Adventure 051, Site 143 – Rockville House

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 143 – Rockville House

Unnumbered Pony Express Marker

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 21, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 38° 14.658′ N

Longitude: 122° 7.335′ W

Address: 4163 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield CA

Description:

It is another Pony Express marker. These marks were put out along various stops along the Pony Express routes. We got them in Sacramento and in Auburn. This time, it is part of Adventure 82. This time the Pony Express stop is at the Rockville House, just down the road from the Rockville Cemetery. The current building looks nothing like the old Rockville House—it is more of a bar and corner market. But we got the marker.



Inscribed as found on HMDB:
Dedicated April 23, 1998
Rockville House
Added Station
Apr. 3, 1860 - Sep. 8, 1861
By
Rockville Inn
Floyd & Lillian Hembree
Joseph C. Wolfskill Family
Ramirez Towing - Rudy's Auto Body
Solano #39 (NGSW) Native Sons
Pony Express Trail Association

{Reverse:}
The "Rockville House" site was located on the northwest corner of Rockville and Suisun Valley Roads. This was a settlement and stage stop along the road between Sacramento and Benicia. Located here was a hotel, a blacksmith's shop and a few stores. The use of stone to construct buildings and walls in this area was an attractive feature.

The Pony Express first used this new route on April 23, 1860. The rider left from Vacaville, rode southwest then south to Fairfield. He left Fairfield going west on the Rockville Road for a last relay stop at the "Rockville House" and a fresh horse. He left for Benicia around 5:20 A.M. heading south. He could see Mt. Diablo rising above the southern horizon in the early morning light.

References:

• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org)
  
• Waymarking
  

Overall Landmark References:

• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  
• WayMarking (WAY)