Monthly Archives: December 2017

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year from Goldfields Books. I hope 2018 is filled with wonderful discoveries and joyful events for you and yours. This past year I worked on two publishing projects: my own book on … Continue reading

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Bidwell’s Winepress

I spent the day at the History Room of the California State Library in Sacramento, looking at papers in the Sutter’s Fort Pioneer Collection. Among other things, this collection contains two boxes of papers pulled from the Bidwell Papers, consisting … Continue reading

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Rancho Rio de los Molinos

This Week in California History (an ever-useful site, maintained by Jim Silverman) tells me that December 20th, 1844, is the date on which Rancho Rio de los Molinos, a 22,172-acre Mexican land grant in present day Tehama County was deeded. … Continue reading

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Bidwellville, Anyone?

Not long ago a friend of mine asked me why John Bidwell did not name the town he founded after himself. He could name it anything he wanted. Why Chico? Why not Bidwellville, or Bidwellton, or Bidwell City? It used … Continue reading

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A Visit to Stansbury House

The last field trip for my OLLI Historic Homes group last Thursday was to my favorite Victorian home, Stansbury House in Chico. I love Bidwell Mansion too, but it’s too grand for me to actually imagine living there. But I … Continue reading

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The Rush Is On!

On December 5, 1848, President James K. Polk ignited the California Gold Rush in his State of the Union address to Congress. Gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in January 1848, but John Sutter did the best … Continue reading

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Shameless Book Promotion

There are lots of opportunities this holiday season to promote my new book, Nancy Kelsey Comes over the Mountain. Dan Barnett reviewed it in the Chico Enterprise-Record yesterday, Sunday December 3rd.  Here is what he says: This captivating book keeps … Continue reading

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