Downieville
GPS *** N39' 34 W120' 50 *** elev.5287'
     RUBY GOLD MINE
CLAIMS WERE FIRST LOCATED IN 1856 ON THE OUTBREAK OF
AN ANCESTRAL YUBA RIVER, GRAVEL DEPOSITS LAID DOWN 400 MILLION YEARS AGO IN A NORTH SOUTH CHANNEL WERE LEFT HIGH ABOVE THE PRESENT DAY YUBA RIVERS. HORIZON- TAL LAYERS ALLOWED LATERAL TUNNELING, OR DRIFT MINING, BENEATH BLUFFS TO THE SOUTH. REOPENED IN 1934 BY C. L. BEST AND MANAGED BY LEWIS HUELSDONK THE MINE PRODUCED 50,000 OUNCES OF GOLD BETWEEN 1936-42 IN- CLUDING THE ACCLAIMED SIERRA COUNTY GOLD NUGGET COLLECTION. IN 1942, LIMITATION ORDER #208 CURTAILED NON-ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY TO PROMOTE WWII PRODUCTION RESULTING IN THE MINE'S CLOSURE WHILE STILL IN RICH GRAVEL. THE MINE IS CURRENTLY THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN WESTERN SIERRA COUNTY. CREDO QUIA ABSURDUM
DEDICATED MAY 18, 1996 BY MAJOR WILLIAM DOWNIE CHAPTER #1849, E CLAMPUS VITUS |
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