It’s 1885, and The Damascus Brass Band has come to play a tune. Many small towns hidden in the foothills and mountains had brass bands. Some locations even had more than one band with the Italian, German, and British sometimes fielding their bands. If there was competition, it seems it was a friendly sort, with the Fourth of July, and other celebrations an occasion to “strike up the band!”

This photograph shows the town of Damascus, in Placer County. It was located about seven miles south-east of Dutch Flat in a very isolated part of the county. The area started drift mining in 1850. In 1875 the Hidden Treasure Mine was discovered and worked until the mid-1930s.

Formerly the town was known as Strong’s Diggings after the founder of the town, Dr. D.W. Strong. In 1856 the post office was established, and the name Damascus chosen. Why they chose this name is a mystery, as the older town of Damascus is in the country of Syria. I’m guessing the town got this name the same way the town of Timbuktu, in Yuba County, garnered it’s. These towns were so far “out there” from anything else exotic names like Timbuktu and Damascus represent unusual out of the way locations.

The above map shows the location of the town. If you would like to check it out on Google Earth and see the relationship with the other towns, follow this link.