Scenes from Placerville, from above left: Roger Hopkins of Fair Oaks looks at a vintage photo in a Main Street window; the Hangman's Tree Tavern in its heyday (with dangling dummy); Hopkins and friend Colleen Gast explore the shops; Main Street looking up the hill. MICHAEL ALLEN JONES mjones@sacbee.com; tavern photo: RICH PEDRONCELLI Associated Press filePLACERVILLE We were staring through the locked saloon doors at an empty room.