The historic name
for Union Hill Inn is the Pedro Ranch. A portion of the house was built as
early as 1849 and additions were built in the 1880s, 1920s, and in 2003.
The main part of the house was built by Manuel Pedro between 1875 and
1880. Recently the kitchen, which was separate from the house, was
connected. We then created the Great Room, which is quite large and
decorated in traditional decor.
The Union Hill Inn
is located in an area referred to during the Gold Rush as Douglasville. It
was built by Francis J. Byrd, who was a ditchman and placer miner. He had
settled in Columbia prior to 1850. Records of 1860 show that he had a
house and orchard on the ranch. By 1868 Frank Gruchy had built a cabin on
the ranch while working at the Douglasville Placer Mine. Manuel J. Pedro
and wife Anna, natives of Portugal, purchased the buildings and property
in 1875. Mr. Pedro also began purchasing several placer claims. He then
had interest in the Raging Canal Placer Mine. Just south of his residence,
he purchased the Eureka Plumbago Mine. In 1880, he purchased a 70-acre
parcel of agricultural land east of his home where he built a barn. That's
why the junction of Highway 49 and Parrotts Ferry Road is called the
"Pedro Y".
Four owners have
occupied this property since 1849. |
