Gary-Summer: Places: CA-Biledo Meadow

Friday, January 2, 1970

Places: CA-Biledo Meadow

Biledo Meadow-7,51' (Mariposa Grove) (37.5027158, -119.5682044)
Legal: T5S, R22E, Sec 6&16

Description : Trips : References : Pictures

Description:

There are two cabins at Biledo Meadow. The one made of round timbers was built by Thomas Biledo in 1890. (The name was correctly spelled Biledeaux, according to a YNP ranger who knew him.) Biledo was a French-Canadian who came to the region in the 1880's and was employed by the Mount Raymond Mining Company. From Peter Browning Place Names of the Sierra Nevada. He referenced Robert F. Uhte's, Park Ranger and Architect (1923 - 2012), “Yosemite’s Pioneer Cabins” (1951)

Biledo Meadows.—Southwest of Mount Raymond near the enormous springs of Biledo Meadows just outside of the park are two unusually handsome cabins, one of hand-hewn square logs, the other of round timbers. The latter was built in 1890 by Thomas Biledo,* a French-Canadian miner who came to the vicinity in the ‘eighties and was employed by the Mount Raymond Mining Company. The logs are eight-ten inches in diameter and laid on a loose rock foundation. The cabin is sixteen by fourteen feet in area, with an overall height of sixteen feet. It is chinked with hand-split shakes laid parallel to the logs; the gable is filled in with vertical boards. A new roof and superstructure were added by the present owner in about 1932. The cabin was originally built with meticulous care and is in excellent condition. It finds regular use each summer and fall and, evidently, will last for many years. [*The name should be spelled “Biledeaux” according to John Wegner (assistant chief ranger, 1916-1944), who knew the builder.] From Robert F. Uhte's, “Yosemite’s Pioneer Cabins” (1951)

Biledo Meadows.—A compact hand-hewn log cabin is the second of two cabins on the Thomas Biledo claim on the southern boundary of the park near the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees. The builder is unknown, but available information indicates it was completed about 1880. The cabin is in excellent condition today; a new roof and superstructure were added by the present owner in 1932. Hand-hewn logs, eight to ten inches, refit on a loose rock foundation, and rise to a height of seven feet. Deep notching of the logs made a tight durable corner joint and thus chinking was omitted. A gable of about six feet rises to the ridgepole and is enclosed with vertical boards and bats. From Robert F. Uhte's, “Yosemite’s Pioneer Cabins” (1951)

Note: these two cabins are at Nelder Grove. The cabins currently at the meadow are of more recent vintage and are connected with more modern mining.

From GNIS, also called:

Biledeaux Meadow-Hoover, Mildred B., et al. Historic Spots in California. 3rd edition. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1966.
Billiedo Meadow

Trips: