Metal fire-shutters were a 19th century way to prevent flames from spreading to (or from) building interiors--often largely wood.

Placerville was where John Studebaker made the first part of his fortune, backing his brothers in South Bend IN who built buggies, and later cars.

It was also the start for Leland Stanford, best known today for Stanford University. He was an early railroad baron who built the western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.