Historical Points of Interest
 The City of Rocklin houses several historical points of interest. Browse through the text below or click on the map to see locations (by number) of the historic sites.
 Historic Site Map
City of Rocklin - Historic Sites - Braday’s Quarry
The quarry is located on the west side of Pacific Street, opposite a real estate building (formerly the Deer Creek Lumber Company.) Established in 1861 by  Charles A. Brigham and Elisha Hawes, it was the first granite quarry in Rocklin and is popularly known as Brady’s Quarry. See Granite marker at site for additional information.
- St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church
The church was originally located at 5240 Front Street (aka First Street) on the west side of Front Street between Farron Street and C Street. The church now rests at its new location at 5251 Front Street. The church was constructed during 1882-83. Father John Leahy was the first resident priest. The original steeple gave way to bad weather and “irreverent woodpeckers” and was removed in 1937.In 1984, a greatly expanded parish relocated to a new church—St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic Church at 4450 Granite Drive. A corner stone from the old church rests in front of the new church.
- Joseph Barundoni Building
Located at the intersection of Front and B Streets, this well-known Rocklin landmark was erected by Swiss-born Joseph Barundoni in 1905 where he operated the Palace Meat Market. Joseph died in 1914, but his two-storey granite landmark was the only building on Front Street to survive a disastrous fire in 1914. Note the unique old granite stairway scaling the north wall.
- Rocklin’s Railroad Depot
Located on Railroad Avenue, between Bush Street and Rocklin Road, the site of the depot was adjacent to where the remains of three palm trees stand near the eastbound rails and the other depot stood on the westbound side. One structure was used as a freight depot. The original depot was constructed around 1867. This was the central hub of activity and included a saloon, ticket station, and the A&P 24-hour telegraph section. Typical of other landmarks, the original depot was totally burned in 1891 and was rebuilt. All services were terminated in 1933, and the depot was demolished in 1940.
- Rocklin City Hall
City Hall is located on the south side of Rocklin Road at High Street. In 1912, Adolph Pernu, an important Rocklin granite operator of the period, erected this building as a company store for the convenience of those he employed in the California Granite Company. Later, the building housed a general merchandise store operated by Mr. Ah Moon. In 1941, it was sold to the City of Rocklin for use as a city hall. It remains so today.
- Union Granite Company
Located on the southeast corner of Rocklin Road and Pacific Street, this quarry was started by John Nay Taylor in 1870. It was in continuous operation for 117 years. Located at this site is a granite quarry shed that was erected in 1903. The clear lumber used in this shed (some pieces are over 50 feet in length), was brought in from Oregon.- Rocklin Cemetery
The cemetery is located at 4090 Kannasto Street on the southwest corner of Grove and Kannasto Streets. The cemetery may have been started when a local character fell dead on the site after a day of celebrating. The earliest headstone is that of Olive Van-Tresse who died in October 30, 1864. Records indicate numerous persons buried here died of railroad accidents and cholera.
- Old Finnish Picnic Grounds
The picnic grounds are located about 200 yards past the end of China Garden Road, adjacent to Interstate 80. During the early Rocklin days, these picnic grounds were a gathering place for the Finnish habitants of the Rocklin area.
- Old Quinn Quarry
The quarry is located on Winding Way, north of Kannasto Street. William Quinn began operating his pioneer granite quarry business here in 1873 on “squatted land”, owned by the Federal Government. In July 1874, Quinn died as a result of a fall from the top of a malfunction hoist pole. His widow, Mary, acquired ownership in 1883 by way of the Act of 1891, which legitimized “squatter’s rights”. Soon after this, the Emerson family took over the operation of the quarry. In recent years, the young Rocklinites have considered this a favorite swimming hole, “better than any pool.” Granite quarried from this location was used in the Monterey breakwater.
 Finnish Temperance Hall
“Finn Hall”, as it is known to most Rocklinites, was built by the Finnish Temperance Society in 1905. In the early days, this most impressive building was used for most of Rocklin’s social functions, and graduations were always held here. School Christmas programs, receptions, dances and fraternal meetings were also the norm for “Finn Hall.”
