The Clarksville Courier: Jul. 2017

Vol. III No. 2 July 2017 Clarksville Region Historical Society

CRHS TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL 8K FUN RUN OCTOBER 7

Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Highway Association

The historic Lincoln Highway in El Dorado Hills will be crowded with runners, joggers, and walkers this coming October 7th, when CRHS and the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) will hold the Second Annual Lincoln Highway 8K Run.

Judging from the positive comments heard after last year’s event, the 2017 event will be bigger than ever, drawing participants from all over the nearby region.

The Lincoln Highway was one of the earliest transcontinental highways for automobiles across the United States of America, stretching from New York City to San Francisco. There were a total of 14 states, 128 counties, and more than 700 cities, towns and villages through which the highway passed at some time in its history.

The length of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 was 3,389 miles. Counting the original route and all of the subsequent realignments, the road at various times incorporated a grand total of 5,872 miles.

The Lincoln Highway was gradually replaced with numbered designations after the establishment of the U.S. Numbered Highway System in 1926. Today, Interstate 80 serves as the primary highway from New York to California.

The original concrete paved sections of the Lincoln Highway that are preserved in El Dorado Hills, now known as Old Bass Lake Road and Old White Rock Road, are thought to be among the longest sections of the original highway still in existence. It is upon these original sections that the the participants will travel.

Information and entry forms for this year’s 8K Fun Run on October 7th may be found on the CRHS web-site, edhhistory.org. ~

Last year’s starting line just before the starting gun

CLARKSVILLE DAY 2017: BIGGEST TURNOUT EVER

One of several wagons offering free rides along the

Lincoln Highway at Clarksville Day 2017

Clarksville Day was back and better than ever on Saturday, May 10th. History lovers, and those just curious to know more about the local region’s past, came out in perfect weather for the one day a year the locked gates of Clarksville are open to the public.

Located on the south side of the new Silva Valley Interchange, Clarksville predated El Dorado Hills by 100 years. On the Pony Express route and a place for gold seekers to stop for hospitality at the Mormon Tavern, Clarksville disappeared once Highway 50 was con-structed, yet there are still remnants of the town that stand, each with a story as rich as its history.

The freshly graded parking lot offered ample parking for the approximately 5,000 people who attend-ed, a celebration in itself since the once-annual event couldn’t be held during construction of the Silva Valley Interchange. The last Clarksville Day was held in 2012.

For those who didn’t mind waiting a spell, they could take in the majestic oaks while two covered wagons carried visitors into and out of the Clarksville entrance, marked by a bridge not built with the weight of modern cars in mind. Just past the bridge it is noted that travel-ers are on one stretch of the Lincoln Highway, America’s oldest highway, which was completed in 1915 and traveled until Highway 50 came to be.

Part of the frame of the original Wells Fargo Building, the oldest standing structure in El Dorado Hills,

was admired on the walking tour just before

the classic car exhibits, which Clarksville

Region Historical Society co-founder Betty

January called, “The best we’ve ever had.”

There were free souvenir photographs

available and music was performed all day

by Ol’ West Trio.

Visitors also meandered past the Griggs

House, Kyburz House, Tong House, each the

name of a Clarksville family with stories that

make up the fabric of the region. A one-room

school house still stands and there was a pho-

to of children in the 1930s playing a game

in the schoolyard, in which they ran around

a pole until centrifugal force lifted them into

the air. Just behind the photo the pole still

stands.

Every hour an Old West shoot-out re-en-

actment was performed as was the blazing speed of Pony Express riders. Everything was a trip back in time for the young and old.

“We couldn’t be happier with the turn out,” January said after the event. “It was a constant line of cars all day and the STAR volunteers did a great job directing traffic. Our exhibitors all said they want to come back next year and the public praise was very, very gratifying. Our sponsors were outstanding, as were all of our volunteers. My profound thanks to everyone involved.”

For more information about CRHS visit our website, edhhistory.org. ~

Story credit: Julie Samrick, Village Life

One of the many exhibits in and around the Red Barn

Pony Express rider and faithful mount taking a breather between

Two of the gunfight characters and CSHS Director and Secretary Fran

Thomson (on the right)

Pony Exress rider showing the leather

“mochila” that held the mail

CRHS Director and Clarksville

Day Manager Betty January

remount demonstrations

More wagon rides

Some of the antique automobiles

Pony Express riders on display

Part of the display of distinctive autos

LOCAL CHARITY FUND SETS GOLF TOURNAMENT

The El Dorado Hills Endowment is sponsoring a charity golf tournament, “Buy a Day of Hope,” to be held August 14th at the Serrano Country Club.

Proceeds from the event will be used to build the El Dorado Hills Endowment Fund, a charitable fund which makes informed, knowledgeable grants to projects and

Part of the antique auto parade as they are off to drive

programs that directly benefit the residents of El Dorado

on the Lincoln Highway (Old Bass Lake Road)

Hills.

The Clarksville Region Historical Society was the recipient of a recent grant from the Endowment, to help the Society to install memorial benches in the Clarksville Cemetery to allow cemetery visitors to have a place to rest and meditate.

Members of the El Dorado Hill community may support the golf tournament by contributing to any of a number of charitable donation options, which range from being a Tee Box Sponsor at $250.00, to a Diamond Sponsor for $10,000.00. For information and details see their website at edhendowment.org. ~

The Ol’ West Trio provided music all day

John E. Thomson, Ph.D., Editor doctorjet@aol.com