                  

 

 

 

 Ice House Ranger Station 1910  This building burned and was lost in the 1959 Ice House fire. 

                                

The history surrounding Ice House and this original building  which eventually evolved into a ranger station in the early 20th Century is directly related to the Old Soda Works building in Placerville owned and built originally by John McFarland Pearson, the Ice Merchant in Placerville and is laid out at    http://malakoff.com/goldcountry/mcplacsw.htm .
 

 

 

 

Jacobsens Ranch/Dairy- Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, Ca

Johnny Jacobsen (USGS 1895 Map) applied for a patent on 80 acres of land in 1891, on the West side of Gerle's Ranch, where he operated a diary in the meadow now bearing his name, adjacent to one of the crossings of Gerle Creek (Baldwin 1975). Johnny Jacobsen, or Jacob Jacobsen, (Picture published in Baldwin, 1975) born in 1860 in California, was one of three children (Sophia, Peter and Jacob) of Alexander Jacobsen. Alex was born in Germany in 1830, arriving in California in 1854, who married  Margareta Clausen of Coloma. Alex died in Sept 1906 followed by his wife, one month later (Baldwin, 1975).  The Jacobsens settled on Weber Creek, where they conducted a  dairy farming business (Sioli, 1883, Baldwin, 1975). Johnny Jacobsen died in 1944 and was buried in Coloma. 

This is a 1922 picture of the log bridge built and finished in 1922 crossing Gerle Creek at Jacobsen's meadow and dairy. This bridge remained in place many years but was lost like a lot of the bridges on Gerle Creek. With the loss of this bridge, travelers to all parts of  forest East of Jacobsen's Dairy were  required to ford once again.

After a number of years without a bridge at Jacobsen's Dairy, El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in Sept of 1944 approved an appropriation (not to exceed $2000) to build a concrete bridge over Gerle Creek at Jacobsen's (Mt Democrat, Sept 7, 1944).  The concrete bridge at "Jacobsen's" as this creek crossing is and has been referred to for years, was eventually lost during the Winter of 1963/1964's.   The Mayor of Placerville tried to ford Jacobsen's in late May, 1964 on the way to check the road to Wentworth Springs and Lake Tahoe for the upcoming Jeeper"s Jamboree only to get stuck in the middle of the creek due to the depth and flow of the water from the Spring runoff and SMUD's need to let extra water flow out of the new Loon Lake Dam. John Holmes from Gerle Creek came to the rescue and pulled the Mayor and his jeep out of Gerle Creek.       (Mountain Democrat June, 1964)

El Dorado County would later construct a new bridge which used an old railroad flat car which would last till about 1980 when it was washed away during the Winter. El Dorado County at this point, with the new paved road in and a means for people to go around the old Wentworth Springs road, abandoned any further replacement of this bridge leaving it to become the ford it is today and was originally before 1944. The railroad flat car bridge was left abandoned after being a casualty of the Gerle Creek Spring runoff. Bruce Wadsworth, the owner of the Neck Meadow, below Wentworth Springs, which includes the eastern half of the old Gerle's Ranch asked the county if they were going to use the bridge and they indicated they were not. So Bruce had an obliging logger with a Cat tractor drag the bridge up the old Wentworth Springs road to his property where they installed it in Neck Meadow over Gerle Creek, which  then allowed Bruce Wadsworth to reach his  cabin at the back of the property. Previously, he had some log bridges which had taken a beating over the years from the Spring Runoff and a Winter on Gerle Creek with no dam in place during the construction of the new Loon Lake Dam.

Considering that Johnny Jacobson owned the dairy and meadow at the foot of what is annotated on area maps as  "Johnny's Hill," Johnnys Hill takes its name from Johnny Jacobsen.

Mountain Democrat June 1964

Johnny's Hill...named for Johnny Jacobsen, Jacobsen's Meadow and old Dairy Ranch on Gerle Creek.

Jerrett Creek and Peak  

Jerret Peak and Creek were named for the Jerrett family, early El Dorado County pioneers.  The Wentworths and the Winslows eventually sold Wentworth Springs to Robert S. Jerrett of Georgetown, Ca, son of Daniel Jerrett, a Georgetown Grocer and 49er.Robert's brother, Herman Daniel Jerrett, wrote two books...."California's El Dorado, Yesterday and Today," 1915 and a later book entitled "Hills of Gold," 1963.  For a picture of Dan Jerrett, see Rambeau, 1998, page 21 for a group photo of the I.O.O.F. lodge in Georgetown, 1889. There is a group picture showing members Alex Francis, Charles Forni, Dan Jerrett, Gus Orelli and Charles Wentworth, all significant men in the history of Gerle Creek

Joe's Spring More than likely named for the famous early Eldorado National Forest Ranger, Joe Bauman who was principal to the establishment and surveying of the Gerle Creek Summer Home Tract as well as current massive, beautiful hand built stone lookout station at Bunker Hill. Here is an actual photo of Joe's Spring in 1990 with my mother Joy Brattland enjoying a drink of the very good water which is a product of the spring on Bunker Hill.

