Myrl Jeffcoat

We literally fell into the little town of Volcano, after exploring the Indian Grinding Rock State Park in Amador County last week. The distance between the two is a mere few miles.

Volcano (Formerly Soldier's Gulch) is another of those little Gold Rush gems, which provides rich color to the Wild West era tapestry. It is considered by many to be one of the most picturesque of the Mother Lode towns.

Dating back in history to the late 1850s, the town was originally nicknamed "Crater City." Early miners noticed the lay of the land was a bowl-shaped valley, which caused them to believe it was formed by a volcano.

There is a story that in 1849 one miner took out 8 thousand dollars worth of gold in a few days - that was in 1849 dollars. Another got 28 pounds in a single pocket.

Volcano boasts that it is home to California's first amateur theatrical company. This theatre tradition continues to this day. The town has an outdoor amphitheatre, and the Volcano Theatre Company, which stages performances at various times during the year.

Once the largest settlement in Amador County, Volcano now has a population of a mere 101 souls. In its heyday, the town boasted 3 breweries, 17 hotels, 37 saloons and a great deal of gold.

For more detailed history on Volcano you can visit Volcano's AmadorGold webpage

Directions to Volcano from Sacramento: Take Highway 16 through Sloughhouse, and on until you reach Highway 49 toward Jackson (travels through Dry Town, Amador City, and Jackson). Take the Highway 88 turnoff toward Lake Tahoe. Turn left on Pine Grove-Volcano Road. The settlement is about 3 miles from Highway 88. Mileage is about 50 miles from Sacramento to Volcano.

Close your eyes for a minute, and imagine that you are traveling back through centuries - long before white man had the audacity to show up and begin shuffling around the New World.

You look at your hands - they are brown. They may be weathered; but perhaps not. In your right hand is a long conical stone pestle - unless you are a lefty. You are using this tool to grind acorns in mortars formed on a massive marbleized limestone rock outcropping with 1,185 mortar holes. There are others in your group performing similar activity. You know each other. Some of them are your kin. All of them are of your tribe. You are a member of the Miwok Native American people. And you are among the FIRST people of this land, which will later become known as California.

Meanwhile, back in today's world where reality can get into mischief, the 135 acre Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, exists as a testament to the original people of California, who lived in this area for many centuries, before being driven into less desirable land, by settlers, who arrived during the California Gold Rush.

The Roundhouse emphasizes the aboriginal importance of the site. A reconstructed Miwok village provides present-day descendants of the Miwok with an opportunity to preserve their heritage and traditions. Several times during the year, local Native Americans hold ceremonies. In September, Indian families gather at the park for the annual acorn gathering ceremonies. Dancing, story telling, and games are traditional activities. But, there is no fixed schedule of events.

The Northern Sierra Miwok established their villages alongside the rivers and streams of the Sierra Nevada - from the Cosumnes River on the north to the Mokelumne River on the south. Other Miwok groups lived to the west as far as Mount Diablo and as far south as Yosemite National Park.

The park is located near the town of Pine Grove, approximately 8 miles east of Jackson on highway 88 (headed toward Lake Tahoe). The distance is about 48 miles from Sacramento.

For more information about this fascinating place, you can visit the Indian Grinding Rock State Park website.

[*Note from Myrl]: The grandkids will be starting back to school next week. I promise to get back to writing more about real estate related things then. But, I must admit, I've enjoyed these little summer day trips with the kids. Summer is ending too quickly.

For those of you, who have been following my blog, you know that I have a fascination for the California Mother Lode - the little towns, and their history. A few days back, I wrote about Amador City a little treasure along the Highway 49 daisy chain of California Gold Rush towns that make up the tapestry of rich California history.

Late last week, I gathered up a couple more grandkids, and my camera. We jumped in the car, and headed off once again, traveling south east on highway 16, which connects up with highway 49 further south east through the likes of Dry Town, Amador City, Sutter Creek, Jackson, San Andreas and Angels Camp, before reaching The Gem of the Southern Mines, Columbia.

Of all the little Gold Rush towns still in existence today, Columbia is one that I enjoy the most for its original feel. The town's landscape filled with the old Wells Fargo building, stores, blacksmith shop, and saloon, continue on the very dirt streets and roads they existed on originally.

The little town got its beginnings on March 27^th 1850, when Dr. Thaddeus Hildreth, and his brother George, with a handful of other prospectors, made camp near there. They found gold, and miners streamed in to share the wealth.

