Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council

SUPPORT THE RESTORATION OF WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS RANCH WITH A 2020 CHRISTMAS PURCHASE. The White Sulphur Springs Ranch presides over the Mohawk Valley, not far from the towns of Clio and Graeagle. Its 162-year-old ranch house has been home to a family and served as a bed and breakfast. It and its grounds have hosted community celebrations for decades. The Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council formed in 2009 with the primary goal of restoring the ranch for the public’s enjoyment.... It purchased the ranch in 2010 thanks to grant funding as well as a sizeable donation from the then property owner. While the original ranch was 400 acres, the stewardship council bought a 42-acre portion that contains the house, barns, warm springs and swimming pool. Since assuming ownership, the council has addressed critical infrastructure needs as well as begun work to restore the property’s interior spaces. But all of that takes money and the public can help in a couple of ways. Historically the major fundraiser has been Summerfest, but COVID nixed that event this year. Instead, individuals can give monetary donations in the form of memberships or by buying a brick that will be used to build pathways and borders in the garden areas. Council members say that either or both would make excellent Christmas present choices his year. More information on both opportunities can be found at www.whitesulphurspringsranch.com or by calling 836-2495. See more

With warm wishes to all for a safe holiday season. If you have plans to celebrate Black Friday on Nov. 24 with deals, making purchases on Amazon, MVSC reminds you to choose our non profit association for Amazon's donation of a portion of your sales price. You can make an impact while you shop for Black Friday deals. Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/26-3910738 and AmazonSmile will donate to Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council, at no cost to you. Thank you for all of your past support of MVSC. May you stay warm and safe over the holidays.

THE CLIO STOVE IS BACK HOME The old story is that while sitting around this old wood burning stove, the prominent citizens of a town called Wash, decided that the name of their city was too often mistaken for the town of Washington, in Nevada County on the south fork of the Yuba river. These citizens of Wash decided the new name of their community should be Clio, a name prominently cast into the door of the old stove they were looking at. Clio is the name of one of the nin...e muses of Greek mythology. She is the patron of history. The dictionary allows the pronunciation to be either Clee Oh or Cl-eye Oh, but the people in and around Plumas County know that the only correct pronunciation is the latter one, ie, Clio. The stove was cast at the Bridge & Beach foundry in St. Louis, MO. The company name changed a few times due to a change of owners, but this particular name first appeared circa 1857, which ties in well to the origins of White Sulphur Springs Ranch (WSSR) ranch in 1852. No reference could be found as to why the name Clio was boldly cast in the door of the stove. Since the stove also has an identifying model number cast in (no 22), the name Clio had to be a specific brand within a complete line of this kind of stove. This fact then adds credence to the belief that the name Clio, refers to the Greek muse mentioned above. In 1974, the old stove was found, along with some other old furnishings, in the attic of the old ranch house at WSSR. It was cleaned and put in one of the upstairs bathrooms. It was then purchased by Molly’s Bed & Breakfast at the infamous auction of 2002. The owner graciously gave it back to the, Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (MVSC) soon thereafter. During the restoration of the historic ranch house the stove was loaned to the owners of the Blackbird Inn which was then doing business in the building that was once the old general store in downtown Clio. As mentioned above, this was where the early citizens of Wash decided to change the name of their town to Clio. This building now contains the Ricochet restaurant. When most of the interior renovation of the old ranch house was complete, the stove was reclaimed by MVSC volunteers and put on display in the newly remodeled living room at WSSR. Visitors are invited for a personal tour to see the old stove and the great progress that MVSC volunteers have made in restoring the old ranch house. Call Judy at 530-836-0254 to make a tour appointment. See more

