THEY'RE BAAAACK: Prospector's return to California's Ghost Towns

Excerpts from BBC News' Joining the California Gold Rush by Rajesh Mirchandani:

In America, record prices are fuelling a new Gold Rush - 160 years after thousands descended on California, seeking riches.

"You can pay your bills, if you live meagrely," says John Gurney, who gave up his job six months ago to become a full-time gold prospector. John is standing in a shallow river in Jamestown, California, in the heart of Gold Country: in 1849, the same dream brought hundreds of thousands of people to towns like this.

He is panning for gold: he shovels rocks and dirt from the river bed into a bucket, sifts out the bigger pieces, transfers what's left into a ridged plastic panning bowl, and then, using a light movement back and forth, shakes the bowl, separating the lighter material from the heavier, including gold.

"It's not a lot of money," John says, "but it adds up quite a bit... But you never know - you may hit the jackpot sometime." The original 49ers - as they've become known - used this technique, as well as mining. Fortunes were made - and lost - in the wild towns that sprang up almost overnight along 200 miles of central California, an area they called the Motherlode.

Places like Jamestown and Coloma - which, in its heyday, nearly became California's state capital - have been mining tourists ever since. But now these ghost towns are stirring again, as more and more amateur prospectors try their luck.

Brent Shock wears a huge gold nugget as a ring; with his long leather coat and wild eyes, he has clearly seen a thing or two in his 25 years of gold mining.

He runs gold-panning tours in Jamestown and says it is busier now than he has known it for years.

"You've got a tremendous amount of interest from people now," he tells me, "because gold's at $1,000 an ounce."

Near San Francisco, a city that boomed thanks to the first Gold Rush, Mike Dunn recently opened a shop selling prospecting equipment. You can buy anything from plastic goldpans all the way up to floating dredges at $3,400, with long plastic hoses for sucking up large amounts of material from the river bed.

In the studied atmosphere of the What Cheer Saloon in Columbia, Ben the barman wears period costume but serves modern drinks. A sign outside offers sarsparilla (an old type of root beer). All along the main street in fact are shops and signs from a bygone age - Columbia is a living museum to its glittering past.

"It's good for this place because it brings tourism," Pat Narry says. "Tourism has always been gold!"

Bob Beck tells me: "Areas have been milked dry but with the rain and the seasons the gold comes to the surface... so they're praying. At $1,000 an ounce, they're praying!"

Back at the creek in Jamestown a group from the east coast are trying their hand at gold-panning.

Just like in 1849.

Catalina Island's Ghosts of the Past

Excerpts reprinted from article by Julie Miller in the Australia's Sydney Morning Herald:

The woman from the gift shop at Catalina Island's Casino is convinced the building is haunted. She animatedly tells me how, just two days earlier, a clock fell from the wall of the shop for no reason. She then launches into other tales of the unexpected from the building's history: of the hapless worker trapped in cement during construction of the Art Deco masterpiece; of a pipe organ playing on its own; and of a period-clad apparition disappearing through the wall near the popcorn machine. All proof, Lynette believes, that this landmark is an epicentre of paranormal activity on an island crawling with phantoms.

Just an hour's ferry ride from Long Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Catalina Island is a Mediterranean-style retreat that provides a welcome escape from the madness of Tinseltown. Once the playground of the rich and famous, it now attracts tourists in search of a fun daytrip or tranquil weekend away, a place with a quite different view of the Californian lifestyle.

Gorgeous as it is, however, there is admittedly something a little eerie about this island. Catalina - and in particular its main port of Avalon - feels trapped in time, a vestige of a once-glorious past. And as the chilling Pacific fog rolls in, as it does on a regular basis, shrouding the dramatic coastline in white, it's easy to understand why so many believe the island is the haunt of entities other than just tourists.

Catalina had been occupied for thousands of years by Native Americans but its modern history began 150 years ago when tourists began discovering "the Capri of the West". In the 1920s, the island was purchased by the chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., who built roads, constructed hotels and shops and erected the $2 million dance pavilion known as the Casino (a misnomer, as gambling was banned in the building). Wrigley also brought his baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, over for spring training, placing the island in the social spotlight for the first time.

