OAK BOTTOM WATER DITCH TRAIL - 1855.

In this episode of Exploring Shasta County History, join Robert Frazier, host of California Unearthed, and I as we hike a historic water ditch that was built in 1855. This water ditch was to give the local mines near Oak Bottom their water to be used in their extraction of ore, and other purposes as well. Come learn some of the history of the area in video as well. Filmed on location: May 3, 2025. Like, comment, and please share subscribe if you haven't yet.

The Former Shasta May Blossom Mine and Property (now Abandoned Under Shasta Lake.)

When local prospector and miner Nicholas W. Keith, a native of North Carolina, and a resident of the Sacramento River township, struck the mineral vein of the Shasta May Blossom, in 1900, he discovered that this mineral vein was hosted in a body of shale and rhyolite along with dense limonite which contained a lenticular ore body comprising of the following minerals: gold, silver, and copper. He then christened it as the Shasta May Blossom. The origin of the name is uncertain.

The Shasta May Blossom mine was situated upon First Creek in Sections 14 and 15, Township, 34 North, Range, 3 West, of the Mount Diablo Base and Meridian, near the town of Bully Hill, also known as Delamar and Winthrop, which was practically one mile north of Bully Hill, and inside the mining boundaries of the Pittsburg mining district. Presently, this mine lays abandoned under the water of Shasta Lake upon the Squaw Creek arm. On August 25, 1901, it was reported by the local media that Morton Lindley purchased the Keith copper group of mines, in the Pittsburg mining district from Nicholas W. Keith for an undisclosed amount of money. Included in this transaction was the Shasta May Blossom mine consisting of 300-acres of mineral land, at that time.

Above: a branch office of the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated at Copper City, in Shasta County, California. Circa 1936.

It was Lindley who organized the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, with a branch office of this mining enterprise located in the town of Copper City, as shown above. It's also referred to as the Shasta May Blossom Mining and Smelting Company, in various reports regarding this lucrative mining property. It was the Granite Creek Smelting and Refining Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, who became the parent company of this newly established mining enterprise with an initial capital stock of $10,000.00. 

Lindley formerly resided and mined in Shasta County between the years 1889 and 1892, becoming well acquainted within our region. After his residency in Shasta County, California, he relocated east and became employed with the Granite Creek Smelting and Refining Company as their General Manager in Boston. During November of 1901, the first enhancement work began on this lucrative mining property. A local newspaper described the following events: 

"Three men are now working in the Shasta May Blossom mine near Delamar. The prospect looks fine and is pronounced as being gossan carrying a white quartz. The tunnel is something over 100-feet. Many eyes are upon this property and to almost all miners here, things look mighty good. Morton Lindley is superintendent." 

Above: the main adit of the Shasta May Blossom mine with a wooden portal. Circa 1900-1906.

The above column was the start of this mining enterprise driving an 800-foot incline shaft beneath the Earth’s surface on First Creek to its face. This incline shaft formed two upper tunnels as well as a third lower tunnel which they continued further developments in. Inside the upper tunnel was a ledge of minerals which presented itself to the miners who were extracting the ore from this site along the ribs of the mine, and this same ledge showed in the middle tunnel as well. This mining company continued extracting the ore from it and investigated it further.

The main adit of this mining property, as shown above, is situated on the east slope of the hill at an altitude of 1,250-feet according to record. It measured at 720-feet and thence due north for another 26-feet. Stulls were added along the ribs and backing of the tunnel to keep portions of this mine from collapsing. A method called gobbing, (or in layman terms: stacked rock) existed within the tunnels giving miners extra room inside each tunnel of this mine to work around the loose and major rock they couldn't haul out. At 320-feet from the portal a drift measuring to 120-feet existed. In this drift is an 18-foot vertical winze in which a small lens of ore was discovered to contain gold and silver which was documented by the mining company. A later report mentioned that there was an ore bin on the property and ore tracks as well with ore cars.