RANCH HOUSE GETS HIGH PRAISE The interior of the old ranch house at White Sulphur Springs has seen some trying times. Only recently have the volunteers of the Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (MVSC) been able to bring it back to something near its old glory. It has been the generosity of patrons that has allowed the interior to become a show place of period décor. Donations of old and treasured furniture, heirlooms, rugs, artwork and photographs, plus the hard work of an ...army of dedicated volunteers, have returned the house to something in which the community can take pride. In 2020, so far, over 1000 volunteer hours have been spent on bringing the old ranch house back to life. In the last few months proud volunteers have been taking interested parties on tours of the house. The following was received in an e-mail from Michelle Haselton to Judy Porep-Lullo after an October 8, visit to the house at White Sulphur Springs Ranch (WSSR) Hi Judy. Great to see you again today. Thank you for taking the time to give us a tour of White Sulphur Springs. I am still feeling very inspired and moved from today’s visit. What a gem of a place, the history, the beauty, the love and devotion of so many people. Its truly an incredible place worth preserving. Not only are you preserving the history and beauty of White Sulphur Springs Ranch but you are also preserving the legacy of so many other families that have contributed family or rare heirlooms to the ranch. It is a true gift! No wonder the land and the home are radiating that incredible energy. Just beautiful. Thanks for all you do Judy. You are amazing!! After Michelle’s tour she requested a volunteer application. House tours are available by appointment. Call Judy at 530-836-0254 Photo Captions Newly restored front entrance of the historic ranch house at White Sulphur Springs. The upstairs sewing room of the ranch house. Sewingroom2020 Close up of the heirloom Singer sewing machine (circa 1915) donated by a member volunteer of the Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council.

ELECTRIC COOP LENDS A HAND The volunteers at White Sulphur Springs Ranch recently put in a deck in the Summerfest area to serve as a platform for entertainers and a focus for events like Living History School Days. On September 24th employees of the Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) donated their time and equipment to provide electrical service to a subpanel at the deck. This involved pulling wire from the ranch house to the deck, a distance of about 1250 feet.... Four days after the request was made by Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (MVSC) volunteer Tim Buckhout, a crew of four PSREC employees showed up and within a few hours had all the lines pulled and in place. The MVSC depends on community supporters like the PSREC to complete the restoration of the historic property at the head of the Mohawk Valley. In a thank you letter to Bob Marshall, the general manager of the PSREC, Tim Buckhout wrote the following; Bob, the way in which Jason and Mitch promptly handled our request reflects great credit upon you and PSREC as true community supporters of historic WSSR and the commitment we have made to restore this ranch for the benefit of the community, and to better serve our disabled children and our disabled veterans. Work continues at WSSR in spite of the hard times caused by COVID-19. Fund raising activities have ground to a virtual halt. The MVSC depends on support from companies and individuals in the community. In this case the PSREC has shown themselves as the good neighbors they are. The annual MVSC membership drive is currently underway. Interested parties should visit the website at www.WhiteSulphurSpringsRanch.com Photo by psreclinemen A crew from the Plumas Rural Electric Cooperative installing an electric line on the White Sulphur Springs Ranch site.

VIRTUAL RUMMAGE SALE A GREAT SUCCESS The pandemic has posed some major challenges to the fund raising activities of the volunteers at White Sulphur Springs Ranch (WSSR). The annual rummage sale, usually held on site, had to be replaced this year by a virtual rummage sale where all purchases were made online. The sale started on September 5th and ended on the 12th. Buyers were directed to the sale via the website at www.WhiteSulphurSpringsRanch.com. Ten volunteers organize...d and presented over 100 items in 5 different categories; Art, lighting, furniture, jewelry and miscellaneous. There were 35 individual buyers and the proceeds exceeded $3000. The most expensive item was a jeweled watch that sold for $700. There were many items that sold for only $5. The proceeds will allow at least some of the planned renovation to continue until better times arrive. The Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (MVSC) is in the midst of its annual membership drive. Go to the website or contact Janet Reihsen at 530-836-2495 if you would like to join in the restoration of the historic WSSR. Photo captions Five of the ten MVSC rummage sale volunteers holding some sold artwork, in the newly decorated living room of the old ranch house. From left to right they are; Judy Porep-Lullo, Janet Reihsen, Nancy Meyers, Dink Rife and Yvonne Ware.