A Lost Bagby - Hwy 49 - California

AbandonedCaliforniaGold CountryHwy 49Exploratography

Jun 27

The Gold Rush town of Bagby is no longer around, other than a few scattered foundations. This spot was originally known as Ridleys Ferry, for Thomas E. Ridley who operated a ferry here from 1850 to 1852. Around 1860, the name was changed to Benton Mills, after John C. Frémont’s father-in-law, Senator Benton of Missouri. A report published in 1859 stated that a sixteen stamp mill was crushing 130 tons of ore every day and a forty-eight stamp mill was under construction. The ore from a number of surrounding mines was crushed here during those years, when the town of Benton Mills contained barn-like mill buildings, boarding houses, saloons, cabins, and a store “finely situated on both sides of the river.”

In 1890 the town was renamed Bagby, in honor of a popular hotel owner, when the post office was established. The town prospered later when it became a scheduled stop of the Yosemite Valley Railroad, which began operation on May 15, 1907 with its first full-length scheduled run. Visitors could take the train up the Merced River canyon to El Portal, and from there continue on to Yosemite Valley by stage. And when the gold gave out in the area, the townfolk disappeared as did the buildings they left behind.

I’ve stopped at this area numerous times and it wasn’t until recently that I found this old, abandoned stone building. Not too large, probably a store house of some kind. The stones are well laid and this is still a sturdy little building. Would be great to see it restored.