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Your Story: St Ives to California in 1871: Sarah Glasson's story |
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The narrative shows that emigration to America was not necessarily an escape from the economic troubles in Cornwall in the late 1800's. In Josiah's time as a mine blacksmith in North Bloomfield we have an example of how one mining technique was overtaken by another, eventually leading to its own demise and the collapse of a community. The hydraulic mines, by washing down the mountain sides produced a vast amount of waste which was channelled into the Yuba and Sacramento rivers, causing extensive environmental damage not only to the rivers but also the surrounding farmlands, the silt even reaching as far as San Francisco and out into the Pacific Ocean through the Golden Gate.
The farmers fought the mining company and won their case, the first of its kind in the USA. and the hydraulic mines were forced to close. Families had to leave, resulting in the collapse of local businesses and almost overnight North Bloomfield became a ghost town. Sarah and her husband had to sell what was left of their business at a knock-down price and move away, relying on their children for support.
The towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City survived and are now desirable residential locations, generating business from their historical mining connections. Through the concerted efforts of local citizens over several years the site of North Bloomfield and its principal mine, the Malakoff mine, are now within the Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, with picnic and camping grounds and rental cabins. Some of North Bloomfield's original buildings have survived. Others, including the school, have been reconstructed and a museum contains artefacts connected with the town's mining history.
Words: Tom Richards
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