Lake County Historical Society

Comment from Marc Koltun
Date: August 22, 2007, 1:31 pm

I am looking for any facts, data, pictures, articles, etc. about a resort that once existed around 1950 in Lake County called “Bonanza Springs.”

Can you provide any information about the extent of the land owned, who the owners were at that time, and to whom the property upon which the resort was built now belongs?

If not, where should I go to continue my research?

Thank you,
Marc Koltun
530-219-7547

Comment from Gustav Russ Youngreen
Date: September 5, 2007, 9:14 am

A book: Images of America - Lake County (ISBN 0-7385-3030-1 by Marcia Bishop Sanderson and Maureen Garcia Carpenter) thas on page 89, a picture of my mother, Virginia F. Russ.

The early lakeside photograph is depicting the area know as Pepperwood Cove in reference to the early development of State Hwy 20. I would like to know the origin of the photo with a mind to obtaining a copy of the original photograph.

Incidentally, the photo on page 88 was taken just south of the southern ridge of Pepperwood Cove, looking north from the lakeside rocky outcrop at Kono Tayee. Interestingly, that bluff shown in the photograph above the lake, despite the destructive road building techniques of the time, remains basically intact to this day and provides human interface isolation to the undeveloped ridges and oak, buckeye covered slopes immediately above.

Virginia F. Russ, in the aforementioned photograph on p. 89, was daughter to one of the San Francisco Russ clan (SF Russ Building)who purchased the Pepperwood Cove acres and the surrounding ridges around the turn of the century. 10 years after her passing in 1997, the still basically untouched land, some 220 acres, are now for sale. Her family hopes it will be purchased by someone who would preserve it’s natural integrity.

Any assistance readers of this post can provide putting me in touch with the photograph would be greatly appreciated.

Phone: 250 353 6808

Gustav Russ Youngreen

Comment from steve werner
Date: September 5, 2007, 9:35 am

I am seeking information regarding the Utopia mercury mine. It was located somwhere between Nice and Lucerne along Highway 20. Please contact me if you can share any information with me.
Old mining reports from 1896 say it is 8 miles east of Lakeport at an elevation of 1450 feet. 1918 and 1939 document says it is in Section 25, T. 15N,R. 9W, near Bartlett landing.

Thanks, Steve Werner

Comment from Jan Cook
Date: January 2, 2008, 8:32 am

The Pomo Bulletin began long before 1995 as your website states, back to the 1950s I believe.

Comment from Gustav Russ Youngreen
Date: February 29, 2008, 6:14 pm

Before the roadway of Hwy 20 was widened just to the north end of Lucerne, there were several mining portals -mining caves, that were just above the highway by mere feet. I can remember two distinctly and they would have been located south of what wasthen the Keeling Ranch which might have been Barlett Landing. The road to Barlett Springs, still there, is some 1000 ft north of the portals location. They have since been filled in some time back. There might have been more mining activity inland a hundred or so feet around from the lakeside portion of the ridge that might have been thought to provide access to different veins of the minerals sought. I thin there’s some sort of organic farm or vinyard in that area now. So close to former mercury mine. Amusing, almost.

Gry

Comment from Tracy Herrmann
Date: April 9, 2008, 6:46 pm

I found information for Marc Koltun about Bonanza Springs. I can give you some information, but to get all the info you are wanting you should go to http://books.google.com/books?id=b688PFctDJQC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=bonanza+springs+camping+resort+in+whispering+pines+lake+county+california+history&source=web&ots=zBDXpVZXFF&sig=FZjWEU8PXjSXaypMrjWAN5J6y44&hl=en.

Bonanza Springs was located nearly 4 miles North-northeast of Whispering PInes. I was a camping resort after a fire burnt the hotel that was there. It was first called Copsey’s Spring and had a hotel and sold spring bottled water for sale.

This was all the information I could find so far, but I hope it helps!

Comment from dale g. griffin
Date: May 11, 2008, 3:19 am

looking for any info. old maps, books, histery anything, on the great western mine out of middletown. thank you.

dg

Comment from Steve “Iggy” Myers
Date: May 11, 2008, 11:33 am

Randy, Great talking with you today! I hope that E Clampsus Vitus and Lake County Historical Society can have a positive, lasting relationship!

Comment from Rane Sessions
Date: May 26, 2008, 6:25 pm

I am looking for information about Witter Springs, my husband’s grandfather owned it or was part owner of it, their family name was Whitaker. His mother lived there as a child — Louise Avery Whitaker. Any ideas on how to obtain information?

Thank you,

Rane Sessions

Comment from mireya
Date: May 26, 2008, 7:51 pm

Mr. Sessions,
I have forwarded your question to our President. Please let me know if you do not get a response in the next 10 days.