Ione, California

Ione, 1898 - Excerpts from Logan's Alley, Vol. I

Let Logan select and "arbitrary date, Reader, say June, 1898, and tell you about Ione, its streets, principal buildings, utilities.

In old town, southerly of the creek and from the west were north and south streets Mill, Sacramento, Buena Vista, Church, Ione, Arroyo Seco, Amador, maple. Add Summit and today's street names are the same.

The east-west streets, from the creek south, were Clay (then one block only), Main, Jackson, Market, Marlette. Add E. Washington and nothing has changed.

Northerly of the creek? Then, only Preston avenue, "Shakley," Welch lane. Welch? Yes, where Creamery lane is now. All those other streets north of the creek, of course, weren't there in 1898.

The town's population was about 900, among them some Chinese.

If there were a fire department, it had neither steam nor hand engine, nor independent hose carts.

Water facilities? Two reservoirs, a lower and bigger one about a block south of Marlette and easterly of Amador. Near it, and higher on the hill, was a smaller reservoir directly feeding the mains. A six inch line went to the corner of Market and Ione. Waterpipes, four, two and one and a half inches, laced the town.

Northerly of the creek was the Preston "castle" at Waterman, and a few more structures closer to the creek. At least five were brick and four stand today. Where the shopping center is, a vegetable garden grew, with a "Chine" dwelling and brick Chinese laundry fronting Preston by the creek.

Today's brick antique store on Preston was call the Ione brewery then, but its mash tub, brew kettle, soak tub and cooler were idle. A saloon was there.

On the south bank of the creek, on the west edge of town, was the Amador county roller flour mills, where the lumberyard is, capable of producing 100 barrels in 24 hours. Steam powered, burning wood and coal, and lighted with kerosene oil lamps.

Ione's Chinatown

Looking North from this monument lies 5.22 acres which was originally deeded to Ky Kee, Hop Wah Chung, Quong On Long and Chang Hang Co. in 1883. Known as Chinatown, the community was comprised of stores, homes and a Joss House. At the peak of population approximately 1,000 Chinese lived in this town and the surrounding area.

More on Ione's Chinatown

Information, photographs courtesy of the Amador County Archives, The Historical Marker Database, The Chronicling America Database, and Larry Cenotto, Amador County's Historian