Volume 005-6 - July 1951 (2 pages)

to invade this mountainous region. The South Yuba Canal Company had built a stone wall across a ravine to form a reservoir known as Meadow Lake in the fifties. Hartley built a eabin on the edge of the lake. Here he spent the winters in complete solitude, skiing over the frozen snow to visit his traps, when not imprisoned in his cabin by the fury of the storms. Each spring, he would migrate to southern Nevada County, remaining there all summer, and returning to Meadow Lake with his supplies at the first sign of approaching winter. After spending three years in the wilderness, the hermit of Meadow Lake realized he was living on top of gold bearing ledges. This was in June, 1863. Not being a miner, he needed help, and in August revealed his diseovery to John Simons and Henry Feutel. The three men made their first location in September 1863 under the title of the Excelsior Company, and kept their mining activities a secret until July 1, 1865 when the San Francisco Mining and Scientific Press told of the discovery of a rich series of ledges in Nevada County on the Henness Pass route. The article stated the location was well wooded and watered, and that a heavy growth of magnificent timber covered the entire district. ‘ It started the gold rush of 1865, and came after the first flush of silver prosperity in the state of Nevada. Times were exceedingly dull around Virginia City and throughout the Washoe country. The great Comstock had threatening appearances of failure. The Humboldt, Reese River, and Esmeralda strikes had played out, and as the Excelsior discovery had no competition, large crowds of restless and discontented miners began pouring in through the Henness Pass. The place became known as Summit City, but in July 1865, a miners’ meeting adopted boundaries for the new district, and it received the name of Meadow Lake. The town was surveyed including 160 acres, and spacious streets, 80 feet wide were laid out. Blocks were divided into lots with a frontage of sixty feet, and a depth of 80 feet, which sold for $25.00 in eash. A spacious plaza was reserved for public use. One hundred and fifty houses had been erected before winter, and others were in the course of construction. Stores were established and the three hotels were crowded. The saloons reaped a rich harvest. Twelve hundred mining locations were made. The more prominent mines were the Excelsior, Enterprise, U. 8. Grant, Winton and the Golden Eagle. By the time the first snow fell on the 24th of September 1865, approximately ten thousand people had visited Meadow Lake and three thousand chose to remain there. The storms continued throughout November. Five feet of snow lay on the ground. Temperatures dropped to 20 and 30 degrees below zero. Many of the inhabitants were poorly housed and depended on fuel from the nearby forest. It seemed a miracle they survived that first winter at Meadow Lake. Travel began in May. Snow continued to fall, streams were frozen, and icicles hung from the branches of the tall pines, but by the end of June, 1866, four thousand gold seekers arrived in Meadow Lake. The town was full of excitement and activity. Twenty-five and thirty people were often crowded together at night into room-styled corrals. The price of lots on the principal streets rose to $1500 and $2500. Houses rented for $200 a month. Four sawmills in the district furnished lumber for building. Lumber prices ranged from $50 to $75 per thousand feet. During the summer of 1866 five hundred frame houses were erected. Some of them were handsome structures and gave the town a decidely aristocratic appearance. A newspaper called the ‘‘Sun’’ was started and never failed to tell of the wonderful richness of the district and the future greatness of the city. Seven mills were erected fur the reduction of ores, with a capacity of seventy-two stamps. It was during the season of 1867 that the mines were developed enough to thoroughly test the district. The ore was rebellious to every known method of reduction. The gold could not be extracted from the rock profitably. The cost of production greatly exceeded the value of the recovered metal. The sad truth gradually became known to the miners of Meadow Lake, and one by one they silently left the region of promised gold. Henry Hartley, the discoverer still cluitg to his vision of great wealth, and out of many abandoned houses, pieked one. for his own residence. Once again ‘he became known as the ‘‘Hermit of Meadow Lake.’’ Being a studious man, he attempted to solve the ore problem of his mine, the Excelsior. In the early nineties, an attractive young woman came to Meadow Lake from the Sierra Valley and married Henry Hartley. She was soon followed by Ed Roening, and these two were said to be lovers. In 1892, Alice Hartley went to London in an effort to sell the Excelsior Mine for 100,000 pounds to an English syndicate. In October of the same year and during her absence, Henry Hartley died. Poisoning was suspected. Thomas Hannah, who lived with Hartley, believed poison had been placed in MHartley’s coffee pot through an open window. Roening was accused, but evidence was lacking. Alice Hartley returned from London after failing to sell the mine. With Roening, she made a futile attempt to operate the ‘‘Excelsior.’’ Local resentment caused the body of Hartley to be exhumed in 1893, and it was found his death was caused from opium poisoning. It was never determined whether he committed suicide or was murdered. Alice Hartley drifted to Denver, Colorado, where she died in 1910 in obscurity and poverty. The grave of the ‘‘Hermit of Meadow Lake,’’ covered with brush, is near the western edge of the site of the city his gold discovery created. Snow crushed many of the abandoned houses, and a fire starting in the Excelsior Hotel in September 1878, soon laid the eity in ruin. Today one can dimly trace the course of streets and the outlines of the ‘‘plaza’’. It is hard to believe that once a town comfortably housing a population of five thousand people flourished on this forsaken spot—a town with a bank, thirteen hotels, stores, saloons, restaurants, real estate offices, stock board and rows of imposing dwellings. Meadow Lake rose and fell within a period of two years. Her obstinate quartz ledges still defy any known scientific method of unlocking her immense wealth, but it is hoped that some day a process will be found which will open the vast treasure chest of ‘‘Meadow Lake.’ Compiled by Doris Foley from ‘Phe Northern Mines,’?’ Edmund Kinyon, Thompson & West History of Nevada County—1880. A Letter From Meadow Lake The following letter was received from Mr. Warren T. Russell, a member of the Nevada County Historical Society, and residing at 111 Colfax Avenue, Grass Valley. It was written to his father, ITlenry Warren Russell in Garden Valley, El Dorado County, California. Meadow Lake, August 7th, 1866 Friend Russell : Yours of the 2nd inst. is just received, and was very.glad to hear from you, but would rather seen you than hearing from you. I regret very much, that you did not get my letter, written on the 26th

to invade this mountainous region. The South Yuba Canal Company had built a stone wall across a ravine to form a reservoir known as Meadow Lake in the fifties. Hartley built a eabin on the edge of the lake. Here he spent the winters in complete solitude, skiing over the frozen snow to visit his traps, when not imprisoned in his cabin by the fury of the storms. Each spring, he would migrate to southern Nevada County, remaining there all summer, and returning to Meadow Lake with his supplies at the first sign of approaching winter. After spending three years in the wilderness, the hermit of Meadow Lake realized he was living on top of gold bearing ledges. This was in June, 1863. Not being a miner, he needed help, and in August revealed his diseovery to John Simons and Henry Feutel. The three men made their first location in September 1863 under the title of the Excelsior Company, and kept their mining activities a secret until July 1, 1865 when the San Francisco Mining and Scientific Press told of the discovery of a rich series of ledges in Nevada County on the Henness Pass route. The article stated the location was well wooded and watered, and that a heavy growth of magnificent timber covered the entire district. ‘ It started the gold rush of 1865, and came after the first flush of silver prosperity in the state of Nevada. Times were exceedingly dull around Virginia City and throughout the Washoe country. The great Comstock had threatening appearances of failure. The Humboldt, Reese River, and Esmeralda strikes had played out, and as the Excelsior discovery had no competition, large crowds of restless and discontented miners began pouring in through the Henness Pass. The place became known as Summit City, but in July 1865, a miners’ meeting adopted boundaries for the new district, and it received the name of Meadow Lake. The town was surveyed including 160 acres, and spacious streets, 80 feet wide were laid out. Blocks were divided into lots with a frontage of sixty feet, and a depth of 80 feet, which sold for $25.00 in eash. A spacious plaza was reserved for public use. One hundred and fifty houses had been erected before winter, and others were in the course of construction. Stores were established and the three hotels were crowded. The saloons reaped a rich harvest. Twelve hundred mining locations were made. The more