Rocklin has a number of historical sites

HISTORIC SITES IN ROCKLIN

Brigham and Hawes Quarry

Near Pacific Street and Farron Road at the corner of Pacific Street and Pacific Street, you will find this quarry. A granite boulder near the south rim is a popular climbing spot for rock climbers. The Rocklin old timers know this quarry as Rocklin's oldest, but quarrying here predates their memories. There is a plaque at the site stating the quarry has been in operation since 1861.

This quarry was probably a major source of granite for construction of the transcontinental railroad after tracks reached Rocklin from Sacramento in 1864, since it borders Rocklins' rail corridor. There are a few junk cars scattered here along with the refuse of lumber processors that once bordered the north and south rims of this quarry during the mid-20th century.

Rocklins Railroad Depot

Near the rail tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad, at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Rocklin Road, stands this new depot, built in 2007. At Rocklin's original depot, built about 1867, a telegraph office as well as John Sweeney's saloon stood. In the opposite direction was a freight depot. It was destroyed in the 1891 fire that destroyed that original depot.

As a result of Rocklin's faltering economy, a second depot was built at this spot that same year. There are just a few yards difference between the new depot and the location of Rocklins' demolished roundhouse. At Crossroads Church, there is a plaque by the sidewalk commemorating this event.

Rocklins Roundhouse Site

Crossroads Church is located east of today's Rocklins roundhouse on Front Street and Rocklin Road. A plaque marks the spot near the west facing roundhouse wall. On the 90-mile road to the summit of the Sierra, extra engines were required to be serviced at the Roundhouse by May 1867. The engine shed included 28 stalls, a turntable, and an area of 78,000 square feet. Roundhouse operations were moved from Rocklin in 1908 to Roseville.

Rocklins roundhouse employed 300 people with a payroll of $25-$30000 per month just prior to its relocation to Roseville. The Rocklins population declined by 80% between 1906 and 1908, while the roundhouse was closing. Although there is probably some exaggeration here, Rocklins granite quarries also supplied curbstone and granite blocks to help rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.

Saint Marys Chapel

Near the granite Barudoni Building, this Chapel is located at 5251 Front Street. The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary in 1883 on an oak-framed lot at 5420 Front Street. Rocklin Historical Society moved and restored the building to prevent demolition in 2005. There is now a solely non-denominational chapel there.

Steeples were toppled by woodpeckers and foul weather in 1937, and thieves made off with the bell. Steeple replicas are part of the restoration. The bell today is a gift from the Rocklins Community Covenant Church. As each bride leaves the chapel after her wedding ceremony, she pulls the rope to toll the bell.

Barudoni Building

In front of the Old Saint Mary's Chapel, at 5250 Front Street, stands the granite Joseph Barudoni building. It was built in 1905 by meat broker Joseph Barudoni as a meat market with a Doctor Woodbridge's office above. The building was later turned into an antique store, and then into a feed store. Now it is used as a recording studio.

As early as 1954, the owner of the building extracted granite blocks from the upper walls and turned them into a Rocklins gas station. Now the Ophir landscape is littered with the remains of the station, which was demolished years ago. Several owners of the building have filled the upper wall gaps with wooden framing. A remnant of the cantilevered granite steps leads to Doctor Woodbridge's office on the north wall.

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