July 30, 1975 (8 pages)

NEVADA COUNTY Serr ag the coniinnnitios of Nevada City, Grass Valley. San Juan, North Bloomfield, Humbug, Relief Hill, Washington, Blue v UG ~ Graniteville, North "ark, Wolf, Christmas Hill, Libecty Hill, Sailor Flat, Lake City, Selby Flat, Grizzly Hill, Gold Flat, Soggsville, Gold Bar, Lowell Hill, Bourbon Hill, Scotch Mill, North Columbia, Columbia Hill, Brandy Flat, Sebastopol, Quaker Hill, yh illo Fulley, Newtown, Indian Flat, Bridgeport, Birchville, Moore's Flat. Orleans Flat, Remington Hill, Anthony House, Delirium ae ri] 3 : VOLUME 50 No. 31 Wednesday July 30, 1975 10 Cents A Copy August 2 and 3 Henness The Henness Pass Highway Association for the 22nd year will trek backwards into history over a route that might have ‘become a freeway if circumstances had been different in the mid 19th century. The caravan will depart from the city hall in Nevada City at 8 a.m. for a two day adventure into rugged but beautiful terrain. The overnight stop will be at Meadow Lake, a once flourishing town deserted long ago. But it still boasts an incorporated city status in state records. Today the Henness Pass Road represents a_ trail through the high country and portions are suitable only for the expert driver with a four wheel drive vehicle. But in the mid-ninteenth century it was the main thoroughfare from Nevada City to the silver mines in Virginia City, Nev. It was a main contender for the transcontinental railroad. But it was aced out by politics and a Congress which approved Theodore Judah’s survey and rails for steam engines were laid over the -Donner Pass. Highway Int. 80 across the same pass whizzes modern traffic from Nevada City toward Virginia City. Founder: of the Henness Pass Highway Association 22 years ago decided to call at~~ tention to the old Henness Pass Road, which was a part of the early day transportation when mining was king. They plotted their course over aroad far more familiar with stages and mule teams than vehicles of the waning 20th century. Doug Barrett of Truckee in -his column ‘‘My Place in the Sun’, published in the Sierra Sun Bonanza, .has revealed some historical facts about the road which founders of the Henness Pass Highway association hoped to restore from history to reality. — Barrett claims more wagon trains and other emigrants came to California over the Henness Pass than any other route. The drama of the ,, Donner Party has _ focused ,, attention op,Donner Route, he said, but contends that the Henness route outdrew the . other pass in the early days. Shortly after the first big strike on the Comstock in Nevada a toll road over the Henness stared in 1859. Meadow Lake was one of the towns that developed along the route. Freeman and Company operated a stage service in 1859 between Nevada City and the silver centers in Nevada. Wells Fargo, ‘Pacific Union Express Company, Pacific Stage and Express Company and Langston’s Pioneer comExpress were among peting lines, according to _ Barrett. The Grass Valley National, ' anewspaper, in 1861 touted the Henness route as “the best railroad pass over the Sierra.” It reported that, although the distance was further than some of the others, the Henness would pass through the most thickly populated mining districts of the state. The San Francisco Daily Alta also claimed that the Henness was the most advantageous route because of its altitude. Itquoted Henness as being 400 feet lower than Donner and 1,500 feet lower than Johnson Pass out of ‘Placerville. In 1861 Nevada — City. newspapers were advertising regular service from Nevada City to Virginia City by way of Plumas county (then Eureka), _ Sardine and Steamboat Valleys. The fare was $12. The one-way trip required 36 hours. Inclement weather sometimes had a bearing on the 36 hour schedule. The Nevada City Democrat in 1861 reported that a storm forced ‘ the stage to stop at Maple’s Ranch and the driver and his one passenger continued to Nevada City on horseback. Wagons were stranded in the snow and teamsters took shelter at way stations. The newspaper anticipated that if the weather continued “pleasant” the schedule would be resumed. The 1976 trek over the pass will feature a steak dinner and campfire at Meadow Lake. Traditionally new. Meadow (Continued on page 8) Pass jeep trek HISTORIC MEADOW LAKE CITY is the site of the annual Henness Pass Jeep trek. Little remains around the city high in the Sierra's but a sign reminds visitors that this once was a city with 5,000 residents. ne We stay Vee EL AED vera Stewewa AY Seg, ae A PIONEER EMIGRANT TRAIL memorial at the start of the Henness Pass Road. The road used to be the main emigrant trail leading from Virginia City, Nevada to Marysville. ‘ SERN Ae Wy ¥O OsNERVOOVS HOTLOTS SIVOIGOTUSd visse’ “V9 va La] m4 v UVUSIT F €L-9I-S ET sed Dog, Town Talk, Glenbrook. Little York, Cherokee, Mooney Flat, Sweetland. Alpha, Omega, French Corral, Rough and Ready Tent, LaBarr Meadous, Cedar Ridge, Union Hill, Peardale, Summit -City, W alloupa, Gouge Eye, Lime Kiln, Chicago t e+ nate areameaaranipai