County reports also describe a second adit north of the main adit at an altitude of 1,350-feet which once existed, and another called the Porter tunnel, which trends west for 600-feet was actively mined on this mineral land as well. At 250-feet from this adit, a separate portal included a 100-foot raise in its tunnel which connected with the Earth's surface. An ore-shoot inside this mine measuring at 40-feet long and 4 to 6 feet wide existed as well. The raise of this tunnel was assayed once containing 6 percent copper and $8 in gold and silver to the ton. A third former adit was also dug out to 80-feet long containing cuts and a sulfide lens with measurements of 50-feet long and 8-feet wide. The sulfide lens contained the following minerals: pyrite and chalcopyrite.

Above: A map showing Sections 14 and 15, Township, 34 North, Range, 3 West, of the Mount Diablo Base and Meridian, near the town of Bully Hill, in Shasta County, California. Source: Cal Topo.

Morton Lindley was very pleased with the progress of his men at this lucrative mining site on First Creek. On October 9, 1903, the Free Press newspaper of Redding, heralded the following article within their publication stating:

"The first hole to be drilled by the new plant at the Shasta May Blossom mine near the famous Bully Hill mine was sent in Wednesday, and Morton Lindley, the general manager of the May Blossom was present to see the new machinery started up. The big air compressor and diamond drill is operated by the latest improved expansion air engine and the plant works to the entire satisfaction of the management. The force of men are now at work cutting a large tunnel 165 feet below the old workings and expect to encounter in the new tunnel the same big vein that was struck in the upper works. Developemnt thus far on the May Blossom shows the existence of an enormous body of high-grade copper ore, carrying a large percentage of gold. Mr. Lindley was in Redding Thursday and will return to the mine Friday." (SIC)

Early on, miners used lighted candles inside the Shasta May Blossom mine to see their way through their tunnels and to finish the work they needed to get done with. By December of 1903, this lucrative mining property on First Creek obtained its power which was furnished by a large air expansion engine on the property due to the mining enterprise not being able to secure power from the local power company to utilize electricity. Under Lindley's command newer adits were formed totaling to 2,000-feet upon the property with open cuts which existed by 1908, however, its production stopped that year, due to the discovery of chalcopyrite inside the mine forcing its production of ore to stop.

Above: the lucrative mining property of the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated is shown here on First Creek. According to records this mining enterprise produced $1,000,000 in mineral production during their first five months of operation under Morton A. Lindley's lead. Later on, it was estimated that this mining enterprise was producing between $6,000 to $10,000 daily by the time this photo was taken. The Bully Hill smelter appears in the background. Date unknown. Source: California State Archives.

After a three-year closure the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated reopened their lucrative mine upon First Creek in 1911, with a force of men numbered at 20, under the command of Superintendent, William Wright. They resumed hard rock mining once again while extracting gold, silver and copper from this mining property. On the outside of the Earth’s surface prospectors conducted probing activities in hopes of a striking additional veins for further development as well. Due to the start of the first World War on July 28, 1914, this company shut down all mining operations and became idled during the interim of the war years. During it’s closure at this mining property, it was guarded by a watchman named Benton A. Graham who was a resident, of Bully Hill, Graham was employed by its energetic owner Morton Lindley. 

Four years later, the first World War ended on November 18, 1918, and the mining company returned their attention to this mining site that year. A change of ownership occurred in 1919, from Morton Lindley to J.B. Hughes, a resident of Winthrop, becoming the owner of this mining company. At that time, it was Shasta County Sheriff James L. Richardson and H.B. Ward, who made it difficult for the company to continue their mining production on this mining site due to Richardson and Ward who purportedly claimed to have purchased shares of stock within this mining company. Together they placed this property through litigation in court which was brought to suit by it’s rightful owner J.B. Hughes for a judgement of over $3,000 in the Superior Court of Shasta County, and to recover some of this mining property near Bully Hill from them which they claimed to own.

Then on, April 10, 1920, the mining case of the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated Vs., James L. Richardson and H.B. Ward was settled as shown in the following column from a local media outlet.  Richardson and Ward lost and J.B. Hughes won. See below...

Above: the Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 10, 1920.

In July of 1920 the mining property changed hands again to its new owner Albert J. Pickett. Then on, September 9, 1920, the new owner located six brand-new mining claims in the Pittsburg mining district on the Shasta May Blossom mining property called the Shasta May Blossom Numbers: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, South Extensions which were immediately recorded with the county recorder's office that day at Redding, which added to the lucrative mining claims on the property. 

