39° 33' 35"N, 117° 04' 54"W USGS Yankee Blade Quad
The Civil War was raging when gold discoveries in the Reese River Valley resulted in an influx of prospectors, and camps seemingly dotted the landscape. Among them was the tiny camp of Amador, established in the spring of 1863. By the fall, several hundred lived here and in "adjacent Coral City," according to Paher. In 1864 and 1865, there was a fair amount of activity and several establihments were operating; by 1866 the camp had died.
Things started off exciting.
SHOOTING AFFRAY.-Afternoon before last a difficulty occurred on the site of the new town laid out near the Amador, called Coral City, between two men named Gleason and Eaves, in which the latter was shot and it is supposed mortally wounded. Gleason was immediately taken in custody by the citizens, and held until the Sheriff arrived. The prisoner was brought to town last night, and is now at the Court House, in chains and guarded by the Sheriff. There are so many conflicting reports as to the cause of the difficulty that we could not learn its origin. Some say that it grew out of a misunderstanding concerning some lots, but the prisoner says that politics was the cause.—Reese River Reville, Nov. 27.
-Gold Hill Daily News, December 1, 1863
It sounded like a fine town-- for as long as it lasted. Which wasn't long.
We clip the following from the Reese River Reveille
THE NEW TOWN OF AMADOR
This new town, laid out by Messrs. B. T. Hunt, Bowe, Chace, Matheny, Meek, and Kinsey, is progressing finely. More than forty buildings, of various descriptions, have already been erected near the center of the town, and perhaps an equal number in or upon the outside. Preparations are being made to erect may others, among them several substantial stone buildings. It would appear that the mines in that vicinity will prove to be very rich, and permanenet, and that the new town will have corresponding importance.The site for the town is certainly a most eligible one. For a town of two weeks growth Amador is certainly a thriving one.
-Mountain Democrat, December 2, 1863
We couldn't have asked for nicer weather on the day we visited Amador- unfortunately, the mosquitoes were out in full force, and were thirsty. Thankfully, we had some very effective repellant which worked well. It still makes me nervous, though, when the bottle says, "WARNING! WILL DAMAGE WATCH CRYSTALS, STAINLESS STEEL, AND IF SPILLED WILL CREATE A HOLE ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH! DIRECTIONS! RUB ON SKIN!" But hey, the stuff works.
Anyway, there are a few scattered rock remains of buildings here, on this alluvial fan coming out of Amador Canyon. Paher's book describes an adjacent site, but we didn't have a lot of time to explore the surrounding countryside. Up the canyon is a large pile of tailings and the remains of a building complete with pump.