Sold! Vaughn Pottery recent sales...

We love Vaughn Pottery and so do our Collectors!  

Below are images of a few pieces that have found new homes recently.  

Congratulations!

Ghost sightings?

Seems a week ago last Saturday, we had our first experience with a "ghost sighting". Now, it wasn't exactly a sighting, but seems said ghost gently touched the shoulder of one of our managers early that morning leaving a cold spot where the touch was felt. Within the next 30 minutes, the radio was turned on by "no one" up in the tasting room as the security arrived to open up the doors and turn lights on. "No one" was up there when the radio came on... , or when it was again turned on and off again just this past weekend. 

Tasting room security cameras also saw one of the registers start a ZZ run the next day, spitting out rolls of register tape when "No one" again was anywhere near said register.  Add to that reports of slamming doors and a few other possibly related incidents, and we may have an extra guest visiting these days!

Now, normally, I am one to ignore such things, although when a kid, my sister and I swear we did see the ghost up in her room at the old Museum in Jackson, Ca. We were hiding in a bush outside one night while visiting Grandma & Grandpa, curators that lived in the old house next to the Museum... but, I've always thought that sighting a direct result of a frightening story told by an outstanding Grandpa story teller that put the fear in us. A huge rush of adrenaline brought on by sneaking out the bedroom window in the middle of the night and hiding behind an old bush under a full moon with glowing reflections on the old museum windows, and well, you get the picture.

But, here at Ironstone, those reports made were by some pretty stable, reputable staff members minus the full moon, adrenaline rush and the great Grandpa Storyteller.

So, there you have it! Take it with a grain of salt, but, if I hear more, I will let you know!

Historic Trivia from the Gold Country

 This wonderful old safe has been here in the Heritage Museum for several years now.  Showing signs of wear with a lock that has been drilled open, this old boy seems to have an awful lot to say.  But finding the time to search out his voice has always been lacking.

Well, with a short concert season, we have found ourselves with a little bit of time on our hands and what an amazing story is emanating from this old timer!

We know it came out of what had been the Wells Fargo Office in Angels Camp, California, just down the road from us. Each of the Wells Fargo Agents that either worked or owned that office had signed the door of this safe with the dates they had been the official Wells Fargo Agent.

(Note: we had to wrap plastic over the door where the signatures were to protect them from being rubbed off by a curious on looker. Why someone would do that is beyond me, but, luckily we caught the offending finger before it could do too much damage! A Plexiglas cover is being designed to replace the plastic wrap.)

The first signature belongs to a J. C. Scribner who was the first agent from 1856 to 1892.

Having seen that name before, it was time to dig. In the back office reference library is a reprint of a book printed in 1885 titled "Calaveras County, Illustrated and Described 1885."
Page #72 ... 

"At Angel's, J. C. Scribner keeps a general merchandise store, and a good line of drugs. He also acts as agent for Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express. He came to Calaveras County as early as 1849, and purchased the business formerly conducted by Mr. Angel, the founder of this camp. The wooden building occupied first by Mr. Scribner was burned in 1855, and he replaced it by a very substantial stone building the following year (1856). He has remained in business at this place ever since."

This lovely book also has an etching of said store as it looked in 1885.

At the California Historic American Buildings Survey website, we found the photo below of a later version of Scribner's store & Wells Fargo Express office taken prior to 1941 when the building burnt down and became what is now a parking lot across the street from what was the old Angels Hotel. 

According to the Survey card, J. C. Scribner was: 

"Dear to hearts of Angels Camp citizens because of folk lore around Scribner, practical joker of old school. Said to have been the one who furnished the grapeshot that decided the race in Mark Twain's famous story "Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

Now, this story was an actual event that occurred downtown Angels Camp sometime between 1856 and 1865. Samuel Clemens heard the folklore while socializing in the Angels Hotel, just across the street from Scribner's store. Maybe we will have time for that in another blog.

May, 1892, the Wells Fargo agency was taken over by R. Rasmussen.  At this time, I am still looking to see what happened to J. C. Scribner. If I find anything interesting, I will most certainly post an update.

Hope you have enjoyed this little bit of historic trivia.

Trivet Time for the Holidays!

Coinciding with the current "History of Iron" display, Ironstone's Junk Junkies have just received bags full of vintage trivets!

These go on sale this weekend for $5 each!  Research on just the first bag revealed value of just one of the trivets to be around $25.00.  

Many of these are collector pieces, so best come on in and gather up the deals.

This is a one time opportunity as well. From a recent estate sale, the collector's heirs don't see any value here, so the catch is yours.

While you are in, take a look at the "History of Irons" display as well.

Those are all available for sale as well. An outstanding value for the collector or just those of us who remember the doorstop at Grandma's house, and want to emulate the connection for our kids.

Remember, with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, these can also be great White elephant gifts or nostalgia mementos for your loved ones.

At the very least, stop in when you are out to put a smile on your face!

Updates to come from the Junk Junkies!