Fremont-Gover Mine Marker

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Drytown in Amador County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Fremont-Gover Mine

By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 30, 2008

1. Fremont-Gover Mine Marker

Inscription. Founded prior to 1867 as the Loyal Lode Mine. The Fremont-Gover Company formed in 1872 and worked the Gover in the 1880’s and ‘90’s. The Fremont shaft was sunk in 1903 including a 40 stamp mill continuing in operation until 1918. Reopened in 1937 and worked until 1940. Fremont shaft was 2950’ deep. The Gover was 1500’ on an incline. Total production was $5,000,000 in gold.

Erected 2004 by Sutter Creek 1854-2004 Promotion Committee. (Marker Number 17.)

Location. 38° 26.175′ N, 120° 49.932′ W. Marker is in Drytown, California, in Amador County. Marker is at the intersection of Bunker Hill Road and New Chicago Road, on the left when traveling south on Bunker Hill Road. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Drytown CA 95699, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Amador City Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); Original Amador Mine (approx. 1.2 miles away); Imperial Hotel (approx. 1.3 miles away); Early Day Butcher Shop (approx. 1.3 miles away); Drytown (approx. 1.3 miles away); Salute to Early Amador Miners (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Drytown (approx. 1.4 miles away); City of Plymouth (approx. 3.2 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Drytown.

Also see . . . Stamp Mills. Explains what a 40 stamp mill was and how it operated. (Submitted on July 6, 2008.)

By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 30, 2008

2. Fremont-Gover Mine Marker

Marker in foreground, building remnants in middleground, head frame in background.

Additional comments.
1. Freemont Glover is Reopened
Newspaper article in the San Francisco Call, Monday, July 18, 1904.

FREEMONT GLOVER IS REOPENED
Work in Rich Sutter Creek Mine Is to Be Resumed With A Non-Union Force
TROUBLE MAY OCCUR
Strikers Are Active, but Employers Are Prepared to Resit Any Overt Acts
Special to The Call
SUTTER CREEK, July 17. — At the Fremont Gover, one of the largest mines in Amador County, a strike occurred about three months ago. The cause of the walk-out then was the refusal of th company to discharge a certain man working underground who had refused to join the union. The non-union minor left the property after the strike took place, but the men continued the strike, demanding higher wages. The company refused any increase whatever in wages, and hence the mine has remained closed for three months.

It has been known for some time that the company intended to work the mine at any cost, as the property is too valuable to allow it to deteriorate. Non-union men have been kept on the road between Amador City and Carbondale in readiness to send word ahead as soon as the non-union crew should be on the way to the mine.

Word war received by the Amador City union last evening of the coming of the non-union men and immediately the representatives of the

By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 30, 2008

3. Head Frame

union set out to persuade the strangers to keep out of the county. Sheriff Norman, Deputy Jackson and Constable Tuttle were on hand to see that no violence was attempted and everything passed off smoothly.

The non-union men were driven to the mine, where comfortable quarters were in waiting. The imported miners numbered forty-eight. They were brought into the county within a few miles of Ione on a special car and thence were brought in teams to the mine.

At the Freemont Gover mine barb wire fence was put around the entire property soon after the strike occurred. Numerous electric lights are kept aglow every night and watchmen are employed. No union men are allowed on the premises while the imported miners are boarding at the mine. Work will be resumed to-morrow.