Old Mill in North Fork

[Summer]

A few weeks ago on the way to Manzanita Lake I "think" I passed the flume from the Old Mill. I would like to get some history on this. Where does that flume go - Bass Lake? Are there any parts of the mill left? A "certain someone" was asking questions and I promised I'd find out. :smile:

[jjcheyenne]

I am not sure about the flume, but I know there are a few buildings still standing at the mill. They tore down a lot of it, but some are still there. I wish they would have left all the old buildings there.

[MtnBreeze]

I believe the flume you are referring to carried water ..not lumber...there was a lumber Flume built by California Lumber Company for taking logs down to Madera from the high Sierra....remains of it can be seen near Corliau Falls if I remember right, but it seems to me there was also a flume of some type from Central Camp area down towards Bass Lake and/or North Fork.... I believe there was a rail line from North Fork to Madera and there are areas where you can see remnants of the rail bed....I know of several near Manzanite Lake but are all on private property. The flume that is present near North Fork today carries water. I used to have a bunch of stuff on history of areas around North Fork but have lost them somewhere....if you have access to Fresno State library I think you might find some good history. And visit the Historical museum on School Road.

[CatdaBrat]

The road I live along, Keller Road, is part of the old railroad....I still find spikes now and then. Right at my driveway, there is what's left of an old "ice house" where explosives for blasting were kept. I did an article about it for a magazine a couple of years ago, but I can't access it from where I am right now. It was often referred to as "The Crookedest Railroad in the World."

The flume over by Manzanita Lake was indeed built for carrying water to generate power. It's dangerous to explore, as water can suddenly surge through it without warning. (Just in case it looked inviting to anybody!)
Well, off I go...will be off the Internet for a few days (weeks?) rediscovering life without it...hope y'all have a nice New Years (meaning safe).

[Summer]

The road I live along, Keller Road, is part of the old railroad....I still find spikes now and then. Right at my driveway, there is what's left of an old "ice house" where explosives for blasting were kept. I did an article about it for a magazine a couple of years ago, but I can't access it from where I am right now. It was often referred to as "The Crookedest Railroad in the World."

The flume over by Manzanita Lake was indeed built for carrying water to generate power. It's dangerous to explore, as water can suddenly surge through it without warning. (Just in case it looked inviting to anybody!)
Well, off I go...will be off the Internet for a few days (weeks?) rediscovering life without it...hope y'all have a nice New Years (meaning safe).

Cat, I would very much like to read that article you wrote. When you come back from your "sabbatical from the forums" please PM me. I seem to remember that people said they used to float down the flume or something like that, like the log ride at Knotts. It may have been years ago. I wasn't paying too much attention at the time. I also heard that Tom Wheeler had something to do with the Mill? I bet there is lots of good history here. Neat that you have found old spikes. One of my NY res. is to research the Old Mill in North Fork!