Big Gun Quarry- Notes from the Rocklin Redevelopment Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

The following notes have been provided by Rocklin Historical Society Secretary Gene Johnson:  


"Dean Bender, acting Chairman, opened the Rocklin Redevelopment Citizens Advisory Committee meeting at the ungodly hour of 7am Friday morning on February 25, 2011.  The single item of business was the "Big Gun Quarry: Discussion of the Contract Status and Disposition of a Historical Property and Salvage Property.

Incoming City Manager, Rick Horst, was introduced and shared a bit about his family background.  There were no other introductions.  Members of the public attending the meeting included 6 representatives of the Rocklin Historical Society (President Skip Gebel, Dr. Jim Carlson, Kent Dazey, John Chase, Gary Day and Gene Johnson)   and  Councilman Scott Yuill.

Assistant City Manager, Mark Riemer, provided a review of the Historic and Salvage material. 

A handout was provided with images of items identified by Mr. Epperson and the City as either “Historic” (to remain on the property) or, “Salvage” (to be sold by Mr. Epperson, or the City, with proceeds to benefit Mr. Epperson’s corporation, SONCO).

Public comment was invited; Gene Johnson and Kent Dazey spoke in behalf of the Rocklin Historical Society.

Mr. Johnson introduced the concept of a heritage based “Hard Rock Mining Interpretive Center” as a visitor destination point in the heart of Rocklin.  Johnson stated the interpretive center would address both very early Quarry operations, for example, prior to 1922, and later representative operations ranging through the time of Big Gun Quarry inactivity circa 1990.  For this reason the Center would incorporate some items and buildings now identified as Salvage to be sold and removed from the Quarry Site.  He said 25 of the 50 items identified as Salvage would be valuable for the heritage interpretive Center.

It was not clear from the listing and images that the large overhead Gantry crane in the Monument Shed is being considered Historic or part of the salvageable Monument Shed.   The City (Mark Riemer) will verify that the crane is to remain on the property.

City Manager Horst cited that at this point no funds are available to purchase materials included on the Salvage List;   funds would need to come from the community.  Mr. Horst also stated that a mutually agreed upon moratorium on sales of salvage items would not be pursued by the City.

Kent Dazey provided a quick synopsis of other projects spearheaded by Historical Society members for the betterment of the Community:   Finn Hall, Rocklin History Museum, Heritage Park and Old St. Mary’s Chapel, Undergrounding of Power Transmission Lines in Central Rocklin.   

Big Gun will be included on the March agenda.  Chairman Bender asked that the Historical Society return with a written proposal related to the Quarry materials, their proposed use and expected cost."

The above picture is the preliminary concept of Big Gun parcels superimposed on a 1996 sketch of the property.  In blue is the proposed commercial parcel, in cream is a .6 acre parcel proposed for the development of a heritage site and in grey is the quarry itself.

With no city funds to purchase the twenty-five historic artifacts on the salvage list, it appears we now have cause for a community fund raiser.  Please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and ideas in the comments section of this blog!

Sincerely,
Danielle Loebs
External Publicity Coordinator
Rocklin Historical Society

*Added February 26, 2011 at 11:16pm


Here is a picture of the proposed zoning from the perspective of Google Maps: