FOREST CITY — Last Saturday, members of E Clampus Vitus 1849, often referred to as Clampers, arrived in Forest City to install a plaque commemorating the efforts of The Bald Mountain Mining Co. Embedded at the top of the plaque is a large chunk of coal, fitting the acknowledgment. The plaque reads:

The Bald Mountain Mining Co.

“In 1876 the Bald Mountain Mining Co purchased a Baldwin built steam locomotive designed to fit into the already existing mine tunnels. The 0-4-OT produced 25 hp at 100 psi to haul up to 45 ore carts along the max 4% grade on an eventual 30 miles of 1 ft. 8 in. gauge track. The coal burners exhaust was cleared from the tunnels by a “water blast” of a local creek ditched and dropped down a 270 ft. shaft into the mine. The water and the bad air flowed down and out the portal. A coaling station and water tank was located on the hillside. The Main Street freight depot was located here at the bottom of an inclined trestle.”

Dedicated June 17, 2023

Major William Downie 1849 ECV

Pio Pico 1801 Outpost

E Clampus Vitus

The hours surrounding the installation found the Clampers busy serving the Forest City community by cleaning up the streets and sprucing up the area with the help of a weed whacker. These efforts are timely as the anticipated Forest City Doins the weekend of June 22nd is fast approaching.

Later in the year, red shirts will trickle into Downieville on Thursday, August 22nd, for a weekend to initiate a new group to ECV 1849. On Friday night of the 23rd, the annual Humbug Dinner will commence to honor all the event helpers. Saturday, August 24th, initiation with all of the expected shenanigans will be held at the newly renovated Community Hall, a parade at noon, and plenty more Clamper-related activities, including a raffle. Sunday, August 25th, the Downieville Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a breakfast in the Community Hall at 8 a.m., Charlie’s Angels will hold a meeting at St. Charles Place at 10 a.m. and the “Passing of the Staff” will transition the role of Noble Humbug from Lee (Duck) Todd to Marty (Sneaker) Padilla. Subscriptions to the monthly newsletter detailing the activities of Clampers are available by following the instructions at ecvgazette.com/flatlander2_files.