Lost Lincoln Highway alignments

The Lincoln Highway Association map shows us the old route to the best of our knowledge. The Lincoln Highway Association cartographers take great pains to make sure the road is marked correctly. However, due to time, some of the old routes or alignments remain unmapped or “lost.” Monica and I enjoy following the map and trying to find some of these lost alignments so we can update the map as needed.

Map of location.

Following the southern route of the Lincoln Highway, we leave Placerville and head east following the map through Pollock Pines and towards Fresh Pond. Just past Fresh Pond, we see that the route went left and follows what is now known as Dubasary Lane towards the Forest Service Station.

The “C” Monument facing Dubasary Lane. No “C” visible.

Just before the Forest Service Station, we found a "C" monument, which is a state right of way marker used from 1913 to 1933. The whole concrete column measures 6"x6"x42", with only 6" to 18" of the concrete post visible at the surface. These right of way markers would be placed about 50' from the centerline of the highway, with the "C," which stands for California, facing the road. What was interesting about this monument was the "C" was facing away from Dubasary Lane, which was assumed to be the original route of the Lincoln Highway. What this marker was indicating the road was actually on the other side of a metal fence!

What must have happened was in the construction of the present Highway 50 expressway part of the old highway was destroyed, with the now named Dubasary Lane being re-aligned to bring it away from the cliff with the construction of the freeway. This small section of the Lincoln Highway would have been forgotten if it wasn’t for a tell-tale “C” marker facing the “wrong way.”

It was hard to get this photo as the “C” portion of the monument was right against the fence.

The official map of the Lincoln Highway Association will be changed to reflect this discovery. There are more of these "lost alignments" along the old road, especially here in the mountains. Keep your eye's open and the official Lincoln Highway Map nearby, and you might find an old alignment, long forgotten.

Another reason we love to follow the Lincoln Highway is it's your "roadbed to adventure and history." The old road so often follows even older routes, like Johnson's Cut-Off Trail, which has this Trails West "T" marker across the street from the "C" Monument. Quite a bit of history at this location. Check it out next time you're headed uphill on the Lincoln Highway in El Dorado County.

Georgetown Divide History Tour, Part 4

We continue the tour after visiting the old town of Michigan Flat. That part of the trip is here. Now we continue on Highway 49, turning left on Pedro Hill Road, which is the old highway into the town of Pilot Hill. Just before the turn off of Highway 49 onto Pedro Hill Rod is an excellent section of the old road, which we can see Monica walking upon in the above photo.

Beat-up “C” Marker on Pedro Hill Road.

Where Pedro Hill Road meets the entrance to the Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park, we can spot a "C" marker, pictured above. "C" markers are also known as California right of waymarkers, which were installed by the California Division of Highways between 1914 to 1934. These markers are found at curves, intersections, and regular intervals along straightaways. The posts are 6" x 6" x 42" long. The top 6 to 8 inches projects above the ground and is what we see today, in most cases. There is also a 3/16 " "x6" copper wire set at the top to show the exact angle to measure. There is more information about "C" markers here. We will come upon a couple of more of the concrete markers along our tour.

Amos Bowman’s entire 1873 map of The Georgetown Divide can be found here.

As we continue along the old road, today called Pedro Hill Road, our next stop in Pilot Hill is the Pilot Hill Cemetery. The cemetery, founded in 1850, was known as the Centreville Cemetery, which was the name of this town. The area had three different towns, Pilot Hill, a town named Pittsfield that had been started in the Spring of 1851 by emigrants from Pittsfield, Illinois, and Centreville. Originally the town of Pilot Hill was located closer to the physical feature known as Pilot Hill. Interestingly, the county web site for the Pilot Hill Cemetery, as well as others, call this place Centerville. It’s not Centerville, but Centreville.

1861 Township and County Map, showing Centreville, can be found here.

The Centreville/Pilot Hill Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in El Dorado County. It’s believed there are graves that pre-date the official 1850 starting date. Our former Congressman Gene Chappie, who served from 1980 for three terms, is buried here.

Freemont seated at right, Kit Carson, his guide, stands.

John Freemont, and members of the US Topographical Corps, passed this way in the winter of 1843-1844, looking for a better route to Sutter’s Fort, in the Sacramento Valley. Pilot Hill was the place they climbed to see the entire Sacramento Valley below. During the Gold Rush, bonfires would be built on the top of the hill to guide people from the valley to the gold region in the mountains. Thus it became known as Pilot Hill, and today a Cal Fire lookout stands at the top.

Once we have walked through the Centreville, Pilot Hill Cemetery, we head back to Pedro Hill Road and head north to the site of the famous Nance’s Hotel and Snakeroom Bar. We will visit that place and more on Part 5 of our tour of the historic Georgetown Divide.

The Georgetown Divide History tour

An online interactive map of our tour is available here. 

Finding Historic "C" Markers

California roads before 1896 we mostly built by towns, cities, counties, or in many cases, private individuals or companies. There were no state highways or roads until 1896, when the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road in El Dorado County became the first. It was built by private funds, then run by the county, and finally taken over by the state.

The early state highway "right of way" was often less than accurate, using surveying techniques that relied on trees, buildings, rocks, or other objects to determine the road property boundaries. What was needed was a permanent, uniform marker that would act as a survey point. Enter the California "C" Marker.

Monica by a “C” Marker

These concrete markers, used from 1914 to 1934, would be placed at curves, intersections, and regular intervals along straightaways. The posts are 6" x 6" x 42" long. The top 6 to 8 inches projects above the ground and is what we see today, in most cases. There is also a 3/16"x6" copper wire set at the top to show the exact angle to measure. You can see it in the photo below.

Metal wire at top center of “C” Marker.

You can still see these markers along many old state roads that are today county or city roads. We will find them when following the old Lincoln Highway through El Dorado and Placer Counties. The photo below shows one on Sisley Road in Penryn, which, back before the construction of Highway 40 nearby was the Lincoln Highway. While the Lincoln Highway was a transcontinental route, each state the highway passed through was responsible for that part of the road.

Shown in the photo below in El Dorado County, along the old Lincoln Highway route, at Forni and Highway 49, is this one painted. We could find no evidence that the State of California ever painted the markers. Looks cool, and it's nice to see the homeowner take notice.

Painted “C” Marker, Forni Road and Highway 49.

It's not just the Lincoln Highway with the markers, but many of the old state highways. When we search for lost alignments of the Lincoln Highway or other state highways, coming upon one of these markers helps determine we're on the right track. The photo below shows a beat-up one at the Cronin Ranch at Pedro Hill, the old Highway 49 route through Pilot Hill before the road was re-aligned.

Beat-up “C” Marker at Cronin Ranch, Pedro Hill Road, El Dorado County.

Keep your eyes open for these old markers. Usually placed about 15 feet from the center of the old road, especially near curves in the old road. You never know who might join you in your search for "C" markers.

Along the old Lincoln Highway, Old Frenchtown Road, El Dorado County.