Like the California gold rush, Pleasant Grove House started with a bang, yet its glory faded over time. It began as a waystation for travelers headed to the gold fields of California and later served as a remount station for the famed Pony Express. Now, the 172-year-old historic station is ignored, a silent witness to progress and the passage of time. Abandoned and dilapidated, with new housing developments encroaching, history will soon be lost.
Old Coloma Road
(Photo Credit: Mountain Democrat)
James William Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Fort on January 24, 1848. Prospectors needed a route to the Gold Country, and Coloma Road became one of the main roads connecting Sutter’s Fort to Coloma. As a result, thousands of travelers headed to the diggings traversed Coloma Road.
(Photo Credit: Legends of America)
In 1849, James E. Birch established one of California’s first stage lines on Coloma Road. Waystations provided travelers with facilities, meals, and overnight accommodations. Stations ranged from simple to elaborate.
Hitchcock’s Station
(Photo credit: Rescue Historical Society)
Rufus Hitchcock constructed his waystation along Coloma Road in 1850. Lumber was shipped around Cape Horn in South America. Once it arrived in the bustling port of San Francisco, wagons transported the lumber to its final destination.
Hitchcock’s station was grand, a welcome location for travelers to recuperate on their journey. The house had two stories, with a large covered balcony. Downstairs was a sixty-foot-long room for dining and sleeping. Upstairs, nine bedrooms welcomed weary travelers.
Pleasant Grove House Pony Express Station
The Pony Express operated between April 3, 1860, and October 26, 1861. Pleasant Grove House became a remount station where riders would exchange their tired horse for a fresh mount.
Pony Express Stations were between fifteen and twenty miles apart. Riders would cover about seventy-five miles daily, changing horses three to four times at remount stations. Larger Home Stations housed riders between their runs.
Pleasant Grove House changed horses for the Pony Express riders for the last time on June 30, 1861. On July 1, 1861, the terminus of the Pony Express changed from Sacramento to Folsom. Instead of horseback, during the final four months of the Pony Express, mail completed its journey on the Sacramento Valley Railroad.
Rust Place
Over the years, Pleasant Grove House changed hands multiple times. It was known as the Missouri-Kentucky Hotel, Mt. Pleasant House, Rust Place, Six-Mile House, and the Dixon Ranch.
(Photo credit: Rescue Historical Society)
Blacksmith William Rust purchased Pleasant Grove House in 1864. He converted the waystation into a family home for his thirteen children.
Dixon Ranch
Elvin “Red” and Lilian Dixon purchased Pleasant Grove House in 1954. Lillian advocated for the protection of the house, but due to modifications on the interior, support and funding were not available. Upon Lillian’s death in 1999, her grandaughter’s family resided in the historic home until 2012.
According to an article in the Mountain Democrat, the Clarksville Historical Society said…
…it has been modified so much through the years that there is really no national historic significance
Mountain Democrat, June 2, 2014
(Left photo credit: Sacramento Valley)
It appears that the home has been vacant for ten years with little to no maintenance.
(Left photo credit: Village Life)
Sadly, without help, Pleasant Grove House will continue to deteriorate. Time, vagrants, or mother nature will destroy one of California’s only original Pony Express and waystation. As with most Pony Express stations, the only thing remaining will be the historical marker.
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References
- Adventures in California History: Green Valley Road Historical Tour, Part 3
- American Landmarks: #704 Pleasant Grove House
- California Office of Historic Preservation: Coloma Road-Rescue
- California Office of Historic Preservation: Pleasant Grove House Overland Pony Express Route in California
- Clarksville Regional Historical Society: Pleasant Grove House
- El Dorado County: Pleasant Grove House
- History Channel: 10 things you may not know about the Pony Express
- Mountain Democrat: Pleasant Grove House Sinking into History
- Sierra Nevada Geotourism: Pleasant Grove House- Overland Pony Express Trail in California (No. 703 California Historical Landmark)
- Village Life: The Pleasant Grove House: Thriving Pony Express stop now in disrepair
- Wikipedia: Coloma
- Wikipedia: Pony Express
Linda Thomas says
So sad that such a beautiful piece of history is in such disrepair. With all the changes the interior must have gone through over the years in order to accommodate new needs, the essence of it’s original self as a way station was lost long ago. I’m happy we have photos from it’s original days before the structure is gone.
Tami says
I’m sure the inside has been dramatically changed over the years. It could be repurposed or redesigned in keeping with the history. If it was mine and I had all the money in the world, I would update it to look old and keep the character but have modern amenities. We have historic homes on our ranch, and I know it can be a nightmare updating them; ours was only 100 years old.
Either way, the exterior and barn are the same. It would be nice if those were preserved, a house, venue, or bed and breakfast.
Anonymous says
Thank You Tami.very interesting.
Tami says
You are welcome; so much history, I wish they would preserve it.
wayne says
As always, I am never disappointed with your travels and history research. Thanks again!!!
Tami says
Thank you, Wayne.
Tami says
From Thomas. I’m sorry, I cleaned up my database which cleard out unapproved comments.
My great grandmother own this beautiful peace of History. Growning up in this Historic Lamd Mark, was so beautiful. The land, animals and the big beautiful Reservoir was just breath taking just taking a walk up the hill. The beautiful memories with had with our Grat Grandmother will never write be forgotten…. So sad to see it abandoned like it is….
Tami says
I hope someone can preserve Pleasant House. I’m not sure why the historical societies don’t try, it sounded like money wasn’t the only option. I spent a lot of summers growing up it the gold country, it is sadly so different now.