The Shasta May Copper Company Consolidated brought in powerful diamond drills and sunk a hole to a depth of 170-feet, while continuing it’s ore production here. New core samples were extracted and assayed as well during this time period. Another tunnel on the property called the Porter tunnel was also placed into production. Sporadic mining activities took place after March 1921, due to legal battles within the Supreme Court, over the mining property. 

Most records were not preserved by this mining company. Eventually, their mining property grew larger in 1923, with George G. Dean locating 29 brand-new mining claims for Albert J. Pickett for the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated as shown below:

Above: the Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 30, 1923.

Apparently, the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated passed into the ownership of Albert J. Pickett who filed a million-dollar lawsuit against the former owner, J.B. Hughes in the Shasta County Superior Court due to Pickett having to relocate several or more missing mining claims within in this lucrative mining property, which were either purportedly destroyed or plugged by Hughes and his employees. For years this mineral land was held up in litigation by the court system from further production until a new owner took control. 

The mine changed ownership again about 1926 to J.W. Marshall. Work resumed on the property by the company’s guard Benton A. Graham who completed work for Marshall at this mining property which was recorded in proof of labor reports filed with the county recorder's office at Redding, which Graham contributed for his employer as well. 

By 1927, Benton A. Graham was still employed with the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated as their watchman according to local media reports. Sporadic mining was completed upon this mining property by Graham. By the start of World War II on September 1, 1939, it was forced to close down again due to our country being at war. This lucrative mine’s demise was due to the construction of Shasta Dam between the years 1938 and 1945. In 1942, the United States Bureau of Reclamation began flooding the newly established reservoir for Shasta Lake, World War II ended on September 2, 1945, and this mining property currently remains under water to this day.

Resources:

1900 U.S. Census

Morton Lindley Gets Keith Copper Group - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 23, 1901

Boston Men Bond Keith Group - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 24, 1901

The Shasta May Blossom - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 1, 1901

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 25, 1901

Shasta May Blossom Like the Bully Hill - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 1, 1902

After More Mines About Bully Hill - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 8, 1902

Work at the Shasta May Blossom– The Daily Free Press, Thursday, July 24, 1902

Aubury, Lewis E. The copper resources of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 23: 65. , 1902

How Copper Is Produced in Shasta County, Northern California, published by the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company Consolidated by the Standard Investment Company of San Francisco, California. Copyright 1902.

State Treasurer Visits Mines - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 25, 1903

First Hole Drilled on May Blossom - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 9, 1903

Preparing For Extensive Work - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 30, 1903

Robert McDermott Dead - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, March 27, 1909

The geology and ore deposits of the Bully Hill mining district, California by A.C. Boye. Am. Inst. Mining Engineers Bull. 85, p. 57-105. Copyright 1914.

Morton Lindley, Who Opened the Mammoth Mine in Shasta County, Dies in San Francisco - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 23, 1915

Attached the Shasta May Blossom Mine - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1916

Shasta May Blossom Mine Is a Shasta County Daisy - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 2, 1917

Mines and Mineral Resources of Shasta County, Siskiyou County, and Trinity County, by G. Chester Brown, ©1915 published by California State Printing Office.

Notice of Sale of Real Property Under Execution - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 12, 1919

Coroner Larkin Made Sheriff - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 21, 1919

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 1, 1920

Forbidden to Sell Shasta May Blossom - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 21, 1920

Mining Claim Suit to Begin All Over Thru Restraining Order - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 23, 1920

Mining Case Settled - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 10, 1920

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 15, 1920

Locates Nine Mines - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 30, 1920

More Blossoms - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 9, 1920

Million Dollar Suit Is Filed - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 28, 1923

Mining Man Dies from Fall - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, April 19, 1924.

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 27, 1924

Files Twenty-Nine Location Notices - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 30, 1930

On Shasta May Blossom - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 1, 1926

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 5, 1927

Mines and Mineral Resources of Shasta County, California – County Report 6 – by Philip A. Lydon and J.C. O’ Brien ©1974 by California Division of Mines and Geology

Shasta May Blossom – Western Mining History

Shasta May Blossom Prospect Near Ingot, California | The Diggings™

Shasta May Blossom prospect (Keith group), Bully Hill, Bully Hill District (Winthrop District), East Shasta Copper - Zinc Mining District, Klamath Mountains, Shasta County, California, USA

OVERCOMING SLAVERY: PHOEBE COLBURN.