Jones Silver...Named for Fleming and Florence Jones who Summered in the Silver Creek area, running dairy cattle.(Yohalem) Jones Silver cabins, pictures 1,  2,  3, 4,  5.  6. and  7.

Leonardis Ranch This is a Jonni Hill photograph of the ranch contributed to help with the history of important places and people in El Dorado National Forest and County, which was used as a basis for one of her original paintings. Jonni Hill is a noted artist of people and early places in El Dorado County. Many of her works are displayed in Robb's Resort.  Our family personally owns one of her wonderful Native American paintings. You can find out more about her art work at High Country Sketches.

Loon Lake and Dam-1873/1881/1962,Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, Ca

Identified early on by The California Water Company as a means to deliver a constant supply of water to Georgetown and the many mines and farms during the dry months of the Summer. the California Water Company tested this idea by building a temporary dam of logs, nine feet high (Bowman, 1874) to determine whether sufficient water could be retained through the Summer such that it could be selectively released to overcome the shortage of water in the lean summer months. This idea required the building of the 4 mile long South Fork Ditch connecting Gerle Creek with to Hanna's Camp on the South Fork of the Rubicon River in order to further divert this Loon Lake water via a series of creek beds, ditches and flumes to Georgetown. This initial log dam was completed along with the South Fork Ditch by the Fall of 1874.This original log dam was then replaced by a second higher log dam, about 20 feet in height which remained till replaced in 1882 by the granite stone dam. In addition to the higher log dam on Loon Lake, separate log dams were built on Pleasant Lake and Bixby lakes behind Loon Lake which enabled each to collect more water which flowed from them into Loon Lake. Complete details of each of these log dams as well as the log dam on Loon Lake was covered in the 1880 California Water Company report to the Board of Directors. In this report, the recommendation was to build a larger, taller dam at Loon Lake to increase the total storage of water to allow the company to sell more water for farming, mining and agriculture. By building the larger dam, it would also replace the smaller additional log dams on Pleasant and Bixby Lakes. Bixby Lake is currently the part of Loon Lake behind the Francis Fill Dam.

July 30, 1881, MT DEMOCRAT, "Dam at Loon Lake-the Georgetown Gazette says: The California Water and Mining Company  has commenced the erection of a substantial stone dam at Loon Lake.  The wall to be entirely built of granite, which is found in inexhaustible quantities, and of the best quality, right on the ground.  We understand that that portion of the dam which it is intended to complete before Winter, include about 450 feet  in length and 20 feet high at the trunk or highest point. A force of experienced quarrymen have been engaged, a  number of whom have already gone forward.  All the tools and appliances necessary for the rapid and economical prosecution of the work, such as derricks, tackle, wire guys, car for transporting rock from the quarry to the dam, cement, supplies for the men, etc; are either on the ground or on the way there."

Further reporting on the progress of granite dam construction at Loon lake from the September 2, 1881 edition of the Georgetown Gazette..........."The dam being constructed by the Cal. W.&M. at Loon Lkae are composed of Granite and the works are of the character  to do service for ages....the winter following the present Company's purchase of the promising property was one of the severest ever experienced by ditch owners owners in the Mountains of California, and the Manager, Mr. Findley in common with the leading men of the County, has determined that such a disaster sjall never visit their property again, and further they are building dams of such dimensions as to increase the water reserve sufficient for all future wants of the divide and the city of Sacramento, besides, which the County many have the opportunity of supplying in the near future.  The object of these immense reservoirs located at an altitude of more than 6000 ft. above the sea, is to store an abundance of water from the vast accumulation of snow, as a reserve for the dryer seasons, when the supply from other streams begins to fail."(Genres; Deibert, 1999)

The California Water Company in their official company report to their board of directors of 1880 said much the same thing regarding supplying Georgetown and the City of Sacramento, actually including San Francisco in their proposal for water from their Loon Lake water.

The Georgetown Gazette kept track of the Loon Lake dam building again reporting on the work progress in the short new report of October 21, 1881.........."There are some forty men engaged on the work of the Cal. W.&M.Co. at Loon Lake.  C.H. Jones, the Superintendant of construction says that a more faithful and better lot of men he never saw anywhere, and to the credit of Mr. Jones, we have heard it remarked  by several of the men, that a better Boss they never worked under.  When the spring opens a much larger force will be employed, and the works completed during the season.  The dam will be 664 feet in length on top, and forty feet in height along the widest base."(Gernes, Deibert, 1999)

It would appear that the Mt Democrat and Georgetown Gazette were talking and getting reports from two different people regards the actual size of the dam being constructed at Loon Lake.

