James Stuart Cain Historical Marker, Bodie, California

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James Stuart Cain House Historical Marker, Bodie, California

Bodie ghost town is located in California off Highway 395. The reason that the town still stands today is largely due to James Stuart Cain. Cain moved to Bodie in 1879. He was only 25 but quickly made his fortune by investing in lumber, mining, freighting and banking. He brought lumber across Mono Lake, which helped build the town properties and mines.

Later, he would be the owner of the town bank as well as the Standard Mill. Cain and his family would own most of the town by the time he passed away in 1938. He and his family were dedicated to preserving the town, hiring security to guard it and caretakers to maintain the vacant buildings.

In 1962, the family gave the ghost town to the State of California. It is run by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. It is preserved in a state of “arrested decay” so that it looks exactly the same as it did during its heyday period. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The state legislature created the Bodie State Historic Park in 1962.

Historical Marker Inscription

Pioneer banker and mining man born in 1854 and moved to Carson City, Nevada, in 1875. Shortly thereafter he and Martha D. Wells of nearby Genoa were married and moved to Bodie where he engaged in lumber, freighting, banking, and mining operations. At one time he owned Mono County’s only bank. In 1938 Mr. Cain passed away at 84 years of age. Through his faith and efforts Bodie remains today.

Dedicated September 12, 1964.

Location

38° 12’ 47.892” N, 119° 0’ 42.430” W

Main St, Bridgeport, CA  93517, United States

Mount Lassen/The Noble Pass Historical Marker

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Mount Lassen Historical Marker, Shingletown, California

This marker commemorates the early pioneers who crossed the peak of Mt. Lassen in 1852. Mt. Lassen sits at 10,451 feet. In May 1852, William H. Noble led emigrants through the Sierra via a wagon road. The pass linked the Humboldt-Nevada Road with Shasta and Northern California, and it was on this pass that the emigrants first looked at Sacramento Valley.

The previous year, Noble had seen the pass and recognized that it would work well for commercial use. He and a few other men convinced emigrants to start taking the pass in 1852. Because of his discovery and convincing pioneers to actually use the pass, it eventually became known as Noble Pass.

Historical Marker Inscription

Chaos Crags

Mt. Lassen

Mt. Lassen

10,451 Feet

This tablet marks the route of those early pioneers who, in 1852, first went over

The Noble Pass

Linking the Humboldt-Nevada Road with Shasta and Northern California, and their road is followed at this locality by

The Park Highway

Dedicated to the Pioneers of Northern California by Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Loomis

Sponsored by the Shasta Historical Society

MCMXXXI

Location

40° 33’ 29.058” N, 121° 31’ 54.528” W
Lassen Volcanic National Park Hwy, Shingletown, CA  96088, United States

The Emigrant Trail Historical Marker, Truckee, California

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The Emigrant Trail Historical Marker, Truckee, California

This trail was the original wagon route that went over Donner Summit when emigrants moved west towards California. During the 1850s and 1860s, emigrants were heading to California, hoping to obtain land, gold or new opportunities. They often faced harsh conditions from the weather, terrain and attacks from Native Americans whose lands they were traversing or trying to take over.

The Emigrant Trail crossed many Midwestern states. Pioneers along this trail would eventually reach California, Utah, Washington or Oregon.

Currently, the trail is a recreational area for biking, hiking and other activities.

Historical Marker Inscription

The Emigrant Trail in the pioneer days of California came through the low pass to the north, facing this monument. The trail turned west at this point for a distance of twenty-six hundred feet where a tablet describes the route then followed.

Placed by Historic Landmarks Committee, Native Sons of the Golden West, September 14, 1929.

Location

39° 19’ 32.862” N, 120° 13’ 0.990” W
11769–11771 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA  96161, United States

Tom’s Place Historical Marker, Crowley Lake, CA

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Tom's Place Historical Marker, Crowley Lake, California

German man Hans Lof built the original building that later became known as Tom’s Place in 1917. It started as a gas station and then was expanded. Thomas and Hazel Yerby purchased the property in 1923. They added a lodge in 1924. The area began attracting tourists who wanted to fish and visit Yosemite.

After Tom Yerby died in 1940, Hazel continued to run the place until 1945 when she sold it. Around this time, the highway was paved making it easier to access the area. In 1947, the lodge burned down.

After changing hands for several years, Mark and Michelle Layne purchased the property in January 2000, and they continue to run it to the present.

Historical Marker Inscription

This way-station, rest area and resort has served the residents and visitors of the Eastern Sierra for over 100 years.

Originally built and managed by Hands Lof, it operated as a seasonal cafe, bar, gas station, pack station and camp ground from 1917 to 1923 when it was purchased by Tom and Hazel Yerby.

The Yerbys improved and expanded the facilities with the construction of guest cabins and a full service lodge in 1924 (sadly the lodge burned down in 1947).

With the grading and paving of Hwy 23 (the predecessor of US-395) it became a year-round destination resort town known as – Tom’s Place. In 1961 a post office was established here and operated for several years.

After the death of Tom Yerby, the resort was sold and over the years it changed hands several times. However its popularity did not diminish and the name remained the same.

Today, the current owners maintain the hospitality and ambiance started by its founders. Thus ensuring Tom’s Place will remain a Mono County landmark for the next 100 years.

Dedicated
September 9, 2017
Bodie Chapter No 65
B Clampus Vitus

Location

8180 Crowley Lake Drive, Crowley Lake California 93546

37.5613° N, 118.6812° W