A quiet road in Roseville

Here we see an unidentified rural road, somewhere in Roseville. It looks as if the road is headed up and over an obstacle. Perhaps the railroad tracks, water ditch, or a road.

It’s fun, and sometimes a bit frustrating trying to identify these old photos without any information. This one came with “Roseville, Ca” written on the front, so that helps. The cancelation on the postcard shows 1908. This photo will be posted at our Placer County Facebook page where someone from that area may be able to pin-point the location. Do you know where this is in Roseville?

The W A Thomas Store, Roseville

The W. A. Thomas Store, located on the corner of Atlantic and Lincoln Streets, was the first store in the new town of Roseville, California. Built-in 1865 by W A Thomas, who had run the 15 Mile House near Sylvan Corners for the previous 16 years. It had only been the year earlier that this new town of Roseville has its name mentioned in newspapers, relating to the 1864 presidential election.

Sylvan Corners had been a busy place with the hundreds of teamsters and wagons passing by. However, with the railroad's completion, the wagon road business fell off, so W A Thomas moved to the new town next to the railroad tracks, Roseville.

The Thomas store provided goods for sale, rooms for rent on the top floor, bakery, and the local post office. Thomas would also buy up grain from local farmers and had a wagon shop as well.

Photo: Placer County Museums

Thomas’s son, Lee Dignus Thomas joined the business in 1870 and for the next few years was one of the towns leading businesses. The building was torn down in 1910.

The most massive advertisement on the storefront in both historic photographs is for “Oliver Chilled Plows.” What's a "chilled plow?" Before the 1850s, farmers used wooden plows that had a metal edge. They would break easily, and the dirt would stick to the blade. In 1857 James Oliver patented his “chilled plow,” which featured metal that had been “chilled” while in a mold, making for a much harder edge, that soil would fall off quickly instead of sticking to it, revolutionizing the plowing of fields.

Be sure to check out the Roseville Historical Society website, which I highly recommend for information regarding the history of the town.

Otwell Grocery Store along the Lincoln Highway.

Otwell Grocery Store on Riverside Avenue and 4th Street, Roseville, California. This was the first business to operate on Riverside Avenue. The photo dates from 1914 to 1918.

Image: Placer County Museums

Here is a closer view showing that the store carried, Liberty Ice Cream, Wrigley’s Gum, Star Tobacco, and at far right Pioneer Bread.

Image: Placer County Museums

Highway 40 Construction

A couple of beautiful photos showing the construction of Highway 40 between the towns of Rocklin and Roseville, Placer County, California. The first thing I noticed is the lack of any warning equipment or cones. I'm not sure if the cars even slowed down whizzing by.

Close up showing the workers shoveling rock and laying down pavement.,

The Lincoln Highway became Highway 40 in 1927, as all named roads started to be numbered. Once automobiles got faster and more numerous new construction took place. This section was laid down with

Close up of the right side of the photo.

The following photo shows the same highway construction but from a different angle.

The following photo shows a monument in Ophir recognizing the importance of these two highways, the Lincoln and Highway 40. What your looking at is a cross-section of the two roads concrete roadbeds. The Lincoln Highway had 4-inch thick concrete while Highway 40 was placed on top and was 6 inches thick. You can still ride on the old pavement today.

Black and White photos generously loaned by the Placer County Museums.