{"id":1315,"date":"2021-06-01T21:49:28","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T04:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/2021\/06\/01\/the-herrick-building-and-the-hangmans-tree-bar-placerville-california\/"},"modified":"2021-06-01T21:54:44","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T04:54:44","slug":"the-herrick-building-and-the-hangmans-tree-bar-placerville-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/2021\/06\/01\/the-herrick-building-and-the-hangmans-tree-bar-placerville-california\/","title":{"rendered":"The Herrick Building and the \u201cHangman\u2019s Tree\u201d Bar \u2013 Placerville, California"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n

by Doug Noble<\/a>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0January 24, 2015<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
\n
\n

\"Placer<\/a><\/p>\n

Placer Hotel \u2013 Jackass Saloon with Hanging Tree behind building.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The historic brick Herrick Building and the adjacent \u201cHangman\u2019s Tree\u201d bar are in the process of being lovingly rebuilt by the owners, the Taylors. Their action saved them from an attempt by the City of Placerville to have them torn down.\u00a0It is very fortunate that someone like the Taylors came along because this site has quite a history, going back to the very early days of the Gold Rush.<\/p>\n

The first building of any size erected on the northeast corner of Main and Coloma (now Center) streets was a wood frame structure known as the Placer Hotel. It was built around1849 and owned by R. W. Barkhurst and Joseph Bullis. Bruce Herrick, newly arrived from Ohio and a cook at the hotel, formed a partnership with several others and bought the building in 1850. He and his wife, Elizabeth, operated it as the \u201cJackass,\u201d \u201cHangtree\u201d or \u201cHangman\u2019s Tree Inn, depending upon whose history you read. Adjacent to it, in the same building, was the El Dorado Saloon, run by M. R. Elstner, whose name will come up again.<\/p>\n

The \u201cJackass\u201d name comes from an old photograph of the building that shows a sign with the head of a jackass on it. The \u201cHangtree\u201d and \u201cHangman\u2019s Tree\u201d names make reference to the oak tree that was once adjacent to the building.<\/p>\n

I was from that famous tree that three men were hanged on January 21, 1849 after being tried under the laws in effect at the time. That event would not only provide the name for the inn, but also for the town, which retained the name Hangtown until 1854 when it was incorporated as Placerville, since some officials of the State of California did not feel Hangtown was an appropriate name.<\/p>\n

In 1853 Herrick, now believed to be ths sole owner the building, tore it down and replaced it with a new, two-story, fireproof brick building, most likely made with bricks from his brickyard in Oregon Ravine, a short distance away to the south. The building had a 40 foot frontage on Main Street and 60 feet on Coloma Street, the exact size of the building today, not including in Hangman\u2019s Tree Bar, which is on an adjacent lot.<\/p>\n

In order to build such a building, the tree, which is reported to have been on both his lot and the adjacent lot, had to be cut down and there were significant objections to it being done. One objector, an immigrant from Indiana named Joe Fisher, went so far as to compose a poem from his feelings:<\/p>\n

Herrick, spared that tree!<\/em>
\n Let not its branches fall;<\/em>
\n Here let it always be<\/em>
\n A warning to us all.<\/em>
\n For it was in forty nine,<\/em>
\n When our good town yet was young,<\/em>
\n Three men for murder vile<\/em>
\n Upon that tree were hung.<\/em>
\n Yes, on this same old tree<\/em>
\n These miscreants met their doom;<\/em>
\n Keep it for all to see \u2013<\/em>
\n As a grave-tree o\u2019er their tomb.<\/em>
\n This tree let always stand!<\/em>
\n For \u2018tis of great renown;<\/em>
\n Then, Herrick, Stay thy hand;<\/em>
\n Spare this relic of our town.<\/em><\/p>\n

In spite of Fisher\u2019s poetic pleading, the tree was cut down down by Herrick with the help of another Indianan, wheelbarrow maker John Mohler Studebaker.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Herrick<\/a><\/p>\n

Herrick Building and adjacent \u201cHangman\u2019s Tree\u201d 1890<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In 1856 Placerville had at least three large fires, the July 6 one destroying much of the city and partially Herrick\u2019s building. He is believed to have sustained damages of some $10,000 as a result of it.The damage to the hotel was repaired and the business continued. Then on October 2, 1857 Bruce Herrick passed away after a long illness, leaving a wife and three small children.<\/p>\n

According to his obituary in the October 10 issue of the \u201cMountain Democrat\u201d he was a well liked person in the city and a volunteer fireman with the Hope Hook and Ladder Company. In his honor the different fire departments draped their machines and houses in \u201cthe habiliments of woe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier that year, probably because of his illness, the building was shown as being for sale as a \u201cWell known brick, two story building the the corner of Main and Coloma\u2026Haidie Saloon on the first floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 1860 the building passed into the hands of A. C. Henry and soon became known as the Henry building in newspaper articles. An advertisement in the January 16, 1872 Democrat makes reference to the \u201cShady Saloon, corner of Main and Coloma, opposite the Cary House, W. B. Farrell proprietor.\u201d<\/p>\n

