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

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.

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.....

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. 

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 30^th.  

10:00 am – 4:00 pm,  Heritage Museum

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!)

Free Music at Ironstone! Friday nite

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.