All Things Silverthorne Part 2

Continued from Part 1

Business was good. In 1864, Dr (J.E.) George Silverthorne started a 2nd barge on the McCloud River. Later, because of the “new” road (from Yreka to modern-day Red Bluff), he relocated the ferry to Turntable Bay. The ferries ran from 1852 until 1944, when lake, steadily rising because of the newly completed Shasta Dam, forced the sale of the ferry by the Board of Supervisors.

An active participant in area politics, Silverthorne was elected County Supervisor for three terms. He also acted as guide to the Superintendent of Baird Fish Hatchery. Together they explored Baird Cave and etched their names in the rock walls of what’s now known as Shasta Caverns. You can still make out their names near the entrance.

There are other “Silverthorn(e)s”. Silverthorne Cemetery was a well-known Indian resting place, located on land donated by “Dr. George”, who had the distinction of being the only white man buried there. Before Shasta Lake filled, all the graves were relocated to the Central Valley Cemetery.

Merle Haggard’s song, Silverthorn Mountain, is another Silverthorne namesake. Haggard, by the way, was once a co-owner of the famed Silverthorn Resort.

The name Silverthorn(e) is associated with history, pioneers, music, even scandal. I’m sure I’ll revisit this. Stories this rich deserve to be told.