Snelling & its link to Joaquin Murrieta slayer & Yosemite Valley Railroad
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- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2024
- The town of Snelling was the first county seat of Merced County and it's filled with fascinating history.
One of the graves inside the Snelling Pioneer Cemetery is that of Charles F. Bludworth, the county's first sheriff who previously was hired by Captain Harry Love to hunt down legendary bandit Joaquin Murrietta in 1853.
This video includes visits to the 1857 County Courthouse and the site of the former train station for the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
#historyhunters #californiahistory #joaquinmurrietta
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It’s a blessing that the pioneer cemetery is so remote and watched over by the rancher.
It’s certainly remote and rarely gets a visitor!
You know Jeff I'm not morbid or sick , but when I watch all your videos but when you show real old buildings , like in this video I can't help but think all the people even the little kids have all past away. Every one who built the building , made the bricks , laid the bricks , made the windows , installed the windows , doors etc , etc , etc they are all gone , I worked construction for the better part of 40 years , hung all the Sheetrock in the Mc Donald's they filmed Coming to America at. And these places will all be here After I'm gone ..all your video's make me think a Lot THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA.....
You're not alone. I love old buildings and also think of the men that constructed it, and the people that lived and died in the building or homes. Oh, if the walls could talk. Most people are creeped out by old buildings and houses, but I love it.
I’m slightly different 🤪I’m exactly the same but on turn of the century photos , I always think there all dead now 🫣😖
Yes, I also like looking at old vintage photos and visiting old cemeteries. Pondering who these people were, what lives did they live, and do they still have descendants alive today.
@@Glorfinniel oh cemetery’s 🪦😍😻😍😻🤷♀️🪦 👻
So true, Frank. I'm fascinated by the commercial buildings on the old US highways that were bypassed by the Interstates: old motels, restaurants, service stations that have been vacant for years. Try to imagine how they looked bustling with business during the post war years and into the 1950's.
It never ceases to amaze me how young some of these people were when they met their death. Seems they either died from a disease going around at the time or at the hands of another person. Tough era to be born in.
Disease and common injuries mostly. Life before pennecillan.
Really enjoyed this one too. I was in Snelling every Saturday with my dad delivering propane to all the farms and houses. We were family friends with that propane truck in the video. My dad worked with the founder of that company. They worked together at Van Gas propane. That was a life time ago. Old friend if your watch this video and read the comments, Hello I hope you are well!!
It was very nice of that Guy to let you into the Pioneer Cemetary. As you said that's a strange place for a Cemetery with no roads and all leading up to it.
No roads now that landscape probably has changed so many times over the years.
10 years ago we lived on J59...aka La Grange Rd. We drove through Snelling all the time to get to Merced. You are making me homesick. Great memories. Thanks!
I enjoy these trips through small, almost abandoned towns. Jeff, I like how you integrate old pictures with the current sites.
I can't go to all the places you go or see all the places and things you do but thank God you're sharing them on here. I appreciate it
As a native of the Central Valley (Born in Modesto raised in Los Banos and Fresno) now living far away on the east coast, I really enjoy your channel. So many memories. The trivia and history. I had no idea while growing up there. Thanks a bunch.
Very cool! Glad you enjoy what we feature! Thanks!
It used to be called Snelling Ranch and it’s fitting a rancher watches over the old pioneer cemetery.
It’s almost a ghost town with a population of 238 and probably will be in the next 50 years.
Sad to see that beautiful monument shot at. The before and now pictures was a nice touch. Gives the viewer a real idea of how things were compared to now.
Unearthing history of vast importance and interest. Magnificent reminisce, long overdue. I'd enjoy having you return as a guest on my radio show in NYC, Jeff.
I haven’t forgotten about doing that. I have had so much on my plate recently, helping my daughter to move, etc. we will make contact.
I just love those, then and now pictures. 👍
Another great blast from the past! Thanks Jeff!
Great Sunday morning history lesson! Really blew my mind when you stated that Mr Snelling was from Christian County KY because that's where I live. I'd give you 2 thumbs up if yt would let me!
No kidding! Wow.
This channel is a treasure. A few hundred years from now people will not consult cat videos or fail channels, but they will consult the work done on this incredible channel. Sure of it. Thanks for preserving history! At a time when history is being deleted everywhere in the West, often on purpose.
Very true
Good Morning Jeff and Sarah In regards to Charles Gallo - more than likely a member of the Gallo family of Modesto ?
Great episode.
Thank you.
Not related
Born and raised in California and I never heard of Snelling. Thanks again for your great history lesson.
Wonderful! Love it when folks learn from my channel!
