The Vineyard House.
What memories this place evokes, and that is just my reminiscing. Chicken and dumplings served by a tiny elderly lady who might be a spirit; discovering beer so dark it tastes of molasses; a co-worker who caretook there keeping the PM shift (and some elderly patients) at the local convalescent hospital enthralled by tales of unhuman footfalls overhead, a cozy woodstove and a warm bread pudding; an entire side room filled to the brim with forever friends and a bursting dining table; an anniversary bed upstairs and not one ghost (darn!).
The old real photo postcard (RPPC) above reads at the bottom (written in ink) "Native Sons Home, Coloma Cal." On the top floor it looks like all the shutters are closed.
This RPPC also reads Native Sons Home Coloma Cal. Most shutters open. Watch out for those front stairs!
This great old RPPC has "Hotel Coloma Former Home of Robert Chalmers" written in ink. Note the cot/lounge chair on the porch on the second floor, and the river rocks bordering the garden pathway. Some shutters open, some closed.
This postcard above, and the one below, were printed by Great Western Litho, Inc. Auburn, California. I can find no signature on either of them, but it might be worked into the design where I haven't noticed it. The information on the address side reads "Historic Vineyard House, Coloma, built in 1878 by wine producer Robert Chalmers. President Grant made a speech from the balcony. Cocktails, food and gifts."
The Vineyard House as seen through the arch. "The old winery arch at historic Vineyard House, Coloma. In 1872 40,000 gallons of wine and 12,000 gallons of brandy made here helped to cheer thirsty Virginia City miners. Coloma then had a population of 10,000."
This is more what it looks like now (no shutters!), what can be glimpsed from the gate as you drive by. Although I am sad not to be able to belly up to the bar in the basement and order a martini, then climb the curving cave-like stairs to the rooms above as my stomach growls in anticipation, I also understand a family loving living here and enjoying their home and privacy.
This card reads "Historic Vineyard House, Cold Springs Road,, just off Hwy. 49, Coloma, California. Built in 1878 by Robert Chalmers as his private residence, house has 18 rooms, and a 25 X 60 Ft. ballrooms. Restaurant, Country Inn, Gift Shop, Saloon and Museum open all year. Color photo by Bernie Long." Written in ink "A great place to eat."
What a great place it would be to live, and host a holiday gathering in!
Unless you aren't too fond of ghosts... but that is a story for another day.
Oh, loved it their, a special place for a special dinner!!! My favorite was the Beef stroganoff!!!
ReplyDeleteI SO wish that it still housed the wonderful restaurant and bar. It was one of my favorite places to dine back in the 70's, and I miss it. Nothing lasts forever, but the great memories surely makes me wish that wasn't true. Such a nice post, Tina - and I thank you for it.
ReplyDeleteI had many chicken and dumpling dinners there in the 1970s. I wasn't old enough to drink but my father loved to stay in the cool basement bar on the hot summer days.Sure miss the place. Loved staying in the guest rooms after floating in the river and panning for gold all day long. Coloma was a very special place before the rafting companies came along. I still stop by during the winter. I love the peaceful beauty. The Vineyard House was also so beautiful at Christmas. They decorated it with Victorian Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the postcard photos of the Vineyard House. As a teenager in the 1970s I spent many summer days floating down the river and panning for gold in Coloma. My father and I often stayed at the Vineyard House. The guest rooms were beautiful Victorian rooms and the chicken and dumplings were the best! The basement bar sure felt good after spending all day in the hot sun on the river. Before the rafting companies arrived Coloma was such a nice spot to spend lazy summer days.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1980's the place would be decorated to the hilt with Victorian Christmas decorations.
The Vineyard House and the time spent in Coloma exploring California history with my father are memories I am so thankful for!
Hello Tina. I have 3 painted tiles from Ethel Phegley
ReplyDeleteHi anonymous from 1/10/14. I tried to email you but I think it went into the cosmos. If you go to the right at our blog and go down in between our photos to contributors, you can click on Tina Dawn and it will go to a page where it says you can email me. I would love to hear about your tiles! Tina
ReplyDeleteNice post! I stayed there for a 4th of July weekend with my mother back in 1970. The Rimple's owned the place then. I remember their son Greg who was a couple of years older than me, and he had a Honda 70 mini-bike which he let me ride through the Pioneer Cemetery. We were the only guests to stay overnight, though there were a number of patrons earlier for dinner and drinks down in the Jail Bar. That night affected my life forever - my mother's too. I was 11 then, and experienced the most terrifying night of my life, ever before or since. The house woke up after all the guests left, and didn't settle down until well after sun-up. And their dogs! They howled all night long out back. Needless to say, we didn't stay another night, but those memories will stay with me forever.
