BUY GOLD BRACELETS

Quilts of the Golden West: Mining the History of the Gold and Silver Rush

Join Cindy Brick as she brings our American Golden West to life: in stories and in quilts.

Explore the rich history of the rush for gold and silver wealth in our western states during the 1800s. Cindy profiles nine brave and daring heroines of the era - Belle Starr, Molly Brown, Baby Doe Tabor, and more.

Ten quilt patterns are included so you can recreate your own period piece. Some quilts are designed in the heroines' honor: one version featuring color portraits of each, as well as a redwork version.

You'll also find an extensive quilting instruction section, with tips covering everything from washing - or not washing - fabric to the importance of ironing. Cindy adds details about fabrics and colors used in the period, clothing, and so much more!

Cindy's experience with teaching, judging, appraising and writing combine to make this a rich, lovely resource for recreating historical quilts.

Victorian Heritage REgister Statement of Significance

The State's richest deep alluvial gold lead system, known as the Berry Lead System, run north from Creswick, slightly to the west of Smeaton. Mining of lead system took place from early 1870s. The Berry No. 1 mine was floated in 1881 and by the end of 1884, the company's main shaft had been sunk 494 feet. Confronted with large flows of water, the company erected some of the most extensive pumping machinery in the State, including a 70-inch cylinder Cornish engine. The engine was locally manufactured at John Hichman's Union Foundry Ballarat and was capable of lifting 60,000 gallons of water per hour. The engine was housed in a brick engine house. The Berry No.1 mine was not one of the field's major gold producers. In fact it was spectacularly unprofitable: in twenty years its record was 50,000 ounces of gold, dividends of less than ?5,000, and operating costs of ?278,764.

The Berry No.1 Deep Lead Gold Mine is of historical, archaeological and scientific importance to the State of Victoria.

The Berry No.1 Deep Lead Gold Mine is historically and scientifically important as a characteristic example of an important form of gold mining. Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria. As well as being a significant producer of Victoria's nineteenth century wealth, deep lead mining, with its intensive use of machinery, played an important role in the development of Victorian manufacturing industry. The engine house at the Berry No.1 mine is a crucial reminder of the move by the mining industry from the use of imported Cornish pumping engines to locally produced engines.

Victorian Heritage Register Statement of Significance
The Berry No.1 Deep Lead Gold Mine is scientifically important for its illustration of Cornish pumping technology and building design. The site is archaeologically important for its potential to yield artefacts and evidence which will be able to provide significant information about the technological history of gold mining.

This is a photograph that I took inside the guards' living quarters inside the old assay building at the abandoned Vulture Mine near Wickenburg, Arizona. Through the doorway is the "bullion room" where the gold and silver ingots were stored in a below ground vault to await shipment to banks. This building was constructed during the 1870's. The rocks used to construct this building were taken from the mine and are laden with gold and silver...the rocks, which are still there, are estimated to be worth several hundred thousand dollars.

The Vulture Mine was the most productive gold mine in Arizona history, producing an estimated 200 million dollars’ worth of gold during its period of operation. It also produced a large amount of silver.

The Bullion Room was protected by armed guards 24 hours a day. These men were given direct orders by the company to use deadly force if anyone attempted to steal any of the gold and silver. These guards worked in shifts and slept in the living quarters upstairs. This room was likely where they ate their meals and where they stayed during their shift. Notice the old sewing machine (with the ancient pair of jeans on it) on the far right and the old stove near the door. If you look through the door you can see the opening to the below ground vault where the gold and silver ingots were stored. (I climbed down into the vault during my visit).

The mine was started in 1863 by Henry Wickenburg and changed ownership numerous times during its history. A bustling town dubbed “Vulture City” sprung up around the mine and, at one time, had a population greater than Phoenix. However, the operations at the mine faced numerous obstacles such as Indian raids, attacks by highwaymen, high graders (men who went into the mines to steal gold), and a constant lack of a viable water supply. The mine was finally shut down in 1942 by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The miners thought that they would be returning within six months but operations never resumed.

The first documented discovery of gold in the United States was in 1799 at John Reed's farm in Cabarrus County, N.C. In the first half of the 19th century, North Carolina was the preeminent state in gold mining, yielding more of the precious metal than any other American state prior to 1849. For nearly three decades, until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, all domestic gold coined by the U.S. Mint came from North Carolina. The authors assert that the story of mining in the state offers impressive evidence of industrialization that struck a balance between industry and agriculture. They present case studies of John Reed and the Gold Hill mining district in Rowan County, which together chart North Carolina's unique role in the industry. Additional sections of the book focus on the activity at mines other than Gold Hill from 1865 well into the 20th century. Through the book, the authors discuss the role of African Americans, slave and free, in North Carolina's gold region. The volume contains 63 black-and-white illustrations, a helpful glossary of gold mining terms, and an extensive list of sources.