Name of Plaque La Mineta 1850 - Princeton 1854 – Mount Bullion 1862
Location of Plaque, Highway / Road No., City and County Highway 49 at Princeton Way in Mariposa County
Explain the Design of the Plaque and Base Text sandblasted in slab of Mariposite, set in slate with a flagpole
Date of Dedication June 11, 2005
Name of Dedicating Humbug NGH Kevin Sousa, E Clampus Vitus – Matuca Chapter 1849
Exact Wording of Plaque
La Mineta 1850 - Princeton 1854 – Mount Bullion 1862
THIS SITE IS PART OF THE 44,000 ACRE LAS MARIPOSA LAND GRANT PURCHASED IN 1847
BY COLONEL JOHN C. FREMONT FOR $3,000. IN 1850 LA MINETA, A GOLD MINING CAMP WAS
ESTABLISHED HERE BY SONORAN MINERS. LA MINETA WAS CHANGED TO PRINCETON IN 1854,
FOR THE NEARBY PRINCETON MINE CO-DISCOVERER PRINCE STEPTOE. THE PRINCETON MINE
PRODUCED ALMOST $4,500,000 OF GOLD. IN 1860 CARLO MARRE OPENED A GENERAL STORE.
IN 1862 PRINCETON WAS CHANGED TO MOUNT BULLION, BECAUSE A PRINCETON POST OFFICE
EXISTED IN COLUSA COUNTY. FREMONT CHOSE THE NAME TO HONOR HIS FATHER-IN-LAW,
SENATOR THOMAS “OLD BULLION” BENTON, BECAUSE OF BENTON’S ADVOCACY THE GOLD
STANDARD. FREMONT SOLD HIS MARIPOSA ESTATE IN 1863. IN 1886 ANDREW ZINKAND RAN
THE TOLL ROAD. FRANK TRABUCCO OPERATED A GENERAL STORE AND WAS THE POSTMASTER
FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
Dedicated by Matuca Chapter E Clampus Vitus June 11, 2005 (6010) Credo Quia
Absurdum