ReplyDeleteThe Vineyard House was my go-to restaurant for my birthday back in the late 60's. I loved the chicken and dumplings! Wasn't old enough to drink but enjoyed the ambiance of the entire place. One evening we were seated right by a screen door that opened then closed while we were dining and it was not a windy evening. We just laughed and figured 'someone' had decided to come inside! So sorry it is not still open.
ReplyDeleteMy mother and I cleaned the place. She was downstairs still vacuuming & I'd went upstairs to start in the bathroom. I heard voices and footsteps up the stairway and called out to my mom several times. I finally stopped and looked towards the door. There was a beautiful piece of furniture across the doorway in the hall. It was a bench, mirror and coat rack combo. ( I would call it a seated hall tree) I saw someone walk passed the door. What I mean to say is I saw a reflection in the mirror. It took my brain a sec to process what I'd seen. I only saw a reflection in the mirror but there was no body to make a reflection. I stepped into the hallway, hair standing on end and called to my mom. I could hear the vacuum downstairs so I checked every door and just like we were told by the elderly woman, ( a character that cooked bread pudding and fed all the cats out the back door every day), all the guests were gone and all the rooms locked.
ReplyDeleteThat Character was EVA. She was the mother of the owner at the time. She was from Italy and her son was a first generation American. I was a cook there for 2 years. MANY odd occurrences when I worked there. If you do not believe in ghosts or spirits, spent one night there.
ReplyDeleteThat is nice to read. My mom probably remembered her name. I was speaking of her even a few days ago. I think she made the place and the kitchen crew. I couldn't wait to get there and tell her good morning. It felt like coming home to see family each time we were there. I may have met you. I'd love to see pics if you have any. I wish I had eaten there or had a drink there. I still have a round brass box that my mom bought for me from the gift shop. There was a tiny bear inside dressed in a wedding gown as I was soon to be married. I wish I had taken pictures of the beautiful rooms with all its furniture. I still remember the music of a faint piano playing. Each time I visit Cali. I drive by missing Eva, the cats, coffee and smiles together. Thank you for sharing. Colleen
ReplyDeletePLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!! NEED the chicken and dumpling recipe!! We went on a field trip as a child in the 80's and the chicken and dumpling meal I had at that time was by far one of the absolute memorable experiences I had ever had. I have been SEARCHING far and wide, even by my own hand AND HAVE NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE!! Anonymous from June 5, 2016, a cook there, HELP!!
ReplyDeleteMom took me to the restaurant when I was 13 in 1981. I ordered the salmon. Later I recall seeing it in an episode on haunted places. Too bad the restaurant is long gone, I would love to take my family there.
ReplyDeleteReading through the posts on "odd" experiences and incidents suddenly brought back a bad experience for me. The evening I ate there we camped at Folsom Lake and while I was in the back of our van I heard diabolical laughter. Never happened to me before or since and never thought of a connection of the visit to the house until now. For such a brief visit to the home I can never understand why I feel such a connection to the home even so many years later, I only visited and saw it once.
ReplyDeleteSome friends and I went there for a Halloween dinner. I think in the early 90s? We went downstairs after dinner to the bar (jail cells?). Guitar G. G. Was playing with her band. Her band mate fell off the stage and continued singing on the floor. Eventually she got off the stage and led us through the cemetery. One of the wildest nights.
ReplyDeleteI spent many days and nights here from the time I was 12 years old into my adult life. My brother was one of the owners. I spent a few Halloween nights there and it was always a great time. My brother was the Chef also. I grew up eating those chicken and dumplings as they were my favorite. All of the food was excellent. John Wayne had the chicken and dumplings when he visited. he went to the kitchen to pay his respects to my brother and said that was the best he'd had. As for the spirits. I have sat at the bar and watched glasses move with no one around. Our sister worked there for a while as a house keeper. She always had interactions with the spirits. It is believed they were watching over her as she worked. I have had experiences with spirits there during the day and while sleeping in one of the rooms. The spirits are there. The graveyard on Halloween night is a true experience.
