IN ROCKLIN, HISTORIC SITES

HISTORIC SITES IN ROCKLIN

Brigham and Hawes Quarry

A quarry is located on the west side of Pacific Street behind the tire store near Farron Road and Pacific Street. At the south rim, granite boulders are used for rock climbing. There is a Rocklin quarries here that dates back decades, but old-timers know it as one of the city's oldest. Quarry operations here started in 1861, according to a plaque at the site.

Granite from this quarry was probably used to construct the transcontinental railroad after tracks reached Rocklin from Sacramento in 1864, since it borders the Rocklins rail corridor. Although this is a deep quarry, it has plenty of trash, including junk cars and lumber processors' refuse from the mid-20th century that border the north and south walls.

Rocklins Railroad Depot

In 2007, this depot was built on Rocklin Road, near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks on Railroad Avenue. This is where Rocklin's original depot, built about 1867, was located; it had a telegraph office and a saloon called John Sweeney's. I walked across the tracks to a freight depot. 1891 was the year that the original depot burned down.

It was built at this site that same year, but was demolished in 1940 due to Rocklin's faltering economy. Rocklins' now-demolished railroad roundhouse sits just a few yards southeast of the new depot. On the sidewalk in front of Crossroads Church, you will find a plaque commemorating the event.

Rocklins Roundhouse Site

East of today's Crossroads Church was Rocklin's roundhouse, located at the intersection of Front Street and Rocklin Road. The site is marked by a plaque near the remnants of the west facing roundhouse wall. The Roundhouse opened in May 1867 to service the extra engines the trains needed on their 90-mile route up Mount Sierra. The engine shed included 28 stalls, a turntable, and an area of 78,000 square feet. Upon moving all roundhouse operations to Roseville, the Rocklin facility permanently closed.

Rocklins roundhouse employed 300 people with a payroll of $25-$30000 per month just prior to its relocation to Roseville. According to a report from the time, Rocklins population declined by 80% while the roundhouse was closing. Rocklins granite quarries were also busy providing curbstone and granite blocks for re-building San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake, so this statement may be exaggerated.

Saint Marys Chapel

A granite Barudoni Building is located across the street from this Chapel. A vision of Saint Marys of the Assumption Catholic Church was formed in 1883 on a lot framed by oak trees on 5420 Front Street. After saving the building from demolition, the Rocklin Historical Society relocated and restored it in 2005. Since then, it has mainly been used as a non-denominational wedding chapel.

During the 1937 hurricane, woodpeckers and foul weather caused Saint Mary's steeple to collapse, and thieves ran off with the bell. There is a replica of the steeple included in the restoration. This bell is on loan from Rocklins Community Covenant Church. Tolling the bell is an integral part of each bride's exit from the Chapel after her wedding ceremony.

Barudoni Building

5250 Front Street is the location of the granite Joseph Barudoni building, which lies across from the Old Saint Mary's Chapel. It was built in 1905 by meat broker Joseph Barudoni as a meat market with a Doctor Woodbridge's office above. In the future, it will become an antique shop and then a feed store. Now it is used as a recording studio.

A gas station in Rocklin was constructed with granite blocks extracted from the upper walls in 1954. As of now, the station has been demolished and the blocks can be seen scattered throughout the nearby Ophir countryside. It was later filled with wooden framing by subsequent owners. A remnant of the granite steps leading to Doctor Woodbridge's office can be seen along the north wall.

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