Sonora
was an early California gold rush town, and one of the early cities
incorporated in the state. It had a wild and uncivilized start, but quickly
developed into a regional commerce center.
 |
1866 Sonora
|
Here
are some 19th century highlights of early Sonora from about 1860 on:
In 1864, the Sonora Pass passing through the city was opened. It was a toll road that connected
the San Joaquin Valley to the west and the foothill communities around Sonora
to the communities of eastern California in Mono County. It is now known as
State Highway 108.
In 1884,
hydraulic mining was outlawed due to the debris (tailings) which filled the
river. That form of mining ended in Sonora, but was soon replaced with hard
rock mining.
By
1885, the time period in which my book, A Lawyer for Linton is set, Sonora
was well established and in need of a large community facility that could be
used for various types of entertainment. Citizens had always shown an
appreciation for local and traveling entertainment troupes and other community
events. The Sonora Opera Hall was the answer to this need.
 |
Star Flouring Mill before it burned
|
James
G. Divoll and Joseph Bray originally built the Star Flouring Mill on the site.
They had made their fortune from the Bonanza Mine, which was located just north
of the “Red Church.”
In
August 1885, the flour mill burned under suspicious circumstances. Many
believed that robbers had broken into the mill thinking gold from the Bonanza
Mine was stored there.
 |
View from the Opera Hall
|
After
the fire, Divoll and Bray immediately set to using the surviving walls of the
flour mill for the Opera Hall. Just three months later, on Christmas Eve 1885,
the Opera Hall opened with its first event, a roller skating party. The Opera
Hall was active as a community center only until 1896, when the owners decided
it was no longer financially viable. After 1896 there were many uses of the
building, the longest being the Opera Hall Garage which closed its doors in
1979. The City acquired the Opera Hall in 1985, and through several historic
preservation grants and civic contributions, the City was able to restore the
building as an elegant community and entertainment center.
 |
Restored Opera Hall, originally built in 1885
|
Before
and after the Civil War, the area suffered a depression. With the placer gold
pretty much mined out of the area, Sonora, along with the rest of Tuolumne
County experienced a large decrease in population. However, on or around
January of 1870, marked by the incorporation of the Guild Mining Company, the
area began what is known as Sonora’s second gold rush. Lode mining became
important and the city remained the trade hub for the new hard-rock camps.
Agriculture and timber operations also contributed to the lasting prosperity of
the city.
Lumber
had always been an important industry for Tuolumne County and Sonora. At first,
the primary use of the lumber was for mining needs. Then, as homes and
businesses were built up, the need for lumber grew. Wood was transported by
rivers and channels using water flumes. Also, horse and mule-drawn lumber
wagons hauled much of the lumber. The market stayed fairly local for years due
to the lack of a railroad to cost–effectively transport lumber far beyond the
county. However, with the coming of the railroad, markets for lumber in the
mountains surrounding Sonora increased.
In
other respects, because the city was remote from the larger population centers
in California, some amenities came to Sonora later than they did to other parts
of California. The city did not receive electricity until 1982. The railroad—Sierra
Railway—did not arrive until 1899. It first paved its roads in 1922. In 1899, a
beautiful courthouse was built to replace the former 1853 courthouse, and began
service in 1900. It is still in use today.
 |
1900 Tuolumne County Courthouse, Sonora
|
In
spite of that, Sonora became a town that continued to survive and move forward
with the rise of mining and lumber into the 20th century.
I greatly enjoyed writing
A Lawyer for Linton and
setting it in a city I have enjoyed visiting several times. This book is
currently available by
CLICKING HERE.
Sources:
https://www.sonoraca.com/visit-sonora/sonora-california-history/short-history/
https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/california/sonora/
http://www.historichwy49.com/sonora/sonhist.html
http://www.tchistory.org
New Melones Dam from Wikipedia
https://tchistory.org/timber-lumber-industry/
