Adventure 051, Site 122 – Calaveras County Courthouse Site

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 122 – Calaveras County Courthouse Site

California Landmark Number: 663

National Registry ID: 70000929

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 27, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 38° 18.064′ N

Longitude: 120° 42.347′ W

Address: 8304 North Main Street, Mokelumne Hill CA 95245

Description:

It was starting to be late and our travel down Highway 49 had been slower and more fun than expected—we had high expectations in this department. We had passed up a couple “Historical” towns and were only looking for markers. But there was something which attracted us to Mokelumne Hill and its Historic Sign. So off we went down Main Street and saw this beautiful looking hotel, the Leger Hotel, the haunted Leger Hotel. We also saw a plaque and out came our camera for the shot.

The plaque is not for the haunting, but that when George Lege came to Mokelume, he opened up the hotel right next to the Calaveras County courthouse. When the courthouse moved to San Andreas, Leger bought the courthouse as well. The haunting does not come until 20+ years when Leger died, some say by the means of a gun. Some of the hotel help say they have seen his ghost; others have seen other ghosts. Anyway it was, Thing One and Thing Two were already on our way home before we found out what ghosts really haunted the hotel.

By the way, special attention should be paid to the local E Clampus chapter sign.

NO. 663 COURTHOUSE OF CALAVERAS COUNTY, 1852-1866, AND LEGER HOTEL - A portion of this building served as the Calaveras County Courthouse from 1852 to 1866, when the county seat was removed to San Andreas. George W. Leger then acquired the court building and made it a part of his adjoining hotel, which has been in operation since early gold mining days - it was known as the Grand Hotel in 1874 when fire damaged it and destroyed its dance hall. Restored in 1879, it has since been known as the Leger Hotel.
Location:  SE corner of Main and Lafayette Sts, Mokelumne Hill



References:

• Wikipedia
  
• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos (Not available)
  
• Noehill
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org)
  
• Waymarking
  
• Ghost Stories of Leger Hotel
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  
• WayMarking (WAY)