I missed my turn east to Yosemite/Cherry on hwy140 once, and went on j59 to connect to hwy 120 instead. That took me thru Snelling. Turns out to be alot of history in that region but it requires the efforts of a researcher like Jeff to bring it all together. Now moved up from S Cal. I drive thru Snelling and Merced Falls often.
I pass through Snelling often when I travel from Fresno to Angels Camp & Murphys. I visited the grave of one of the CHP Officers that was killed in the Newhall shootout who is buried in the Snelling cemetery. It was kind of the rancher to allow you access to the pioneer cemetery. I look forward to your videos!!
The bottom floor of the courthouse is probably a fireproof vault to protect court records. The Mariposa County courthouse (built in 1854) had a similar looking vault built off to the side of the building.
It was the county jail. I looked it up.
Jeff's videos do get viewers to do a little history hunting for ourselves🙂 This is especially true for some of us who have never visited those areas. History is alive! Thanks Jeff!
From the uk.Ive watch so many history of america vids,but your vids are by the best on youtube.Great works Jeff.Thanks.
To think of all the people that made that journey across the ocean, then all the way to California. Pioneers preparing the cities that so many live in now. We owe them a lot. The least we can do is try and preserve their resting places. There are so many in distant, hidden places, some with only a fieldstone as a marker, and some not even that. I know some of them have been plowed over, under, flooded, gone forever. A record of their existence maybe in someone's family bible, or some court document. You and Sarah are helping us remember these people. Each time you read a name from a tombstone, you are letting the rest of us know about that person: when they were born, and when they died." That moment, the first time someone has mentioned them in hundreds of years. Thank you. They are probably listening up there. saying, "I haven't been forgotten. someone just spoke my name.".
Jeff, as you pointed out, a whole hell of a lot of living AND dying went on in places that show little signs of the past. The remaining cemeteries are one of our best signs of what went on as the historic buildings too often don't survive the ravages of time. Your videos and subjects continue to get richer and dig deeper into our little known past.
Congratulations on a very fine piece of work!
In the early 50s I visited Mariposa with my Dad. We visited a friend of his who lived there and had a little place on the river where he had panned for gold. I can remember the little plastic pill bottle half full of gold flakes. On that river was also a huge rock where you could see indentations made by the Native Americans who ground the acorns into flour. After that we visited Hornitas. Great memories that were brought back by your video. I have also been to Yosemite many times.
Haunting to hear the distant train whistle as you show the old rail bed and mention the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
You do such a great job searching out all these old stories thank you
Glad you like them!
I liked reading about the old west when I was younger and I remember reading about Joaquin Murrieta and Three Finger Jack. Your videos on old cemeteries especially this one making a connection to the history I read about as a kid is very fascinating!! Thank you Jeff!!
We just got back from a road trip to Tombstone and Boot Hill,Az. We could have saved ourselves a heap of time and gas and just gone up the road to Snelling. Lol
Great research Jeff!👌
Funny that Hollywood never found it for one of their movies. Maybe the area was too busy harvesting gold wheat and traffic to host a writer..although somebody Jeff mentioned had a connection to Dickens.
As a former Waterford resident @ skyline and hwy 132 i appreciate the history of the area and when I see snelling it takes me back to 95....
I used to live on Skyline!
The outpost got a lot of my money back in the day...I would pay my rent to the landlord and get a return check from the bar...he owns both
Always great to see what you have in store for us to enjoy. Thanks Jeff.
I know I've said it before..My Sunday is not complete without watching
History Hunters.
I’ve been waiting for this episode since you had mentioned you were going to do a video on Snelling. I first drove through Snelling about 25 years ago on the way to Sonora and ever since then, I always make it a point to drive through there on the way to the gold country. I always stop at the old market with the gas pumps and buy gas there even though there is a brand new gas station down the road. It just brings back memories of when my kids were little and we would go camping up in the Sonora and Angel’s Camp area. I love making that drive. A lot of history in Snelling I didn’t know about. Great video Jeff.
I'm so grateful for the work you put in to capturing these locations. Progress often lacks compassion for history - but, if it's on video we can enjoy it for many years to come. Great video! Also, - bit of useless trivia: LaGrange Ga is about 50 miles from Griffin Ga. I'm originally from GA, but not too familiar with Griffin.
I have a friend whos Grandfather helped build the rail line to Yosemite, then much later her Father helped to remove it
That would be great to hear his story.
I always have to get my atlas out to see where you are. You give us a very historic account, Jeff. Thank you...........
