In the early days of the Old El Dorado supplies were not always available when they were needed. Many items were sent to the mines and the workers by mail order. Orders were placed by the local merchant, or stage driver but most often by mail order.
In 1859 the California papers estimated in all the territory west of the Missouri River there was but one woman to every 200 men. This opened the path for an enterprising new business of mail order brides.
Early in the Gold Rush these hard working men lifted their heads from their labors and felt the absence of one vital element -- women!
There were no money-back guarantees but those lonely hearts thought it was worth a role of the dice to order a bride by mail, and it did work out most of the time.
There were a number of early publications that specialized in mail order brides. The motto of the day was "Women need a man's strong arm to support her in life's struggle, and men need a woman's love".
Most communities celebrated the arrival of a new bride to their town. Miners scattered throughout the hills would all come to town to look at this new addition -- "A woman". Word would spread far and wide when a woman was to arrive.
Here in Old El Dorado the new bride was not always celebrated as in other towns. Here they said it was a friend of a relative back East. Some men were too embarrassed.
Some of the names of early Old El Dorado you will recognize but we are not going to list those brave souls who took to this much needed supply.
Despite an occasional unhappy couple mail order match, there were an unusual number of life long unions.
This was because the people were very honest in their letters of exactly what they expected. Photos and background information was a must. Also after they met both parties were to sign an agreement not to be a bad spouse or try to change the other person.
These poor souls were willing to sign away anything to complete the spousal arrangement.
The lack of women in the gold fields and not many good men back East especially after the war brought these two factions together. Records tell us that in most cases this was a life made in Heaven.
EVEN the old timers said "If you are lucky enough to live in Old El Dorado with a woman, then you are lucky enough!"
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Mines around Old El Dorado
The many mines in and around Old El Dorado have names as varied as those of race horses, such as:
Rose Hill: Located on ridge south of El Dorado Creek, one mile west of Mtn. Ranch. Opened in 1871, operated for 25 years with a 10 stamp mill, by the Rodesino family. Later purchased by Clyde Sherwood, former owner of El Dorado Ranch.
Hardscabble: Located on ridge above Murray Creek, one mile west of Mtn. Ranch, owned by Louis Baver. In 1930 the ore yielded up to $30 per ton.
Starlight: Located 6 miles east of San Andreas off Michel Road on what is now called Starlight Lane. Discovered in 1890 with 145 foot shaft. Concentrates averaged $162 per ton. Treated in 5 stamp mill. Owned by John R. Ross.
Old McKinney: Located 5 miles southeast of Mt. Ranch, owned by Clorinda Domenghini. Discovered in 1860. What is now called Hidden Valley.
Pilot: Located on ridge between the O'Neil and McKinney Creeks, 5 miles northwest of Murphys. 180 foot shaft with 4 stamp mill. Near Cave City.
Table Mountain: Located one mile northeast of Mtn. Ranch, owned by A. M. Raggio with 110 foot shaft.
Murray Creek: Located one mile north of Mtn. Ranch, owned by Albert Wanner. Discovered in 1890.
Fort Ritter: Located on ridge north of Murray Creek, one mile northeast of Mtn. Ranch and owned by Donald Costello. 3 foot vein strkes northwest and dips northeast. Early mine discovered in 1850. With 640 foot adit and 200 foot shaft. Ore treated with 5 stamp mill.
Hazel Emma: Located in Mexican Gulch, 1 1/2 miles northeast of Mtn. Ranch and owned by Geo W. Carr, Jr. Ore yielded $20 per ton in the 1930's with 175 foot north crosscut adit, 100 foot of drifts, and 40 feet winze.
Montana: Locate on ridge north o Salamander Gulch, 6 miles northeast of San Andreas, owner M. Gattavaro in the 1930's. 2 foot quartz vein stripes north and dips 55 east. Active in 1870 with 2 stamp mill. Northwest of Mtn. Ranch.
Shenandoah: Located on Jesus Maria Creek 5 miles northwest of Mtn. Ranch, owned by J.S. Jack 5 foot vein strikes northeast. 1600 foot adits and 500 foot shaft. Ore treated in 10 stamp mill.
Alpha and Omega: Located on ridge between Jesus Maria and Esperanza Creeks, owned by Loring Bennet and Alice Rynn. 1 1/2 foot vein strikes northwest. Ore yeild up to #34 per ton. From 1877 to 1930's, 5 stamp mill.
