FROST & BLOOMFIELD'S BLACKSMITHING SHOP

Filmed on location on May 24, 2025.

This was the site of Frost & Bloomfield’s Blacksmith shop, which was located in the Tower House District, of Shasta County, California, and was erected between: 1853 and 1864. This is where Frost and Bloomfield conducted their wagon making and blacksmith business at the corner of Trinity Mountain Road to French Gulch and Highway 299 West to Weaverville. It was situated near the Tower House, a former hostelry which formerly operated in the area, next to the existing historic Camden House.

Most of the building stood standing as a prominent feature in the area, which was deteriorating overtime, and eventually it led to its demise about 1930 when it was demolished. However, the rock foundation was preserved from demolition and in later years a storage shed was erected on this historic site connecting to the original rock foundation of the blacksmith building. Then in 1973, the site became protected upon the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.

Arson destroyed the storage shed in 2014, and again it was threatened by the 2018 Carr fire, just four years later. Today, the rock foundation of this historic structure still remains intact and is over-seen by the National Park Service. Come see what remains of this historic site.

Resources:

1850 U.S. Census

1860 U.S. Census

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 15, 1864

1866 California U.S. Voters Registration

1870 U.S. Census

The National Park Service

Blacksmith Shop marker photo detailing the history of the Frost & Bloomfield 's Blacksmithing Shop. Courtesy of Noah Everett.

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 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

AN OLD MINING PROPERTY, AN ORE CAR SYSTEM - SHAFT - PROSPECT.

AN OLD MINING PROPERTY, AN ORE CAR SYSTEM - SHAFT - PROSPECT.

Filmed on location, November 16, 2024. Near: Quartz Hill in Shasta County, California, an abandoned mining property.

(OLD) HIGHWAY 299 EAST & WEST ALLIGNMENT BETWEEN WHISKEYTOWN AND THE TOWERHOUSE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

Filmed on location November 2, 2024.

Come explore the following sections of (Old) Highway 299 east and west alignment between Whiskeytown and the Towerhouse Historic District, of Shasta County, California. This highway route was formally a stage road established in 1854, and later a toll road called the Shasta to Weaverville Road or Weaverville to Shasta Road pre-1872 or after the establishment of Redding it was called the Redding to Weaverville Road or Weaverville to Redding Road. In 1934 this historic route became Highway 299 east and west and parts of this route were later decommissioned about 1963.

Resources:

Shasta - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, April 13, 1852

Shasta - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 14, 1852

California Legislature - Fifth Session - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, April 15, 1854

Trinity River Correspondence - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 20, 1854

From Weaverville - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 6, 1855

Trinity River Correspondence - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, February 17, 1855

Trip To Weaverville - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 13, 1855

Report of the Wagon Road Committee - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, June 20, 1857

Organization Of The Wagon Road Co. - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, June 27, 1857

Wagon Road Meeting And Report Of Survey - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, July 25, 1857

Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors - Aug. Term - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, August 8, 1857

Wagon Road Meeting - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, August 15, 1857

The Wagon Road - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, August 15, 1857

The Trinity Wagon Road - The Shasta Republican newspaper of Shasta, August 22, 1857

Weaverville Wagon Road - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, September 1, 1857

Hurrah For The Wagon Road - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, October 3, 1857

Wagon Roads - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, October 16, 1857

The Sacramento Valley And Weaverville Wagon Company - The Shasta Republican newspaper of Shasta, October 16, 1857

Shasta And Our Neighbors - The Trinity Journal  newspaper of Weaverville, November 7, 1857

The Wagon Road - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, November 28, 1857

Progress Of the Wagon Road - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, December 26, 1857

Trinity Wagon  Road - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, February 6, 1858

Wagon Road To Weaverville - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 27, 1858

Improvements As We Go - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, March 27, 1858

The Trinity Wagon Road - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 2, 1858

The Road - The Shasta Republican newspaper of Shasta, January 16, 1858

The Louden Road - The Shasta Republican newspaper of Shasta, March 13, 1858 

Increased Travel To The North - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, September 11, 1858

Staging To Weaverville - The Shasta Republican newspaper of Shasta, April 24, 1858

Trail To Weaverville - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 24, 1858

To Weaverville - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 1, 1858

Teams To Weaverville - The Shasta Republican newspaper of Shasta, May 15, 1858

A Bad Road - The Shasta Republican newspaper of Shasta, November 20, 1858

Bill Lowden declares... - The Trinity Journal newspaper of Weaverville, December 18, 1858

The Redding And Weaverville Stage - by May H. Southern, January 22, 1933, sketch by Mabel Lowden Moores, 388 - P. 1086; VF 388.0 Roads/Trails Misc., Roads/Trails 1086, available at Shasta Historical Society in Redding.

