Reinking Garage, circa 1930s. Courtesy Calaveras County Historical Society.

BURSON, CA – August 12, 2023 – The third installment of the “Historic Dozen,” listing the most significant historic structures or ruins in West Calaveras, has been announced by the Society for the Preservation of West Calaveras History (SPWCH).  In 2011, the nonprofit organization revealed the first dozen, and the second dozen the following year.  There are now 36 total entries, with 13 in the latest “dozen” as a result of the need to replace the Milton Masonic Hall after its destruction in a 2016 fire. 

24) Pardee Dam (Campo Seco 1929) Constructed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District to provide water to Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley and other communities, Pardee was one of the tallest concrete dams in the world upon completion.

25) Lime Kiln Ranch Ruins (Valley Springs 1860s) Andrew Young acquired this property in the early 1850s, and the ruins of stone houses built by Scottish mason William Watt, as well as large lime kilns, remain on what became a cattle ranch.

26) Pete’s Cafe (Valley Springs 1933) Pete Ormes created a restaurant, saloon, and the social center of the area in one of the few examples of art deco architecture in the county. Ormes was the victim of a sensational murder there in 1972, yet the building still holds a restaurant.

27) Hub Saloon (Valley Springs 1895) Edward Caldwell’s saloon was renamed Herb’s Corner in the mid-1930s and became a real estate office in the late 20^th century.

28) Allison Store (Burson 1887) Built by merchant Marcus Lafayette Cook, the town’s first postmaster in 1884, this store building was also the Burson post office for a couple of decades thereafter, and as the Allison Cash Store from about 1894 to 1940. Subsequently, it was transformed into a private residence.

29) Lillie Barn (Valley Springs 1860s-1870s) Area pioneers and brothers Orange and George Lillie arrived from Canada and settled and ranched in West Calaveras in the 1860s.

30) Johnson House (Valley Springs 1886) Built by Franklin Lafayette Johnson, a prominent town storekeeper, this house would later be owned by members of other pioneering families, including Pattee, Late, and Pliler.

31) Reinking Garage (Valley Springs 1928) Also called the Pioneer or Valley Springs Garage, Oscar Reinking and wife Grace owned this building that was one of the area’s first to service the automobile.  It later became a real estate office.

32) Pattee House (Valley Springs 1903) The father of John Kellogg Pattee Jr. was a ‘49er and town pioneer. The son was an entrepreneur, along with brother Frank, with a meat market, a freight team, and other enterprises.

33) Lillie-Pliler House (Valley Springs 1903) This grand residence built by Joshua Lillie has remained in the Lillie-Pliler family, well-known for several decades for its Valley Springs store.

34) Dr. Priestley Office (Paloma 1901) Following the establishment of Paloma in 1897, Dr. James William Priestley set up his medical practice, where he also lived, in this small building.

35) Grant House (Valley Springs 1900) This residence was built by George M. Grant, who also owned a blacksmith shop in town.

36) Holmes House (Valley Springs 1898) This modest home was built by laborer Walter Alexander Holmes for his new family, including wife Estelle Salaun.

The previous two “Historic Dozen” listings included:

1) Valley Springs Train Depot (Valley Springs)

2) Late House (Valley Springs)

3) Wildermuth House (Campo Seco)

4) Catts Camp Ruins (Wallace)

5) Casa Blanca (Paloma)

6) Gwin Mine Ruins (Paloma)

7) Wheat House (Double Springs)

8) Adams & Co. Ruins (Campo Seco)

9) DeMartini House (Valley Springs)

10) Calaveras Lunch Ranch House (Valley Springs)

11) Cutler-Dennis House (Jenny Lind)

12*) Masonic Hall (Milton) (Destroyed 2016)

12) Rosenberg Store Ruins (Jenny Lind)

13) Schwoerer House (Valley Springs)

14) Wallace School (Wallace)

15) Burson School (Burson)

16) Paloma School (Paloma)

17) Evergreen School (Burson)

18) March House (Burson)

19) O’Neal House (Valley Springs)

20) Lost City (Salt Spring Valley)

21) Valley Inn (Valley Springs)

22) Maher House (Campo Seco)

23) Higginbotham Cabin (Burson)