Rindge: There were 3 Rindge mine, one located northeast of Jesus Maria, one in Wet Gulch, and one southeast of Glencoe. All were operated in the 1920's by F. H. Rindge of Stockton, with a 10 stamp mill.
Wet Gulch: Located 2 miles southeast of the town Jesus Maria in Wet Gulch. Owned by T.P. Shufelton and worked extensively in the early days.
Dauphine: Located one mile southeast of Jesus Maria (the town). Two veins in 7 foot zone strike northeast. Discovered in 1851. 100 foot shaft, 140 foot adit and open cut. Treated with one stamp mill. One of our very early mine shafts.
And don't forget Sheep Ranch, by far the largest and best producing gold mine in this area. Discovered in 1868 and operated almost continuously until 1942. In 1875 the mine was sold to George Hearst and Company. They brought the mine up to modern standards at that time and it was most productive. One of the biggest little towns in southern mines with stores, hotels, livery, even a hospital.
You will be surprised. There is probably a mine on your property or close by. Get out your pick and metal detector and see what you can find!
Rose Hill: Located on ridge south of El Dorado Creek, one mile west of Mtn. Ranch. Opened in 1871, operated for 25 years with a 10 stamp mill, by the Rodesino family. Later purchased by Clyde Sherwood, former owner of El Dorado Ranch.
Hardscabble: Located on ridge above Murray Creek, one mile west of Mtn. Ranch, owned by Louis Baver. In 1930 the ore yielded up to $30 per ton.
Starlight: Located 6 miles east of San Andreas off Michel Road on what is now called Starlight Lane. Discovered in 1890 with 145 foot shaft. Concentrates averaged $162 per ton. Treated in 5 stamp mill. Owned by John R. Ross.
Old McKinney: Located 5 miles southeast of Mt. Ranch, owned by Clorinda Domenghini. Discovered in 1860. What is now called Hidden Valley.
Pilot: Located on ridge between the O'Neil and McKinney Creeks, 5 miles northwest of Murphys. 180 foot shaft with 4 stamp mill. Near Cave City.
Table Mountain: Located one mile northeast of Mtn. Ranch, owned by A. M. Raggio with 110 foot shaft.
Murray Creek: Located one mile north of Mtn. Ranch, owned by Albert Wanner. Discovered in 1890.
Fort Ritter: Located on ridge north of Murray Creek, one mile northeast of Mtn. Ranch and owned by Donald Costello. 3 foot vein strkes northwest and dips northeast. Early mine discovered in 1850. With 640 foot adit and 200 foot shaft. Ore treated with 5 stamp mill.
Hazel Emma: Located in Mexican Gulch, 1 1/2 miles northeast of Mtn. Ranch and owned by Geo W. Carr, Jr. Ore yielded $20 per ton in the 1930's with 175 foot north crosscut adit, 100 foot of drifts, and 40 feet winze.
Montana: Locate on ridge north o Salamander Gulch, 6 miles northeast of San Andreas, owner M. Gattavaro in the 1930's. 2 foot quartz vein stripes north and dips 55 east. Active in 1870 with 2 stamp mill. Northwest of Mtn. Ranch.
Shenandoah: Located on Jesus Maria Creek 5 miles northwest of Mtn. Ranch, owned by J.S. Jack 5 foot vein strikes northeast. 1600 foot adits and 500 foot shaft. Ore treated in 10 stamp mill.
Alpha and Omega: Located on ridge between Jesus Maria and Esperanza Creeks, owned by Loring Bennet and Alice Rynn. 1 1/2 foot vein strikes northwest. Ore yeild up to #34 per ton. From 1877 to 1930's, 5 stamp mill.
Rindge: There were 3 Rindge mine, one located northeast of Jesus Maria, one in Wet Gulch, and one southeast of Glencoe. All were operated in the 1920's by F. H. Rindge of Stockton, with a 10 stamp mill.
Wet Gulch: Located 2 miles southeast of the town Jesus Maria in Wet Gulch. Owned by T.P. Shufelton and worked extensively in the early days.
Dauphine: Located one mile southeast of Jesus Maria (the town). Two veins in 7 foot zone strike northeast. Discovered in 1851. 100 foot shaft, 140 foot adit and open cut. Treated with one stamp mill. One of our very early mine shafts.
And don't forget Sheep Ranch, by far the largest and best producing gold mine in this area. Discovered in 1868 and operated almost continuously until 1942. In 1875 the mine was sold to George Hearst and Company. They brought the mine up to modern standards at that time and it was most productive. One of the biggest little towns in southern mines with stores, hotels, livery, even a hospital.
