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HomeMy WebLinkAboutChapter 09 - Cultural ResourcesChapter 9: Cultural Resources Final Draft August 8, 2005 Butte County General Plan Background Report 1 CHAPTER 9: CULTURAL RESOURCES TABLE OF CONTENTS 9.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................2 9.2 PREHISTORIC ERA............................................................................................................................................2 9.3 HISTORIC ERA....................................................................................................................................................3 9.4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY ...............................................................................................................6 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 9-1 REGIONAL, COMMUNITY, AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SITES OR LANDMARKS .................................................5 TABLE 9-2 HISTORIC MUSEUMS IN BUTTE COUNTY.......................................................................................................6 Chapter 9: Cultural Resources Final Draft August 8, 2005 Butte County General Plan Background Report 2 9.1 INTRODUCTION The great natural diversity of Butte County has been used in different ways by the various human populations that have occupied the land. This chapter describes the record each of these groups has left of their passing, as well as the process by which historic and archaeological sites are discovered and protected. 9.2 PREHISTORIC ERA Native American occupation of Butte County may have begun as many as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Although precise dates of human habitation in Butte County are not available, archaeological sites from the Coast Range to the west, and from the Shasta County area to the north, have produced clear evidence of human presence dating as far back as 12,000 years. The early archaeology of Butte County remains largely unknown, for several reasons. Very old sites located in the western part of the county are probably deeply covered by deposits of soil and rock left by floods and runoff. Those sites in the eastern and northern areas of the county have a higher likelihood of being exposed on the surface, though a large percentage of possible archaeological sites in all the urban areas and in areas with heavy agriculture are also likely to have been lost or destroyed by human action. Despite the absence of physical evidence, some assumptions about early human activity in the area can be made. The variety of Native American archaeological sites in Butte County is related to the complexities of both the natural and cultural environments. The most recent sites are primarily associated with the Konkow Maidu, and possibly the Yahi branch of the Yana in the extreme north. The Konkow Maidu followed a yearly cycle of seasonal gathering and hunting. This pattern took them into the mountains during the summer months for hunting and to gather acorns, pine nuts, and other foods. During the winter they gathered in large villages in the valley near the Sacramento River and its major tributaries. Their seasonal activities have left several different kinds of archaeological sites. The large winter villages form conspicuous deposits along the major drainages of the county. Specialized activity areas developed smaller, but no less distinct occupational deposits along minor streams or springs. The gathering and processing of vegetal foods has left archaeological features like mortar holes and grinding slabs on suitable outcrops of stone both near to and separate from occupation sites. In the grasslands of the valley, seed tracts, vernal wetlands, and other rich food resources were systematically used, leaving distinct artifacts in each place. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes the Mud Creek Canyon archaeological district, which contains numerous important prehistoric sites, including the Indian village site at Patrick Rancheria, site of nineteenth century Ghost Dance ceremonies. The last member of the Yahi tribe, a man named Ishi, was discovered in Butte County in 1913. He was taken to the University of California at Berkeley, where he died of pneumonia in 1916. Chapter 9: Cultural Resources Final Draft August 8, 2005 Butte County General Plan Background Report 3 9.3 HISTORIC ERA Historic archaeological deposits in Butte County probably trace to the first quarter of the nineteenth century. These earliest sites were the temporary camps of explorers such as Moraga and his party in 1808, or possibly Luis Arguello in 1820. Next to pass through the area was the party of fur trappers headed by Jedediah Smith in 1827, followed by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1829, which exploited the rich wildlife of the Sacramento River system. Archaeological deposits from these activities are extremely sparse and rarely well-preserved. Much of the fertile valley and grazing lands in Butte County were held as private “ranchos” (lands that were given as a gift of the Mexican government in Alta California to private citizens) prior to the end of Mexican rule in 1846. Permanent Anglo-European settlement in Butte County can be traced to 1844, when the first residents occupied land granted to them by Mexico. These men, William Dickey and Edward A. Farwell, were Butte County’s first permanent European settlers. Prior to the gold rush, most development in Butte County was agricultural, notably the owners