Placerville, California is known for its farms and historical buildings, its vineyards, and even its whitewater rafting. But the old mining town also has a darker side. It’s encapsulated by the city’s nickname, ”Old Hangtown,” and the image of a noose hanging from a tree in its official logo.
The story of old Hangtown really begins at Coloma, where James Marshall built a sawmill on the South Fork of the American River for his employer John Sutter. On January 24, 1848, Marshall discovered flecks of gold in the tail race of the mill, and when the news spread, the great Gold Rush began.Up ravines and over hills miners and merchants, soldiers and seamen scrambled throughout the area. By the summer of 48, more than a thousand men were working the ground at the new camp, which soon placed Coloma as the initial rendezvous for the Argonauts. But not all the newcomers were interested in gathering their share of the plentiful wealth by such back-breaking labor. Murders and robberies became frequent in isolated camps along the AmericanRiver, and before long, several merchants and miners had lost their poke of gold at knife point.
After one such crime early in 1849, an impromptu citizens jury met to consider the fate of the three accused. The jury wasted little time reaching a verdict. Then the question was asked, What shall be done with them? Someone shouted, Hang them! The majority were in agreement. And so it was that the first known hanging in the Mother Lode that was carried out. The site was a giant white oak in the corner of hay yard near the center of town. The word spread quickly and Old Dry Diggins soon became known as Hangtown due to several other hangings. (It was called Dry Diggins because the miners had to cart the dry soil down to the running water to wash out the gold). Today, only the tree stump remains, hidden in the cellar of a bar on Main Street in Placerville named -quite aptly - The Hangman’s Tree.
After the death of George Floyd, Placerville —like so many other cities—was forced to grapple with its past. Last month, the city decided to consider changing the city’s logo on official materials and stationary.
But that motion was tabled last week. On July 14, the City Council voted to postpone the decision until January. Mayor Michael Saragosa said the decision should be made once city leaders “can talk to each other about the history.” Everyone else on the council, with the exception of Councilwoman Kara Taylor agreed.
For now at least, the logo’s noose remains, as does the nickname. It’s a reminder of an ugly piece of history woven into the fabric of a beautiful town.