Corral Hollow
Encyclopedia
Corral Hollow, formed by Corral Hollow Creek
, is a canyon with part in Alameda County and parts in San Joaquin County, 6.5 miles Southwest of Tracy, California
. Corral Hollow Creek, formerly El Arroyo de los Buenos Ayres (The Creek of the Good Winds), from its source 1.9 miles north of Mount Boardman
, flows north 1.89 miles where it turns to flow west-northwest 8.5 miles then turns abruptly east in the vicinity of Tesla to flow 5 miles east where it turns again in a northeasterly direction for 6 miles to the Delta-Mendota Canal
in the San Joaquin Valley
.
, passed to the west through the canyon of El Arroyo de los Buenos Ayres
over the Portezuela de Buenos Ayres (Pass of Good Winds) to the Arroyo Seco
and the Livermore Valley
. The '49ers passed through the canyon now named Corral Hollow on their way to the gold fields as did the first mail to the Tuolumne mines. The name change was perhaps because at its mouth there was a large corral for catching wild horses. This "caral" was mentioned in the California Star on March 18, 1848:
However the name of the Creek did not change for some time. The name "Arroyo Buenos Ayres" appears on on the Charles Drayton Gibbes' "Map of the Southern Mines" in 1852. However an 1857 Map Of The State Of California shows the canyon was named Corral Hollow, but Buenos Aryes Creek, although anglicised, remained with its old name. By 1873 a State Geological Survey map indicated the name change was complete to Corral Hollow Creek and Corral Hollow Pass.
California Landmark 755, indicates the site of the home of its first settler, Edward B. Carrell, which was built here at the former site of an Indian village. The men and animals received food and drink at Wright's Zink House, five hundred yards north of the landmark site.
California Landmark 755, (now missing), was located 1.5 miles west of I-580 on County Hwy J2, Corral Hollow Road. (Coordiates on this page mark that site.)
Some miles up the Corral Hollow Road in the canyon is the site of the former town of Carnegie
. A few miles on, beyond the Alameda County line where the road becomes the Tesla Road, is the site of coal mining that began in 1855, and later was the site of the former mining town of Tesla. Tesla appeared in 1889, as the San Francisco & San Joaquin Coal Company built the Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad
line to the coal mines. When clay was discovered in the coal mine, the Carnegie Brick and Pottery Company was formed in 1902, its plant built four miles east of Tesla, to make brick and terra cotta. In 1904, the Pottery sewer pipe plant was built between Carnegie and Tesla. Carnegie became a town with a population of about 300, Tesla had a population of over 1200. The towns were abandoned after a 1911 flood, which destroyed the railroad and workings and the Company could not afford to rebuild. The rail line from Carbona
was abandoned by the Western Pacific Railroad
in January 1916.
The canyon turns to the southwest beyond the site of Tesla and ascends into the hills back into San Joaquin County. After passing the site of Tesla, the Tesla Road turns northwestward and winds up the side of a canyon into the Corral Hollow Pass
and crosses over to the Arroyo Seco, and follows it as it decends into the Livermore Valley
.
Today the former town site of Tesla is within the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
. Carniege town site partly within the Recreation Area, the rest is on the hillside on the north side of the Tesla Road where it intersects Carnegie Ridge Road.
Corral Hollow Creek
Corral Hollow Creek, origainally El Arroyo de los Buenos Ayres , later Buenos Ayres Creek, is a tributary stream of the San Joaquin River with part in Alameda County and parts in San Joaquin County draining the eastern slopes of part of the Diablo Range within the Central Valley of California, USA...
, is a canyon with part in Alameda County and parts in San Joaquin County, 6.5 miles Southwest of Tracy, California
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. Corral Hollow Creek, formerly El Arroyo de los Buenos Ayres (The Creek of the Good Winds), from its source 1.9 miles north of Mount Boardman
Mount Boardman
Mount Boardman is located in the Diablo Range in California. The summit is near a point where Santa Clara, Alameda, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties meet. It was named for W. F...
, flows north 1.89 miles where it turns to flow west-northwest 8.5 miles then turns abruptly east in the vicinity of Tesla to flow 5 miles east where it turns again in a northeasterly direction for 6 miles to the Delta-Mendota Canal
Delta-Mendota Canal
The Delta–Mendota Canal is a aqueduct in central California. It is part of the Central Valley Project and its purpose is to replace the water in the San Joaquin River that is diverted into Madera Canal and Friant-Kern Canal at Friant Dam. The canal begins at the C.W. Bill Jones Pumping Plant ,...
in the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
.
Corral Hollow, History
The El Camino ViejoEl Camino Viejo
El Camino Viejo à Los Angeles , also known as the Old Los Angeles Trail, established in 1820's, was the oldest north-south trail in the interior of Alta California...
