Jamestown - California Ghost Town

JAMESTOWN

NAME: Jamestown
COUNTY: Tuolumne
ROADS: 2WD
GRID #(see map): 3
CLIMATE: Warm winter, mild summer Just below the snow line.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: On Highway 49, Semi-ghost.
REMAINS: Several buildings constructed in the 1850's from local stone. Also home of the former Jamestown (Harvard Mine) where in Dec. 1962, a 62-lb gold mass was discovered. A smaller one (45 lbs) is on display at Kautz Winery in Murphys (which IS in Calaveras County)
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Colonel George F. James was an attorney practicing law in San Francisco when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill. Not feeling totally satisfied with the practice of law and being curious about the rumors of the gold strikes, James decided to personally see if all he had heard was fact or fiction. He set sail for the Mother Lode. He followed the trail of certain discoveries along what is now highway 49 and made camp about a few miles south of what was to become Sonora. The gravel of nearby streams and creeks was rich in gold and James's camp soon became Jamestown. The town prospered but James did not. It seems he could not get along with most of the people who became residents and decided to leave the town he founded not to be heard from again. Jamestown today is not dead and retains much of the enchantment of its early days. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Southwest of Sonora is Jamestown where the covered balcony architecture typical of the best-preserved Mother Lode towns is displayed. The town still carries the look of the California mining frontier. While most of the prominent frame buildings are of a later vintage, there are brick, stone, and adobe structures that date from the days of gold. Among these are the National Hotel (1859) and Preston's meat market (late 1860s). Church Courtesy Dolores Steele Jamestown Courtesy Dolores Steele Marker -- May 1863 - Oct. 1918 Courtesy Dolores Steele	The Jamestown Hotel - 1880 Courtesy Dolores Steele Jamestown Courtesy Dolores Steele 1897 Emporium Courtesy Dolores Steele Methodist Church Courtesy Dolores Steele Jamestown Courtesy Dolores Steele

Colonel George F. James was an attorney practicing law in San Francisco when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill. Not feeling totally satisfied with the practice of law and being curious about the rumors of the gold strikes, James decided to personally see if all he had heard was fact or fiction. He set sail for the Mother Lode. He followed the trail of certain discoveries along what is now highway 49 and made camp about a few miles south of what was to become Sonora. The gravel of nearby streams and creeks was rich in gold and James's camp soon became Jamestown. The town prospered but James did not. It seems he could not get along with most of the people who became residents and decided to leave the town he founded not to be heard from again. Jamestown today is not dead and retains much of the enchantment of its early days. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Southwest of Sonora is Jamestown where the covered balcony architecture typical of the best-preserved Mother Lode towns is displayed. The town still carries the look of the California mining frontier. While most of the prominent frame buildings are of a later vintage, there are brick, stone, and adobe structures that date from the days of gold. Among these are the National Hotel (1859) and Preston's meat market (late 1860s).

Church
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Jamestown
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Marker -- May 1863 - Oct. 1918
Courtesy Dolores Steele

The Jamestown Hotel - 1880
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Jamestown
Courtesy Dolores Steele

1897 Emporium
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Methodist Church
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Jamestown
Courtesy Dolores Steele

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