Mines of Julian

Twenty years after the better known gold rush to the Mother Lode Country, miners looking for a new bonanza combed the foothill regions of Southern California, but the discovery-find was made by a farmer, Fred Coleman of Volcan Mountain.

Julian had its share of amazing strikes, costly court battles, water in the mines and watered stocks, but it is reported to have produced some seven million dollars of bullion, though no loyal son of Julian will settle for such a paltry sum. With the passing of the years and the closing of the mines, Julian became known as a land of tasty apples and other fruit, then in more recent times as a refuge for those who long to be away from the bustle of a big city.

Author Helen Ellsberg, who has a remarkable ability to glean information from those old-timers who still live nearby, tells of the facts and the lore of those bygone mining days. But she is just as successful in digging into the old records and newspapers for the figures and data to verify the stories. These she has skillfully blended into her story, Mines of Julian, in a way that all will enjoy and appreciate.