NEVADA COUNTY Serr ag the coniinnnitios of Nevada City, Grass Valley. San Juan, North Bloomfield, Humbug, Relief Hill, Washington, Blue v UG ~ Graniteville, North "ark, Wolf, Christmas Hill, Libecty Hill, Sailor Flat, Lake City, Selby Flat, Grizzly Hill, Gold Flat, Soggsville, Gold Bar, Lowell Hill, Bourbon Hill, Scotch Mill, North Columbia, Columbia Hill, Brandy Flat, Sebastopol, Quaker Hill, yh illo Fulley, Newtown, Indian Flat, Bridgeport, Birchville, Moore's Flat. Orleans Flat, Remington Hill, Anthony House, Delirium ae ri] 3 : VOLUME 50 No. 31 Wednesday July 30, 1975 10 Cents A Copy August 2 and 3 Henness The Henness Pass Highway Association for the 22nd year will trek backwards into history over a route that might have ‘become a freeway if circumstances had been different in the mid 19th century. The caravan will depart from the city hall in Nevada City at 8 a.m. for a two day adventure into rugged but beautiful terrain. The overnight stop will be at Meadow Lake, a once flourishing town deserted long ago. But it still boasts an incorporated city status in state records. Today the Henness Pass Road represents a_ trail through the high country and portions are suitable only for the expert driver with a four wheel drive vehicle. But in the mid-ninteenth century it was the main thoroughfare from Nevada City to the silver mines in Virginia City, Nev. It was a main contender for the transcontinental railroad. But it was aced out by politics and a Congress which approved Theodore Judah’s survey and rails for steam engines were laid over the -Donner Pass. Highway Int. 80 across the same pass whizzes modern traffic from Nevada City toward Virginia City. Founder: of the Henness Pass Highway Association 22 years ago decided to call at~~ tention to the old Henness Pass Road, which was a part of the early day transportation when mining was king. They plotted their course over aroad far more familiar with stages and mule teams than vehicles of the waning 20th century. Doug Barrett of Truckee in -his column ‘‘My Place in the Sun’, published in the Sierra Sun Bonanza, .has revealed some historical facts about the road which founders of the Henness Pass Highway association hoped to restore from history to reality. — Barrett claims more wagon trains and other emigrants came to California over the Henness Pass than any other route. The drama of the ,, Donner Party has _ focused ,, attention op,Donner Route, he said, but contends that the Henness route outdrew the . other pass in the early days. Shortly after the first big strike on the Comstock in Nevada a toll road over the Henness stared in 1859.

Meadow Lake was one of the towns that developed along the route. Freeman and Company operated a stage service in 1859 between Nevada City and the silver centers in Nevada. Wells Fargo, ‘Pacific Union Express Company, Pacific Stage and Express Company and Langston’s Pioneer comExpress were among peting lines, according to _ Barrett. The Grass Valley National, ' anewspaper, in 1861 touted the Henness route as “the best railroad pass over the Sierra.” It reported that, although the distance was further than some of the others, the Henness would pass through the most thickly populated mining districts of the state. The San Francisco Daily Alta also claimed that the Henness was the most advantageous route because of its altitude. Itquoted Henness as being 400 feet lower than Donner and 1,500 feet lower than Johnson Pass out of ‘Placerville. In 1861 Nevada — City. newspapers were advertising regular service from Nevada City to Virginia City by way of Plumas county (then Eureka), _ Sardine and Steamboat Valleys. The fare was $12. The one-way trip required 36 hours. Inclement weather sometimes had a bearing on the 36 hour schedule. The Nevada City Democrat in 1861 reported that a storm forced ‘ the stage to stop at Maple’s Ranch and the driver and his one passenger continued to Nevada City on horseback. Wagons were stranded in the snow and teamsters took shelter at way stations. The newspaper anticipated that if the weather continued “pleasant” the schedule would be resumed. The 1976 trek over the pass will feature a steak dinner and campfire at Meadow Lake. Traditionally new. Meadow (Continued on page 8) Pass jeep trek HISTORIC MEADOW LAKE CITY is the site of the annual Henness Pass Jeep trek. Little remains around the city high in the Sierra's but a sign reminds visitors that this once was a city with 5,000 residents. ne We stay Vee EL AED vera Stewewa AY Seg, ae A PIONEER EMIGRANT TRAIL memorial at the start of the Henness Pass Road. The road used to be the main emigrant trail leading from Virginia City, Nevada to Marysville. ‘ SERN Ae Wy ¥O OsNERVOOVS HOTLOTS SIVOIGOTUSd visse’ “V9 va La] m4 v UVUSIT F €L-9I-S ET sed Dog, Town Talk, Glenbrook. Little York, Cherokee, Mooney Flat, Sweetland. Alpha, Omega, French Corral, Rough and Ready Tent, LaBarr Meadous, Cedar Ridge, Union Hill, Peardale, Summit -City, W alloupa, Gouge Eye, Lime Kiln, Chicago t e+ nate areameaaranipai