Grass Valley in Nevada County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

North Star Mine Powerhouse

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

1. North Star Mine Powerhouse Marker

Inscription.
The North Star Powerhouse, built by A.D. Foote in 1895, was the first complete water powered compressed air transmission plant of its kind. Compressed air, generated by Pelton Water Wheels, furnished power for the entire mine operation. The 30 foot Pelton Wheel was the largest in the world, and was in continuous use for over 30 years.

Companion Plaque Mounted on Side of Marker Base:
International Mechanical
Engineering Heritage Collection
Pelton Waterwheel Collection
North Star Power House Museum The Pelton Wheel uses the momentum of a water jet impinging on buckets attached to the periphery of a wheel to produce power. It is a development of the primitives, so called “Hurdy Gurdy” wheel used in the California Gold Fields in the nineteenth century. Various inventors have contributed to this type of water turbine, including Lester A. Pelton (1831-1908), who in 1880 patented the characteristic split bucket form. Subsequent important contributions to Pelton-Wheel technology were made by W. A. Doble. This collection illustrates the origins and development of the Pelton Waterwheel.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers - - 1991

Erected 1971 by State Department of Parks Recreation in Cooperation with the Nevada County

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Historical Society. (Marker Number 843.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks, and the California Historical Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.

Location. 39° 12.514′ N, 121° 4.187′ W. Marker is in Grass Valley, California, in Nevada County. It is on Allison Ranch Road south of McCourtney Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10933 Allison Ranch Road, Grass Valley CA 95945, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Nevada County Traction Co. (a few steps from this marker); Empire House (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Discovery of Gold at Gold Hill (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Patrick’s Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mount Saint Mary’s Convent and Academy (approx. 0.4 miles away); Reliance Hose Company No. 3 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lola Montez 1819 - 1861 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Historic Emmanuel Episcopal Church (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grass Valley.

More about this marker. This site was designated as California Registered Historical Landmark No. 843 on September 24, 1970.

Also see . . .

International Mechanical Engineering Heritage Collection Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

2. International Mechanical Engineering Heritage Collection Plaque

1. Pelton wheel. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 31, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Pelton Water Wheel Co. Vintage Machinery website entry (Submitted on March 28, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

North Star Mine Powerhouse Marker and Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

3. North Star Mine Powerhouse Marker and Plaque

The Powerhouse Museum Building is seen in the background.

North Star Mine Powerhouse Museum Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

4. North Star Mine Powerhouse Museum Building

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

5. North Star Mine Powerhouse Museum Building

Stone Aqueduct image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

6. Stone Aqueduct

This stone structure was an aqueduct to bring high pressure water to the two Pelton wheels in the building. It was built in 1895 at a cost of $1,700 dollars. The bottom of the foundation is 8 feet below the creek water level. It contains a 20 inch diameter riveted pipe. Pressure at the Pelton wheel buckets was 354 pounds per square inch.
(From signage at the aqueduct)

The Aqueduct image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

7. The Aqueduct

Pelton Water Wheel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

8. Pelton Water Wheel

Plaque Reads:
Pelton Type
Water Wheel
Produced 71000 HP at 327 rpm, Diameter 10 ft.
Weight 26,000 lbs. Built by Allis Chalmers
of single cast nickel steel
Gift of Oroville-Wyandotte Irrigation District
-------------
Dedicated September 1997
By Nevada County Historical Society

De Remer Water Wheel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

9. De Remer Water Wheel

Plaque Reads:
De Remer Water Wheel
Hole in the Ground Gulch Mine
Wolf Creek, Ore.
Mined from 1864 - 1908

Electric Spur Gear Hoist image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

10. Electric Spur Gear Hoist

Grass Valley

Serpentine Core image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

11. Serpentine Core

Plaque Reads:
60 Inch
Serpentine Core
Experimental Bored Shaft
Depth 1125 feet
Idaho-Maryland Mine
Grass Valley

Additional Equipment on Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

12. Additional Equipment on Display

On the left is a portable stamp mill made by Straub Manufacturing Company of Oakland, California. This mill could be dismantled and carried on mules to isolated locations for testing of ores.

76 Inch Sheave Wheel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

13. 76 Inch Sheave Wheel

Golden Center Mine
Grass Valley

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

14. Steam Hoist

Birchville Mine
Graniteville, California

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2011, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,614 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on July 8, 2011, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.