 |
| Landmark #679 | Marin County | Visited: February 19, 2012 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The old home of Charles Snowden Fairfax! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: The home of “Lord” Charles Snowden Fairfax, pioneer and political leader of the 1850s, who served California as an Assemblyman (1853), Speaker of Assembly (1854), and Clerk of the State Supreme Court (1856). A descendant of Scottish barons of the Cameron Fairfax family of Virginia, Fairfax was involved in the last of California’s historic political duels as host to the principals and friend of the two antagonists.
OTHER TIDBITS: Charlie Fairfax was actually heir apparent to the title of “Baron” in England, though his family had lived in the United States for generations! He came west from Virginia, following romantic ideas of the Gold Rush, but when he got there, he realized just how crude and rough life in the mines could be! So, he became a politician instead! It was here on his estate that his two friends from the State Assembly, Charles Piercy and Daniel Showalter, held California’s last political duel! Showalter, a Confederate sympathizer, shot Piercy, leading to a pro-Union media firestorm! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
|
| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Marin Town and Country Club One block S of intersection of Pastori Ave and Belmont Ave Fairfax, CA 94930 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~395mi (636km) — 6.6hrs |
| When should I go? | This landmark is on private property with very explicit “No Trespassing” signs out front, so you’re better off looking onto the estate from the neighboring grocery store! |
