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Wells Fargo Building Update
STCHS Takes Possession of Wells Fargo Building
by Marc Fossum
At the 11 th hour on the 59 th minute of December 31, 2007 the ownership of the "Gamble Block," known locally as the Wells Fargo Building, in Big Oak Flat, CA was duly transferred to the Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society (STCHS). A 1902 Queen Ann Victorian home is also included with the property. The property was gifted to STCHS by the sons of the flamboyant Harry Cobden, John and Richard Cobden.
The gifting of the property to the local historical society had been attempted numerous times over the past three decades but finally came to fruition last month. Included in the transaction was a cash donation to be used towards security and insurance needs. The Cobdens also placed a sum of money in a trust account to match donated money that STCHS is able to raise. The preservation, renovation and future viable uses of the buildings will be the most significant undertaking by STCHS since it erected the Yosemite Gateway Museum and Library.
A recently formed committee has already met to begin planning the future of the buildings. The immediate short-term goals are to clean up the exterior grounds of the buildings and erect security fencing. Motion detectors have already been installed to help deter vandalism. After fencing is installed, the interior of the building will need to be emptied of the years of refuse dumped in them. Following that job will be remediation of lead-based paint, molds and minimal asbestos cleanup.
Long-term goals may include a master plan for a "Heritage Park" encompassing the numerous historically significant buildings and sites in the immediate vicinity. Restoration of the buildings will require significant grants to fund the work. We are extremely fortunate that volunteers from our local community, as well as throughout the state, have come forward to offer their expertise and assistance in this venture.
By early spring we expect to have the property cleaned up to a degree where it is aesthetically attractive and will self promote its future development.
Gamble Block
Wells Fargo Building Update
by Marc Fossum
The 1850s California Gold Rush Era stone building located in Big Oak Flat is now fully fenced with locked gates surrounding it. My thanks go out to the many STCHS volunteers who have contributed a total of 276 hours to date in cleaning, weeding, pruning, securing and fencing the site. We feel the fencing and security systems we have installed will detour vandals and vagrants that have been accelerating the deterioration of the two buildings on the site. Our next goal is to clean out the debris in the stone building.
In April of this year STCHS submitted a grant request to the Planning Department of Tuolumne County. Our request was approved by the County Historic Preservation Review Commission, the Planning Department and later the County Board of Supervisors. This step does not approve the grant but gains the endorsement of the above county offices in addition to their assistance in writing the grant. The requested grant is federal money and comes through the National Parks Department. It is part of the Preserve America Program. We are requesting approximately $20,000 in grant money and we must match it with another $20,000 of our own funds or “in kind” donations. We will use the grant to contract with an architectural firm that specializes in the restoration of historical buildings. The firm will conduct a thorough assessment of the site and the two buildings we intend to preserve. The assessment will include an archeological survey of the site that will determine if there is any evidence of prehistoric use or habitation. Through the assessment we will also be able to determine if the adjacent highway traffic is causing damage to the buildings through seismic vibration. When the assessment and surveys are complete we will have in our possession a comprehensive document that will spell out, detail by detail, what we must do to restore the buildings to a level where public access is allowable. The document will also include cost estimates for every phase of restoration. This step in the project is necessary and we have arrived at a point where we must obtain this information to proceed with the project. I will share the results of the assessment when it is complete.
Gold Rush Dioramas
by Marc Fossum
On April 23 the Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society (STCHS) took possession of a set of California Gold Rush dioramas that were housed in the State Museum Resource warehouses in Sacramento. The dioramas are life-size depictions of various gold mining activities of the 1850s illustrating the cultural diversity of “life in the mines.” The dioramas were created by the Oakland Museum and have been on display throughout the country. Recently the Oakland Museum donated them to the State Museum and the dioramas were put in storage in Sacramento. Early last year STCHS was made aware that the dioramas may be available to a “good home.” A small group of STCHS supporters went to Sacramento to view the dioramas and assess whether they were in reasonable condition and something STCHS may be able to use for future displays. The findings were positive and earlier this year a contingent of STCHS directors and other local supporters took a field trip to Sacramento to meet with the State Museum Warehouse curators and negotiate a deal to transfer the dioramas to Southern Tuolumne County. The dioramas are being stored in Big Oak Flat at a temporary facility pending a long- term storage location .
The dioramas are made up of numerous fixed scenes with a variety of interchangeable props and life-size mannequins. We envision using these items to create a variety of different displays. The first anticipated public display will be on September 6, 2009 at the Pine Mountain Lake Stables with the Labor Day BBQ STCHS will be hosting.