"Overcoming Slavery.”, is the incredible true story of one of Shasta County, California's earliest pioneer women settlers who was born into slavery, in Alabama, and was illiterate during her lifetime. Later on, this pioneer woman obtained her own freedom from her master, and then she defied all odds during her lifetime while residing in the town of Shasta throughout the 1850s, 1860s and into the 1870s. This remarkable woman held title to various properties as well. Come learn about the life of Phoebe Colburn who was employed as a house cleaner and made money as a local seamstress and milliner who made and sold dresses as well as hats in the area. Find out more about this remarkable woman in my newest YouTube video from Exploring Shasta County History. Phoebe Colburn died in Shasta, Shasta County, California, on November 22, 1876, and left an impressive estate. Attached images is a collage of consisting of Phoebe Colburn and a sketch of the Foot of the Moutain Station, which she worked at, and later owned and operated. Filmed on location, June 24, 2024.

Resources:

1860 U.S. Census

Mechanic's Lien Notice - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 9, 1861

District Court - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 11, 1865

1870 U.S. Census

Black Lives in Depth written by Tim Holt - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 8, 2015

Phoebe Coulbourn (1822-1876) - Find a Grave Memorial

In Memory of an Indian boy | Lynette's NorCal History Blog (wordpress.com)

Phoebe Colburn | goldfields (goldfieldsbooks.com)

More About Phoebe Colburn 

https://butte.libguides.com/blogs/libraryrunner/Black-History-Stories-of-the-North-Valley

Col William Magee (1806-1892) - Find a Grave Memorial

THE LYONS CONSOLIDATED MINE: DAMMING A NEARBY GULLY IN A DRAW UPON THE MINING PROPERTY.

This mine's lucrative vein was struck by Major John F. Lyons in 1890, the year that he and his family settled at Shasta County, California. Last worked in the 1950's, it went through various ownership during its production years. Upon the property is this late 19th century dam. Which was used to retain water for mining purposes upon the property. Filmed on location, January 14, 2025.

The Disappearance of Thomas F. Halcomb

Filmed on location.

Resources:

1920 U.S. Census

1930 U.S. Census

File: Redding, California, 1930 Census Enumeration District Maps. Source: Wikimapia.

Community Is Searched for Missing Boy - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1932

 

Halcomb Youth Still Missing After 2 Days - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1932

Redding Plane Crash Kills Three - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 7, 1932

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1932

Young Halcomb Believed Seen Wednesday P.M. -  The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1932

Structural Defect Was Not Cause of Accident to Plane - Inspector - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1932

George Halcomb, Wife, O.A. Rose Die in Air Crash - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1932

Reports Halcomb Youth Found Without Ground - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1932

Searchers For Missing Youth Die in Plunge - The Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper of Sant Cruz, July 8, 1932

Three Victims of Plane Crash - The Madera Tribune newspaper of Madera, July 8, 1932

Three Die in Plane Crash at Redding - The Tulare Daily Times newspaper of Tulare, July 8, 1932

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 9, 1932

Halcomb Is Continued Monday - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 11, 1932

Search Still Being Pushed for Missing Boy; Reported Seen - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 12, 1932

Halcomb Estate Comprises $4,000 Insurance Policy - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 13, 1932

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 14, 1932

$100 Reward for Finding Halcomb - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 16, 1932

Reward Spurs Search for Boy - The Bee News Bureau newspaper of Sacramento, July 18, 1932

Statewide Appeal Made in Boy Hunt - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 19, 1932

Plane Victims’ Estates Are Probated - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 22, 1932

Grandparents May Contest Custody of Halcomb Baby - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 23, 1932

Halcomb Youth - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 12, 1932

Contest Over Halcomb Youth - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 29, 1932

Hearing on Contest Over Halcomb Boy Is Continued in Two Weeks - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 30, 1932

Halcomb Boy’s Body Believed Found in River - The Colusa Herald newspaper of Colusa, September 22, 1932

Amos Halcomb Named Guardian of Grandson - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 26, 1932

Thomas Halcomb's Body Is Found - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 26, 1933

