Category Archives: Uncategorized

A cold, clear morning in January 1848. Jim Marshall goes out early to check the tailrace of the sawmill that he is building for John Sutter on the American River. The night before he had turned the water from the … Continue reading →

Looking for something completely different in John Bidwell’s diaries, I came across this notation for June 26, 1881: Events: Slept in tower to watch the comet The tower of Bidwell Mansion would be a great viewing platform for watching a … Continue reading →

Noodling around the Internet Archive and I found this, a collection of brief autobiographies of the members of the California legislature. The first legislature consisted of 36 Assemblymen and 16 Senators. They began their deliberations on Monday, December 17, 1849. … Continue reading →

Once again the Bidwell Mansion Association was unable to celebrate the holidays in person at Bidwell Mansion with a party for members and guests. Instead we created a virtual holiday celebration. Join with John and Annie Bidwell and their dinner … Continue reading →

My final selections from the Christmas pictorial issue of the Oroville Daily Butte Record for 1857. That last image of false teeth was usually employed in advertisements for dentists. And as long as we are on the subject of roast … Continue reading →

A few random bits from the Butte Record’s Christmas pictorial. The text was dictated by the engravings available and the imagination of the editor. Quartz mills for extracting gold were common, but not quite that small. The printer’s devil was … Continue reading →

Lady Liberty takes center stage in this clever item. This lady was born in Philadelphia, on the 4th of July 1776. She was raised by a gentleman named Washington, and brought out into society by Mrs. John Adams, Mr. Thomas … Continue reading →

Note: When I wrote yesterday’s post, I said that this Christmas pictorial appeared in 1856. It was actually 1857, and the post has been corrected. This one is almost like a rebus: A tree on one side and a house … Continue reading →

The Oroville Daily Butte Record had some fun for its readers on Christmas Day, 1857, which it “Furnished to our readers gratuitously as a Christmas present!” Using standard newspaper engravings that were usually seen in advertisements and patriotic announcements (“obtained … Continue reading →

My books are available for holiday shopping! You can order by contacting me at goldfieldsbooksca@gmail.com, or by shopping at some of our great North State businesses like Made in Chico, ABC Books, Bidwell Mansion (open Wednesdays and Saturdays), The Rusty … Continue reading →