prominent mines were the Excelsior, Enterprise, U. 8. Grant, Winton and the Golden Eagle. By the time the first snow fell on the 24th of September 1865, approximately ten thousand people had visited Meadow Lake and three thousand chose to remain there. The storms continued throughout November. Five feet of snow lay on the ground. Temperatures dropped to 20 and 30 degrees below zero. Many of the inhabitants were poorly housed and depended on fuel from the nearby forest. It seemed a miracle they survived that first winter at Meadow Lake. Travel began in May. Snow continued to fall, streams were frozen, and icicles hung from the branches of the tall pines, but by the end of June, 1866, four thousand gold seekers arrived in Meadow Lake. The town was full of excitement and activity. Twenty-five and thirty people were often crowded together at night into room-styled corrals. The price of lots on the principal streets rose to $1500 and $2500. Houses rented for $200 a month. Four sawmills in the district furnished lumber for building. Lumber prices ranged from $50 to $75 per thousand feet. During the summer of 1866 five hundred frame houses were erected. Some of them were handsome structures and gave the town a decidely aristocratic appearance. A newspaper called the ‘‘Sun’’ was started and never failed to tell of the wonderful richness of the district and the future

greatness of the city. Seven mills were erected fur the reduction of ores, with a capacity of seventy-two stamps. It was during the season of 1867 that the mines were developed enough to thoroughly test the district. The ore was rebellious to every known method of reduction. The gold could not be extracted from the rock profitably. The cost of production greatly exceeded the value of the recovered metal. The sad truth gradually became known to the miners of Meadow Lake, and one by one they silently left the region of promised gold. Henry Hartley, the discoverer still cluitg to his vision of great wealth, and out of many abandoned houses, pieked one. for his own residence. Once again ‘he became known as the ‘‘Hermit of Meadow Lake.’’ Being a studious man, he attempted to solve the ore problem of his mine, the Excelsior. In the early nineties, an attractive young woman came to Meadow Lake from the Sierra Valley and married Henry Hartley. She was soon followed by Ed Roening, and these two were said to be lovers. In 1892, Alice Hartley went to London in an effort to sell the Excelsior Mine for 100,000 pounds to an English syndicate. In October of the same year and during her absence, Henry Hartley died. Poisoning was suspected. Thomas Hannah, who lived with Hartley, believed poison had been placed in MHartley’s coffee pot through an open window. Roening was accused, but evidence was lacking. Alice Hartley returned from London after failing to sell the mine. With Roening, she made a futile attempt to operate the ‘‘Excelsior.’’ Local resentment caused the body of Hartley to be exhumed in 1893, and it was found his death was caused from opium poisoning. It was never determined whether he committed suicide or was murdered. Alice Hartley drifted to Denver, Colorado, where she died in 1910 in obscurity and poverty. The grave of the ‘‘Hermit of Meadow Lake,’’ covered with brush, is near the western edge of the site of the city his gold discovery created. Snow crushed many of the abandoned houses, and a fire starting in the Excelsior Hotel in September 1878, soon laid the eity in ruin. Today one can dimly trace the course of streets and the outlines of the ‘‘plaza’’. It is hard to believe that once a town comfortably housing a population of five thousand people flourished on this forsaken spot—a town with a bank, thirteen hotels, stores, saloons, restaurants, real estate offices, stock board and rows of imposing dwellings. Meadow Lake rose and fell within a period of two years. Her obstinate quartz ledges still defy any known scientific method of unlocking her immense wealth, but it is hoped that some day a process will be found which will open the vast treasure chest of ‘‘Meadow Lake.’ Compiled by Doris Foley from ‘Phe Northern Mines,’?’ Edmund Kinyon, Thompson & West History of Nevada County—1880. A Letter From Meadow Lake The following letter was received from Mr. Warren T. Russell, a member of the Nevada County Historical Society, and residing at 111 Colfax Avenue, Grass Valley. It was written to his father, ITlenry Warren Russell in Garden Valley, El Dorado County, California. Meadow Lake, August 7th, 1866 Friend Russell : Yours of the 2nd inst. is just received, and was very.glad to hear from you, but would rather seen you than hearing from you. I regret very much, that you did not get my letter, written on the 26th