Downieville
GPS *** N39' 33.633 W120' 49.660 *** elev. 2996'
     DOWNIEVILLE MUSEUM
ONE OF THE FIRST BUILDINGS IN DOWNIEVILLE, BUILT IN 1852
THIS STONE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE OLD SLATE STORE. THE WALLS OF THIS BUILDING ARE MADE ENTIRELY OF FLAT ROCKS LAID HORIZONTALLY. IT WAS FIRST USED AS A CHINESE STORE WITH GAMBLING AND OPIUM IN THE BACK. IT LATER BECAME THE J. M. B. MEROUX BUILDING. THE ROCK CONSTRUCTION ALLOWED THIS BUILDING TO SURVIVE A COUPLE OF FIRES THAT DESTROYED MOST OF DOWNIEVILLE. THE BUILDING WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY OF DOWNIEVILLE BY MEMBERS OF THE MEROUX FAMILY IN TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF J. M. B. MEROUX, WITH THE PIONEERS OF SIERRA COUNTY, THE NATIVE DAUGHTERS (NAOMI PARLOR 36) AND SONS OF THE GOLDEN WEST (DOWNIEVILLE PARLOR 92) AS TRUSTEES. IT HAS BEEN A MUSEUM SINCE 1932 AFTER RESTORATION OF THE ROOF AND WOODEN INTERIOR WHICH HAD DETERIORATED WITH AGE. THE NUCLEUS OF THE MUSEUM IS A COLLECTION OF VALUABLE RELICS GATHERED BY FORMER SHERIFF GEORGE C. BYNON. CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM
DEDICATED AUGUST 23, 2008 MAJOR WILLIAM DOWNIE CHAPTER 1849 E CLAMPUS VITUS |
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