California Historical Landmarks in Placer County
California Historical Landmark 463
Ophir
Lozanos and Bald Hill Roads
Ophir
)
)
(Click Photos to Zoom)
Founded in 1849 and first known as "The Spanish Corral". Area proved so rich that Biblical name of Ophir adopted in 1850. Most populous town in Placer County in 1852, polling 500 votes. Almost totally destroyed by fire July 1853. Later became center of quartz mining in this century.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 463
Tablet placed by the California Centennials Commission. Base furnished by
Placer County Historical Society.
Dedicated September 23, 1950
Joint sea expeditions to Ophir, sponsored by King Solomon of Jerusalem and Hiram I of Tyre, are described in several books of the Old Testament.
And Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, sailors who knew the sea, along with the servants of Solomon. (1 Kings 9:27)
They went to Ophir and took four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.(1 Kings 9:27)
Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones. (1 Kings 10:11)
All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. (Chronicles 9:20)
For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks. (Chronicles 9:21)
So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. (Chronicles 9:22)
A man who is believed to have destroyed a registered landmark plaque from Placer County was arrested Tuesday, deputies said.
The Ophir state marker, parts of which were made of solid brass, was recovered. The marker was cut into various pieces and had its solid brass removed, deputies said.
The marker was located at Lozanos and Bald Hill roads and valued at $951, deputies with the Placer County Sheriff's Department said.
[The suspect, a 47 year old male] was taken booked into Placer County Jail on charges of grand theft and possession of stolen property.
Detectives found the marker dumped along Fiddyment Road and were able to trace it back to [the suspect].
For a time, the metal plaque was replaced by a spunky cardboard plaque.
A new permanent plaque was installed and dedicated on 11 April 2014.
)
)
(Click Photos to Zoom)
Once the areas most thriving gold town, Ophir boasted 40 saloons, 12 dance halls, 1 jail, 5 churches and 2 women of ill repute.
Sadly after 3 accidental fires the town was reduced to ashes. Ophir gave up rebuilding and joined with the town of Newcastle.
Ophir now consists of 1 fire station, one school, 2 businesses and 1 grave yard. The towns current population is estimated at 700 people, 600 sheep, 500 cows, 200 chickens, 5 donkeys and 4 peacocks.
The 700 Ophir residents earned the reputation for being the wildest, toughest, rough riding rebels this side of the Rio Grande
* At this very site at 2PM on the 3rd of April in the year of our Lord 1612... nothing of any importance happened here.
Attention
P. S. copper thieves this plaque is worth 29 cents!
)
on 11 April 2014. The rededication is
commemorated by a small marker at the bottom
of the stone base.
)
)
(Click Photos to Zoom)
Founded in 1849 and first known as "The Spanish Corral". Area proved so rich that Biblical name of Ophir adopted in 1850. Most populous town in Placer County in 1852. Polling 500 votes, almost totally destroyed by fire July 1853. Later became center of quartz mining in this century.
State Registered Landmark No. 463
Tablet placed by the California Centennial Commission.
Base furnished by Placer County Historical Society.
Dedicated September 23, 1950