In the good old days, travel was much slower. It took a teamster with empty wagons two days to go from Auburn to Sacramento and three days to return with a load of provisions. It was, therefore, necessary for travelers to make more frequent stops for the well being of both passengers and horses. These stops usually were made at what where called road houses or stage stops.
On the road from Auburn to Grass Valley there was the Four Mile House located on the east side of the road just before crossing the stream opposite the entrance to what is now Auburn Greens off Hwy 49. . . In 1918, Walter Smith bought 50 acres on this site and ran a boarding house while state Hwy 49 was being built. He then turned this into the Rock Creek Dancing Pavilion. . . In 1927 Ken Shreck continued the dance hall with his four piece orchestra. . . .
The Junction House on the road from Auburn to Illlinoistown served passers-by where the old Foresthill road went to the right, down the canyon, to the first bridge to Foresthill. The Junction House was located near what is now Raley’s parking lot. An historic markers is near this site.
The Mountaineer house was located about 3 miles from Auburn on the road to Folsom. This was a hangout for outlaws run by Jack Phillips, who hid criminals from the law. The Calaveras County sheriff eventually tracked a member of the Tom Bell gang to this spot. . .
On the Foresthill Divide main route was the Toll House Inn built in 1849. Here tolls were collected for a 9 mile section of road. The inn was destroyed in 1936 by a fire and a home was constructed by an Admiral Walker. This was purchased by the Monte Verde family in 1964 and has changed ownership since.
The stage house at Butcher Ranch consisted of a post office, bar, general store, a bedroom for travelers and upstairs dormitory for teamsters. . . (Off Foresthill Road). The stop was established in 1850 and by 1880 this settlement numbered 250 voters. A school district was formed in May 1878 with nine students attending. . .In 1882 this stop was called the Stony Hill Turnpike.
The Butcher Ranch stop is thought to have been operated by Albrecht and Company in 1865 then by the Martin family . . .until around 1911. Keeping pace with changing times, this stop later became a gas station and grocery store. Only foundations can be seen today.
About 3 miles southwest of Loomis on the road to Folsom, was the 24 miles house. Built of small stones in 1852 by S. R. Bradley. . .This was a stage stop and remount for the Pony Express. . . . One stage stop that is still standing is the Bernhard House Museum in Auburn. A two story section of this house began life as the Travelers Rest in 1852, run by Bishop and Long. Details of this stop can be learned by visiting the museum.