Within two years after the Lumberts came, pay dirt had been struck in Blue Lead River channel that underlay the town of Bangor. The Catskill near the junction of Oroville Rd.and Avocado Ave. of today, was one of those mines. The other mines were the Clark, Bishop and Bangor. During the period between 1870 and 1890, there was a large population of Chinese who mined in the area. With the discovery of gold in Alaska, there was a general exodus from the Bangor mines.

This was Bangor's Heyday and the town of 1500 people boasted four stores, a restaurant, three hotels, seven saloons, a jail, a Wells Fargo Bank and Express Office plus three blacksmiths shops and livery stables.

In 1882 a church building was erected in Bangor by the Methodist Conference. The Methodist built church is now the property of the Butte County Historical Society.

The Sweet Vengeance Mine was also a big producer in the palmy days of Browns Valley. This mine was first owned by Spaniards who carried the ore to Little Creek and ground the gold from it with arrastres. A French company bought out the Spaniards and put in a stamp mill, one of the first to be used in California.

The Daniel Webster, Pacific, Burnside, Paragon, Ophir, Rattlesnake, Bayerque and Anderson are now the ruins of the old mines. Buildings are still standing over several of the once rich mines.

Browns Valley at one time had five hotels and twenty-four saloons. While none of the hotels were pretentious, one sold in the sixties for $9000.

Public houses or stopping places along the stage line in the same region as Browns Valley, in early days, were the Sixteen-mile House, Comstock Place, Galena House, Peoria House, Zinc House, Stanfield House and Bowers' Place.

In 1878 a large addition was made to the hotel, an educational institution was opened, a hall association was formed, a store was started and some $15,000 were spent in improvements. The Knoxdale Institute was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Knox, and the school opened on September 9, 1878, with Prof. E.K. Hill as principal. There were but five scholars when the school was opened, but this number was increased the second term to seventeen. This school continued in existence as an educational institution for about seven years.

As early as 1851, and perhaps 1850, J.M. and J. Campbell built a small mountain hotel here called the Nevada House. The Campbell brothers built a store in 1852. In the spring of 1853 the Campbells built a large three-story hotel called the Nevada Hotel.

Pelton, who arrived somewhat later than Campton, designed and built the Pelton water wheel. Power supplied by the Pelton wheel helped run mine machinery, early electric plants and other operations.

Most of the town's original buildings were lost in fires, but the quaintness of the small community remains to be enjoyed by visitors.

Camptonville retains the charm of yesteryear, thanks in part to the fact that Highway 49 skirts the edges of the town.

By the mid 1880's the main travel route had shifted to Challenge. In 1886 J.W. Ribble built the Challenge hotel located near the west end of the present U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station. Owned by him until 1898, and by Dr. Van Male from 1898 to 1914, this big 2-story hotel was the only place in Challenge where travelers, drummers, teamsters, ect. could stay overnight.

Each New Year Eve the Challenge Hotel would actively advertise its big dance. People would come for miles around and dance until daylight the next morning in the big dormitory upstairs. Old time fiddlers and pianists, with maybe a cornet or banjo or two, provided the music. The hotel burned November 11, 1914.

Building 85 years and older include the front part of the Challenge store, the Mellon House, the house across the street from it, the Wiley House and the old home across the highway from the liquor store.

According to legend the name Clipper Mills was derived from the fact that some of the machinery for the mill was brought from the East Coast around the Horn via Clipper Ship. The mill was called Clipper Mills and later the settlement Clipper Mills.

The hotel was sold to Peter Cornell and while he was the owner it burned. He and his family moved to San Francisco and the hotel was rebuilt by John F. Schultz just before 1874. While Mr. Schultz was the hotel owner dances were held in the upstairs ballroom of the hotel. Violin music and organ music was enjoyed by the dancers. John Willey usually called the quadrilles for the dancers. At midnight suppers were enjoyed by all. When the hotel burned in April, 1917, John Schultz's daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband were living there.

A school district was established in 1868. The first building was located about on hundred and fifty yards west of the present post office.

Around 1900 the women teachers received $40 a month wages and paid $18 or $20 a month for room and board at the Pine Grove House.

After passing through the hands of several parties, the Dobbins ranch came into the possession of Joseph Merriam in 1862. It was in 1867 that Slingsby & Gettins opened a store in Dobbins, supplying the surrounding country, keeping pack trains upon the road continually. William Slingsby was at one time chairman of the board of supervisors. Daniel Gettins, his partner, though very popular, never dabbled in politics, being content to labor among and befriend the miners. Both Slingsby and Gettins died at the scene of their life activities, honored by all.

La Porte was founded by a gold strike in 1850, the names of the miners are unknown. La Porte was then known as Rabbit Creek.

In 1852 Eli S. Lester built the Rabbit Creek House. Lester was selling goods by April. In 1854, Cutler Arnold became the proprietor of the Rabbit Creek House. Four homes were built, one of which is used as a home today. Also built were a butcher shop, a tin shop, a blacksmith shop, and an express office opened by Everts, Davis and Co., also at this time Wells Fargo built a bank and express office. 1855 saw the first of seven disastrous Rabbit Creek fires which leveled the business district.

In 1867, the Allures Snowshoe Club was formed and formal racing was begun. These were the first organized snowshoe or later ski races in the world. In 1869, J.A. "Snowshoe" Thompson was invited to compete in the Third Annual Snowshoe race.

Today the La Porte snowmobile Club of 383 members is the largest such club in California and Nevada. Over 70 miles of trails are maintained in the Plumas National Forest in and around La Porte. Club membership comes throughout California.