The Lockeford Emporium

Locke’s Meat Market was built circa 1883 and was significant to the area and town for its influence on both the town’s original settlement and people, but also for its architectural influence to the area. Likely the design of famous architect Charles Beasley, it is an excellent example of its type, with similar buildings of the period located across the state.

Luther Locke, the son of Lockeford’s founder Dean Jewett Locke, held his business here; “Locke’s Meat Market”. His mother Delia (Hammond) Locke was the matriarch of the family. Born in 1832, she married Dr. Dean Jewett Locke and moved to California in 1855. That same year Delia began keeping a daily journal. Her journals from 1855 to 1918 have been digitized and are available for review online here (click on link below):

Delia's Diary

Her journals provide a remarkable documentation of life in rural northern California in the 19th century. The daily happenings of Delia's life and the Lockeford community are recorded, including the activities of church and temperance organizations as well as the Mokelumne River Ladies' Sewing Circle. Nearly every entry begins with temperature recordings taken at sunrise (written as "T.S.R"), 2 PM, and Sunset (written as "S.S."). She talks at length about the building, and how they began digging the basement back in 1860. When you arrive through the door, you can begin to imagine what it was like to be here, back all those years ago, at The Lockeford Emporium.

Now as we enter a new day and dawn for this sacred building, “The Lockeford Emporium” attempts to bring the history of yesterday into a meld with modern time. We hope that the music, art, stories, literature, history, treats, and assortments of odds and ends that you find here leaves an impression. We would like to be the bazaar and the boutique, the communal hall for conversation and discourse, and an event center for all to enjoy.

So plan a party or rehearsal dinner, sign up for the open music events as they unfold, and may the spirit of Twain and Muir fill the air, for they most certainly passed through here on their way to the mountains.