Halcomb Boy’s Body Is Found in Oregon Gulch - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 27, 1933 

Funeral Services to Be Held Today for Halcomb Boy - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 28, 1933

Card of Thanks - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 2, 1933

Halcomb Action Over Insurance to Start Today - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 3, 1933

The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 4, 1933

Jury Holds Rose Made Contract to Carry Halcomb's on Fatal Journey - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 5, 1933

Correction Made - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 5, 1933

Thomas F Halcomb in the California, U.S., Death Index, 1905-1939

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 7, 1940

The Lyons Consolidated Mine

Happy New Year folks! Come explore a partially flooded historic gold mine from the 1890s which still has some relics left behind like its rail, piping, drill bits and more. This mine's lucrative vein was struck by Major John F. Lyons in 1890, the year that he and his family settled at Shasta County, California. Last worked in the 1950's, it went through various ownership during its production years. Find out more in the video and if you haven't subscribed yet, please do. Like, share and comment. For my resources, please visit Exploring Shasta County History...

Resources:

Fine Mining Property - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 28, 1891

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 18, 1892

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 23, 1893

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 14, 1896

On Rich Gulch - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 15, 1897

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 29, 1897

The Lyons Property - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1898

The Major Lyons Mine - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 2, 1898

Major Lyon’s Condition - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 19, 1898

Major J.F. Lyons Dead - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 19, 1898

The Lyons Mines Sold For $12,000 - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 21, 1905

Build Tramway From Mine To Mill - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 10, 1905

New Cyanide Plant In Rich Gulch - Mineral Wealth Magazine - March 15, 1906 edition, page 3.

Cyanide Plant Is Now In Operation - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 16, 1906

Lyons Mine Sold Under Trust Deed -  The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 17, 1907

The Lyons Group - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 8, 1910

Mines and Mineral Resources of Shasta County, California – County Report 6 – by Philip A. Lydon and J.C. O’ Brien ©1974 by California Division of Mines and Geology

ROYAL TYLER SPRAGUE; A SHASTA COUNTY 49NER & A CALIFORNIA SUPREME JUSTICE.

Royal Tyler Sprague, a native of Vermont, (according to the 1870 U.S. Census) was born about 1814. He led a busy productive life who started out as an elementary school teacher, and eventually Sprague opened his own school. Later on, he became a lawyer, and eventually the seduction of the California Gold Rush seduced him to venture west from Ohio to California where he settled in Shasta County in September of 1849, settling at Reading Springs (now Shasta), that month. This is where the forty-niner mined for gold on Clear Creek. He became a public figure holding various titles in the State of California, and ultimately, becoming a California Supreme Justice. He died on February 24, 1872, and is buried in the historic Old Sacramento City Cemetery, in Sacramento, California. You can learn more about this Shasta County pioneer in the following YouTube video from Exploring Shasta County History:

Filmed on location October 19, 2024.

Resources:

1850 U.S. Census

1852 California State Census

The Supreme Judgeship - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 22, 1858

Death of Chief Justice Sprague - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, February 26, 1872

Death of Judge Sprague - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 2, 1872

1860 U.S. Census

1866 California, U.S., Voter Registers

Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, October 10, 1867

Took the Oath - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 11, 1868

Appleton's annual Cyclopedia (1867), Volume 7, 1869.

1870 U.S. Census

Appointment of Supreme Judge. Russian River Flag. No. 17. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 March 1872. p. 2. 

Sacramento Daily Union, January 1, 1873, State & County Statistics (For the year 1872)

The Legislature Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 2, no. 247. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 January 1852. p. 2. 

My Playhouse Was A Concord Coach, an anthology of newspaper clippings and documents relating to those who made California history during the years 1822-1888, by Mae Hélène Bacon Boggs. Published by Howell-North Press ©1942

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Johnson, J. Edward (1963). History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1850-1900, vol 1 (PDF). San Francisco, CA: Bender Moss Co. pp. 104–106. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. 

Old Shasta, Town of Shasta Interpretive Association with Al M. Rocca, 2005, Arcadia Publishing, p.

Sacramento Historic City Cemetery Burial Index (PDF). Old City Cemetery Committee. 2005. 

Online Archive of California, Royal T. Sprague journals, collection guide.