Many think Timbuctoo was just an old make believe place.
It was a real town of over 1000 people in the last half of the 19th century.
Located a little west of Grass Valley, Ca. on Hwy 20, it was a bustling mining town with it's share of saloons and brothels until the mining played out.
It had a Wells Fargo Office (see pictures) and I imagine much gold passed through it's heavy iron doors.
I was stationed at Beale Air Force Base which is a few miles west of Timbuctoo and met Madeline at her near by home town of Nevada City, Ca.
We went through Timbuctoo many times until I was discharged in Sept. 1955.
We took these pictures in Aug. 1955. The building was gone when we went through there a few years back.
The building is the Wells Fargo Bdlg and the sign is between the iron doors.
We are sitting on a bench in front of the bldg. Gosh, we were young then.
5 comments:
I love the old photos and stories. Keep them coming!
I didn't know there was a real Timbuctoo! Thanks for sharing the pictures. You still look just as young to me!
Think you Laura but that was a lot of "miles" ago. I was disappointed that they tore the building down since it would have been a great tourist attraction. Of course it meant little to us at the time of these pictures.
Hi Madeline and Karl,
I really enjoyed your photos of Timbuctoo. I am the co-author of an Arcadia book Smartsville and Timbuctoo. I got an alert about your blog because of your Timbuctoo story but it was also fun to read Madelines stories about growing up in the area. It is fun to make contact with others who like remembering the past.
You are doing a wonderfull thing for your family by writing these memories and documenting the milestones in your grand-childrens life.
If you like check out our websites
Smartsville-Timbuctoo.org
Smartsvillechurchrestoration.org
Thanks for your memories!
Huell Howser just did an episode of California's Gold which featured Timbuctoo. The ruins of the Wells Fargo building were shown
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