- Trott Hotel
Located on the northwest corner of Rocklin Road and Front Street, this building was built about 1868 by Samuel Trott. This hotel was Rocklin’s finest. One of Rocklin’s many fires claimed the hotel in 1869, but it was quickly rebuilt and continued to serve as one of the community’s most notable buildings. It burned again on February 20, 1979. Note the Lion’s Club plaque on the front sidewalk.
- Central Pacific Roundhouse
The roundhouse is located on the northeast corner of Front (aka First) Street and Rocklin Road. The track was laid to Rocklin in the spring of 1864 and the town was chosen as the point for the Railroad’s Division Terminal where eastbound trains were “split in two” and extra locomotives were added to ascent the mountains, claiming 6,768 feet in 83 miles to the top of the Sierras. In August 1866, construction was started on this 28-stall roundhouse with machine shops and repair facilities. It was completed during the summer of 1867 and was destroyed by fire in November 1873.Quickly rebuilt, it remained in use until 1908 when Roseville became the railroad center. Demolition of the roundhouse was started in 1910. Some remnants are still apparent.
- The Wickman-Johnson Home
The home is located on the southwest corner of Fifth Street and Rocklin Road. This fine home was once the residence of James Bolton, but now is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Johnson. Mr. Bolton acquired this parcel of land in 1852.In 1866 he obtained a federal land grant and laid out the “Bolton Plat”, which is the original Rocklin Townsite. Bolton plotted out the townsite and sold lots to some of Rocklin’s most illustrious pioneers, including William Dana Perkins, L.G. Smith, and Sam Trott.
- Victorian Homes
The homes are located near the intersection of Rocklin Road and Fifth Street. There are four Victorian-style homes at this location that were built during 1890-1910. Please do not contact the occupants.
- Whitney Mansion Stained-Glass Windows and Front Doors
The windows and doors are located at Sunset Whitney Country Club, corner of Midas Avenue and Rawhide Drive. The doors can be viewed as you enter the Sunset Whitney Country Club, and the windows are located in the lounge bar. This facility is open to the public during normal business hours. Although the mansion, built in 1885, has been demolished, several remnants, including these hand-made windows have been preserved. The mansion, known as “The Oaks”, was located to the northwest on an estate of 27,000 acres.
- Granite Stone Bridge
The bridge is located at the northwest corner of Midas Avenue and Clover Valley Road. This bridge over Clover Valley Creek, constructed in about 1900 by Chinese laborers from the Whitney Ranch, was one of 12 along the “Eight Mile Drive” from the center of Rocklin to the Whitney ranchlands in Spring Valley to the northwest. Imagine members of the Whitney family traveling this lane by horse and buggy on a springtime Sunday afternoon enjoying the beauty of this valley with its willows, live oak trees, and open fields of clover, California poppies, and blazing Scotch broom.
- Rocklin Skating Rink (Pleasure Hall)
The skating rink is located on the east side of Pacific Street between Grove Street and Jamerson Drive. Pleasure Hall flourished as the finest ball room between Sacramento and Reno during the early 1900’s and was operated by Steve Subotich. The Rocklin Owls baseball team played their games on a diamond behind the hall. During the 1930’s this building housed a vibrant roller skating rink. It is presently the home for the Greyhound Station, a crafts store, and a bakery. It once accounted for the majority of the town’s bruises and sore elbows due to skating falls.
- Aitken Ranch
The ranch is located on the east side of Pacific Street and to the north of Granite Drive. A large iron trellis over the entry of this former olive orchard marks this ranch site which was established in 1850 by Will Dana Perkins. Dana Perkins was one of Rocklin’s earliest and foremost citizens. At present, it is the home of State Senator Ralph Dills and his wife.
- Racetrack
The racetrack is located at Racetrack Circle and Racetrack Road. The Rocklin Racetrack was located on property that now comprises the “Racetrack” housing development. The land for the racetrack was donated in 1893 by Dana Perkins, one of Rocklin’s prominent citizens of the 1850’s and early 1860’s. The racetrack featured buggy racing, horse racing and later, motor cycles raced on the track.
Source: Rocklin Historical Society. Updated City of Rocklin, City Manager’s office 4.26.06 |
