Saturday, August 30, 2014

Own a piece of Sutter's Mill!

Own a piece of Sutter's Mill!
 

This historic Gold Rush Era woodblock will be on display in Murphys, California. TODAY ONLY!! Saturday, Aug. 30

Beautiful Ironstone Vineyards will play host for this perfect end of summer getaway.  Fred & Joe will be on hand representing Holabird's Auction House, and will have a select  group of  Western Americana Artifacts to show, such as a Henry Lever Action Repeating Rifle, Model 1860 on display!  As well as other related gun ephemera, Diamond Springs Archive (c1853), Utica Mine Find, plus a collection of watercolor's from the late California area  Artist,  Dorner T. Schueler (1904-1986).


























Actually,  just copy and paste this link for the full story!

http://www.icollector.com/Sutter-s-Mill-Woodblock-CA-Gold-Rush-Artifact_i20352211

Thursday, August 21, 2014

90 years young!


Meet Mr. OFarrell, one of our favorite vendors. Mr. OFarrell celebrated his 90th birthday this year!  Still taking care of us all, Sean delivers authentic Irish Whistles and Shamrock cards for us to sell for him.  These little treasures are direct from Ireland and give Mr. OFarrell a little spending money as well as something to keep him busy and active. His formula for a long life.


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Vault Cover installed!

Larry & Sara hard at work placing a wonderful Plexiglas panel on the Door of the historic Wells Fargo Vault here in the Heritage Museum.  For years, customers have had to peer through double wrapped plastic in attempts to see the historic signatures on the inside of the vault door.  These signatures are from all the Wells Fargo agents that managed that station in Angels Camp.  The signatures begin with Scribbner who purchased the mercantile 
building from Henry Angel, co-founder of Historic Angels Camp and opened the first official Wells Fargo Office in that mercantile.



And here we have the finished door panel!  you can even see the signatures in this photo! Amazing!
Come by and see for yourself a great bit of Gold Country History!



If you really want to know why we had to do this, post the question. Otherwise, we can let it go.....

Saturday, August 9, 2014

New Pearls this week!

Just finishing up 3 stunning beaded necklaces.  One is Chilean Lapis Lazuli with three 14k gold accent beads. The second and third new pieces are fresh water baroque pearls. One is strung with 14k accent beads while the other also has a rare Gold in Quartz bead. These three pieces will be available this next week in our Museum. 


Thursday, August 7, 2014

One Day Only! Historic Document Preview

Holabird Western Americana Collections
Presents a preview of a recently discovered archive
of Calaveras County Historical Documents,

This fabulous archive was recently discovered.  It contains upwards of 10,000 documents from dozens  of the mining camps in and around Angles Camp, c 1880-1915. We were surprised to find illustrated letter sheets, a huge whiskey archive, a fantastic archive from Mitchler's Murphys Hotel, including colorful lithographed business cards.  A remarkable archive from the assay department of the Utica mine is accompanied by an excellent document record of the mine's activities.

 This fabulous collection will go up for auction later this year, so don’t miss your chance to

stop by and see these outstanding historic artifacts for yourself.


One day only,   Saturday, August 30th.  


10:00 am – 4:00 pm,  Heritage Museum

Friday, August 1, 2014

Bells, Bells and more Bells!

The Bells are in!


Yes, we have a collection of bells in that Mr. Kautz found at an estate sale. They are all for sale with prices ranging from $5 - $25.

I was going to do a nice short little history of Bells ... but, going back to the beginning around 4000 BC in China and ending up here at Ironstone with a room full of little china, glass & pottery bells doesn't make for a short story!

Besides, these don't really fit the search engine's descriptors of musical instruments as they are nice but not fine tuned enough for the orchestra, nor do they lend themselves to the "calling workers from the field to meals" category as I doubt anyone can hear them even from the next room.  

However, they are quite nice little bells with cheery sounds that can remind someone you are stuck in your room in a full lower body cast and need a drink of water or they would fit nicely in someone's bell collection.

In any case, they are charming with nice sounds and great prices.  Come check them out. 

If they are still here in December, you may be subject to a complimentary tasting concert featuring our very own bell choir!  (Save us all and come buy some now!)