Vallecito

The small community of Vallecito (pop. ~200) was once a booming town in support of the local miners. The one piece of the past that remains is this bell.

The difficult-to-read plaque tells the story...

One of California's important early day mining towns named by Mexicans meaning Little Valley. Gold was discovered here by the Murphy Brothers on 1849. It was originally called "Murphys' Old Diggings". This bell was cast at Troy N.Y. in 1853. After being brought around the horn it was purchased from the ship with funds contributed by early day residents, then brought to Vallecito and erected in a large oak tree in 1854. It was used to call the people together for all purposes until February 16, 1939, when a severe wind blew the old tree down.

Behind the bell monument is the Vallecito Union Church. This, the post office, and the school are the only non-residential buildings left in the small village.