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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Murder at the Mansion — The Coroner’s Verdict
On March 2, 1900, the Butte County coroner assembled a jury to investigate the cause of the death of William Simpson, which had taken place on the night of February 27th. The eight jurors viewed the body at the Fetters … Continue reading
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Murder at the Mansion — The Confession
Who could commit such a terrible crime? That was the question on everyone’s lips. But only two days after the murder, the police had a confession. Johnny Richards told his version of the murder to Butte County District Attorney Joseph … Continue reading
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Murder at the Mansion — Annie Investigates
The murdered body of Billy Simpson was discovered early on the morning of February 28th. General and Mrs. Bidwell were already up and were notified immediately. Annie Bidwell quickly walked the few blocks to the Indian village. Annie knew Billy … Continue reading
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Murder at the Mansion — The Maid’s Testimony
Shortly before 9:00 p.m., on the evening of February 27, 1900, John A. McFeely left his hardware store on Second Street and headed for home. As he neared the footbridge over Chico Creek he heard Charles Cunningham’s dogs barking at … Continue reading
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Murder at the Mansion
Fred Petersen, the head gardener at Bidwell Mansion, got an early start on the morning of February 28, 1900. And it was not long after his arrival that he made a grisly discovery. At 6:30 a.m., just as it was … Continue reading
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February Celebrations
The Weekly Butte Record found a number of reasons to celebrate in February. All the following come from the issue for February 13, 1864. The event that got the most coverage was the completion of the California Northern Railroad, linking … Continue reading
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Abraham Lincoln and Freedom
February 12th 2024 marks the 215th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States, who led the country through four years of a bloody and bitter war, a war fought to end slavery and to maintain a government … Continue reading
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A Visit to Ide Adobe State Historic Park
Today is a beautiful day to be out and about, so I went to William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park in Red Bluff to walk their StoryWalk. The guides at Ide Adobe do a StoryWalk every month, featuring a … Continue reading
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StoryWalk at Ide Adobe
Alvin Coffey is getting some attention during Black History Month! The Red Bluff Daily News announced that my book, Alvin Coffey: The True Story of an African American Forty-Niner, will be the featured book at a StoryWalk activity at Ide … Continue reading
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Reverend Mr. Obadiah Summers
Obadiah Summers served as pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Chico in 1885, before moving on to serve congregations and build up churches in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Oakland. Summers was born a slave in Missouri in 1844. … Continue reading
Posted in Black History Month, Uncategorized
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