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Public commenter urges county to request return of Kit Carson tree section from Sutter's Fort
Summary
A public speaker told the Board the historic Kit Carson tree section currently held at Sutter's Fort should be returned or loaned to Amador County for local display and tourism; the board provided informal support to explore options.
During the public comment period of the Jan. 14 meeting, John Carillo (who identified himself as treasurer of a local historical group) asked the Board of Supervisors to request the return or a loan of an historical tree section known locally as the Kit Carson tree from Sutter's Fort, arguing the artifact is an important piece of Amador County history.
Carillo said he toured California State Parks storage and learned the exhibit item had been removed from public display. He described historical documentation that, he said, showed the tree was cut down in the 1880s after the Amador County Board of Supervisors originally arranged for preservation and transfer to the California Pioneers in San Francisco and subsequent display at Sutter's Fort. "It's actually one of the keystones of our history," Carillo said, and he requested a resolution or formal request from the board to seek return of the object to Amador County museum facilities.
Board response: Supervisors expressed sympathy for preserving local artifacts and suggested informal options such as requesting the piece be loaned. No formal action, resolution or vote was taken; Carillo said the local historical group would send materials to the newspaper and to the board and said he possessed an original photograph of the cutting.
Ending: The request was recorded during public comment. The board did not place the matter on the agenda at this meeting and took no formal action, though members indicated they would consider informal outreach to explore a loan or transfer.
