By Cory Peterman
Arrastra Stone
The following image comes from the UC Davis Department of Special Collections and dates from 1947. It depicts an object that has probably been seen by most people who have visited the Sierra County courthouse in Downieville or have walked by the building – but what is this large stone “wheel” and what is the history behind it and how did it end up in Downieville?
This large “wheel” is what’s known as an arrastra stone. A plaque, dedicated by E Clampus Vitus, which can be found next to the one-to-six scale model of an arrastra in front of the Downieville museum, states “Arrastras were used to crush and grind gold ore and to grind even more finely the tailings from stamp mills. Some Arrastras consisted of huge wheel-shaped stones which rolled over the ore to crush and grind it.”
The Miners’ Own Book, published by Hutchings and Rosenfeld in 1858, described various modes of early California mining. They wrote “One of the first used, as well as one of the most useful and most important, is the Mexican Rastra, which is commonly spelled Arastra. Though rude in its construction and simple in its working, it is one of the most effectual methods of saving the gold which has yet been discovered. The Mexican method of constructing these is to lay a circular track of stone tolerably level, with a low wall around the outside of the track; and in the center a post made of a tree cut off at the required height, and generally just above a crotch or arm; another small tree is then cut in the shape required, for making a horizontal shaft; to this is attached one or more large stones; and these being drawn around by donkey or mule-power, grind the quartz to powder. Of course, as gold is the heaviest it naturally seeks the lowest places, and as quicksilver is always put in with the quartz the gold becomes amalgamated with it.”
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