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A Gathering of Writers
2003
April showers bring May
flowers...so the old saying goes. Between storms this
April afternoon brought out some local writers for a gathering in
the historic mining town of Alleghany. Just mentioning this place
makes me nostalgic. Our family lived here for a short period when
we were children. Dad was employed as a miner in the
Sixteen-To-One Mine. Mel parked our car on Main
Street near Casey's Place, the designated spot where everyone
signed up and got their name tags from Joe-Ann Buczkowke.
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Joe-Ann and husband Bud are
the movers and shakers in Alleghany who get lots of nice things
happening. Bud's written several books,
and Joe-Ann makes gourmet jams and
jellies. We
purchased a jar of her Raspberry Chambord Jam.
You can view her website at
http://www.jellygrandma.com
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Lots of books displayed
and autographed by the
authors. This man holds the
book Making Gold Rush Whiskey.
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We have lunch
with the Kokila's. Delicious king size burgers with the works
and potato salad prepared by....
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Caree is busily preparing food for everyone.
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After lunch we walked a
short distance up Main Street to the Red Star where the writer's
readings were taking place.
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Sierra Writer's John
Skinner chatting in the lobby.
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In the kitchen Bud Buczkowke checks
out the empty coffee pot.
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A snowy day, crackling fireplace, people reading stories and
reciting poetry add up to a delightful afternoon.
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Mr. Cicogni's poetic recitals were remarkable.
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Their father wrote the
original story about the ghost in the Sixteen to One Mine.
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More poetry read by this lady.
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...And a wonderful
mining story by this gentleman.
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Mike Miller shows the
pictures and reads the
captions in a 1992 Calendar about the Sixteen to
One Mine. "A mine is
like a woman. When you find a good one, it is hard to let her
go. When you find a bad one, it is hard to sometimes know."
The
calendar has beautiful pictures of the men who were working
underground on the 600 foot level, or 1500 foot level of the mine.
It's a collector's item. We bought one that Mike just happened to
have outside in his truck.
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....And Mike let Mel get a
look at this whopper
chunk of gold, but he wouldn't let us take it home. You can check
out the mine at
http://www.origsix.com/
Gerard Forsman also has a very interesting website with many local
pictures and stories at
http://www.gfxgold.com
Maybe we didn't go home with
a gold nugget, but the memories, and spending an afternoon with
interesting people in that wonderful old town is our kind of treasure.
The old picture of Grandmother Grace, me and my sisters
Kathy and Virginia in front of the cabin where we lived when our
dad worked at the mine ultimately brought me back to enjoy
the Gatherings in Alleghany. Below is a picture of our dad and mom
with us.
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