Exploring the Chemung Mine and Mill

Abandoned but not forgotten, and maybe even haunted!  

 

My first impression when I drove up to the Chemung Mill and Mine, was I at the right place or was this a huge barn?  There were no markers or information posts.  Checking the GPS and it did indicate that I had arrived at Chemung.  

 

 

 

The Chemung Mine was established around 1909 by Steve Kavanaugh when he was hired to dig for a gold vein.  It was named after his hometown in Illinois. 

 

 

 

Weathered structures of buildings with interesting shapes stood tall against the rugged terrain.  

 

 

 

Following a trail back toward the south entrance, a panoramic view of most of the buildings came into sight.  

 

 

 

The Chemung Mine was torn down and rebuilt 3 times.  

 

 

 

 

Today, most of the buildings are the state of ill repair, due either to the harsh desert elements or acts of vandalism. 

 

 

 

A large drum next to the road was showing the weathering from a harsh life in the high desert.  

 

 

 

My caution of the dangers in abandoned buildings was overcome by my curiosity to see what lies within. An electrical wire still dangles from the side of a structure; I’ve got to get a closer view. 

 

 

 

At the opening and overhead, I see massive beams supporting huge metal wheels.  To the right is a cement tank and a white powdery substance covers most of the floor.  

 

 

 

Hoping there are no earthquakes in the area, I continue walking further inside.

 

 

 

I have since learned that the white powder could be a form of lime used for altering pH during gold extraction.  However, I did keep a safe distance since I know that cyanide was also used in the mining of gold. 

The afternoon breeze caused the  tin siding on an adjacent building to rattle; I was getting an eerie feeling.  Time to get back in the open!   

 

 

The Chemung Mine had at one time been a good producer of gold, however, the operation was constantly plagued by legal issues.  

 

 

 

As I stood at the back entrance to the mill with an open mine shaft to the right, I was thinking of going inside for a closer look.  However, for some reason, I turned and walked back down the rocky trail.  Now I wonder if the mine is haunted and did my instinct keep me from danger?  There is a rumor that Kavanaugh, the mine’s founder was thrown into a mine shaft for cheating his employees.  

 

 

 

The day was growing long and it was time to make my departure.  I do hope to return again for more photo-exploring and maybe get a winter view of the Chemung Mine and Mill. 

 

 

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

Autumn Photo-adventures, Chemung Mine and Masonic Ghost Town

 Ghost Towns and Abandoned Mines in the rugged backcountry
 

With the feel of autumn in the air, it’s always fun to spend some time in the higher elevations.  After hearing about the abandoned Chemung Mine near Bridgeport, California I planned a day trip for some photo-adventures.  Checking on the Internet, I also learned of the Masonic Ghost Town that was just three miles past the Chemung Mine.  

To arrive at these locations, I took the Mason Road which is just past the Bridgeport Reservoir.  Starting out, the scenic dirt road was wide and fairly well maintained.   

Arriving at the Chemung Mine, the day was still young so I decided to go on to the Masonic Ghost Town.  

Up ahead, the road was becoming narrower and did not appear to be maintained. I was not too concerned since I was in a 4-wheel drive truck with aggressive tires.  Stands of aspen trees just  turning to fall colors accented the rugged landscape.  

Just before reaching the Masonic Ghost Town I decided go and check out the road on foot.  It’s best to be cautious and not get stuck far from civilization!  

When gold was discovered near this area, the town was founded in 1862 by the Freemasons, therefore giving it the name of Masonic. At one time, the town had 3 levels:  the Upper Town of Lorena housed the mine offices and a post office; Middle Town was the largest with a hotel, general store, stage station, school and post office; and Lower Town was anchored by the Pittsburg-Liberty Mill.  

On this day in 2018, not many of the structures were still standing--either due to acts of nature or vandalism. 

What caught my eye was the workmanship on the rock walls and how the structures were built into the rock formations.   

 

The remains of a stone house left its legacy against the weathering of nature. 

 

To the left I saw a metal plaque on an outcropping of rocks.  

 

On closer observation, the plaque told the legacy of Masonic. 

