Category Archives: Uncategorized

How many capitals has California had? More than I knew. I might have been able to list three or four, but seven? Who knew? The California State Library knows. Here is a link to a page on Previous Capitals — … Continue reading →

How would a group of well-brought-up young people entertain themselves on Halloween 115 years ago? Annie Bidwell’s diary gives us a glimpse. In 1905 Harriett Alexander came to Chico to live at Bidwell Mansion and attend Chico High School. She … Continue reading →

Having wrapped up the last days of Black Bart, I think I will take a little vacation from blogging. I will be posting now and then, but I have family activities coming up and other projects to work on. Just … Continue reading →

Charles E. Bolton, as he was known in San Francisco, was a man about town. In the summer and fall he would leave the City to inspect his mining interests in the goldfields, or so he said. During the winter … Continue reading →

Not the sort of invitation you are likely to get in the mail today— This invitation to a hanging resides in the Pioneer Memorial Museum in Oroville. It was donated by Viola Pacheco of Redding, California. I can’t make out … Continue reading →

Yesterday I visited the Butte County Pioneer Museum in Oroville. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:15 to 2:15, it’s worth visiting to get a flavor of old-time life in a town that gained its wealth from gold-mining. The stone … Continue reading →

Who are these three gentlemen? The photograph was taken at the Chico photography studio of H.H. Frye, but the three men are not identified. The photo was brought to a committee meeting of the Association for Northern California Historical Research … Continue reading →