During its heyday, Catalina was where Hollywood came to play. Western novelist Zane Grey had a home here; Charlie Chaplin and his wife Paulette Goddard were frequent visitors; while movie director Cecil B. De Mille said Catalina was "the only place where I can get away to work amid real inspiration". The Casino Ballroom, which held 3000 patrons, drew big name bands led by Glen Miller, Bennie Goodman, Ray Noble and Jan Garber and it became the hub of Hollywood nightlife.

The sounds of the big bands may have long ceased but today the Casino is still used for private functions. Visitors can also look inside the building on walking tours that run several times daily. Completely restored a few years ago, the building retains its original style, with rose-hued walls, black Art Deco reliefs, an arching 15-metre ceiling with five Tiffany chandeliers and its famed elevated stage. Not to mention several spooks, just to keep you on your toes.

Most of the 19,000-hectare island is preserved wilderness area. However, the quaint village of Avalon bustles with life and is the starting point for tours of the island and surrounding waters.

Most daytrippers, however, are content with soaking up the sun as they stroll along the town promenade, eating ice-creams and famous fish tacos on the beach, exploring the steep hills in a golf cart (the most popular mode of transport on the island) or admiring the signature beach shacks that line the streets.

If time is limited, the best way to get a taste of the surrounds is to jump on an open-air trolley that potters around the back streets, past all the landmarks and up the hills to lookouts with sensational views of the coastline. Accompanied by a droll commentary, this informative tour is a great way to familiarise yourself with the sights before exploring further on a Catalina Limo (the cute local name for rental golf carts).

Beyond Avalon is another world - hectares of rolling wilderness, inhabited by wild boar, foxes, bald eagles and bison, introduced in the '20s during production of a western movie. There are several tours available to explore inland or you can rent bicycles if you want to do it the hard way.

Those with an interest in Hollywood history may also be drawn across the island to another place of notoriety - the secluded bay near Two Harbours where the actress Natalie Wood drowned in 1981.

Some people say her ghost still wanders the nearby beach, a lonely figure spotted during the winter months. Perhaps she is searching for clues to the mystery of her early demise or perhaps her spirit is simply content to linger in a place of rare beauty and tranquillity, an eternal haven from the hustle and bustle of the mainland.

TRIP NOTES

Getting there: Catalina Express departs from the Long Beach Downtown Landing several times a day. A round trip costs $US59 ($63) or $US79 for a Commodore's Lounge upgrade, which includes pre-boarding, a comfortable lounge area and a drink.

Attractions: The Avalon Scenic Tour on the open-air trolley costs $US16.

Source: The Sun-Herald

Beyond Avalon is another world - hectares of rolling wilderness, inhabited by wild boar, foxes, bald eagles and bison, introduced in the '20s during production of a western movie. There are several tours available to explore inland or you can rent bicycles if you want to do it the hard way.

Those with an interest in Hollywood history may also be drawn across the island to another place of notoriety - the secluded bay near Two Harbours where the actress Natalie Wood drowned in 1981.

Some people say her ghost still wanders the nearby beach, a lonely figure spotted during the winter months. Perhaps she is searching for clues to the mystery of her early demise or perhaps her spirit is simply content to linger in a place of rare beauty and tranquillity, an eternal haven from the hustle and bustle of the mainland.

TRIP NOTES

Getting there: Catalina Express departs from the Long Beach Downtown Landing several times a day. A round trip costs $US59 ($63) or $US79 for a Commodore's Lounge upgrade, which includes pre-boarding, a comfortable lounge area and a drink.

Attractions: The Avalon Scenic Tour on the open-air trolley costs $US16.

