ICYMI – 17,589 Sign Petition to “KEEP ‘Old Hangtown’ on our Welcome sign”
Sean Yeske
(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) Aug 31, 2022 — The undersigned people of Placerville, CA “Old Hangtown” and supporters, wish to impress upon our city council that we want to keep our town’s historic name “Old Hangtown” on our Welcome sign.
In this age of rampant political correctness and concocted victimhood, the new trend is to remove, destroy, tear down or burn historical monuments in order to rewrite or forget history to please a small but vocal minority. Old Hangtown’s most notable history is that of the California Gold Rush, where Placerville, then known as Dry Diggin’s, earned its new nickname after, according to the local museum,the hanging of three outlaws after they rode through town firing their guns. The name stuck and is an indelible part of local and state history. In actuality, a large amount of the draw of our town is the history and the preservation of it. Look on the walls of just about any store or restaurant downtown and see photos from over a hundred years ago of the very street you are on and how much, but also how little, it has changed.
A recent petition by a resident of a nearby town incorrectly states that the Old Hangtown’s name came by way of racially charged hangings, which it didn’t, and that the “Hanged Dummy” on the front of the Hangman’s Tree Historical Spot is black, which it isn’t, as anyone can see by googling “Placerville Ca Hangman’s Tree” and looking at the photos. They also state that the name “Old Hangtown” is outdated and offensive, but is only offensive to those who read malicious intent into something that is purely historical. Their petition is nothing short of a step to erase a piece of history.
We wish to preserve our history, “warts and all” for all proceeding generations. History – local, national and global – should never be subject to “cleansing” by those to whom it is uncomfortable. History is to be preserved, especially that history which is uncomfortable, for future generations to learn and build upon, and to prevent mistakes and poor decisions in the future.
Please do not give in to the tensions of the moment by removing a piece of history that may never be reclaimed.
Link to Petition: https://www.change.org/p/placerville-city-council-placerville-keep-old-hangtown-on-our-welcome-sign
Reasons for signing
See why other supporters are signing, why this petition is important to them, and share your reason for signing (this will mean a lot to the starter of the petition).
Nathaniel S
Christopher Knight
Mindee Thyrring
Michelle Uschmann
Leah Go forth
Rick Bragg
Michael Ross
Christopher Coyle
lorre carver
Lisa Moncus
Tracy Goldsmith
Pookie Bridges
Mark Hancock
Betty Griffith
Debra Armbruster
Avid Lawrence
Brandon Peek
Dylan Wheeler
Daisy Black
Bryant Wick
Robert Lourenco
L Hansen
Deborah Horn
Cassandra Bell
Rachel Frazier
Ian Roberts
Janette Aidnik
Bradley Lassner
Victoria Sabelnik
Zachary Hall
Melissa Brittain
Geannie McGrath Pata
Gaylene Bucher
Brenda Campbell
Kari Mendoza
Jessica Jackson
jeremy Gifford
Lacey Walker
Thomas Wendorf
Jennifer HOFFMAN
Patrick Hemphill
Alicia Selby
Tiona Hall
Cathy Logan
Carol Rogers
Eldean Wing
Kathie Palomar
Rachel Twine
Christina Lynn
Peggy Swenson
Love living in a HISTORIC TOWN and love sharing photos and telling friends about its history and name “Old Hangtown”. Lived here for past 30 years and never want to leave—unless these “woke” people are allowed to erase Placerville’s proud history, which would be unconscionable.