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

Historic Resource Study Whiskeytown National Recreation Area by Anna Coxe Toogood, May 1978, Denver Service Center, Historic Preservation Team, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, by Al M. Rocca, Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 3, 2010) ISBN10: 1451568533,ISBN-13: 978-1451568530

Return to the Ganim Mine

My buddy and I are uncovering a large body of talc in my newest episode on Exploring Shasta County History as we return to the Ganim mine in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Come check this out as we visit the Jerusalem #1 Mine and the Hard Luck Quartz Mine which are all a part of the Ganim mine. Come learn of its history. Filmed on location on October 12, 2024.

Filmed on location.

The Ingle Family Cemetery, of Sims, also known as the Ingle Indian Cemetery.

Returning to the Sims area, about 43 miles north of Redding and located in the Sacramento River Canyon, is the historic The Ingle Family Cemetery, of Sims, also known as the Ingle Indian Cemetery. In this video we examine whose buried here and who the first interment was. Filmed on location September 2, 2024.

RESOURCES:

1870 U.S. Census

1880 U.S. Census

1892 California Voters Registration

1896 California Voters Registration

1900 U.S. Census

Shasta County Cemetery Records

SIMS CEMETERY, 1863.

Filmed on location September 2, 2024.

In this episode we explore the site of a historic cemetery in the Sacramento River Canyon, about 43 miles north of Redding, California, at Sims. It's a small cemetery which was established in 1863. There are some modern traditional headstones and many cinder cone blocks which were used as markers while the majority of the graves are unknown with no further information on them. There is one wooden marker on the property as well. 

Resources: 

Died at Sims - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 16, 1901

'Gold Rush' Miner Buried at Sims - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 30, 1910

Mrs. George Witt Dies - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 30, 1911

Rory McKenzie Buried - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 6, 1903

Benjamin Miller Dies in Sims Home - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 8, 1912

Andrew Miller, Early Resident of Sims Dies - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 11, 1929

McCloud Clubhouse Employee Dies at Residence in Sims - The Siskiyou News newspaper of Mt. Shasta City, Jan 17, 1929

The Fender Cemetery, Established 1885, at Oak Run, in Shasta County, California.

Aaron Fender established the Fender Cemetery upon his death in 1885 near Oak Run, in rural Shasta County, California. From sandstone markers and a wooden marker in the cemetery come find out whose laid to rest in this historic cemetery.

Filmed on location August 18, 2024.

REOURCES:

1850 U.S. Census

1860 U.S. Census

1870 U.S. Census

North-Eastern Shasta - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Shasta County, July 4, 1885

Died - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 9, 1897

1900 U.S. Census

1910 U.S. Census

1920 U.S. Census

1930 U.S. Census

Place Names of Shasta County by Gertrude A. Steger revision by Helen Hinckley Jones, ©1966 by La Siesta Press, Glendale, California

The Covered Wagon, 1975, published annually by Shasta Historical Society.

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

THE HUMMINGBIRD MINE

The Hummingbird Mine is located in the Old Diggings Mining District of Shasta County, California. This mine's mineralization is embodied in greenstone rock. It's a former gold mine which is situated in Section 21, Township 32, North Range 5 West of the Mount Diablo Base and Meridian in California. Free gold was associated with sulphides in this mining property, near present-day Keswick Dam on the eastside of the Sacramento River, just off Keswick Road. The mineral land here contains two shafts both plugged and a 120-ft adit. Early reports mention this adit as a 50-ft., adit but it has been extended over the years. Production notes were not kept for the Hummingbird Gold Mine. The FB Trail passes through a good portion of this mineral land on present-day BLM land. Come explore this property with Ryan Hamman, Riah Stevens and I.