ReplyDeleteJohn
ReplyDeleteWhat was your Brothers name? 1st name is fine and was his wife's name Debra?
My ex's brother in law was an owner in the late 80's or early 90's and he was the chef. My ex helped build the bar and fix rooms upstairs. They even found several hand made coffins in a crawl space under the house. I LOVED it there and he was a great chef! Soups were amazing. We saw things happen and I would NOT stay the night. There was the story of a little boy that was dressed in a Victorian outfit gave a white rose to a lady eating dinner at one of the tables. All the other people as dining with her saw him as well. They all talked about how cute he was. He left the dining room and after they ate the woman asked if she could speak to him, to thank him again. she thought the way he was dressed he must be the owners boy. She was told there were no children there as a guest or any children of the staff...The place was GREAT!
My brothers name is David. He was part of the ownership that originally restored the Vineyard House. Back in the 70's. I believe they sold it in the late 80's. I know I had been up there with my wife and her family after we were married and that was 1987, so sometime after. There were many fun things about the place. I kicked around there from the time I was 12 until they sold. I miss being able to go and eat and have a drink in the bar down stairs. I have many great stories to tell.
ReplyDeletedid anyone get the chicken and dumpling recipe I have been searching like crazy for it the best time in the world my husband and I spent the night and had the greatest meal....chicken and dumplings and the bar was so cozy....loved it...anyway if you have a recipe anyone...email me at northwestbynw@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy brother was the creator of the chicken and dumplings served at the Vineyard House. I will ask him. If he will cough up the recipe I will share with everyone.
ReplyDeleteI too would love the chicken & dumplings recipe! Ate there several times in the late 70’s/early 80’s. brianjudy26@yahoo.com
DeleteAre David and Frank still around? I worked at the Vineyard House in 1977-78. I still have many wonderful memories and I too would like the recipe. I’d also like the cheesecake recipe that Eva made.
DeleteMy great grandfather was John Allhoff from Dayton Ohio. His brother was Martin Allhoff. I recently found out about the Vineyard House and would love to visit, who is the owner?
ReplyDeleteIts a private residence now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the old postcards of Vineyard House and the comments. Especially John. I would like to subscribe to this particular stream, if you could tell me how. I also have a long history with Vineyard House.
ReplyDeleteFond memories of chicken and dumplings, strawberry daiquiris at the bar on Sundays when we got off the river, and a sweet old lady dressed in period clothes…one evening we stayed at the hotel. I awoke in the middle of the night, thinking I heard and saw something walking down the upstairs hallway…
ReplyDeleteVery interesting building and history. I have come across history indicating Chalmers never owned land in Coloma , supported by BLM records his holdings were in another state . In addition the hotel was a flop after being built and was occupied by those escaping harms . Chalmers was a Republican and his first wife was most likely of mixed race (Not) confirmed yet . The next women he married was the widow of his friend who killed himself after loosing all their property and land for unpaid taxes. Records obtained indicate most of Coloma in 1869 was delinquent in taxes . George H Ingham was a Tax Collector and later delegate for Coloma /El Dorado county. A deed shows him taking a large section of land in 1872-1877. Lot 3 block 7 of the original 1873 map before it was redrawn in the 20th century, pre civil rights . Considering Chalmers and Grant were both Republicans and Ingham and Irwin were progressive Democrats there could be a connection. Black Friday of 1869 is not talked about much; however some of the patten letters that went to black families with their deeds were in direct violation of President Grants 1872 Minors Act. More research is needed but patten letters to Nancy Gooch in lot 2 of block seven prevented here from holding claim to Gold. The same went for Rufus M Burgess for lot 3 block 7 , lot 4 block 7 and lot 1 block 6, which is close to the actual Gold Discovery site. The next time you visit the park go up to the Marshall Monument and look at where he is pointing . That is lot 1 block 6. If anyone comes across the original 1872 map before it was redrawn to match the 1988 resurvey of the 1871 Cadastral record, I’d say you struck GOLD.
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