You will be surprised. There is probably a mine on your property or close by. Get out your pick and metal detector and see what you can find!
Monday, February 16, 2015
Baseball, Then and Now
In 1845 a New Yorker named Alexander Cartwright Jr. -- not Abner Doubleday -- invented the game that became America's pastime. Then he headed West taking with him a ball and bat.
Cartwright designed the game complete, bases at 90 feet in a diamond shape, players at each position with only 9 on each team. Bat in order with 3 outs, then exchange positions.
There had been many other games involving bases and balls before 1845 (some of them were even called baseball). A crudely defined game that was known as town ball, derived from the ancient English sport of rounders, had attained some popularity in New York and New England. (The New England version, with bases arranged in a U pattern and the batter's position entirely separate, was called the Massachusetts game.)
But all of these primitive exercises were static and aimless, and impossible to codify. Only after Cartwright's revolutionary innovations did the game ignite general excitement. Alexander Cartwright had invented baseball -- in the same sense that the Wright Brothers (and not Leonardo da Vinci) had invented the airplane, and Thomas A. Edison (and not Benjamin Franklin) had invented the electric light...
In the old days I guess every small town in America had a baseball team and Calaveras County was not to be outdone. Most every small, and some larger towns, especially the mining towns, all had their baseball team. Every team was in some sort of league. The foothill teams were called semi-professionals which meant they didn't get paid but they did have fun. And the town faithfully supported their team. Some say Mountain Ranch and Sheep Ranch teams couldn't win a game without their rooters. There was always a crowd to see the local boys play and when they played a rival team the rooters whistled, cheered, and rang the old dinner bell from the Sheep Ranch Hotel until the opponents were completely rattled.
There were very well organized teams at Mountain Ranch, Whiskey Slide, Murphys, Calaveritas, Sheep Ranch, RailRoad Flat, and West Point who played teams as far away as Sonora and the Stockton Pencil Factory. The Mountain Ranch - Sheep Ranch team were known as the best ball players in the league.
As early as the 1850's there was baseball in the Motherlode. Bill Denig who ran the Pony Express in Calaveras County played on the Calaveritas Team. Joe Reem the Eldorado Blacksmith also played. Also Red Greve the local grocer. The Rodesino Family had some boys who played on the El Dorado Team. John Walker played, J.F. Bench, a local merchant, also played. The population of old El Dorado was 200 in 1863.
In the 1920's and 30's those teams continued to produce some very good ball players. During the second world war the baseball idea fell to the wayside. But in the late 1940's and 50's it took off again with famous players like Yogi Berra, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Pee Wee Reese, Stan Musial, Micky Mantle and others. In 1947 Jackie Robinson was allowed to play Major League Ball. Just so you will know about "Babe" Ruth, in 1920 he had 497 home runs, 1365 runs, 1240 walks and 795 strike outs.
The more sporting gents of Calaveras County have been known to place a wager on any sporting event. Anyone who would bet on a frog jumping would certainly not hesitate to put his money on the line for his favorite baseball teams
In the 1880's Mark Bean from Sheep Ranch was the first pitcher to throw a curve ball in the Foothill League. He had batters jumping in every direction trying to get out of the way of the ball and hit it too. John Canavera, foreman of the Sheep Ranch Mine also played ball.
In the early spring when the baseball field at Sheep Ranch was covered with grain the team practiced at Rigney Flat, sometimes called Martin Flat. In Mtn. Ranch, the games were held on the Domenghini property behind the General Store.
Louis Domenghini, Paul Lewis, Clyde Cuslidge, Mr. Spiney, Charlie Valente and Warren Scott were the most faithful players. H.R. Platte, general manager of the Sheep Ranch mine donated the uniforms for the local teams. Mr. D. Fricot was a big supporter of all local sporting events.
Norbert Mudd played catcher for many years. The Umpire was Arthur Tisher who played on the team in the old days.
Before the automobile invaded the Mother Lode country the Sheep Ranch team used the big wagon to travel the many miles to neighboring towns. On the return trips from San Andreas the ball team always stopped at the Old Mountain Ranch Hotel to have supper which was served by Emma Fillippini.
Calaveras County developed a very active softball league which is still very active today.
Mtn. Ranch's first softball team was organized in 1980 after the local park and baseball field was built.
Jim Bennet, Jerry Howard and Phil Alberts put a team together that played West Point, Railroad Flat, Moke Hill, San Andreas and Valley Springs.
Through the years our local team has always been in the top three. One year we even took first place in the League.