, passed to the west through the canyon of El Arroyo de los Buenos Ayres
Corral Hollow Creek
Corral Hollow Creek, origainally El Arroyo de los Buenos Ayres , later Buenos Ayres Creek, is a tributary stream of the San Joaquin River with part in Alameda County and parts in San Joaquin County draining the eastern slopes of part of the Diablo Range within the Central Valley of California, USA...
over the Portezuela de Buenos Ayres (Pass of Good Winds) to the Arroyo Seco
Arroyo Seco (Alameda County)
Arroyo Seco is an watercourse in Alameda County, California, that traverses through the city of Livermore. Arroyo Seco means "dry stream" in Spanish. Arroyo Seco lies above the Arroyo Seco watershed, which includes the eastern part of the city of Livermore and also the Lawrence Livermore...
and the Livermore Valley
Livermore Valley
The Livermore Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Alameda County, California, surrounding the city of Livermore in the Tri-Valley region. Both the AVA and the city are named after Robert Livermore, a landowner whose holdings encompassed the valley. The groundwater basin underlying the...
. The '49ers passed through the canyon now named Corral Hollow on their way to the gold fields as did the first mail to the Tuolumne mines. The name change was perhaps because at its mouth there was a large corral for catching wild horses. This "caral" was mentioned in the California Star on March 18, 1848:
- "We are credibly informed...that a number countrymen with several Californians are actively engaged in building an extensive caral, or enclosure, in the valley of the river San Joaquin, for the purpose of capturing wild horses. The caral...will enclose twenty-five acres of land..."
However the name of the Creek did not change for some time. The name "Arroyo Buenos Ayres" appears on on the Charles Drayton Gibbes' "Map of the Southern Mines" in 1852. However an 1857 Map Of The State Of California shows the canyon was named Corral Hollow, but Buenos Aryes Creek, although anglicised, remained with its old name. By 1873 a State Geological Survey map indicated the name change was complete to Corral Hollow Creek and Corral Hollow Pass.
California Landmark 755, indicates the site of the home of its first settler, Edward B. Carrell, which was built here at the former site of an Indian village. The men and animals received food and drink at Wright's Zink House, five hundred yards north of the landmark site.
California Landmark 755, (now missing), was located 1.5 miles west of I-580 on County Hwy J2, Corral Hollow Road. (Coordiates on this page mark that site.)
Some miles up the Corral Hollow Road in the canyon is the site of the former town of Carnegie
Carnegie, California
Carnegie is a former town in Corral Hollow, in San Joaquin County, California.It waa discovered that the Tesla coal mines in Corral Hollow contained a rich deposit of clay. Fueled by California's rapid population growth and the subsequent demand for building materials, the mine owners, San...
. A few miles on, beyond the Alameda County line where the road becomes the Tesla Road, is the site of coal mining that began in 1855, and later was the site of the former mining town of Tesla. Tesla appeared in 1889, as the San Francisco & San Joaquin Coal Company built the Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad
Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad
The Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad was incorporated on May 1, 1895 to serve the coal mines of the San Francisco & San Joaquin Coal Company at Corral Hollow. The line ran from Tesla to Carbona just south of Tracy and then up to Lathrop and Stockton. The line was constructed in 1895...
line to the coal mines. When clay was discovered in the coal mine, the Carnegie Brick and Pottery Company was formed in 1902, its plant built four miles east of Tesla, to make brick and terra cotta. In 1904, the Pottery sewer pipe plant was built between Carnegie and Tesla. Carnegie became a town with a population of about 300, Tesla had a population of over 1200. The towns were abandoned after a 1911 flood, which destroyed the railroad and workings and the Company could not afford to rebuild. The rail line from Carbona
Carbona, California
Carbona is an unincorporated community in San Joaquin County, California, United States. Carbona is located on West Linne Road, south southeast of Tracy. Carbona's post office is Tracy but has its own ZIP code 95304.-History:...
was abandoned by the Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
in January 1916.
The canyon turns to the southwest beyond the site of Tesla and ascends into the hills back into San Joaquin County. After passing the site of Tesla, the Tesla Road turns northwestward and winds up the side of a canyon into the Corral Hollow Pass
Corral Hollow Pass
Corral Hollow Pass, originally Portezuela de Buenos Ayres is a mountain pass of the Diablo Range southeast of Livermore, in Alameda County, California...
and crosses over to the Arroyo Seco, and follows it as it decends into the Livermore Valley
Livermore Valley
The Livermore Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Alameda County, California, surrounding the city of Livermore in the Tri-Valley region. Both the AVA and the city are named after Robert Livermore, a landowner whose holdings encompassed the valley. The groundwater basin underlying the...
.
Today the former town site of Tesla is within the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area is a state park unit of California, USA, providing off-roading opportunities in the Diablo Range. Located in southern Alameda and San Joaquin counties, it is one of six state vehicular recreation areas administered by the California Department of Parks and...
. Carniege town site partly within the Recreation Area, the rest is on the hillside on the north side of the Tesla Road where it intersects Carnegie Ridge Road.