December, 1896: GOLD MINING in the hills surrounding Johannesburg started before the thought of a town was even conceived. Claims such as the Eagle’s Nest, Fairy Prince, Fairy Queen, Hector, King Solomon, Magpie, Miranda, Pinmore, Rocket and Wasp, which made up the Ashford Group of Mines were all discovered in the 1895 –1896 time frame. In addition are the Val … More >

1925: DEVELOPED  by a 1 ½ compartment vertical shaft, 200 feet deep, and apparently entirely in the Rosamond formation.  Water stands in the shaft.  No recent work has been done.  The property, which is owned by the Randsburg Cima Bimetallic Company; is located just east of Johannesburg.  –  Hulin This mine was developed during the “Silver Boom” in the Rand … More >

January 14, 1897:“A NEW MINING COMPANY HAS JUST BEEN FORMED and has been incorporated under the Colorado mining law to avoid the responsibility of stockholders.  The capital stock is $1,500,00 divided into shares of $1 each.  The shares are to be put on the market at 12 ½ cents each, not assessable.  The company has organized under the name of … More >

September 15, 1896: “ASHFORD MINES (QUARTZ) —This group is 1 ½ miles E. of Randsburg at 3,800’ elevation, and comprise the Eagle’s Nest, Fairy Prince, Fairy Queen, Hector, King Solomon, Magpie, Miranda, Pinmore, Rocket and Wasp. The veins are small, 6” to 12” wide, and have a general course of S. E. and N. W. Only surface work is done … More >

July 11, 1897:  “ON THE GOLD BAR, east of the Alameda they are down about fifty feet on a ledge fifteen feet wide.”  —  Los Angeles Daily Times July 25, 1897:  “H. L .HOLLIS AND GEORGE CURTIS have bonded the Gold Bar and Right Hand Bower mines from Thuston and Pardue, the bond to run a year.  These mines are situated … More >

April 1, 1897:“THOMAS BULL, president of the Ashford Mining Company, has bonded to William McEwan for the sum of $3500 the Alameda and Jolly Girl claims, adjoining the townsite of Johannesburg and extensions of the Val Verde.  The bond runs one year, but McEwen agrees to go to work at once and do a certain amount of work each month … More >

SUMMARY: 1962: “LOCATED SW ¼ sec. 24, T29S, R40E, MDM, Rand district, 1 ¼ miles northwest of Johannesburg. Vertical Shaft 135 feet deep in schist, 350 feet of horizontal workings at depth of 105 feet. No production. Owned in 1925 by Hard Tack Mining Co.” – Mines and Minerals of Kern County California, California Division of Mines and Geology County … More >

July 11, 1897: THE PINMORE lying west of the Val Verde was bonded a few days ago for $10,000, but I did not learn to whom.  They have a shaft down about 100 feet in this mine.”  –  Los Angeles Daily Times October 30, 1897:  “A day and night shift have been put to work on the Pinmore, and large quantities … More >

  October 7, 1937: “NOTICE OF CONSTABLES SALE OF REAL PROPERTY. No. 31215, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF KERN. AMERICO RIZZARDINI,  Plaintiff Vs. SUNBEAM MINING COMPANY, a corporation, Defendant Under and by virtue of an execution issued out of the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of … More >

  August 25, 1932:“ WORKS BETTER THAN MISSOURI MULE TYPE.  Randsburg Aug. 25—Many personal visits are being made to the Frank Feldman lease, on the Pinmore mine, Johannesburg, for the purpose of seeing the gold saving arasta built and installed at the mouth of the working shaft.  As the milling charges on ore through local custom mill is $6 the … More >

JOHANNESBURG GOLD MINING COMPANY October 18, 1897: “JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 16—(Regular Correspondence.) William McEwen returned from Los Angeles this week and. reported the forming of a new company to work mines in this district. The name of the company is the Johannesburg Gold Mining Company, and it is incorporated under the laws of Arizona with- a capital of $1,000,000. The incorporators … More >