In a short note in the June 23, 1882 edition of the Georgetown Gazette........"We noticed yesterday 1200 feet of 1 inch wire cable in front of the Cal. Water Co.'s office which goes to Loon Lake for guys to support a large derrick used in moving ponderous blocks of granite from the quarry for the everlasting dam which the enterprising management of the Company is constructing at that point." (Gernes; Deibert, 1999)

July 22, 1882, Mt Democrat, reported "Superintendent Wolf of the California Water Co's works at Loon Lake was down on a hurried visit this week.  He reports that work on the dam is progressing rapidly;  the force increased, a new derrick being put up, making the fourth derrick, and that he believes the dam will be completed this season."

Early winter weather caused some confusion and delay in finishing the dam early in October, 1882 as reported in the Georgetown Gazette of October 7...................."A portion of the quarry men employed at Loon Lake dam came down this week on account of the storm and signalized their intention of quitting for the season, as they believed winter had set in.  There being a couple gaps in the dam yet to be closed, and the managing Director Findley being satisfied that there would yet be plenty of good weather in which to complete the work, tried to persuade the men to return, but they refused.  Yesterday, Mr. Findley stated for the Lake to utilize the force already there to see that the two gaps are filled and you may depend on it."(Gernes, Deibert, 1999)

As a post script to the personnel situation which Managing Director Findley was facing when some of his quarry men quit with the initial October winter storm, the Gazette reported the following snippet in their October 14, 1882 edition of the paper on Findley's character..............."The Loon Lake boys tell us that Tom Findley, who was with them the past two weeks, threw his coat and went to work with a vim.  Findley is the man to meet an emergency every time."(Gernes, Deibert, 1999)

In mid May, 1883 the California Water Company had to dispatch a crew of men to Loon Lake Dam to make some repairs on the just completed granite dam in the Fall of 1882 as reported in the May 26, 1883 edition of the Georgetown Gazette............"A party of laborers departed for Loon Lake on Thursday to repair a portion of the surface of the new dam washed out, owing, it is said, to the waste-way being too small for the discharge of surplus water."(Gernes, Deibert, 1999)

Later in 1881(Sioli,1883), the California Water Company build a permanent replacement granite stone dam finishing it in late 1882 which stood       [(This historic photo was taken on June 24, 1940 by Linton A. Brown(1901-1966), father of Linton Brown of Red Bluff, Ca, who has kindly provided these historic photos from his collection on the South Fork Mill, the ditch system and Loon Lake Dam..  His father  was a friend of Art Rasor, the ditch tender for the Georgetown Divide Water Company]  till removed by SMUD's contractors in  Fall(Sept/Oct) 1962  (another great historic photo provided by Lint Brown and taken by Eugene Poe on Oct 30, 1962)and replaced by the  present Loon Lake Dam in 1963.

Here is Loon Lake empty in 1962 during the construction of the new and present modern dam, looking from the area of the Loon Lake Boy Scout Camp area (to be) the dam area in the first picture and up to the tunnel at the very Eastern end of the new Loon Lake where the road goes over the top of the tunnel over the mountain in this picture to the Rubicon Reservoir and Buck Island Lake. This road was constructed entirely for the construction of the dam at Buck Island Lake as well as the tunnel under the mountain carved from solid granite which brings the water from Rubicon Reservoir down into Loon Lake. The tunnel opening at the loon lake end is quite large but is about 8 ft in diameter. These pictures show the extensive work done by SMUD's contractors to make the new lake area ready for the completion of the New Loon Lake Dam by 1963.

 The hand cut granite blocks removed from the considerable granite rock surfaces surrounding the dam area on the North side of the present day Dam, can now be found spread out along the top of the current dam structure as well as the Francis Fill on Loon Lake. A walking tour of this area and close inspection reveals where all the original granite was hand cut by Chinese Labor. Chinese Labor were also principal to the construction of the South Fork Ditch with rates for their pay specifically outlined in the Amos Bowman Report to the company directors. For a very good, recent 2001 Mountain Democrat article on the modern dam and the various powerhouses and underground interconnections, try www.mtdemocrat.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2001/August/16-563-R0815_N.txt . For a very good picture and descriptive tour of the under Loon Lake Power House, check out this web site......the author took the tour and offers a great set of pictures....just fabulous....

For the most recent research on this area of the Eldorado National Forest, refer to Brown, Linton A., "Memories of South Fork and Gerle Creek Ditches and Old Loon Lake Dam, El Dorado County, California," Linton A. Brown, Red Bluff, Ca, 2003. Lint goes into greater detail on the whole original history of the dam, lake and ditch system, as well as most of the local Georgetown Gazette  discussion of the work on the dam.

Loon Lake Dam...historic July 3, 1953 photo of the dam kindly provided by Lint Brown.....from archives of California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety and Dams and originally taken by Eugene V. Poe as several photos in sequence to get the entire dam....this Jpeg was the result of Lint Brown's efforts to enhance and make all of the photos into one Jpeg....a very, very nice photo.........

Here are links for about 47 historic pictures collected by Lint Brown from Ca State Archives which offer a wonderfully historic look at the California Water Company built dame of 1882 at Loon Lake.... 108,  109,  110,