Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Utica Mine Archives

Just received word that Ironstone's Heritage Museum will be hosting a one day preview of an outstanding historic find, Saturday, August 30th.

Memorabilia from the famous Utica Mine of Calaveras County. Direct from Holabird & Assoc., will be available for viewing with representatives from Holabird here to answer any questions you may have.  Word is this collection may go up for auction later this year, so now is your chance to come out and see for yourself this great historic archive.  

Now a word from Holabird & Assoc...

Utica Mine Find
The word “archive” is often thrown around to describe items for sale. But this true archive contains thousands and thousands of billheads, assay receipts, advertising envelopes, letters, business cards, river shipping receipts, whiskey and cigar related ephemera, etc. It is the complete record of the Utica Mine and nearby mines and towns associated with the Utica Mine.
You will find names like Frank Mitchler, George Stickle, and Charles Lane, places like Knights Ferry and Sheepranch, assays done by the Utica Mill, assay receipts and bills for rolled silver from Selby, hundreds of records hauling ore and lumber to the Utica Mill, and many more.
Learn about the Angels Dam breaking, the use of Union Water Works ditches to fight fires, the two fatal Utica Mine accidents and the 22 deaths associated with it, which companies in Stockton, Sacramento, and San Francisco were frequented and what was purchased.
Small towns and places can be found throughout the archive: Soulsbyville, Robinson Ferry, Bear Valley Station, Ranch Flat, Monarch Ville, French Canon, Bunds Ranch, and Valley Springs. Find references to forgotten mines and leases named new Discovery, Essex, Juneau, Egan, Union Copper, Ilex, Oriole, New Brunswick, Dolling and many more. Spend hours in 1918 and 1919 as the West Point mines are mapped and described and the business of the mine is laid out. The owner is attempting to market the mine for sale.

Most of these documents are mining related! There are many stories ready to be uncovered and told from this archive! Too many to even begin exploring in this short describing.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Artist Kathleen Dunphy visits Ironstone!

Nationally acclaimed Plein Air Artist Kathleen Dunphy spent a beautiful morning at Ironstone last week working her magic in the vineyards. Below you see the beautiful outcome of that visit.




If you are not familiar with Kathleen or her work you are missing an amazing experience, both visually and emotionally.  Each time I look at one of her paintings, I am drawn into the landscape, the time zone and the aura of that space and time, not once but every time I look at that painting. A true time capsule of energy and light.   For more outstanding paintings visit her website   http://kathleendunphy.com/  

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Update on Rocks, Rocks and more Rocks!

Update:
Small specimens selling for $5 each while the larger ones are $7 each. Great value! and they are going fast...

New shipment of 52 boxes of outstanding Rock specimens!

Just arrived at Ironstone Heritage Museum this afternoon. We are having so much fun opening each box to see the stunning assortment of quality specimens.

Everything from Copper, Amethyst, giodes, Crystals, Lepidolite, Wulfenite, Sulfur, Kyanite, Aragonite, Rose Quartz, Blue Calcite, Malachite , Okenite (this one is fuzzy and just too wierd to touch!), Dolomite, Actinolite, Sodalite, Amazonite ....

And we have only opened 5 of the 52 boxes!

Prices are only $5 & $7 each.

Snooze ya loose!  These are great for collectors of all ages. If we come across anything real unusual, we will post a photo!


And most important, these are all labeled!  The first batch we received of smaller and lesser quality rocks a couple of years ago were not labeled. We have been trying over the years to learn more about each specimen and figure out what they all are.  This time, NO PROBLEM!  We know what they are and where they come from.  All specimens include a descriptive tag.  

Start your collection now!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Franklin Classic Car Club

Visiting from throughout the United States, the Franklin Classic Car Club comes to Murphys and Ironstone Vineyards.  Over 60 Classic Car Buffs invade Calaveras County, one in particular having driven all the way from New York State!  And NOT in a trailer, but on the road.  

History of the Franklin Company and Club

The Motor Car and the Company


The Franklin motor car was invented by the engineer John Wilkinson and manufactured by the industrialist H. H. Franklin and marked under his name. The Franklin was one of the most innovative motor cars of its time, featuring an air-cooled engine, scientific light weight and flexible construction at a time when other luxury car manufacturers were making ponderous machines. Although it was a luxury car, its unique features made the Franklin a pleasant and easy car to operate, and consequently most Franklins were owner driven. The company always featured many body styles, both factory and custom-made, which were conducive to being owner driven. The Franklin's design allowed it to set many records in point-to-point races which revealed its superior nimble handling, durability, economy and speed over the rough roads of the day. Throughout its history Franklin was a luxury car and it was in this part of the automotive market that it competed with the other notable makes of the day. As such it fell victim to the Great Depression along with many of these same fine luxury car manufacturers.
  
These remarkable motor cars engendered such a loyal and faithful following that interest in these automobiles never died out. Many individuals continued to operate Franklins as their every day automobiles or preserved them right up to the emergence of the antique and classic hobby, decades after production ceased in 1934. The H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company was a very large employer in Syracuse, New York area, its home base, and many people across the world had very fond associations with the company and its motor cars either as employees, dealers, service personnel or just loyal customers of that fine make. For others who were younger it may have been an unforgettable recollection of a Franklin in the family or one which was owned by a neighbor. They were very distinctive automobiles and were not easily forgotten.

Information from the Franklin Car Club
http://www.franklincar.org/about/history/company-and-club.html


Lady Antebellum was a sell out show and awesome!

Hope you got to see the show! It was awesome!  
We have been away buried in work and unable to join you here, but, we are back!  And will get updates on line again...

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Post Clinic images ...

If you missed the Free Appraisal Clinic by Holabird & Associates
here are a few more items that came in...

This was an antique shadowbox that was animated. Excellent condition and very funny!


Several antique Guns & Rifles came in. This was the more rare

 Interesting figuring fetching around $300


Fake? or Museum Treasure?  Turned out to be a lovely print... not worth as much as the frame!
There were several outstanding collections of original art that came in. These were done by artist D. Schuler


 Yes, there was GOLD as well, some outstanding specimens too!


Prospector Mario brought in his bathroom waist basket and discovered it was a custom art piece from the early 1900's.

This might be a Miwuk paint brush?

Some things required a closer inspection...

 Is this genuine? The blade seems to be, but ...
 More outstanding art..




This was an outstanding collection from an authentic gold rush bad guy!


  Rugs and more rugs..
 Excellent antique rifle ..
Antique clothing well preserved
Great old metal & glass sign