Landmark #358 | San Joaquin County | Visited: March 21, 2015 | Plaque? NO. 🙁 |
What is it? | Exactly that, this is the town of Woodbridge! |
What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: In 1852, Jeremiah H. Woods and Alexander McQueen established a ferry across the Mokelumne River at this point. As a result, a new road from Stockton to Sacramento by way of Woods’ Ferry was established. In 1858, Woods built a bridge at the site of the ferry from which the town, laid out in April 1859, took its name.
OTHER TIDBITS: Mr. Woods’ goal in building his ferry was to beat out Stockton as the main stop between Sacramento and San Francisco and also to make Woodbridge the seat of the newly formed San Joaquin County! Two advantages that he had over other ferries was that he made his community a stage station and set up a post office with daily communications with Stockton and Sacramento! He later set up a hotel and modified his ferry into a toll bridge, which made crossing the river easier than ever and brought lots of money into Woodbridge! The bridge actually got washed away by a flood in December of 1861, but it stayed intact enough that it could be towed back upstream and replaced! The Masonic Hall here in town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: On County Hwy Jl0 Woodbridge, CA 95258 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~358mi (577km) — 6hrs |
When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |