North Star House Events
Location: 12075 Auburn Road, Grass Valley
(Approx. 1 Mile south of GV Fairgrounds)
Historian Gage McKinney will present
the first talk of our 2024 Speaker Series
Sunday, March 17 at 1:00 pm.
Mary Hallock Foote wrote: “We laugh at Mr. Hague a little about his mining kindergarten.”
James Hague purchased the North Star Mine in 1887, developed it to a very profitable gold mine, and hired Julia Morgan to design the North Star House to support the business needs of the now-prominent mine.
Join us for a fascinating look at how James Hague helped to develop the talents of younger men. When the North Star became a consistently profitable operation, he hired young engineering graduates to come to Grass Valley and develop their talents for gold mining.
On Sunday, March 17, at 1 pm, historian Gage McKinney will tell the stories of some of these young men who had their first professional job in Grass Valley.
Many of them went on to remarkable careers as mine owners, investment bankers and chemical engineers. Their stories demonstrate why Grass Valley was one of the most exceptional mining settlements in the world, a rural place of surprising sophistication, leaving a cultural legacy enjoyed in Nevada County to this day. And North Star House was at the center.
McKinney will detail their stories featured in his book MacBoyle’s Gold, which will be on sale at the event. Gold mine owner Errol MacBoyle was one of the most successful of Mr. Hague’s “kindergarteners.” A portion of sales will go to the North Star House Conservancy.
Light refreshments will be offered. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. The presentation will be inside the North Star House, so seating will be limited to 50 people.