Within the month, Hildreth's Diggings, a tent and shantytown housed several thousand miners. It's original name was soon changed to American Camp, and then ultimately to Columbia.

The history of the little town was almost doomed to be very short. Water, which is indispensable for mining placer gold, was in very short supply. And, there were no natural streams in the area - only gulches carrying runoff from rain and snow. So, in June 1851 the Tuolumne County Water Company was created to bring water into the area. Because the water company's rates were exhorbitantly high, the miners formed the Columbia and Stanislaus River Water Company in 1854. This new company built a 60 mile aqueduct to supply the mines. The new system was not completed fully until 1858, when the more easily worked gold deposits had been exhausted and the miners began moving out. Because of this, the Tuolumne County Water Company acquired the new system, which cost over $1 million, for under $150,000.

Columbia's tents and shanties began being replaced with permanent structures. By the end of 1852 streets were laid out, with more than 150 shops, stores, saloons and other enterprises, all going strong. There was also a church, a Masonic Lodge, and even a branch of the Sons of Temperance (if you can imagine any kind of temperance in a mining town).

Recognizing an opportunity to preserve a typical Gold Rush town as an example of one of the most colorful eras in American history, the California State Legislature in 1945 created Columbia State Historic Park.

For more information about Columbia State Historic Park you can visit the Columbia Chamber of Commerce website.

For the best roast beef sandwich, pickles, chips and sarsparilla around, show up at Jack Douglass Saloon in the center of Columbia, 22718 Main Street. Kids are welcome too!

About 28 miles south of Sacramento, along the Sacramento River, is a sleepy and intriguing little place suspended in time. It is the town of Locke.

Differing historical accounts say Locke was founded about 1912-1915, by Chinese, who had lived in nearby Walnut Grove where a fire had occurred in the Chinese section of the town.

A committee of Chinese merchants, led by Lee Bing, Chan Hing Sai, Tom Wai, Chan Dai Kee, Ng So Hat, Chan Wai Lum, Chow Hou Bun, and Suen Dat Suin was formed, to establish a town of their own for the Chinese.

Chinese architects laid out the town, and industrious building ensued. The founding of "Lockeport" - later 'Locke', was a reality. By 1920 Locke stood essentially as you see it now.

Levee construction for the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta, and the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, originally brought the Chinese to this area. However, by the time Locke was built, most of the work was in farm labor. Locke had many businesses that catered to the farm workers and residents of this region. In the 1940's restaurants, bakeries, herb shops, fish markets, gambling halls, boarding houses, brothels, grocery stores, a school, clothing stores, and the Star Theatre lined the bustling streets of Locke. At its peak 600 residents, and as many as 1500 people occupied the town of Locke.

Locke was added to the registry of national historical places, by the Sacramento County Historical Society On August 2, 1970. Locke has the unique status of being the only town in the United States built exclusively by the Chinese for the Chinese.

Locke is no tourist trap, nor is it a ghost town. Its unusual, out-of-the-way charm is genuine. Perhaps it is this authenticity, without any hypocritical overtones, which brings so many out of town visitors to its doors.

Currently, there are between 80 to 90 people living in Locke. Chinese population is down to about ten.

Directions From Sacramento:

• Take Hwy 5 South
• Exit at Hood-Franklin Road and turn Right
• Turn Left (South) on River Road
• Stay on River Road travel through river towns of Hood, Courtland, before arriving at Locke on the left side of River Road

There is a faster route to Locke by continuing on I-5 South beyond Hood-Franklin exit, and instead taking the Twin Cities Road exit. However, it is not as scenic, and you miss delightful river views and towns along the way.

For more information on Locke you can visit the Locke Community website.

For Sacramento locals, who don't already know it, The Old Sacramento Business Association hosts an open aire art walk and gallery, full of family-friendly art, history, and entertainment from 12 - 6 pm every Second Saturday of the month during summer. The next occurrence will be August 8^th.

This is a delightful opportunity to bring the family out, and explore the festivities against the backdrop of Old Sacramento's historic architecture,

Artists are encouraged to apply for this free opportunity to display and sell their artwork in Old Sacramento.

For more information on the Second Saturday festivities, you can visit The Old Sacramento Web for details, artist applications, and for details of other activities going on in the district.