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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

OOOOH Lordy!!! There's GOLD in them thar hills!!!


Methodist Church, Bodie State Historic Park, CA


"Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie."

Bodie California was part of the gold rush in the mid 1800's that started in Virginia City, Nevada.  The town of Bodie grew to approximately 10,000 in population at it's height in 1879.  The town was "second to none for wickedness, badmen, and the worst climate out of doors".  The quote above was written in the diary of a little girl who was taken to Bodie by her family.  The quote became well known throughout the territory.


*Bodie State Historic Park pamphlet, The Bodie Foundation




20 comments:

  1. This looks so interesting.. I wonder where are the people around here... nice one.
    My ABC Wednesday here

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  2. Lovely photo. I would love to see Bodie in 1870 or so, just for a quick visit. I've been there a few years ago and I was fascinated.

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  3. nice use of the theme.
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  4. Excellent post. Poor child must have felt like she was headed for the end of the world!

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  5. I always loved visiting Bodie. Hard to believe that it wasn't abandoned all that long ago - there are cars & tractors falling apart there too, not just the wooden buildings. My grandfather knew people who lived there.

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  6. What a pretty little church for such a wicked little place!HA
    V

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  7. Great shot! The church makes such a beautiful contrast against that perfectly blue sky.

    Erika B

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  8. Wonder what happened to that little girl...

    Love that opening line. And the photo -- what desolation.

    WV: Thingle. It makes my spine thingle.

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  9. Vernz, the people of Bodie are long gone, unless you're talking about the 16 forest rangers who live there full time during the summer, or the 3 who brave the snow and no road all winter long...

    I know what you mean Jedediah...it would be fun to be back there in the day!!! At least for a short visit!!!

    Thank you Roger!!! I was hoping it would work!!!

    I think you're right Morning AJ...

    How cool NanU!!! I got a few good shots of some of the old abandoned cars that will post in the future...

    Virg...There used to be a banner of the 10 commandments behind the alter...until someone stole it...wicked, wicked little town!!!

    Thank you Erika!!! It was a gorgeous day!!!

    Thank you Hiker!! I love to make your spine thingle with desolate photos!!! As for the little girl, we can only hope she made it to adult hood unscathed!!!

    Tumblewords...I'm not sure I'm hardy enough to pan for gold there...it was in the low 40's with a biting wind...gorgeous...but freezing!!! And snow in the near future!!!

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  10. My god, Chieftess, are you that close to Bodie? Dayum. We've gotta come visit. Look out.

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  11. We are, Petrea!!! The turn off for Bodie is about 7 miles south of Bridgeport, the county seat for Mono County... the road to Bodie is about 13 miles east, with the last 3 miles dirt road...it's a bit of a trek, but easily done in an afternoon!!!
    We'll keep the porch light on!!!

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  12. Bodie is so picturesque! Terrific shot of the church. Glad you two had a good if chilly time there.

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  13. Thank you Tash!!! It was definitely cold!!!

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  14. I remember that stretch of dirt road. I love it up there.

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  15. As dirt roads go, it's really not bad...about twice as wide as the road to Silver City in Sequoia, and well graded so there's not many really rocky spots...and it really sets the scene for the old and desolate site you're on your way to visit!!!

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  16. Bodie is great place to visit. Love your pics.

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  17. Thanks for visiting Barb!!! (I just checked your site...love, love, love your banner photo!!!)

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  18. The one and only road trip I took with my father was to Bodie. It makes me kind of sad

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  19. Thank your for sharing such a tender memory PA...my cousin just emailed me and told me about a trip he and his dad took to Bodie...it's nice...or maybe bittersweet to remember such times...thanks for visiting!!!

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