History from Ashes

Jul 10, 2016 by contributor

In September of 2015, the Butte Fire burned over 70,000 acres in Amador and Calaveras Counties, California, along with nearly 1,000 structures including over 500 homes.  Among these were ranches and structures over 100 years old, dating to the Gold Rush and early periods of settlement.  In December 2015, with funding provided by CAL FIRE, archaeologists, historians, and local volunteers teamed up to record these lost historic resources.  We recovered histories from the ashes by documenting the remains left on the ground and by recovering memories of their past inhabitants.  It is appropriate that these sites be remembered with such eulogies: that they do not disappear without their stories being told.

A poster summarizing this research is now hanging inside the Moke Hill Post Office, across from the desk.  In August it will travel to Mountain Ranch to be part of the “Pieces” exhibition, and then to the Arts Council in San Andres.  Stop by and learn about recovering history from ashes.