Camden House
The original Camden house had only one room. As the family grew by 1867, two rooms and a second floor were added. This second floor later continued across the entire length of the house. Other additions to the home in the late 1860s included a summer kitchen, servants and caretaker’s quarters, and storage for tools and wood. Flower beds lined the walkway, and ivy grew on and around the house.
Charles Camden began building his cottage in the garden, close to the Tower Hotel. A Double wedding at the Camden House on November 11, 1852 for Charles and Philena, plus Levi and Mary Shuffleton, became the first recorded weddings in Shasta County. For a wedding gift, Levi gave Philena the land and water rights where her new home stood.
Camden mined gold, dug water ditches, built a toll road, and operated a sawmill in Whiskeytown. His main business interest was in placer mining, where he owned a total of 119 acres. Camden panned for gold every day for 18 years, averaging $10.00 a day, and $80,000.00 over the 18 years. Camden could afford luxury for his home. This included Shasta County’s first indoor toilet from the second story. Local croquet and archery courts close to the house allowed the family to gather for tea in the gardens.
