49ers

"Thar's gold in them thar hills!" echoed around the world after gold was discovered in California in January of 1848. By 1849 a flood of folks responded to the call. The call of gold forever changed the frontier of California leaving behind cities that would be built in the wake.

Thus emerged the 49ers...a reference to all the gold seekers who arrived in 1849, but remains in use today in reference to San Francisco's pro football team.

Many folks here in Pittsburgh are making sure we don't leave the beloved Steelers behind in 49er country. Both teams have a rich history. Both were based on mining industries. Both were filled with immigrants trying to fulfill dreams of a better life for their families and the sacrifices...sometimes with their lives...along the way.

Of course, gold rush country feels a bit like home, as the gold rush in the Black Hills arrived in 1874 with Custer's expedition. The miners flocked to the area. Lead would emerge as the richest ore vein, and eventually would become home to Homestake mining company in 1876. Investors from the gold fields of California would bring the capital to operate the mine, and they would make another fortune. The mine would survive for 125 years.

We were there in 1998 when Homestake Mining Company would begin laying off employees until 2001 when the mine officially closed. Ron started his mining career here at the age of 19. His grandfather and great uncles worked at this mine. His cousins were still there when Ron was. The boom and bust of mining was familiar to us by this time, so we headed to Montana where a new mine utilizing the technology of the tunnel boring machine would bring new adventures. This opened the mining world further for Ron, as mining under cities to create tunnels for utilities and transportation was a growing market in the US. Minneapolis was the first stop and then Pittsburgh. Though I would be remiss to fail to mention the hundreds of coal mines in the Pittsburgh area that fueled the steel mills, though Ron has never worked in the coal mines.

Ultimately, generations of miners around the world have worked hard and died young. Their sacrifices have made the industry safer, though it still struggles with a rough and tumble reputation.

So the gold rush may be over, but the call to mining adventure is still strong around the world, and I am grateful we over 150 years behind the gold rush though we are still headed West...but thankfully, I will ride in comfort...not on a ship thorugh Panama or across the country in a covered wagon. Progress. Instead I will complain about the price of gas and the days it will take...rather than worry about good grass, water, food, and weather for months...

Perhaps I will just quietly buy a few new DVDs for the kids! Though I am going to complain about the cost of a "shanty" in California!!