As my eyes wandered across to the west, I noticed what appeared to be an aerial tramway.  I have since read that the tramway was used to transport ore from the mines in Lower Town.  And this structure deserves a repeat visit on another trip for a closer view!

At this time, I decided to end my photo-exploring at Masonic and return to the Chemung Mine, which I will cover in the next post.  So check back and see where my adventures will go. 

If you found this post interesting check back often where I will focus on the story behind the image or give tips on my ventures as a nature photographer.

Your comments are always welcome and I will reply back ASAP.

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

    Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain and are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

Thirteen Spooky Places for Halloween Trick or Treat

My favorite places that give me a fright!

 

With Halloween fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to list 13 of the spookiest places where I have been for photos.   

 

Spooky Places Countdown #13 Deadman's Creek. 

 How did such a serene place get this spooky name?  Back in 1861 two prospectors went searching for a gold vein.  The burned and headless body of the one partner, Robert Hume was discovered in a shallow grave near the creek and later his head was found floating in the stream.  When questioned, his partner blamed the death on an Indian attack but he then disappeared before he was arrested! 

 

Spooky Places Countdown #12 Convict Lake

How would a pristine lake clear as glass and set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada get such an ominous name? In 1871 a bunch of escaped convicts held up at this lake; there was a shootout with the local posse and two of the members were killed.  On late fall afternoons; listen quietly and the sound of bullets may be heard echoing through the canyons. 

Spooky Places Countdown #11 Death Valley

In this land of extreme contrast, a wrong turn could become fatal.  One of the hottest places on Earth with a below-sea-level basin of salt flats as far as the eye can see.  Death Valley was named by gold prospectors in 1849 when they traveled across the valley and many perished in the attempt.  

 

Spooky Places Countdown #10 Rhyolite, Nevada  

 

Nevada’s ghost town near Death Valley was a short-lived success story.  When its gold mines played out in 1909 so did the town.  On a full moon night, looking through the remaining structures, you can feel the spirits of the old west, and maybe catch a glimpse of some spirits who refuse to move on. 

 

Spooky Places Countdown #9 Spring Mountain Ranch State Park 

The ranch house seems a peaceful place to visit during the day.  But beware on those long, dark winter nights when drawers rattle and doors slam and nobody is there except for a lonely ranger. This working cattle ranch was owned by the famed German actress Vera Krupp of Krupp diamond fame and she still protects her legacy from unwanted intruders. 

 

Spooky Places Countdown #8  Bodie Ghost Town State Park, California

Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town where visitors can walk the deserted streets that once housed 10,000 residents.  However beware and take only memories or the Bodie Curse will get you! Many an unfortunate person has been known to return even the smallest pebble. For you see, Waterman Bodie for whom the town was named, keeps a close watch over anyone tempted to collect any souvenirs not for sale in the gift shop.  

 

Spooky Places Countdown #7  Chemung Mine, California

Founded in 1906, the Chemung Mine was a good producer of gold, however legal issues were a constant problem.  It was torn down and rebuilt 3 times and then abandoned by 1939.  A warning to all visitors--stay away on Saturdays, especially at night because that is when the ghosts of dead miners come out.  There are reports of unfortunate campers who did not head this warning never to be seen again

 

Spooky Places Countdown #6  Stokes Castle, Austin, Nevada 

 
Who would ever think a three-story stone castle would be built out in the lonely desert of Central Nevada?  Anson Phelps Stokes was a mine developer, railroad magnate and banker that designed his1897 castle after visiting Italy.  Built by the sweat and brawn of local workers with large pieces of native granite, it was only used as a summer home by Stokes for a short time.  Sitting abandoned today, but by the light of the moon you might catch a glimpse of the workers toiling away.   

 

Spooky Places Countdown #5    Goldfield, Nevada

Boarded up buildings are desolate reminders at Nevada’s most haunted ghost town.  The boomtown that once housed 30,000 residents and produced $11million in gold was short lived when the veins ran shallow.  On a dark, snowy day there’s a shiver up your back, could it be the wind or a spirit coming to indulge at the longest bar in the history of mining towns?