THE FORGOTTEN: Abandoned Cemeteries of Route 66

Excerpts from The Desert Sun article by Ron Paschall:

They are tiny dots on internet maps and AAA guides, a speck that leads travelers to overlook them and focus on other destinations and big cities. Their names were well known 50, 75 years ago; Oro Grande, Ludlow, Amboy, Bagdad, Daggett, Helendale. Destinations and stops for weary travelers looking for food, water, rest and a break from the miles of empty roadway behind them. As an occasional vehicle or train passes by, some permanent residents have also been passed by, left to vandals, the elements, virtually all but forgotten in Route 66 cemeteries.

The Mother Road's cemeteries lay in a state of disrepair. Located on lonely hillsides, out of sight of the few cars that still travel the legendary road; they are the final resting place for those who came West, searching for a better life. Broken gates, dangling barbwire, and tilted wooden crosses are the first signs of our National Trails Highway cemeteries demise!

For those who found their resting place in roadside towns like Amboy, just outside of town, still within sight of the Roy's sign, lay the remains of several dozen souls. A weather beaten flag pole and slivers of a tattered American flag stand watch over the graves. Rows of hand made wooden crosses mark the graves of the town's former residents and visitors. A few have had stone placed in a circle over them, others are simply mounds of dirt and rock marking the grave.

But Amboy is but one of many, in need of a savior, a community, a government willing to step up and protect their hallowed grounds. The dedication of people like Albert Okura (who owns the Juan Pollo restaurant chain and Amboy) may be able to protect its forgotten graveyard. Amboy is one of the best known stops along The Mother Road and Mr. Okura is fighting an inspiring battle to restore this unique and historical stop back to its former glory.

Travel to Oro Grande and a search will lead you to a quiet hillside, within sight of the towns cement plant. There residents have fought a valiant battle to preserve the cemetery. Vigilant folks have had to endure hoodlums, cultists, the elements and even battled the cement plant to protect the resting place of loved ones. Wooden crosses and stone circles on top of shifting sand, mark the location of Oro Grande's graves, a few vandalized tombstones stand in defiance of the dreadful conditions inflicted on them over the years. Rumors of the cemetery being haunted have drawn the curious, the intoxicated, the bizarre and a few who have intentionally damaged tombstones.

Between Oro Grande and Amboy along Route 66 is Ludlow which continues to cling to existence thanks to its location. But besides stopping for gas, Ludlow does not call travelers to explore it. Abandoned buildings, crumbling adobe and stone walls and an earthquake damaged store stand in testament to a former life. Beyond the buildings, beyond the tracks, lies Ludlow's cemetery. Sagebrush and trees have found their way into the cemetery, often overtaking a grave with roots, trash and debris dangle from its branches. How many lay in rest here, thousands of miles from their home, their family?

Beyond the road, the railroad tracks, revealed only to the diligent searcher, lay Bagdad's cemetery. For those who found their resting place in this out-of-the-way patch of desert, isolation has been both a blessing and a curse. For Bagdad, even remoteness and the Penal Code has done little to prevent grave robbers from attempting to dig up the remains of these forgotten souls. Tattered cloth mix with sage brush, in a 4 foot hole where a grave was desecrated, leaving one to ponder in this inhospitable place, if the victim lay there exposed? A few stones, cans and makeshift crosses are all that cling to a dying effort to mark these graves.

For Route 66 cemeteries, their existence is also a convenient memory loss for those responsible for their care. Both the State Cemetery and Funeral Bureau and the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors seem oblivious to these resting places. Even though California's Health and Safety Code, place their care, management and supervision under the control of County Government, no time is given, no money is spent to protect and care for Route 66 graveyards.

Poignant questions that are left to the readers, concerned citizens and our elected officials to answer. The dead have no voice, except ours. Who will speak for them?

Ron Paschall
P.O. Box 7076
Redlands, CA 92375
(909) 798-7977

Ghost of the Week: The Woman in the Tower

G.H.O.U.L.A. EXCLUSIVE!

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel is easily the most iconic piece of architecture in Beverly Hills. Its exterior is even used in movies such as Pretty Woman and Beverly Hills Cop as a symbol for the city itself, much like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris or Big Ben is to London. This Historic Hotel’s reputation is built on that very perception.