of several large land grants who raised herds of cattle for the hide and tallow trade. The discovery of gold in 1848 at Coloma on the South Fork of the American River, followed by the great gold rush of 1849, dramatically and permanently changed Butte County. During 1848, the communities of Bidwell’s Bar, Long’s Bar, Thompson’s Flat, Adamstown, and Potter’s Bar were established. By 1849, communities were rapidly established at points throughout the eastern half of the county. These settlements were occupied for varying amounts of time. Some literally lasted only a few days, while others became permanent communities. The County of Butte was organized in 1850. For the first five years, mining was the primary enterprise of the county. By 1855, agriculture was again a prominent activity, and the lumber industry was rising in importance with twelve mills in operation. River traffic included stops at Chico Landing by 1850 and Oroville by 1857. By the 1860s, the county contained over 165 miles of ditchworks for hydraulic mining operations. Many of these were later converted to agricultural purposes, some still in use today. The railroad came to the county in 1864 with a track between Oroville and Marysville. General growth of the county continued, agriculture and the lumbering industry became major activities, while mining retained its importance. It is estimated that by 1865, 200,000 acres of the county had been enclosed by fences and 140,000 acres were under cultivation. Hydraulic mining boomed in the 1870s and early 1880s. By the late 1870s, however, a backlash was swelling against the mining interests. During the 1880’s, mining activity declined as the easily-reached deposits were played out and the public sentiment against hydraulic mining rose. In 1893 hydraulic mining operations ceased in the county due to enactment of the Caminetti Act of that year. The communities of Butte County continued to grow during the latter part of the nineteenth century. The citrus and livestock industries first appeared in Butte County during the 1880’s, eventually ending the domination of wheat as the major local agricultural product. The timber industry grew in the mountains on the east, while farmers carried out experiments with new crops in the valley. By the late 1890s, mining had declined severely and agricultural pursuits began to dominate the economy. Chapter 9: Cultural Resources Final Draft August 8, 2005 Butte County General Plan Background Report 4 During the 1890’s, the transportation system improved with the construction of Humboldt Road (State Route 32) and reconstruction of county roads in general. Developing utility companies brought electricity to a broader part of the county and laid the groundwork for the expansion of the next decade. The first decade of the twentieth century witnessed phenomenal growth in the lumber industry. During this period irrigation districts were expanded, new rail links to the county were established, agriculture was diversified, and the fruit canning industry developed. The cities and communities of the county continued to grow and diversify. Schools and cultural institutions grew to meet the demands of the expanding population. The patterns established early in the twentieth century continued to develop throughout the century. The agricultural products of the county grew more diverse, passing through several development stages along the way. The archaeological deposits associated with historic Butte County are as diverse as the activities that make up the history of the county. Each industry left sites and deposits as facilities were developed and used. The National Register of Historic Places lists the Bidwell Mansion, the Stansbury House, the Patrick Ranch house, and several other important sites in Chico. In Oroville, the Chinese Temple is recognized, as is Centerville School near Paradise. The Inskip Hotel near Stirling City is also recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The Butte County Historic Property Data file indicates that the following properties have been evaluated for eligibility to the National Register and California Register: • 4 in Biggs • 320 in Chico and 10 in the vicinity of Chico • 23 in Gridley • 2 in Jonesville • 2 in Magalia • 90 in Oroville • 1 in Palermo • 7 in Paradise • 1 in Pulga • 1 in Richvale • 7 in Sterling City Approximately 190 archaeological sites are listed in the Archaeological Determinations of Eligibility for Butte County. Table 9-1 below lists the county’s historical sites and landmarks and their locations. Table 9-2 lists the county’s historic museums and their locations. Chapter 9: Cultural Resources Final Draft August 8, 2005 Butte County General Plan Background Report 5 TABLE 9-1 REGIONAL, COMMUNITY, AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SITES OR LANDMARKS Bidwell’s Bar Site, Lake Oroville SRA Black Bart’s Hideout Historic Region Table Mountain on Cherokee Road, north of Oroville Brewery, Cherokee California Oregon Railroad Depot, 1916 Washington Street, Gridley Centerville Schoolhouse, Humbug Road, Chico Cherokee District, 10 miles north of Oroville Chico Flour Mill Site, 500 Esplanade, Chico Chinese Cemetery, 1500 Broderick Street, Oroville Chinese Temple, 1500 Broderick Street, Oroville Dogtown Nugget Discovery Site, Skyway, Paradise Forbestown, 20 miles east of Oroville Hupps Sawmill Site, North of DeSabla Reservoir Honey Run Covered Bridge, Humbug Road, Butte Creek Canyon Hooker Oak, Bidwell Park Inskip Historic Hotel, Skyway Road, Paradise Long’s Bar and Ferry, 2 miles north of Oroville Lott House, 