Filmed on location April 27, 2024.

TWO DISCONNECTING MINES WITH FLOWSTONE FEATURES.

Filmed on location December 16, 2023.

I haven't found too many mines Shasta County with natural flowstone features in them; however, these small disconnecting mines are among the few I have found. Located in French Gulch inside the boundaries of the French Gulch Mining District of Shasta County, are these two small disconnecting mines with flowstone features in them. Usually, I see flowstone in natural caves of the region rather than inside the local mines here that I have been to and researched over the years as a local historian of the area. Flowstone is a sheetlike deposit of calcite or other carbonate minerals caused by the natural flow of water seepage over the years into the back, face, left and right ribs of the main haulage tunnel of a mine.

A SMALL ABANDONED MINE WITH A SHAFT.

Located in French Gulch in the French Gulch Mining District of Shasta County is this abandoned small mine with a raise or a shaft. The natural lighting from the raise inside the mine was pretty cool to see. It appears that this mine was mined for gold. This video was filmed on location December 16, 2023. Featuring Ryan Hammon from Explore with Ryan.

Tower House Historic District Abandoned Mine: A Stope & An Ore Pass

Ever climbed up an ore pass of an abandoned mine before? Not too many people have. An ore pass is a vertical or inclined passage for the downward transfer of ore connecting to a lower level of a mine connecting with an ore chute/ore shoot. We were expecting this mine to be plugged or gated within the boundaries of the Tower House Historic District near Whiskeytown, California, but it was wide opened, so we didn't bring a hard hat. This mine is one of those abandoned treasures which don't appear on any topography maps of the region and doesn't have a recorded history of it. Inside the mine you'll see a small stope as well which my friend Ryan Hammon and I discovered. 

Filmed on location December 16, 2023.

The Three Sisters Mine

Situated upon Dutch Gulch near the townsite of French Gulch is the Three Sisters mine, a gold mine which was located during the year 1894 in the boundaries of the French Gulch Mining District of Shasta County, California. Historical records relate that this mining property contains a main haulage tunnel of an adit which measures to 1,350 feet and contains 800 feet of drifts, and an open shaft also known as a winze measuring at 120 feet, including a stope of 200 feet as well. Production notes for this mine states it was a lucrative producer of gold, yet the following minerals were also found on this mining property as well: arsenopyrite, pyrite and quartz. This mine has gone through various ownerships and bonds (or leases) through the years. 

The mine was owned and operated by Elias Ellery and his brother James Ellery. Production at this historic mining property ended in 1906. Presently, one of the adits on the property that Ryan and I found is covered in thorn-thick vines and is hard to get into, but it’s flooded with clear water. Water drains from the portal of the adit. Nearby this flooded adit are a couple of prospects with small tailings and a massive tailings pile which can be viewed from the main road looking up the ridge line of the gulch, but we couldn’t find the adit this waste rock came out of suggesting it may have been taken out or collapsed. On the property there is a squared stone structure of a small four corner building mixed with mortar as well. This is where my friend Ryan found a lonely square nail after shifting through the rock on the land near this stone structure. In one mine we found the bones of a dead animal as well. Filmed on location on November 17, 2023.

RESOURCES:

Mines and Miners - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 2, 1895

French Gulch Gleanings - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 16, 1895

French Gulch Gleanings - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 30, 1895

French Gulch Gleanings - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 3, 1896

Trouble About A Mine - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 12, 1896

Mines and Miners - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 29, 1896

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 2, 1897

Mines and Miners - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 31, 1897

Successful Mining Lease - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 2, 1897

Mines and Mining - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 17, 1898

Ore From French Gulch - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 13, 1898

Proofs Of Labor - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 24, 1898

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 8, 1899

Miners Who Have Done Work - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 3, 1901

OLD DIGGINGS MINING DISTRICT ABANDONED GOLD MINE PART 2

My return to this abandoned gold mine in the Old Diggings Mining District of Shasta County, California, only to find it being a twenty-five to thirty feet adit. I returned with my friends James, Ryan and Robert. Join us on this mine exploration which was filmed off the beaten path near Flanagan Trail off Flanagan Road which has been hidden for years along this trail system. The only thing known about it is that it's located in the boundaries of the Old Diggings Mining District of Shasta County and was mined for gold. Filmed on location November 4, 2023.

