A Brief History of Cool...
 Located on Highway 49, about four miles south of the Confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the American River, lies the small community of Cool, California.
The history of Cool dates back to before 1850, but the town as it exists today was founded officially in 1885. Pioneer settlers, miners and residents settled here, seeing it as a perfect "jumping off" place, providing supplies for the mining towns on the divide.
A stage stop, inn and blacksmith shop were the first businesses established in the small hamlet, providing for the teamsters that fought their way up the steep and treacherous Auburn grade with much-needed supplies for the mines.
Originally, Cool was called Cave Valley because of the numerous Limestone Caves that provided miners with some relief from the summer heat that often exceeded 100 degrees. Some of the caves were used as storage for ice, which was cut from the frozen lakes in the higher elevations during the winter, and were a favorite diversion for the miners on Sundays and Holidays.
The Cool area was a productive agricultural district and provided fresh fruit and meat for many of the mining operations in El Dorado County.
Cap Lewis, the owner and operator of the stage service from Auburn, Georgetown and Placerville built a new station at Cave Valley in 1884. He wanted the station and Post Office to be called Cleveland, after President Grover Cleveland, but was turned down by the Assistant Postmaster General as the name was already taken. Cool was substituted after lengthy debate and the realization that Cave Valley was also already taken.
There are at least three possible stories behind the name "Cool." First and foremost was that there was an itinerant minister popular at the time, Aaron Cool, who had quite a following and used to preach in Greenwood, another nearby foothills community. The second story states that the Caves were where the miners went in summer to get cooled off.  The third is that the weather in "Cool" is usually cooler than the surrounding communities because of a predominant southerly breeze that is funneled into the area by terrain, even during the hottest days of Summer.
Just South of Cool is the mining area that was known as Hogg's Dry Diggin's. Reports were of gold nuggets being found "just sitting on the ground." Surface water was, and still is, a hotly debated subject on the Western Slope of the Sierras and miner's ditches still carry much of the local drinking water to the reservoirs of the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District (GDPUD).
The original school district that was formed was called Cave Valley. Later, the school district was merged into the Northside School District and was then absorbed by the Black Oak School District.
The Cool area was the location of the first Grange in California and still has the honor of having the oldest Grange; Pilot Hill Grange #1, located one-half mile east of town on Highway 193.
For many years the "Northside" brand of cherries sold well in eastern markets and the area's pear orchards, many of which still remain growing wild and untended, provided pears for the mining camps.
The Spreckel's Lime and Aggregate Quarry is located in Cool and continues to provide limestone for the sugar beet industry and gravel for roads, levees and landscaping.
Several of California's leading political leaders have been associated with Cool. Former Assemblyman Eugene Chappie was a rancher here. Roseville Mayor, State Assemblyman and United States Congressman Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson is related to the original stage company owner, Issac E. Terry. Terry Hill in old Greenwood still bears his name.
Prior to the mid-sixties, fire suppression on the Western Slope was at best a haphazard affair, with fate having a lot to do with the eventual outcome of fires. In 1962 the communities of Pilot Hill and Cool started the "Northside Improvement Club" and built a small fire garage at the intersection of Rattlesnake Bar Road and Highway 49 in Pilot Hill.
News clippings carried the story of the firehouse with no doors, as the donated doors were too heavy for the structure to support. In 1972 the Northside Fire District was formed and in 1993 was consolidated into the El Dorado County Fire Protection District.
Gold is still found in the streams and rivers nearby and the Marshall Gold Discovery Site in Coloma, where the California Gold Rush began, is just 11 miles South on Highway 49. Captain Jeff Tolson
El Dorado County Fire Station 72
Cool, California |
| Named for a traveling preacher, Aaron Cool, this small town south of Auburn was once a stage stop. Cool now marks the junction of Highway 193 and Highway 49 and features several small businesses. Close by is a large planned, gated community, Auburn Lake Trails. The magnificent Auburn State Recreation Area and Middle and South forks of the American River are close by. Associations:
Auburn Lake Trails - Information site for this gated community, which includes horse facilities and trails along the Middle Fork of the American River.
Education:
Cool Christian School - K-8 school provides information about its services, staff and history, and a description of classical Christian education.
Northside School - Official site for the K-8 school.
Districts and Schools Bill Jensen, Principal 860 Cave Valley Rd
Cool Care, 2966 State Highway 49, Cool, CA 95614, (530) 889-1119
Penobscot Ranch, 3060 Penobscot Road, Cool, CA 95614, (530) 888-7800
Local Government:
Health:
Cool Animal Hospital, Dr. Kent Jackson & Dr. Larry Goss, 2966 HWY 49, Ste. C, Cool, CA 95614, (530) 885-8322
Recreation & Sports:
Cool Observatory - Local amateur astronomer displays images of space taken with his telescope in his backyard, along with information and advice for stargazers.
Cool Trail Riders - An equestrian club dedicated to promote, protect, maintain, beautify, ride, and raise funds for A.L.T. trails
Cool Golf Courses Auburn Lake Trails
Social & Cultural:
Cool Community Church - Evangelical Christian church provides church calendar, details about their K-8 school and other missions, online archive of sermons, music and other materials.
U.S. Neighbor: Cool - Extensive information on the community, including local services and organizations, events, schools, businesses and tourist attractions.
Transportation:
Travel & Tourism:
Restaurants & Drinks:
Business & Economy:
Cool Stuff - Our Story Thanks for checking us out and keep in touch. Peace,. Bobby, Daisy and Aaron.
Placer Sierra Bank (530) 888-2909, Highway 49 & Highway, Cool, CA 95614
Cool Tack - Contact Information Cool Tack 1000 Sevier Road Cool, CA 95614
Cool Florists, Flower Shops & Florist
Teichert Aggregates, Perkins Plant Cool Cave Plant 2601 Hwy 49 Cool, CA 95614. Scalehouse
U-Haul Co, Independent Dealers, Cool, (530) 823-1059, 2968 Highway 49, Cool, CA 95614
Road Information:
US Route 50
State Route 49
State Route 88
State Route 89
Thank you to www.Placerville.info for putting this information together.. |