Hi Jeff ...a very interesting little town and pioneer cemetery..I like historical places and to hear about the people's life and times .thanks for vlogging this story.take care... Deborah 🇨🇦
Thank you to the gentleman who gave you permission to go to the cemetery and went with you. It was interesting.
Thanks, Jeff.
Central California watching
Cool, thanks!!! Love hearing from you!
@jbenziggy
I have a place , you might want to check out. I would like to know it's history.
@@theodoredugranrut8201 email me at the address at the end of my videos!
Always enjoy the sunday videos. You certainly remind me of Huell Howser, educate and entertain at the same time. Thank you.
Got to watch this video 4 minutes after it came out.. THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA.....
Hi jeff, loved this small town that you are in. but so sad to see the grave stones is broke up. I wonder if yrs ago there was houses near the place you walked at out in the pasture. because they are buried out so far. the man that took you to see the cemetary he is a nice man to. thankyou jeff for this historical visit. and for the work that you put in to it. I enjoyed it.
Fascinating that what would seem to be a small backwater town ends up with you revealing so much history! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Glad you were the one that got to be the one to film there. Thanks for keeping History Alive!!!!
You bet! My pleasure! Thanks for your support!
Dont know what happened to my post. At the approx 20:45 mark, you found a head stone for Helen Marie Woolstenhume. Not a real common last name, but it is in my family tree!! Contacted a cousin, gave her the link and she confirmed this headstone was removed when her husband died and a new one replaced the one behind the shed. By the way, as a result of your video, she was able to find other family members and even her wedding announcement by following the leads using Snelling!!!! Thank you Jeff. Fantastic video that lead to genealogy finds.
My father was born on the family ranch near Merced Falls in 1914.
Grew up in Atwater, Snelling has always been my favorite place to escape to. I have ran my hands across the walls of these buildings and walked through the cemetery in town, fascinated by the dates. I often wondered about what stories they held. It saddens me to see, that over time and the lack of upkeep, has taken its toll, especially the plots of our ancestors. Thoroughly enjoyed this video and learning more about the history of a town that I treasure.
So cool! We drive through snelling a lot to go camping at Lake McClure and Lake McSwain! Snelling is a small, yet fascinating place to visit!
I always love the journey into the past that you takes us on. Meeting some of people who lived in California at the beginning. Thank you! Liz Adkins
Love learning about local history, drove through there has a kid !!!!
What a fascinating little town. Thanks, Jeff.
This old Iowa farmer never misses your videos, they are always well done and interesting.
Thank you very much! You’re from God’s country. Love hearing from folks in the heartland!
Jeff, thank you for sharing another great episode. If you'd been to Bagby Recreational Area before the late 90's, you would have found the path the railroad took along the Merced River not too far from Yosemite.
I started gold dredging at in Bagby in '88. Bagby has its own story to be told. At one point during the years spent going there I heard rumors of a plan be to rebuild the train and tracks. What ended up happening in the long run is they held back water at the dam for Lake McCler. I think it's called Don Pedro dam.
Check into doing a vlog about Bagby. There are tons of photos from back when there was a sawmill, hotel and I believe a post office to boot. Mariposa museum has plenty of information and photos if I'm not mistaken.
Again, thank you for bringing history alive. I bet you would be chomping at bits to maybe one day go to the pyramids in Egypt. 🤔😂😂😂
Absolutely great work on this video, I’ve got to say I hate when your videos end !!! Thank you !!!!
Wow, all I can say is thank you! I was afraid this might be too long to hold attention but you proved that was not the case! Many thanks and blessings!
I always enjoy this channel I just love the old buildings and the history behide them. ❤
I live in Sonora and as a youth in Merced. Spent many a miles traveling in between. You've made me now want to spend some time visiting Snelling which I've always just past on by in my travels. Thanks
I really appreciate the education you give on the places I love to spend time at.
Thank you so much for a wonderful history lesson of those who came before us.
It's amazing how fast major structures return to nature. I remember as a young kid many buildings, railroads and roads have been nearly obliterated in my lifetime, let alone those 150+ years old!
Lived in Snelling from 7th grade up till I graduated high school & joined the Air Force. Crazy to see how it's changed since then.
Another very fine presentation, Jeff! My late mother and her family rode the Yosemite Valley RR many times to El Portal...with a connection from Oakland, CA on the SP, until the White buses and "all season" roadway was built. Mr. Jack Burgess, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting at his home - and have a signed copy of his book - is probably the best source of information/history of the Yosemite Valley RR. Best! PK
I'll look up that book by Mr Burgess thanks~ a good excuse to drop into the Jamestown RR museum.
