THE MOTHER LODE.

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THE MOTHER LODE OF THE GOLD RUSH ERA IS A REMARKABLE PERIOD OF OUR HISTORY--THOUSANDS CAME TO THE GOLD RUSH COUNTRY OF THE SIERRA FOOTHILLS IN CALIFORNIA TO STRIKE IT RICH STACKING CLAIMS FROM PLACERVILLE SOUTH TO MARIPOSA.  UP UNTIL 1959 THE "GOLD COUNTRY', OR 'MOTHER LODE' PRODUCED SOME 13 MILLION TROY OUNCES OF GOLD!

I LIVED IN SONARA , THE HEART OF THE MINES. GOLD SEEKING ENTHUSIASTS CAN STILL PULL $20,000 A YEAR PANNING THE LOCAL STREAMS AND RIVERS..MUCH OF THE AREA IS STILL AS IT WAS BACK IN THE DAYS OF 2 CENT BEER AND NUMERABLE GUN FIGHTS. PARTICULARLY  FASCINATING IS THE PATINA OF THE OLD BRICK WALLS THAT TIME HAS TRANSFORMED. SOME OF THE OLDER TOWNS LIKE CHINESE CAMP, WHERE THE TONG WARS STARTED,  ARE HOME TO OLD BANKS AND HOMES THAT HAVE NEVER  BEEN RENOVATED, BUT STILL STAND AMONG OVERGROWN VEGETATION,  BROKEN AND CRUMBLING. GHOSTS OF TIMES PAST  SEEM PRESENT STILL. THOSE PLACES  WERE  MY FAVORITE HAUNTS! HISTORY LIVES IN THE WALLS OF THESE PLACES AND  SOMETIMES I FEEL I CAN CAPTURE A PIECE OF THAT AS IN THE  PHOTOGRAPH " SUBTERRANEAN HORSE" BELOW