Helltown
Helltown is one of the earliest mining camps in Butte Creek Canyon. It was established in
the early 1850's. During it's peak it had a population of about 2,000 people.
The children went to school in a private school, with a hired teacher. Books
and supplies were scarce and the children had to take turns studying and supply
their own paper and pencils. Starting 1872 the children went to Centerville
School.
Mr. Nesbit owned the merchandise store, and Mr Tibbet from England build a
large hotel 'Ligacy Hall'. There was also a blacksmith and several saloons.
John Nicholl came west to Helltown, by way of Oregon Gulch. He raised stock,
and had a family orchard of oranges, figs, pears, peaches, plums, persimmons,
pawpaw and apple trees. On a hill in front of the Nicholl's home is the family
cemetary, which is still there today.
Helltown was home to several poets. Pres Longley was considered the leading
poet of Helltown.
A short way up the Canyon there was the mining camp of Boneyard Flat. According to Pres Longley it
had been an Indian burial ground. The approximately 300 Indians that lived in the Canyon
were the Nimshew and Slamshews.
Another mining camp above Helltown was Whiskey Flats. Records tell that an Englishman, named Booker, opened a store in 1852. When he left Whiskey Flats he went to San Francisco and was the British Consul for many years
There were many other flats: Paradise Flat, Arkansas Flat, Cook's Flat, Cox's Flat, Reeve's Flat, and Cowles Flat
To learn more about Helltown visit the
Centerville
Colman Memorial Community Museum.
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