Thanks again for your weekly videos Jeff. Hope Sarah isn't too bored sitting in the car... This area was a pass through drive on my way down to Merced, Fresno and Pismo Beach when I lived in the Sonora & Jamestown area. I always wanted to explore the cemetery in town by the school but never stopped and took the time. I wish I had... Till we meet again next week, have a wonderful week you two.
Wonderful Jeff. Lots of interesting information and I love the old photos. ❤Jodie 🇦🇺
My cousin from Merced saw the dredge in action in the late 1940's. He said you could hear it long before you saw it.
Loved snelling and fishing in the Merced river ! Thanks for the memories! And history!
When I used to drive down to Merced from Mariposa, I would go through Snelling quite a bit. I enjoyed the drive through Mt Bullion and Hornitos. I would stop at the park, and below the dam and do some fishing.
Thanks Jeff, I always enjoy the History. My Aunt lived in Snelling for many years and I ran all over those hills. Great childhood.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!
Great stories, Jeff. Thanks.
My great grandfather and great uncle built that Gallow & Oakley store. My great uncle was the Constable in Snelling in the 50's and 60's.m Spent my childhood roaming and panning the whole area. Best times of my life.
I love, love love it. This one has all the stuff I love watching.
Great! Thank you, Betty! Blessings!
I don't want to buy any brick building in the State of California due to the earthquake potential. Thank you Jeff for this interesting presentation.
Brick structures built after 1933 are much stronger, as they were required to have steel reinforcements. These in Snelling were built in the mid 19th century, but likely have retrofitted bracing to help keep them standing in an earthquake.
@@kirkmacarthur8003 What about that one building Jeff showed us that had the crack above the window and it looked like it was ready to fall.
@CameronMcCreary well, we know it was built before 1933, so we know it was not reinforced at that time. But since it was a community center in the 1950s, I'm surprised that it wouldn't have any retrofitted bracing. But wow, yes, it looks like it is not safe, and has never been shored-up. The IOOF building though, looks like it has been retrofitted along the side.
@@kirkmacarthur8003 Thanks for filling me in on these buildings.
I love driving thru snelling on my way to Pinecrest Lake..
Aye its a beautiful country drive.
Thank you so much for sharing 🙏. Sad to see so many young people and children who died. Life was, and still is, to some point, hard. 😢
Hey Jeff, my grandfathers grandfather settled in Snelling in 1846. He came out from Missouri and opened the first hotel and post office in Snelling.. He also bought the ferry and later built the bridge that went across the Merced river, but lost it in 100 year flood. Two of the headstones that you showed in the cemetery behind the building belong to my family members.. I really appreciate your videos and enjoy watching them all the time. Thanks..
Thanks for sharing your awesome family history. I lived at Don Pedro for many years and drove through Snelling lots of times. A lot of rich history for such a sleepy little town.
Those old courthouses frequently had the jail in the basement, which explains the stone/masonry bottom.
Have you ever explored the old Shasta California site? If it's still open, their little museum in the old courthouse is extraordinary.
Oh, this was so entertaining, from beginning to end, Jeff. Thank you for the video and visual clips, as well. F.D.R.and Queen Elizabeth... WOW... That
remote cemetery was interesting, too.
🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks Jeff and Sarah, another interesting and well produced video. You are very lucky to be doing what you're doing. Keep it going. Thanks from Australia.
Super! I loved that you found the old RR right of way. We really enjoy this kind of California pioneer history. Beautiful old cemeteries and Wild West stories too. Thank you Jeff for another fine show!👏👏-Nina
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you, Nina!
I always feel quite saddened when you visit these old neglected cemeteries Jeff...all these people with no one to ever visit them or remember them....how sad. Thanks for another great episode and for visiting them.
Well so far 20,000 folks have paid them homage through this video but I totally get what you mean. But as one who believes in God and a reward of a heaven, I know God remembers all -- even when the sparrow falls, so if man forgets, He doesn't!
Just LOVE getting my weekly HH "fix" Jeff! Thanks for all your gr8 work! ~Chris
Thank you so much, Chris! I always appreciate your enthusiasm for our channel and I’m glad that we did not disappoint on this one.
Thanks for sharing another fantastic video with us Jeff.
Of the many times I traveled through Snelling, I never once thought about the History you've just described. I was always in a hurry to get to Lake McSwain and get to fishing.
I really appreciate your time and effort to bring History to us each week.
Stan
My grandparents also took me up that way to go fishing all the time. But my grandmother‘s favorite place to fish was Indian flat on the Merced River near El Portal.
@@jbenziggy I love and miss that part of the country. It has a rugged beauty about it. Not everyone enjoys it but, it calls out to me.
