Visit Date: May 16, 2020I really enjoyed visiting Murphys in Calaveras County. The number of historic brick and stone buildings is unparalleled in the Gold Country, IMO. I previously wrote about the Compere's Store which is on Main Street. While Main Street has most of these fantastic buildings, sitting on a knoll above Main Street is wonderful structure that is still in use. The St. Patrick's Catholic Church is a two-story church that looks an awful lot like it did in 1948 when the Division of Mines survey was completed Murphys has a quality found in many of the Gold Rush towns and that is it built a number of impressive churches. (Check out the Red Church in Sonora if you wan to see a beautiful old church!) In addition to the St. Patrick's Church, Murphys also has the First Congregational Church of Murphys, which was built in the 1890s. The current St. Patrick's was opened in 1861. It replaced a previous church, which you may have guessed was destroyed by fire. For fun, google "Gold Country St. Patrick's Church". There are a few of them The church is a little ways off the road and hidden by pines and oaks. But I had a siren call to find it. Nearing the church I could hear a sad but beautiful wailing. Only as I drew closer to the sound, did I began to figure out what it was. Bagpipes! A lone bagpiper was practicing his hobby with some friends in the parking lot of the church. As it was peak Covid, there was no one else around until I drove up. Murphys is full of charm and charming people. I assume the neighbors have grown accustomed to this musical treat.
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Sebastian Nelson
9/19/2021 09:11:01 am
Here is a funny story: in 1868 Pope Pius IX established the Diocese of Grass Valley, which included the gold country, most of Nevada, and parts of Utah and Colorado. In 1886 the Vatican suppressed the diocese, and distributed its various territories to other bishops. The last bishop of Grass Valley began his career after four years of gold prospecting (he earned enough to attend seminary in Paris, France). In 1997, Pope John Paul II restored the diocese as a titular/honorific see and awarded it to a priest in Connecticut. I might be wrong, but I don't even think the new/current Titular Bishop of Grass Valley has ever even visited out here!
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AuthorMy name is Jeff and I am on a hunt to find historic brick and stone structures along Highway 49. Archives
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