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Salt Spring Valley Road to the Felix ghost town (Calaveras County)

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Salt Spring Valley Road is an approximately four-mile rural highway located in Calaveras County.  The corridor is a loop of Hunt Road which passes through the heart Salt Spring Valley and the ranching ghost town of Felix.  The community's name of Felix is a reference to the larger Madam Felix Mining District which was active in Salt Spring Valley most during the 1850s and 1860s. 




Part 1; the history of Salt Spring Valley Road

Salt Spring Valley is located a short distance north Copperopolis in Calaveras County.  The valley was part of the Madam Felix Mining District which had sparse success for gold mining operators beginning in the 1850s.  The mines of Hobson, Carmen City, Defiance, Mountain King, Empire, Wilbur Womble, Royal, Pine Log and Gold Knoll were all located within Salt Spring Valley.  In 1857-1858 the valley would be first dammed by William H. Hanford as it was found it be more useful for cattle grazing.  

Below the known Madam Felix Mining District stamp mills can be seen on a Library of Congress map.  This document was prepared during the late 1960s.   



The Royal Mill at Hobson can be seen in an undated photo from the Calaveras County Historical Society.  Hobson was located approximately a mile west of Rock Creek Road on Littlejohn Creek (at what was once Hobson Road).  Hobson was the largest community which rose around the mines in Salt Spring Vally.   


During the 1880s a ranching community by the name of Towers was plotted along what is now Salt Spring Valley Road.  Said roadway connected to the major stage corridors of Rock Creek Road and Hunt Road.  Towers can be seen on the 1889 United States Geological Survey map of Jackson.  


Towers would receive Post Office Service in 1896 and would be renamed as Felix.  The name was an homage to the Madam Felix Mining District.  Postal Service would ultimately shutter in Felix in 1923.  Despite the loss of Postal Service, the community still appears on the 1945 United States Geological Survey map of San Andreas. 




Part 2; a drive on Salt Spring Valley Road

Westbound Salt Spring Valley Road begins at a Y Junction with Hunt Road.  


The initial portion of Salt Spring Valley Road direct lines southwest through the namesake valley directly to the site of Felix.  







Salt Spring Valley Road passes through the site of Felix (which is comprised of numerous ranching buildings) towards Felix Road.  At Felix Road the corridor of Salt Spring Valley Road turns right and heads northwest back to Hunt Road.  




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