Los Burros Explorer

Timeline

The district’s arc, from the first Chinese placer miners to the E Clampus Vitus marker and the family’s 2026 field visit. Dates carry a confidence level; where sources disagree, the conflict is noted rather than smoothed over.

1. before 1875

   Chinese placer miners work Salmon Creek Strongly supported

   The coast's first prospectors work Salmon Creek gravels before 1875; a young Willey Cruikshank watches them.

   Source: Willey Cruikshank — Mining Was His Life

2. 1875

   First district mining records kept Strongly supported

   William Cruikshank Sr. keeps the district's first mining records, dated 1875.

   Source: Willey Cruikshank — Mining Was His Life; Mother Krenkel: A Coast Legend

3. 1876

   Los Burros Mining District organized Approximate

   The district is organized in 1876, boundaries running (per family record) from Plaskett Ridge to San Carpoforo.

   Editorial family date; confirm against primary records.

   Source: The Los Burros Mining District and the Lost Town of Manchester

4. c.1885

   Western Star opened; William Lucas builds the arrastra Strongly supported

   Reason and Marion Plaskett open the Western Star, the first mine on Plaskett Ridge; their father builds a water-powered arrastra on Plaskett Creek to grind the ore.

   Source: Pacific Valley Gold Claims Still Producing

5. 1886

   Three mills landed at Point Gorda Strongly supported

   Three ore mills shipped from San Francisco are unloaded at the Old Landing off Point Gorda and sledded to Los Burros, for Sam Pugh, Will Cruikshank, and Clay Dodge.

   Source: Henry Melville Attracted to Coast by Los Burros Gold

6. 1887

   Willey Cruikshank strikes the Last Chance Verified

   Cruikshank strikes quartz and names it the Last Chance — the district's first paying mine — touching off the rush that builds Manchester. HMDB: spring 1887; family: March 24, 1887.

   Discovery date conflicts between sources.

   Source: Manchester (E Clampus Vitus marker); Willey Cruikshank — Mining Was His Life

7. 1887

   Last Chance sold; renamed the Buclimo Strongly supported

   Cruikshank and Jim Krenkel sell to seven investors (Burman, Ulrich, Clinton, Linderman, Isenman, Morey, Olsen) who form the Buclimo Corporation from their initials.

   Source: Mother Krenkel: A Coast Legend; The Los Burros Mining District and the Lost Town of Manchester

8. 1889-09-14

   Mansfield/Manchester post office opens Strongly supported

   The district post office opens September 14, 1889 (family account), first named Mansfield with Pete Gillis postmaster, later Manchester. HMDB gives the Mansfield Post Office span as 1889-1897.

   Source: The Los Burros Mining District and the Lost Town of Manchester; Manchester (E Clampus Vitus marker)

9. 1889-1897

   Fires destroy Manchester Strongly supported

   A series of fires between 1889 and 1897 destroys the buildings of Manchester; most mining ceases by about 1895.

   Source: Manchester (E Clampus Vitus marker); The Los Burros Mining District and the Lost Town of Manchester

10. 1902

    Margaret Krenkel comes to Los Burros Verified

    Margaret Voss marries Jim Krenkel (June 23, 1902) and rides a mule named Gabe to the coast; by then the town is already a ghost town with one saloon left.

    Source: Mother Krenkel: A Coast Legend

11. 1911-05

    Dudley Plaskett locates the Ocean View Strongly supported

    Dudley Plaskett traces nuggets up Plaskett Creek to a landslide and locates the Ocean View; brothers locate the Lilac and Blackberry.

    Source: Pacific Valley Gold Claims Still Producing

12. 1912

    Plaskett Bros. claims pass to L.M. Plaskett Approximate

    The Ocean View, Lilac, and Blackberry pass to L.M. (Lonnie) Plaskett in 1912 per the family narrative.

    Reconcile with 'heirs of William E. Plaskett'.

    Source: The Los Burros Mining District and the Lost Town of Manchester

13. 1932

    Road cut from Willow Creek to the mines Strongly supported

    A road is built from Willow Creek to the mines in 1932, ending the sled-road era; the same year Henry Melville locates his last claim, the Redwood.

    Source: Henry Melville Attracted to Coast by Los Burros Gold

14. 1933

    Henry Melville dies at 90 Strongly supported

    Henry Melville dies in 1933, active to the end.

    Source: Henry Melville Attracted to Coast by Los Burros Gold

15. 1937

    Young Jim Krenkel shot by Ernest Bauman Strongly supported

    Young Jim Krenkel is shot and killed by neighbor Ernest Bauman in 1937; Bauman is acquitted but never returns to the mountains.

    Source: Mother Krenkel: A Coast Legend

16. 1937-11

    Willey Cruikshank vanishes Strongly supported

    Willey Cruikshank sets out from the New York Mine in November 1937 and is never seen alive again; soldiers find his bones in 1943.

    Source: Willey Cruikshank — Mining Was His Life

17. 1991-10-12

    E Clampus Vitus dedicates the Manchester marker Verified

    Monterey Viejo Chapter No. 1846, E Clampus Vitus, dedicates the Manchester historical marker on October 12, 1991.

    Source: Manchester (E Clampus Vitus marker)

18. 2026-08

    Family field expedition and arrastra documentation Field observation

    In August 2026 the family searches for Manchester and the marker and documents the ridge-road network; the Plaskett Creek arrastra remains are photographed.

    See field-trips.json.

    Source: The Los Burros Mining District and the Lost Town of Manchester