Eureka!

Dogtown, Centerville, Nimshew, DeSabla, Powellton, Diamondville, Philbrook, Helltown, Optimo, Lovelock, Stirling City, Forks of Butte, Whiskey Flat, Inskip, Paradise, all communities that owe their existence to one word, Eureka! Without the Gold Rush these places and the people who mined the claims, worked in the sawmills and in agriculture and built the communities on the Paradise Ridge and surrounding areas, at best would have been quite different and at worst not here at all. But, gold was discovered in what was known as the Northern Mines and what followed and went before is the history and heritage.

History

The Paradise Historical Society: Fact & Folklore was founded in 1960 to study and document this rich history. Twice a year the society publishes TALES OF THE PARADISE RIDGE that is mailed to all members. A field trip to historic sites in Butte and nearby counties in the spring or summer makes history come alive for members, their families and guests. Meetings in January and September feature speakers on topics of local area history. The Paradise Historical Society also maintains a collection of historic photographs and maps along with back issues of TALES OF THE PARADISE RIDGE.

Heritage

Membership supports the Society's efforts to keep the past, its people and places, alive for the enjoyment not only of the members, but the public today and in the future. And this heritage is daily slipping away from us and once lost is difficult and sometimes impossible to recover. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, "Those with no regard for the past will have little worth remembering in the future." So become a member and help us preserve the history and heritage of the area in which you live.

Membership

Membership in the Paradise Historical Society, Fact & Folklore is only $12.00 per year, $150 for life. This includes two issues of TALES OF THE PARADISE RIDGE.

This landmark Ponderosa Pine tree once stood in the middle of Clark Road north of the original center of Paradise (between Elliott Road and Bille Road). The tree died in 1945 and was taken down. Photo by Josie E.M. Nielsen, 1943.

Tales of the Paradise Ridge

Tales of the Paradise Ridge contains excellent informative articles and pictures, plus Annual Meeting Highlights, Back Then, Then and Now, Field Trip Overview, and much more. Back issues and index are available. Some past featured articles include:

Fighting Wildland Fire from Stirling City by Robert Colby, Vol. 44 No. 1 June 2003
Black Bart Slept Here by Robert Colby, Vol. 44 No. 1 June 2003
In Search of the Dogtown Nuggett by Robert Colby, Vol. 43 No. 2 December 2002
Philbrook Dam, Where Giants Made History by Robert Colby, Vol. 42 No. 1 June 2001
West Branch Camps by Harry Regar, Vol. 41 No. 2 December 2000
Sam McClellan: Pioneer, Prospector and Public Servant of Butte County by Jeff Weber, Vol. 41 No. 2 December 2000

Field Trip to Lotts Lake, August 1999

Field Trips

2003 Field Trip, Saturday, June 24th. This years field trip is to Old Forbestown. Meet at 8:30 AM Holiday Market in Paradise at Skyway and Center Street. Leaving at 9:00 AM sharp, drive or carpool. Jim Lague, local historian with the Yuba-Feather Historical Society, will give a tour of this Gold Rush mining town and its cemetery. After the tour is lunch at the Museum (bring your own lunch). The Forbestown Store makes excellent sandwiches. The Board of Directors will furnish desert. If you have a folding chair, bring it. After lunch you are on your own to explore the area of this Gold Rush town.

Past field trips were:
In 2002 - Stirling City, Hendricks Dam and Kimshew Falls
In 2001 - Feather River to Quincy
In 2000 - Stirling City/Butte Meadows Rail Line and West Branch Camps
In 1999 - Lotts Lake

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