WALKER MINE -STAMP MILL AND OPEN SHAFT MINE-

In this episode of Exploring Shasta County History, I invite you to come explore the history of the historic Walker mine which gave its name to Walker Mine Road in Redding and the nearby Walker Mine Trailhead. Today, there are a few reminders that this one-time famous lucrative producer of gold and copper even existed. Join Robert Frazier, host of California Unearthed, and I as we tour its remaining ten stamp mill and an astonishing open mine shaft which was connected to the Walker brother holdings. Originally, called the Josephine and Providence mine, it wasn't until 1888 when this mining property was purchased by the Walker brothers of Salt Lake City, Utah, who were well-known millionaire bankers of that locality and had an interest in the mining industry of the western United States. They changed the name of this mine to the California and Utah mine that year. Since then, numerous people have bonded or leased the mine from them and have purchased the mine to operate it. Commonly known as the Walker mine or the Walker Group of Mines it has been idled since 1941. Filmed on location on October 21, 2023.

RESOURCES:

McGregor, A. ©1890, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Shasta Counties: California Mining Bureau. Report 10

Crawford, James John ©1894, Twelfth report of the State Mineralogist: California Mining Bureau. Report 12

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 23, 1896 

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 25, 1896

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 14, 1897

The Walker Mine - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 7, 1898

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 14, 1899

May Sale Walker Mine - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 6, 1900

Walker Mine May Soon Be Transferred - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 23, 1900

Will Ship Ore to Kennett Smelter - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 13, 1905

Notes From Shasta's Gold-Quartz Mines - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 21, 1909

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

Walker Mines in Old Diggings Have Been Sold - The Courier Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 11, 1929

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 9, 1931

Walker Mining Group Transfer Recorded - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 9, 1939

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 4, 1932

Trinity River Water to Be Used in Mining Plan; Walker Mine to Reopen - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 25, 1932

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

The M.A. Burns Lumber Company Railroad: an Abandoned 36' Narrow Gauge Logging Railroad At Castella

On this episode of Exploring Shasta County History, join Robert Frazier, host of California Unearthed, and I as we explore an abandoned logging railroad situated just outside of the Castle Crags State Park at Castella on the North Fork of Castle Creek which was laid in 1910 as part of the M. A. Burns Lumber Company holdings as a 36" narrow gauge line which was utilized for hauling lumber that this company was milling and producing. Later on, the company changed its name to the Castle Creek Lumber Company. This lumber company operated this route until 1929 and the tracks were removed and relocated to another undisclosed location in 1936 when this railroad grade became abandoned. Today, only the abandoned railroad grade and ties remain of this railroad logging operation. Filmed on location October 8, 2023.

OLD DIGGINGS MINING DISTRICT ABANDONED GOLD MINE

An abandoned gold mine off the beaten path near Flanagan Trail off Flanagan Road which has been hidden for years along this trail system. The only thing known about it is that it's located in the boundaries of the Old Diggings Mining District of Shasta County and was mined for gold. Filmed on location October 1, 2023.

The Betty May Mine of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area -An Open Mine Shaft-

Located in the 1920s the Betty May Mine is now located within the boundaries of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and over looks Whiskeytown Lake. My friend Ryan Hammon and I explored the abandoned mining property on October 1, 2023. It was a lucrative producer of gold during the 1920s and 1930s with miners toiling away in its mine shaft extracting gold from its veins inside. Come explore the site with us in this episode of Exploring Shasta County History. It's a rarity these days in this county to find an open mine shaft most are plugged.

Filmed on location October 1, 2023.

 

Abandoned Gold Mines of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Yesterday, was quite the mining adventure with Ryan Hammon, Riah Stevens and me. We found two abandoned gold mines in the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area that we explored. The first one we went to in the same area as the second one was welded shut, but the second mine proved exciting as we were able to get inside its gated entrance. We checked out some additional mines in the area as well which I have footage of that I'll work on releasing later this week. As for now I hope you enjoy this newest installment of Exploring Shasta County History: