In the 1860’s Copperopolis had a population of 10,000 and was the principal mine in the west. The mine closed in 1945. This building has housed a saloon since it was built in 1862. Twice it survived raging fires which destroyed the town. The bar operated through Prohibition as a “speakeasy” in the basement. The main floor was a soda parlor and had a buzzer set up to warn those below of approaching law enforcement. The upstairs functioned as a rooming house and a brothel.