The Historic Camden House Property.

Venture with Robert Frazier (host of California Unearthed) and I as we explore together the historic Camden House property of the Tower House Historic District of Shasta County, California. From Camden's Toll Bridge to the Camden House, to the Tennant House property, to Camden's Sawmill, to the historic El Dorado mine, and the Camden Water Ditch, as well as Levi Tower's Gravesite, and more as we make our round-trip around this historic National Park Service property from our day there on May 3, 2025, as I relate the history of the area in this area.

Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California, the Shasta County Connections, the Famous and the Historical Figures.

This documentary starts with local Shasta County, California, pioneers, which continues to cover some of the nationally renowned famous people, as well as some of the historical figures buried within this amazing 226-acre cemetery. Journey with me as we explore the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, Alameda County, California, which was established in 1863. From murder victim Elizabeth Short also known as the Black Dahlia, to legendary Oakland rapper Mac Dre, and then to Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Ernie Lombardi, is just a small portion of the famous people buried here. Among the millionaires are Domenico Ghirardelli and Charles Crocker, who are both historical figures like James A. Folger, and Henry G. Blasdell. Come find out about the life these famous and historical people led.

Video filmed on location July 31, 2024.

THE IRON MOUNTAIN MINE: A SITE OVERVIEW.

Above: The Iron Mountain Mine; A Site Overview.

In 1865 Charles Camden located the first iron ore body upon Iron Mountain which gave its name to the mountain, a 3,600 ft. high mountain, situated in the West Shasta mining district of Shasta County, California. Over the years the property grew to contain the Brick Flat mine, the Complex mine, the Hornet mine, the Little Nelly mine, the Lost Confidence mine, the Mattie mine, the Minnesota mine, the No. 8 mine, the Old mine, and the Richmond mine. It became a celebrated lucrative producer within this county. Camden then went into partnership with Colonel William Magee, and they eventually brought on James M. Sallee as an owner with them after Sallee located an impressive ore body of silver upon the mountain. The nearby communities of Iron Mountain, Keswick, Matheson, South Park, and Taylor came into fruition due to the mine itself. The first year of production for this mine was in 1879 and the last year of production was in 1963. On September 8, 1983, the Iron Mountain mine became an EPA superfund site and is presently ranked as the third largest polluter in California. In 2010, the Iron Mountain Mine was labeled as a "Toxic Hellhole" by the San Francisco Gate media outlet. For more information, please see the attached YouTube video: "The Iron Mountain Mine; A Site Overview."

Resources: 

A Road to Shasta Would Pay - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, September 11, 1869

Iron, Mountain - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 21, 1871

Iron Mountain - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 2, 1881

Lost Confidence Mine - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 14, 1881

Iron Mountain - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 21, 1881

Iron Mountain - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 25, 1881

Iron Mountain - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, September 24, 1881

Rich Mineral Strike - The Record-Union newspaper of Sacramento, August 29, 1881

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 8, 1885

Eleven Bars of Bullion - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 17, 1887

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 7, 1895

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 14, 1895

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 11, 1896

Will Succeed Hill - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 1, 1897

Mines and Miners - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 4, 1897

South Park - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 22, 1897

Mail Route to Fielding - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 19, 1897

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

William McKendrick - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 25, 1903

William McKendrick - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 29, 1903

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

Aerial Tramway to Be Built by Copper Company - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, April 30, 1921

Shipping 500 Tons of Ore Everyday - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 11, 1922

To Move Keswick P.O. To Matheson - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1922

Charles F. Reed to be Postmaster - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 20, 1922

Post Office at Keswick to Go - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 14, 1923

25 Prospectors Find Good Leads Around Matheson - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 24, 1923

Iron Mountain Mine No. 8 Is Closed Down - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 18, 1930

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

(4) Iron Mountain Mine - Jobs and Clean-up from Recovery Act Funds - YouTube

(4) Inside Iron Mountain Mine - YouTube

Inside A Toxic Hellhole, Iron Mountain Mine written by Peter Fimrite - The S.F. Gate newspaper of San Francisco, August 29, 2010

The Crystal Creek Water Ditch Trail of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area -An 1850s Historic Water Ditch-

This video was filmed on location on June 11, 2022.

It was Shasta County pioneer Charles Camden who named Crystal Creek after its crystal-clear flowing water in its channel. It was also Camden who built this present-day historic water ditch along its channel with his paid laborers between 1854 and 1856. However, what was the reason behind it? Find out more in my newest video about this amazing water ditch system and trail here, and if you have time be sure to visit this place with your friends and family at the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. You will need a park pass to enter. The trail is an easy hike with incredible views of Crystal Creek along the way, and it's a one-way only 0.8-mile hike. Bring water, food and snacks with you to enjoy this trail. Enjoy, the video.

THE BURIAL SITE OF KATE CAMDEN.

On this episode of Exploring Shasta County history, Jeremy takes you on an adventure to the historic burial site of Kate Camden. Learn more about her in the video. Enjoy! This video was filmed on location, April 17, 2021.

THE ADVENTURE: