What's in a name?

The Bright Hope Lode (Lode: A rich source or supply) was discovered in the late 1870's by a prospector by the name of J. M. Lineham while exploring an area known as the Eureka Mining Zone west of Kelsey’s Diggings California. The lode and the resulting Bright Hope Mine offered its discoverer a “Bright Hope” for his and his family’s future.

The lode was believed to be an extension of gold discoverer James Marshal’s Gray Eagle and Big Sandy mines, which were just south of town. The town of Kelsey or Kelsey’s Diggings (also known as Winterville, later Slatington, and now Kelsey) was the site of Marshal’s blacksmith shop and was considered in its heyday one of the rowdiest mining camps in California’s Mother Lode.

The mine may have been purchased in 1886 by the publisher of the Georgetown Gazette (considered by some to be California's oldest newspaper) Horace Hulbert, who, like many of his day in the gold country, was also a prospector and miner. An interesting note was that in the late 1800’s the use of templates printed by major newspapers was common among small town papers. The templates (containing state and national news) were shipped to the local paper, which filled around the borders and in specific places with local ads, news and items of interest and then sold them as their own. Horace Hulbert, like Bright Hope Designs, did not use templates for his papers.

Additional facts: The area around Kelsey was the site of the 5th gold strike in the Mother Lode. Kelsey experienced several gold rushes, 1850’s, 1880’s, 1910, and the last in 1930. The Eureka Slate Mine, one time the world’s largest producer of blackboard and roofing slate, opened in 1898.

 

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What our clients are saying!

We continually receive wonderful feedback about our Island Fractional Homes website. The lay-out, placement of photos and contents, and ease of navigation are all exceptional. In addition, the expert advice and quick turn-around in addressing short-term changes has been wonderful. I recommend Bright Home Designs without question
Randall Harris, Owner
Island Fractional Homes, LLC
www.IslandFractionalHomes.com
Our ranch, Half Measures Ranch has had a website, designed by Debi Carpadus with Bright Hope Designs, for I believe about 3 years or so. We are very happy with the result she produced, and were pleased that she listened to our ideas and was able to put on just what we wanted. Actually there were a few things, like the changing pictures on the home page, that she suggested and we really like. We get compliments about the website all the time. I, unfortunately, am very slow at updating, but the times I do, if I forget how I just have to call Debi and she has helped me thru it. Check out www.halfmeasuresranch.com if you like. For sure we can recommend Bright Hope Designs for website needs.
Sincerely,
Jan and Dennis Haney, Coloma, California
Debi with "Bright Hope Designs" has done a great job in bringing Placerville Glass into the 21st century with our newly up graded web site. For those of us that are technologically challenged she made the transition easy and offered great ideas and support that would enhance our business. From the first day it was launched we started getting inquires not only locally but from other parts of the state. Thank you Debi for all your help.
Placerville Glass Inc., El Dorado County, California
www.PlacervilleGlass.com
Thank you so much for all of your help. You are great to work with, knowledgable in your field, and created a great website for Ponderosa Landscaping, Inc. We appreciate all your work.
Best Regards,
Pamela Welch
Ponderosa Landscaping Inc., Cameron Park, El Dorado County, California
www.PonderosaLandscapingInc.com