But, is it haunted? If you ask the management, they will tell you it’s definitely not. However, if you can talk privately with any member of their housekeeping staff, you will get the truth. The Beverly Wilshire has two very prominent ghosts occupying different ends of the hotel.

Residing on the eighth floor of the Wilshire Tower section, you’ll find a female apparition with long flowing blond hair. She has been seen on numerous occasions gracefully gliding about with her white gown billowing behind her. Some witnesses have even spotted her peeking out from around corners or poking her head out through open doors as if curious about her surroundings.


While the hotel was built in 1928, it appears this blond ghost is a very recent addition. It is because of this, many of the employees believe she is the spirit of a woman who died a few years ago, but lived most of her life in a posh suite on the eighth floor. Since her passing, that suite has been closed to the general public, and is currently only available for private VIVIP (very important VIP) parties. Is it these disturbances to her tranquil domain that cause the spiritual disturbance on the eighth floor? Again, don’t ask the management.

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel is located at 9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills. As for the other prominent ghost… stay tuned. It will be featured in a future “Ghost of the Week.”

Ghost of the Week: The King of Calabassas

Today, the Leonis Adobe is part of a park that is open to the public, where school children and curious locals go to get a glimpse of what life was like in the San Fernando Valley of the 1800’s. It is a peaceful oasis filled with rustic charm, where one can relax and daydream about the romantic early days of California. However, the truth surrounding this historic house is more the stuff of nightmares. 150 years ago, the area was very different indeed.

The Adobe was home to one of the most hated men in Los Angeles’ history, the tyrannical Miguel Leonis, who ruled most of the western valley with an iron fist, killing anyone who came close to his property. Much blood was spilt protecting this land, some of which he didn’t actually own. Given Miguel Leonis’ larger than life ferocity, it’s no wonder that only a few years after his death in 1889, ghost stories concerning this highly feared man began to surface. Apparently, to this day, even in death, he still watches over his property, making his presence known to those he feels shouldn’t be there. Visitors have experienced a wide gambit of manifestations (his figure, his footsteps, his voice, and even his touch), making the Leonis Adobe a tempting place for local ghost hunters.

The Leonis Adobe is located at 23537 Calabasas Road.

Haunted House Round-Up!

Every year around Halloween, the mainstream news dishes out the goods on the local haunts, so here is a briefing on this year's featured California Cold Spots:

The LA Times published a photo slide show on 5 Haunted Spots in California that covers The Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery in Colton, The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, Winchester Mystery House, Queen Mary in Long Beach, and Alcatraz National Park in San Francisco Bay.

The MSNBC report on Haunted Ski Resorts claims Mammoth Mountain is not haunted but nearby Bodie, CA is:

Mammoth Mountain, Calif., hasn't had any ghostly sightings in town or on the mountain, but the nearby ghost town of Bodie, Calif., is a state historical park. This ghost town has been preserved in a state of "arrested decay." I'm sure there are a handful of ghosts wandering these streets by night. Only problem for us mortals is that the park is closed around sundown. I wonder why?

The MSNBC report on Pet Cemeteries (Howling Haunts: Where Ghost Pets Play) highlights the Los Angeles Pet Cemetery and the Whaley House Museum among other national locales:

The Los Angeles Pet Cemetery - also known as L.A. Pet Memorial Park - on Old Scandia Lane in Calabasas, Calif., is the final resting place for many of Hollywood's famous animal actors including cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy's horse Topper and Petey the pitbull who starred in the movie Little Rascals. But it's silent movie star Rudolph Valentino's Great Dane named Kabar who is said to still walk through this hillside cemetery and playfully lick people who stop at his grave around Halloween.

The Whaley House Museum on San Diego Avenue in Old Town San Diego, Calif. is listed by the United States Department of Commerce as "an authentic haunted house". In fact, the Travel Channel's America's Most Haunted, claims it to be the number one most haunted house in the country. This classic example of mid-19th century Greek revival architecture was once the home of entrepreneur Thomas Whaley who came to California during the gold rush. Whaley's infant son Thomas Jr. died in an upstairs bedroom and visitors have reported hearing the cries of a baby coming from this room. The ghost of a small dog has also been seen coming and going from this bedroom, as well as outside the house in the yard.

