The posted coordinates are for the Pleasanton Heritage Marker next to the Kottinger Barn.
John W. Kottinger was the first American in the Amador-Livermore Valley. He married Refugia, the daughter of Juan Pablo Bernal, and settled down to raise cattle. In 1851 he built his house in the settlement known as Alisal on 4,500 acres of land that had been his wife's dowry, and then he built an adobe barn behind the house.
Because he had a legal background, in 1855 he was named Murray Township Justice of the Peace, a position he held until 1870. Kottinger's Pleasanton home served as the seat of justice for the area. Trials were held in the house and the northwest corner of the barn was used as a jail.
A tunnel led from the house to the barn, so an outlaw could be transferred from the "courtroom" to the "jail" without his friends interfering. Joaquin Murrieta, the most famous bandit of this era, is said to have spent time in the jail, as did "Three Fingers Jack Garcia." The tunnel also doubled as an escape route for Kottinger in case someone came to his home seeking revenge.
According to an old story, one day Joaquin Murrieta broke into Kottinger's home to steal a bag of gold from the justice. Passing through the kitchen, the bandit was distracted by Mrs. Kottinger's bountiful table. While he snacked, the justice escaped through the tunnel with the gold.
Click here for more information on Kottinger and his old adobe barn including some ghostly stories.
To prove you have seen the barn, email N2Books2 with this information:
Explain the use of the large object attached to the south side of the barn.
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