Fountain-Tallman Soda Works facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fountain-Tallman Soda Works
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 Fountain-Tallman Soda Works
Location in California
Fountain-Tallman Soda Works
Location in the United States
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| Location | 524 Main St., Placerville, California |
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| Built | 1853 |
| Architectural style | Rustic vernacular Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000770 |
| Added to NRHP | September 13, 1984 |
The Fountain-Tallman Soda Works is a really old building in Placerville, California. Today, it's home to the Fountain & Tallman Museum. This museum is run by the El Dorado County Historical Society. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It's a great example of old Victorian style from the Gold Country.
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A Building with a Cool History
This two-story stone building was built in 1852. John Fountain and Benjamin Tallman built it to make soda water. Imagine, soda pop made right here!
Built to Last
The walls of the building are super thick, more than 2 feet (0.61 m) wide. This helped keep ice and soda supplies cool inside. These strong walls also protected the building from fires. Many buildings around it burned down, but this one survived. That's why it's one of the oldest buildings in Placerville!
How Soda Was Made
To make soda, water was pulled from a spring behind the building. A special machine inside added carbon dioxide gas to the water. This made it fizzy! Then, bottles were filled and sealed with caps held by wire. You can even see a copy of the old soda machine at the museum today.
From Soda Factory to Museum
After the soda factory closed, the building was used for many different things. It was once the town jail! It also served as an office for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company for many years.
Becoming a Museum
In 1981, Fay Ripley Cannon gave the building to the El Dorado County Historical Society. It was decided that it would become a museum. The goal was to keep it safe for everyone to enjoy as a historical landmark.
Hidden Treasures Found
When the building was fixed up, workers lifted the stone floor. They found some amazing things! They discovered an old bowie knife, tiny flakes of gold, and pieces of broken soda bottles. These bottles even had the original owner's mark on them. You can see these cool items on display inside the museum.
What You'll See at the Museum
Many people helped turn the building into a museum. Funds from Stella Tracy, who grew up in Placerville, were used. The museum was first called the Placerville Historical Museum. It shows off some of Tracy's old furniture and photos from the early 1900s. You can also see other items from the 1800s and 1900s.
Another old soda works, the John Pearson Soda Works, is also a historic place nearby.
See also