Phil Alberts has continued to sponsor, play, coach and keep the team going. Sam Smith has been the manager and coach for many years and we are ready for the coming season. Come watch a game!
Cartwright designed the game complete, bases at 90 feet in a diamond shape, players at each position with only 9 on each team. Bat in order with 3 outs, then exchange positions.
There had been many other games involving bases and balls before 1845 (some of them were even called baseball). A crudely defined game that was known as town ball, derived from the ancient English sport of rounders, had attained some popularity in New York and New England. (The New England version, with bases arranged in a U pattern and the batter's position entirely separate, was called the Massachusetts game.)
But all of these primitive exercises were static and aimless, and impossible to codify. Only after Cartwright's revolutionary innovations did the game ignite general excitement. Alexander Cartwright had invented baseball -- in the same sense that the Wright Brothers (and not Leonardo da Vinci) had invented the airplane, and Thomas A. Edison (and not Benjamin Franklin) had invented the electric light...
In the old days I guess every small town in America had a baseball team and Calaveras County was not to be outdone. Most every small, and some larger towns, especially the mining towns, all had their baseball team. Every team was in some sort of league. The foothill teams were called semi-professionals which meant they didn't get paid but they did have fun. And the town faithfully supported their team. Some say Mountain Ranch and Sheep Ranch teams couldn't win a game without their rooters. There was always a crowd to see the local boys play and when they played a rival team the rooters whistled, cheered, and rang the old dinner bell from the Sheep Ranch Hotel until the opponents were completely rattled.
There were very well organized teams at Mountain Ranch, Whiskey Slide, Murphys, Calaveritas, Sheep Ranch, RailRoad Flat, and West Point who played teams as far away as Sonora and the Stockton Pencil Factory. The Mountain Ranch - Sheep Ranch team were known as the best ball players in the league.
As early as the 1850's there was baseball in the Motherlode. Bill Denig who ran the Pony Express in Calaveras County played on the Calaveritas Team. Joe Reem the Eldorado Blacksmith also played. Also Red Greve the local grocer. The Rodesino Family had some boys who played on the El Dorado Team. John Walker played, J.F. Bench, a local merchant, also played. The population of old El Dorado was 200 in 1863.
In the 1920's and 30's those teams continued to produce some very good ball players. During the second world war the baseball idea fell to the wayside. But in the late 1940's and 50's it took off again with famous players like Yogi Berra, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Pee Wee Reese, Stan Musial, Micky Mantle and others. In 1947 Jackie Robinson was allowed to play Major League Ball. Just so you will know about "Babe" Ruth, in 1920 he had 497 home runs, 1365 runs, 1240 walks and 795 strike outs.
The more sporting gents of Calaveras County have been known to place a wager on any sporting event. Anyone who would bet on a frog jumping would certainly not hesitate to put his money on the line for his favorite baseball teams
In the 1880's Mark Bean from Sheep Ranch was the first pitcher to throw a curve ball in the Foothill League. He had batters jumping in every direction trying to get out of the way of the ball and hit it too. John Canavera, foreman of the Sheep Ranch Mine also played ball.
In the early spring when the baseball field at Sheep Ranch was covered with grain the team practiced at Rigney Flat, sometimes called Martin Flat. In Mtn. Ranch, the games were held on the Domenghini property behind the General Store.
Louis Domenghini, Paul Lewis, Clyde Cuslidge, Mr. Spiney, Charlie Valente and Warren Scott were the most faithful players. H.R. Platte, general manager of the Sheep Ranch mine donated the uniforms for the local teams. Mr. D. Fricot was a big supporter of all local sporting events.
Norbert Mudd played catcher for many years. The Umpire was Arthur Tisher who played on the team in the old days.
Before the automobile invaded the Mother Lode country the Sheep Ranch team used the big wagon to travel the many miles to neighboring towns. On the return trips from San Andreas the ball team always stopped at the Old Mountain Ranch Hotel to have supper which was served by Emma Fillippini.
Calaveras County developed a very active softball league which is still very active today.
Mtn. Ranch's first softball team was organized in 1980 after the local park and baseball field was built.
Jim Bennet, Jerry Howard and Phil Alberts put a team together that played West Point, Railroad Flat, Moke Hill, San Andreas and Valley Springs.
Through the years our local team has always been in the top three. One year we even took first place in the League.
Phil Alberts has continued to sponsor, play, coach and keep the team going. Sam Smith has been the manager and coach for many years and we are ready for the coming season. Come watch a game!
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