1067 Montgomery, Sank Park Manzanita School, Larkin Road, southeast of Gridley Mother Orange Tree, in storage near Oroville Dam Mud Creek Canyon Old Suspension Bridge, Lake Oroville SRA Oregon City Historic Site, Diggins Drive, Oroville Palermo Colony, 5 miles south of Oroville Paradise Route 101 Patrick Rancheria, Chico Patrick Home, Route 3 Box 25, Midway St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3rd and Salem, Chico Stansbury House, 307 West 5th Street, Chico Magalia Historic Pioneer Church “Silk Stocking Row” Hazel Street, Gridley Inskip Pioneer Cemetery Rancho Chico and Bidwell Adobe Thompson Flat Pioneer Cemetery Richardson Springs Oroville Dam Southeast Lake Oroville in SRA United States highest and third largest earth-filled dam Cedar Grove, Bidwell Park Area for propagation of trees set aside by City with the idea of transplanting to places where needed. Historic site of State of California Forestry Station Nursery, established 1888. Discovery Site of Last Yahi Indian Source: Butte County Department of Development Services. Chapter 9: Cultural Resources Final Draft August 8, 2005 Butte County General Plan Background Report 6 TABLE 9-2 HISTORIC MUSEUMS IN BUTTE COUNTY Chico Museum Location: 141 Salem Street, Chico Size: in old Chico Library building Facilities: History and art exhibits. Butte County Pioneer Memorial Museum Location: 2332 Montgomery Street, Oroville Size: Housed in replica of 1830’s cabin Facilities: Comprehensive Butte County history, restored rooms, doll collection, and one of the largest Native American basket collections in U.S. Butte County Historical Museum Location: Baldwin Avenue Ehmann House (owned and operated by Butte County Historical Society) Location: Lincoln Ave. Facilities: Home museum and reception facility; tours are by appointment only. CSC Chico Location: West 2nd and Hazel streets, Chico Facilities: Art gallery and museum. Gold Nugget Museum Location: 502 Pearson Street, Paradise Facilities: Gold mining history. Bidwell Bar Tollhouse Museum Location: Lake Oroville SRA Stansbury House Location: 307 Chico River Road, Chico Facilities: Restored home depicting 1900’s life. Centerville Museum Location: Humbug Road Facilities: Early California and gold mining history. C.F. Lott House Location: 1067 Montgomery Street, Oroville Size: 11-room, 2-story Victorian home Facilities: Restored 1850’s home. Cherokee Museum Location: Cherokee Road, Oroville Facilities: Gold mining artifacts. Chinese Temple Location: 1500 Broderick, Oroville Size: Four buildings Facilities: Authentic “Temple of Many gods,” established 1863, contains priceless Chinese artifacts; some buildings still used for worship; built with funds donated by Emperor and Empress of China. Source: Butte County Department of Development Services 9.4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY Butte County contains two types of archaeological sites, which archaeologists refer to as prehistoric and historic. According to the Northeast Information Center (NEIC) of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS), over 1,100 prehistoric and 600 historic archaeological sites are located in Butte County. Many of them occur in the Lake Oroville region, and as of 2003 excavations in the Lake Oroville area resulted in additional recording of 700 archaeological sites. There are thirty-one historical sites identified in the California Inventory of Historic Resources. Chapter 9: Cultural Resources Final Draft August 8, 2005 Butte County General Plan Background Report 7 The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) establishes statutory requirements for the formal review and analysis of development projects. As a part of its environmental quality review, any proposed project must be reviewed in order to identify, record, and/or preserve sensitive archaeological or historic sites. California law requires investigation of identified archaeological sites during the environmental review process for development projects, such as subdivision maps. This is very critical, because our knowledge of early Native American culture depends almost entirely on the examination of these archaeological sites and their contents. As a part of the CEQA review process, the NEIC recommends that the County Department of Development Services contact them to request a records search. The NEIC is the state-mandated facility that houses, maintains, and provides recommendations concerning historical resources in Northeastern California. These recommendations are provided to counties and cities in the area at a reduced fee rate. NEIC staff performs a records search of known archaeological sites in the area. Based upon the finds of the records search, a more extensive cultural resource survey may be required prior to any project approval or ground disturbance. The California Office of Historic Preservation also recommends that appropriate local Native American representatives be contacted in order to determine if there may be any unrecorded ethnographic resources located onsite. If the project is located adjacent to National Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management lands, these agencies should also be contacted as they may have additional records. Should any archeological finds be made during construction or development, the Butte County Planning Division is notified, and all work ceases until a qualified archaeologist has examined the artifacts and the site. The Planning Division suspends further work pending the findings and recommendation of the archaeologist prior to granting clearance to continue.