STEVEN CHARLES BELL February 17, 1968 – January 25, 2026   Steven Bell Age 14 Steven was born in Simi Valley, California to Don and Audrey Bell. The family (parents and four kids) moved to Northern California in 1974 to pursue Don Bell’s gold mining ambitions and to get out of suburbia. In 1975 the family moved to the Mott Cabin at The Ruby Mine located (as the crow flies) between the towns of Alleghany and Downieville. The drive to Alleghany was shorter than to Downieville,

In Memory of Thomas “Bud” DeGrio April 28, 1945 – December 21, 2024   It is with a heavy heart that we dedicate this year’s newsletter to the memory of longtime museum director Thomas “Bud” DeGrio.   A miner through and through, Bud started working in the local gold mines with his dad at age 11. In his own words: “It was April 1961, my 16th birthday! I couldn’t wait to “hire on” at the 16 to 1 gold mine for the summer. The mine Boss was Wilford Hart; underground Boss, Tom Hog

Underground Gold Miners Museum (UGMM) is working with the daughter of mining geologist and historian Willard “Bill” Fuller to publish her...

Independent Messenger – Thursday August 23, 1984 EXCERPTS FROM DR. W.G. HARDIE’S MEDICAL LEDGER By Joe Smith   The following entries were...