THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE
ORDER OF

E Clampus Vitus

 MATUCA Chapter 1849

Name of Plaque Indian Gulch

Location of Plaque, Highway / Road No., City and County Indian Gulch Extension Road, Mariposa County

Explain the Design of the Plaque and Base Black granite plaque on rock base which includes quartz.

Date of Dedication April 1, 1995

Name of Dedicating Humbug NGH Darryl Hanson, E Clampus Vitus – Matuca Chapter 1849
 

Exact Wording of Plaque

INDIAN GULCH
ESTABLISHED 1849
INDIAN GULCH WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS IN MARIPOSA COUNTY. LOCATED NEAR SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN, IT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED SANTA CRUZ. THE TOWN ADAPTED THE NEW NAME WHEN THE POST OFFICE OPENED AS ANOTHER SANTA CRUZ ALREADY EXISTED. JAMES MORTON WAS THE FIRST POSTMASTER. DURING ITS HEYDAY, INDIAN GULCH HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED RESIDENTS. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SCHOOL, HOTELS & SALOONS FLOURISHED. J.G.J. MORAY, A FRENCHMAN OPENED THE FIRST MERCANTILE STORE, THE FRENCH COMPANY. THE LATER-NOTORIOUS JOAQUIN MURIETTA WAS EMPLOYED HERE. ANOTHER PROMINENT MERCHANT, ANTONIO CHICHIZOLA, LATER MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO AND BECAME THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE BANK OF ITALY, NOW THE BANK OF AMERICA. ANDREW CATHEY SETTLED HERE IN 1852, BEFORE STARTING THE FARMING COMMUNITY OF CATHEY’S VALLEY. THE LAST DESCENDENT OF PIONEER FAMILY, ANGIE SOLARI, DIED – 1980.
DEDICATED BY MATUCA CHAPTER 1849 E CLAMPUS VITUS APRIL 1, 1995 -6000-
CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM

 

State of California
Department of Parks and Recreation
Office of Historical Preservation
Submitted by Skip Skyrud, Historian - ECV Matuca Chapter 1849
 

Revision Update by Shatoewe: January 29, 2008.