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Newsletter - November 2025
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
Nov 88 min read


UGMM is seeking professionals in the area of mining, geology and especially history to review a manuscript.
Underground Gold Miners Museum (UGMM) is working with the daughter of mining geologist and historian Willard “Bill” Fuller to publish her...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Sep 267 min read


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

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Jul 84 min read


New lighting installed in museum
For at least three years, the lights over the Phil O'Donnell drill collection haven't worked. With the help of a generous donation from...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Jun 251 min read


Thomas "Bud" DeGrio
Thomas “Bud” Michel DeGrio passed away unexpectedly on the 21st of December 2024 surrounded by family in Sonora, CA. Bud was born April...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Mar 102 min read
Annual Membership Meeting
Date and Time: Saturday May 31, 2025 11 am Location: Underground Gold Miners Museum 356 Main Street, Alleghany Informational Documents...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Feb 271 min read


November 2024 Newsletter
(Printable PDF linked below) Preserving History an Iota at a Time Thirty Years and Counting! On February 16, 2025, Underground Gold...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Nov 7, 20247 min read


Southwest Sierra Then and Now #16
Sunday July 2, 2023 ~ Last week’s article ended with a little history on the Ruby Mine (aka Guatemala) located at the northern edge of...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Aug 19, 20242 min read


Southwest Sierra #15 Historical Accounts & Personal Stories
RUBY MINE Last week I shared that my family moved from Southern California to Grass Valley in 1974. Today I will share how we ended up...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Jul 17, 20244 min read


Saturday June 1, 2024 at the Museum
UGMM Director and Docent Chris Smith (left) and Michael Miller cranking things up!

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Jun 3, 20241 min read


Alleghany's Old School Gym comes to Life!
Live Music by The Tyler Foote Walkers Liquid Light Show Where: Alleghany's Old School Gym ~ 529 Miners Street Alleghany When: Friday May...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Apr 25, 20241 min read


Carbide Graffiti
Carbide lamps are an icon of underground mining. Introduced in 1901, they were such a major improvement over candles that they were...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Apr 16, 20242 min read


Fred Kuhfeld Jr. Notebook
Frederick Kuhfeld Jr. was born in the town of Minnesota on May 12, 1866. Later referred to as Minnesota Flat, the boomtown was located on...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Jan 3, 20242 min read


The Daily Union, Wed. Sept. 11, 1907. ADMISSION DAY AT ALLEGHANY OCCASION WAS OBSERVED BY PEOPLE
– Hospitality in Sierran Town is Most Lavish. The festivities pass off in a manner reflecting much credit upon those having charge of the...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Nov 29, 20238 min read


UGMM 2023 Newsletter
Season’s Greetings from Alleghany! We hope that this year’s newsletter finds you and yours doing well. After a relatively cool summer, we...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Nov 29, 20238 min read


Merle Bradbury's Memory Book
Merle Eva Marguerite Bradbury was the only child of Thomas and Lizetta (Nihill) Bradbury. Merle was born on September 9, 1895 in a house...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Oct 22, 20234 min read


Stock Certificate No. 1 issued to W.I. Smart
First Stock Certificate issued by Original Sixteen to One Mine Inc. the oldest Gold Mining Corporation in the United States! Issued on...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Aug 23, 20231 min read



Underground Gold Miners Museum
Aug 23, 20230 min read


Rocks of the Sixteen to One Mine
Many different rocks and minerals can be found in the Sixteen to One Mine, however the most significant are: Tightner schist,...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Aug 23, 20231 min read


Raymond W Wittkopp Professional Geologist
September 1943 ~ January 2017 Excerpt from UGMM Nov. 2017 Newsletter It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Ray’s passing. A...

Underground Gold Miners Museum
Aug 16, 20231 min read
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