Sutter Creek, California

Within a year the rich vein was re-discovered, producing $2.2 million in gold between 1860 and 1873. Stanford eventually sold his interests for $400,000 and later became famous with his partners Huntington, Crocker, and Hopkins by building the Central Pacific transcontinental railroad. Oh yes, he also went on to become governor of California, a U.S. Senator, and the founder of Stanford University

Fires in 1862, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1877, and 1888 took turns destroying portions of Sutter Creek, the last one wiping out most of the downtown business section. The damage was always quickly repaired; however, because gold never sleeps. It's always working, or creating work, causing things to happen. It caused this town to boom, to build, to prosper and to last. It's responsible for the many buildings and homes here that have survived from the 1800's. They were built well, built to last, because they thought the gold would last. And as it turned out, it did, although in a slightly different form. Lumbering, and more recently, tourism, now provide Sutter Creek and much of the Mother Lode with its gold today.

Charles Soracco was a partner in 1866 in companies which established Soracco & Co., possibly in the frame building to the left. In 1869, the stone section went up and other additions were made through the mid-1890's.

All graphics created and owned by Ray and Cheryl Herndon