A map of the City, dated June 1886 shows dwellings on the ground floor and a jewelry store above. The January 1891 \u201cSanborn-Perris\u201d map of the City shows a drug store on the ground floor (probably owned by William Fairchild) and a jewelry store upstairs.<\/p>\n

Jumping ahead several years, after the building passed through a few hands, we find it is owned by a J. A. Sigwart, who may or may not be the same person who bought half interest to it in 1879. A recorded agreement between the two indicates that one F. F. Fisher was to clear the lot, excavate and construct iron work, brick work, etc. for $1925.
\nIn 1934 Pardee\u2019s Market was in the building. In 1937 it became Pardee\u2019s Grocery. Then in 1938 George Fausel purchased the business and ran it as George\u2019s Market. Around 1947 the name changed top Butch\u2019s Quality Market and then P. & M. Cash Market. In 1951 it is listed as P. & M. and Butch\u2019s Quality Market No. 1. Gene Barraque purchased the business in 1955 (taking Bob Higgins as a partner in 1965) and ran it as P. & M. Market, a name it would retain until its closing on July 9, 1980.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Herrick<\/a><\/p>\n

Herrick Building and adjacent \u201cHangman\u2019s Tree\u201d 1920s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Over the years following, the building was the home to two restaurants, catering businesses and a home gifts and accessories store. It is now vacant while under restoration..<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Hangman\u2019s Tree Historical Spot, which is directly to the east on a separate lot from Herrick\u2019s building, sits on the site of M. E. Elstner\u2019s hay yard, his feed business being in the building directly to the east.<\/p>\n

Dr. Robert Rankin is the first record owner of this lot and in July of 1850 sold his log house to Collis P. Huntington and partners. Huntington, who would become one of the \u201cBig Four\u201d that built the railroad from Sacramento to Promontory Point, Utah, where it connected with the tracks of the Union Pacific, got his financial start with his store at this location and another one at Mormon Island.<\/p>\n

From 1853 until 1856 John Hettinger operated the Chicago Clothing and Tailor Shop at this location. After the fires of 1856 Francis Mell and his wife opened the first Ohio house here.<\/p>\n

The same June 1886 map of the City referenced before, indicates that a barber is occupying this space, while the the same January 1891 \u201cSanborn-Perris\u201d map gives it an occupancy of \u201cN.G.,\u201d which is most likely an abbreviation for notions and goods.<\/p>\n

On June 6, 1934 this location became California Historical Landmark No. 141. The sign says, \u201cIn the days of 1849, when this city was called Hangtown, vigilantes executed many men for various crimes. This was the site of Hay Yard, on which stood the \u2018Hangman\u2019s Tree.\u2019 The stump of the tree is under the building on which the plaque is placed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apparently not a lot of research has been done on this building between 1900 and now, but somewhere around 75 years ago the Hangman\u2019s Tree opened at this location and the always controversial hanging dummy appeared over the door.<\/p>\n

In 1996 the hanging dummy became controversial enough to warrant nationwide coverage in many newspapers and even an article in the December 16 edition of \u201cNewsweek\u201d magazine.<\/p>\n

Sources for this story include: \u201cA Walking Tour of Historic Placerville,\u201d Marilyn Ferguson and Jane Schlappi (1973); \u201cHistorical Souvenir of El Dorado County,\u201d Paolo Sioli (1883), reprinted and indexed by the El Dorado County Friends of the Library (1998); El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk\u2019s Office; various issues of the \u201cMountain Democrat\u201d and \u201cEmpire County Argus.\u201d<\/em>
\n Special thanks to the El Dorado County Library and especially to historian Marilyn Ferguson who allowed access to her extensive files and provided direction.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

<\/p>\n

Content retrieved from: https:\/\/www.dougstepsout.com\/category\/gold-country-history\/page\/16\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Robert Rankin is the first record owner of this lot and in July of 1850 sold his log house to Collis P. Huntington and partners. Huntington, who would become one of the \u201cBig Four\u201d that built the railroad from Sacramento to Promontory Point, Utah, where it connected with the tracks of the Union Pacific, got his financial start with his store at this location and another one at Mormon Island. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1314,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[21,18],"tags":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld.jpg",1200,680,false],"thumbnail":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld-300x170.jpg",300,170,true],"medium_large":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld-768x435.jpg",640,363,true],"large":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld.jpg",640,363,false],"1536x1536":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld.jpg",1200,680,false],"2048x2048":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld.jpg",1200,680,false],"darknews-slider-full":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld.jpg",1200,680,false],"darknews-featured":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld-1024x580.jpg",1024,580,true],"darknews-medium":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld-720x530.jpg",720,530,true],"darknews-medium-square":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Herrick-Bld-350x350.jpg",350,350,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"News MoLo","author_link":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/author\/admin\/"},"category_info":"Gallery<\/a> LifeStyle<\/a>","tag_info":"LifeStyle","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1315"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1320,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315\/revisions\/1320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}