The Dallas Morning News article, You'll Find These Hotels Haunting, covers the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park:

•Guests on Tauck's "California's Gold Coast" tour spend two nights in the rustic yet luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, but apparently some hotel guests have forgotten to check out – even after checking out. Tauck's Cindy Walker refuses to stay on the sixth floor, which is thought to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Curry Tressider. Tressider was instrumental in the hotel's development, and she lived in a sixth-floor apartment until her death in 1970. When President John F. Kennedy stayed on the third floor during a visit in 1962, a rocking chair was placed in his room so that he could rock and help alleviate his chronic back pain. After Mr. Kennedy's death, housekeepers began reporting seeing a chair rocking slowly in the room where the president had stayed, even though the room hasn't been furnished with a rocking chair since his visit.

Most Famous Haunted Hotels by MSNBC writes on the California's Paso Robles Inn and Sainte Claire Hotel:

In 1940, for example, a guest at California's Paso Robles Inn discovered a fire on the second floor of the hotel. He rushed downstairs, sounded the alarm and then died of a heart attack. But his actions led to all of the hotel's guests being evacuated. Today, the front desk receives mysterious calls from room 1007 and one night there was a call placed to 911 from the unoccupied room.

In the early Thirties, a young woman is to be married in the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose, California. Her fiancé leaves her at the altar, and that night she hangs herself in the hotel's basement. Today guests report hearing high-heeled footsteps against hardwood floors ... even though the hotel is carpeted.

And finally, Florida's Southwest Herald Tribune lists California haunted properties along with a text messaging service that provides their real estate values:

Try HouseFront.com, a real-estate search and valuation firm. Simply text message the home's address to 46873 (which spells "house"), and it will return the number of bedrooms, baths and the home's value -- even the date when it was last sold and/or built, along with the current owner's name. You can get the same information at www.housefront.com, all at no cost.

Manson Murders

The address also has been changed at the Beverly Hills, Calif., location where Charles Manson and "friends" slaughtered Sharon Tate, an actress who was eight-months pregnant, and four others in 1969. It's now 10066 Cielo Drive. But then, it's not the same house.

No one would purchase the Tate house because of the stigma it carried. So it was torn down and replaced with a seven-bedroom, 12-bath manse that sprawls over 16,300 square feet. HouseFront estimates its value at $7.4 million. Still, the chilling impact of the murders remains, as locals and tourists with a penchant for the macabre visit the site frequently (www.housefront.com/1993381).

Winchester House

Sarah Winchester, who inherited more than $20 million and a 49 percent stake in the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. from her husband, William, built this architectural marvel in San Jose, Calif., around-the-clock for nearly 40 years.

A medium told her to build a house for herself and never stop or she would die. Another account says that she believed the only way she could repent for the thousands of people killed by her family's rifles was to keep building. Either way, she built and built and built some more, from 1884, when she purchased a house under construction, until her death 38 years later.

The place started out as a six-bedroom house. But Sarah turned it into a monster mansion with 40 bedrooms, 40 staircases, 47 fireplaces and 1,257 windows (www.housefront.com/1976454).

Madrona Manor

Room 101 in the bed-and-breakfast at 1001 Westside Road in Healdsburg, Calif., is said to be haunted by a women dressed in black. Some guests are certain their possessions have been moved while they slept, and at least one dinner guest swears a ghost sat next to her and spoke.

The manor was built in 1880 by John Paxtron, whose corpse was kept in the house in a glass coffin by his grieving wife, Hannah, until her own death 15 years after his, according to HauntsofAmerica.blogspot.com. Later, one of their two sons committed suicide in the house. While the place was being turned into a bed-and-breakfast in the 1980s, workers complained they were being watched (www.housefront.com/1991256).