NORTH BLOOMFIELD : Wiley Dog and Sparky work and play in the Diggins

Wiley Dog and Sparky have had many adventures in North Bloomfield ,California, located 16 miles northeast of Nevada City. Sparky actually worked there at the U.S. Forest Service guard station. At one time it was the Forest's Service North Bloomfield District Ranger Office. Located along side of the east side of Humbug Creek just off the Relief Hill Road. In the mid 1970's the guard station was reopened for the first time since 1961. This allowed Sparky to get to know the town and the California State Malakoff Park very well. It has been called a California ghost town by many. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

First named " Humbug " in 1851 by unlucky miners, North Bloomfield was a placer camp that served as a supply base for the Malakoff diggings. Now considered the largest hydraulic diggings in the world. It boomed into a town of 1,229 during the height of hydraulic mining at the diggings. Shown below. Hydraulic mining was effective and profitable, but severely damaged the environment. tailings from the mines destroyed farmlands, raised the bed of Yuba River higher than the level of the city, and disrupted navigation of the Sacramento River and the San Francisco Bay. In 1884 a law was passed and Judge Lorenzo Sawyer halted the practice of hydraulic mining with a permanent injunction against dumping tailings into state's waterways.

A number of engineering marvels were created to support the hydraulic mining. The world's first long-distance telephone line passed through North Bloomfield as it made it's way from French Corral to Bowman Lake. This telephone line was put in place to support a massive series of ditches and flumes that brought water to the mines from the Sierra 300 miles away. In North Bloomfield, a drainage tunnel was built to drain the run off from the mining operations to Humbug Creek. This tunnel was 7,874 feet long and 200 feet below the surface and was punctuated by eight pipes along the way. The " Hydro monster " shown above was always seen at special events in North Bloomfield. Made out of an old water canon it sported shirt and pants. Attached to a Jeep it could shoot water out of it's top and proved to be a real crowd pleas er.
The " Clampers " had a major role in North Bloomfield. They constructed a few buildings in town and had a major presence in the annual Home Coming Days. E Clampus Vitus was formed as a " fun " organization, probably in Mokelumne Hill, California, in 1849. It lapsed and was revived as a fun-cum-historical society. More than 65,000 members in 62 lodges, but there is no settled head office.
Carl Irving Wheat in 1930 revived what is the current modern organization. Wheat was deeply interested in California history, and under his guidance the revived organization devoted itself to that subject. The fire truck above is called " Lil Clyde " and is one of the Bull Meek Chapter 10 vehicle's.
Clamper commemorative plaques of bronze or stone are to be found on many " historical " California buildings. There is even a plaque in the National Hotel's parking lot in downtown Nevada City. It is dedicated to the ladies of the evening and their unique contributions to the Gold Rush.