By Brian DeBerry , Opinion. (June 1, 2025)
By a Concerned Citizen of Placerville
Like the fog in Carl Sandburg’s poem, this moment crept in slowly. One day we woke up, and something vital was missing. Placerville — our “Hangtown” — no longer draws the crowds it once did. And it’s not because our history has faded. It’s because we’ve let others tell us how to feel about it.
Once, “Hangtown” was a name that drew tourists from far and wide. It wasn’t just a curiosity — it was a destination. The name evoked the grit and reality of the Gold Rush, a moment in world history that began right here in El Dorado County. In 1849, when gold was discovered in nearby Coloma, people from every corner of the globe poured in seeking fortune, freedom, and a fresh start. Many failed and left. But many stayed, putting down roots, building families, and shaping a legacy that endures in every brick and beam of this town.
For generations, that legacy drew people here. Families wandered Main Street. Children tugged their parents’ hands toward a display of old mining tools. Couples sat beneath the Bell Tower, imagining what life might’ve been like in 1850. Business was good, and the spirit of “Hangtown” — rugged, resilient, and welcoming — was alive in the air.
But today, our town is faltering. The signs are all around us. Some storefronts are shuttered. Events have dwindled. Even the name “Hangtown” has become controversial to outsiders who never knew what it meant to those of us who’ve lived, worked, and loved here. It’s not a symbol of violence — it’s a reminder of how rough justice once was, how far we’ve come, and what it took to survive.
The City of Placerville must take a hard look in the mirror. What do we see now? A town proud of its roots — or one that’s worn down and adrift? A Main Street with fading charm and minimal effort is not enough. This is a call for revival, not just in paint and policy but in spirit. We must recover our identity, and we must do it together.
What can we do?
We can reignite our imagination. Bring back attractions like the Apple Hill Gang once did. Hold interactive historical events, reenactments, or Gold Rush-themed weekends. Put up clear signage marking our historic sites. Tell the stories that live in our cobblestones and creaky porches. Dress up the district — not with modern steel and glass — but with the style of the 1850s. If we want people to step into the past, we must preserve it in full color.
We can save what remains. The Clay Street Bridge. The historic district buildings. The soul of this town is not in progress for progress’s sake — it’s in authenticity. People don’t visit downtown Milpitas to feel history under their feet. They come to Hangtown to dream.
We can rebuild what was lost. Our train was a missed opportunity. Other towns run tourist trains for pleasure and memory. Why can’t we? A weekend tourist line from Placerville to Apple Hill. A weekday commuter train connecting to Folsom and the light rail to Sacramento. We could offer comfort, connection, and convenience to workers and seniors alike — and give people a reason to come here and stay a while.
We can demand more of ourselves. That means business owners, citizens, and city leaders alike taking pride again in this town — cleaning storefronts, planting flowers, telling stories, and welcoming strangers with a smile.
This is not a fantasy. It’s a plan. It’s also a promise — that we the people can make this happen, just as Americans always have, by rolling up our sleeves and working together.
Whether Hangtown’s phoenix rises from these ashes depends on us. Let’s not watch history slip through our fingers. Let’s make it come alive again.
Be safe — and let’s get to work.