Adding Indian Flat to my search list.
@@jbenziggy Jeff, forgive me but, it took a while to register. Indian Flat has/had a campground there. Some 20 years ago Some of our family camped there. One night, the Bears were seeking some edible goodies. One of our Ice Chests was left out. I heard a ruckus, grabbed my 4 cell Maglite and witnessed a Bear picking up the Ice Chest with it's mouth/teeth and proceeded to walk away with it. One of my brothers yelled and beat the floor of the tent and scared the Bear off.
Not too far off at a motel is where three women were murdered. I forget their names. The perp was the brother of a young boy that was kidnapped years before. IIRC, the man's name was Stainer. Not sure of the spelling.
Thanks again Jeff.
Stan
To stand and look at an area where some historical event took place or a structure once stood gives me a incredible realization to.
Thank you so much for that bit of history. Very very interesting. You are so knowledgeable.
So nice of you! Thank you!
85 and born & raised in Modesto. 3rd gen love your videos
Enjoyed
Thank you!
Great episode! So many interesting buildings. And such great California history. Thank you!
Jeff, I don’t care what small town you go to in these United States every small town looks alike. Thanks for the video and keep them coming.
Nice Video, Jeff. Thanks for the history of small town.
Another episode Greatly enjoyed! Admiring all the hard work that went into making this episode.
~Thanks
Thank you! Love your comment!!
Thank you Jeff for another awsome video. This Valley born boy actually saw sights in Snelling I had never seen before. The family usually drove through on the way to Henderson Park for the yearly Merced County Employee's deep pit BBQ picnic. The only time Dad would stop was to pick up a bucket of live minnows at the General Store/Bait Shop on our way to Lake McClure. There is one dignitary that was not able to visit Yosemite. In the fall of 1959, my Dad was loading up his Jeep for a deer hunt near Mt. Bullion. He received a call that all leaves were cancelled and he was to immediately report to Castle AFB's Headquarters. At the briefing by the Secret Service, it was revealed that Nakita Khruschev would be landing at Castle and would be motoring into Yosemite. Dad raised his hand and told them it was deer season and there would be a bunch of folks with scoped, high powered rifles surrounding the Park. This was not too long after Nakita's "We will bury you speech". Dad was able to make his hunt. I guess Nakita's visit to Disneyland had also been cancelled due to "Security" reasons.
This is one of the most thorough, detailed, and interesting videos you've uploaded. There's so much to take in. Great job, Jeff!
quite a few cool old building in such a small town
Hello Jeff, Thanks for sharing this story and the history. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Thanks, you too!
Watching your videos of historic places on the west coast, I have to remind myself that European immigrants didn't get there until the 1800's. I'm from the east coast where that's more middle history as we have buildings from the 1600's and 1700's. It's cool to learn how the various towns were settled and the history of the people there.
Ah..don't forget the Spanish Missionaries and Spanish lands-ranches that divied up most of the state. I drive though about 3 old olive groves on the road to Mariposa, planted besides old home sites. They could be Italien, or they could be pre 1850.
😊 you're the first video I go to. You are a fantastic history teacher.😊
Wow, thank you! I appreciate hire you feel about our channel!
Very interesting California history. It seems some of the people in the 1800's died very young. When I think of the diseases in history and how fortunate we are to have lived in an era when most diseases of the past have been eradicated, I also feel sad for the people who lost their lives so young. Another factor of the short life span is of course always the evil nature of man to take another persons' life. It is the same today so, we really have not changed. Another video well done. Thanks, Jeff. Bill in Texas.
thanks for bringing these almost forgotten towns to our attention
Our pleasure! Thank you!!!
@@jbenziggy wlcm!
I've been to and through Snelling many times but was unaware of the railroad and the pioneer cemetery. So much hidden and unknown history in places we frequent all the time. Thanks Jeff.
Hi Jeff, I just came across your channel last night on the Hopeton cemetery. I grew up in Merced, and I haven’t yet seen enough of your videos yet, but I thought I might give you a factoid… Merced is called “The Gateway to Yosemite” because way back the ONlY way to get to Yosemite was by train from Merced. Now people think it’s dumb because Yosemite is 80 miles away from Merced but that’s because they don’t know the HISTORY!!
Really good dose of history...enjoyed it!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you for stopping in Snelling, Jeff! Been through there dozens of times, usually on my way to Jamestown/Sonora/Columbia State Park. It always looked dead to me…. little town with an interesting history! Nice drive this time of year! ☘️
this is so interesting. i saw the queen too, when she went through greeley hill..i remember that day
Another wonderful and informative episode. Thank you.
Our pleasure!