Talk:Secret Town, California

Historic Home in Secret Town Ca

Find old article published with story of San Francisco man building home. When I moved into the home in 1991 there were articles in a cabinet with photos. The house was built in the mid to late 1800’s and was located just south south west of the old trestle location. It was over 3500 square feet and the lower portion of the structure was built with hand poured bricks the mould leaving a wreath on the face. Also on the property to the North East was a large long building, single story with two windows on each side and two in the back, two large swing out garage doors were on the front. I heard that it had been an old bar, a parking garage and that old HWY 40 ran between the home and this building. After Interstate 80 was built the board man canal went in and on this property was directed underground between the two. This home was addressed in Placer County as 29890 and a second try fire. home built after but most likely in the early 1990’s, 29898 Secret Town Rd. The historical bar, garage, shop was torn down around 2010 as concerns of it collapsing into the canal were brought by PCWA. I was no longer living there however I do not think that any efforts were made to save the structure. The home was a large impressive structure the article that when sitting near you could not see the skyline for its height and width. A long covered porch ran the length of one side and the front. There were two bedrooms upstairs with buffer halls running the entire length on both sides. One bedroom downstairs that I assume was a butler or service room had two doors one into the dining room and one into the kitchen the home had very old cabinets that were (from the article) brought from San Francisco and built into the home. From the kitchen you could exit the building by the back door and if one chose, walk to the next building in a matter of ten or so steps entering into what we referred to as the ice house. After you enter there are a set of stairs, old concrete that take you down about 6’ where you are now under the north east corner of the house. Looking right there is a tunnel that heads in a South West direction towards what would be south south west of the old Secret Town Trestle. In the ten years or so that I lived there I never had the courage to explore the tunnel. At first I thought that I might however, meeting Tom the ghost deterred me from the notion. Tom and I lived together well after a rough start and when I left myself especially, but the whole family felt his absence and missed him. Up until just a couple of months ago this historic building sat Sentinel to the Sierras. Unfortunately there are only the four lower story brick walls of the home and the “ice house” standing after fire destroyed it. Ironically the home had a very large water main that when turned on served sprinklers on the roof. The history of this house is a mystery and as such if not found will fade away with all of the others of the Sierra Nevada. The News paper was published in San Fransisco and if memory serves me a photo taken showed the cabinets and a couple standing in front of a fireplace (that I assume was added as the era did not fit the age) that boasted his financial success and the decorating capabilities of his wife. I left the newspapers in the cabinet where they were found and now wish I would not have. The home did not enjoy renters that were concerned with the history of the building and removed the cabinets that they could and sold them. At first I was very disappointed with this, now I hope that those cabinets were bought by someone that appreciates them and that they live on somewhere in Placer or Nevada county. I have photos both before and after of the house and ice house but none of Tom. I may have one of the old shop, but I am not sure. Sheila Gillmore Wood 2600:6C4E:133F:F6C6:C5A:CD9C:D1AD:31BA (talk) 00:06, 17 February 2023 (UTC)