 

Spooky Places Countdown #4    Delamar, Nevada

A lonely arch seems  welcoming to the ghost town of Delamar.  And in the late 1800’s, the mines produced $13.5 million in gold. However, the town had a dark side, when the gold was crushed it created a fine dust from the quartzite which gave the miners silicosis.  Thus the town became known as the “Widowmaker”! 

 

Spooky Places Countdown #3   Aurora, Nevada    

The mining town of Aurora, Nevada was founded in 1860 and named for Aurora, the goddess of dawn.  In it’s heyday, the population had grown to 10,000 and produced  $27 million worth of gold by 1869.  Today, much of the town has been destroyed by vandals except for the graveyard which is protected by many a long departed spirit.

 

Spooky Places Countdown #2  Pioche, Nevada   

 In the 1860’s the mining town of Pioche had a reputation for being the baddest town in the west, badder than Tombstone or even Dodge City!  The “Hanging Tree” still stands and can be seen silhouetted against a full moon.  

 

Spooky Places Countdown #1   Spooky Rock Outcropping, Nevada  

Spooky Rock Outcroppings are actual formations from lava flows in the Garfield Flat Thrust that go back million of years.  Resembling a scene from The Danse Macabre, the curved and elongated rocks appear as hooded characters with grimacing looks that definitely send chills up the spine as the sun sets on a late autumn day.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

2018 Wildflowers in Mono County's Conway Summit

A profusion of blooms in a short stretch of the road!

 

A return visit to Conway Summit a few weeks later in July found even more wildflowers in bloom.  So many different species were thriving at an elevation around 8,143 feet (2,482 m) in a short stretch of the road to Virginia Lake, just off U.S. 395 in Mono County, California.  

 

The first to catch my eyes were the blues, lavenders, and yellows.  

The yellow was Sulfur Buckwheat, Eriogonum umbellatum, a species of wild buckwheat. This  plant was used by Native Americans for a number of medical purposes.  

 

The blue flowers were the Silvery Lupine, Lupinus argenteus, which is in the legume family.

 

The lavender-purple was the California Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa, which is a great pollinator for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.  The fibers from this plant were used by Native Americans to make ropes, nets and other items.

 

 

Across the road there was a thick cluster of showy red flowers, the Desert Paintbrush, Castilleja chromosa.

Desert Paintbrush flowers are edible in small amounts and contain selenium.

Small yellow flowers of the Five Finger Cinquefoil, Potentilla erecta, stood out from green, five-parted leaves.  For such a tiny plant, this Cinquefoil has a number of interesting uses.  It offers an important food source to pollinators, rabbits and other wild critters.  Furthermore, its young shoots are eaten with salads and it is even used in magic spells to ward off evil. 

 

A nice grouping of Skyrocket or Scarlet gilia, Ipomopis aggregate flowered against the rocky bank of the road.   

 

The Nude Buckwheat, Eriogonum nudum, named for its naked stem was growing in numerous places.  At least one butterfly subspecies (Apodemia mormo langei) uses naked buckwheat as its primary food source. 

 

Further along the road, I noticed a flowering plant that almost looked like a small bush.  Spreading dogbane, or the fly-trap dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium, is a flowering plant in the Gentianales order. All parts of the plant are poisonous, however it was used by Native Americans for a number of ailments.   

 

Just as I was about to run out of wildflowers, I saw tall stalks of white flowers growing profusely along the slopes of the roadside.

The Sierra Angelica, Angelica lineariloba, is native to the Sierra Nevada in California and Nevada at 6000 to 10,600’ elevations.   

 

The afternoon was growing long with more smoke and haze drifting in from the California wildfires.  It was time to call a wrap to this awesome photo-adventure.  I took a chance on a return visit to this area of wildflowers and sure was not disappointed with the results.  If this warming trend continues, I might just return again to see what else might be flowering as the Indian Summer approaches.   

If you found this post interesting check back often where I will focus on the story behind the image or give tips on my ventures as a nature photographer.

Your comments are always welcome and I will reply back ASAP. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain and are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.