A HISTORIC RECOUNTING

OF

JULIAN'S GOLD RUSH

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE WITCH CREEK SCHOOL HOUSE OF 1890

ADDRESSES MULTIPLE STATE STANDARDS

TARGETS 4TH GRADE, CALIFORNIA HISTORY

Celia Lawley's new musical, Gold Hill is based on historic fact about Julian's 1870's gold rush. Both students & teachers read lines in the play & participate in the miner's talent show. Celia packs 9 original songs into this 45 minute, fast paced show, where she sings, acts, dances & plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin, accordion, banjo & tin flute.

The play is set in 1890, at the Santa Ysabel school house at Witch Creek, California (in San Diego county, between Ramona & Julian) where the teacher, Miss Blanche Boring (Celia) recounts stories about Julian's gold rush, as told to her by her Uncle Newt (L.N.) Bailey who was a local miner during Julian's gold rush.

Click here for complete description and details of the program. (flyer - .pdf format)

Here are letters, photos and music samples of the GOLD HILL musical assembly program.

Letters of Recommendation
Please click on the letters of recommendation that High Energy Productions has received from Celia's new musical Gold Hill.

1) 4th grade teacher, Ted Wortman

2) San Diego Public Library,
Special Collections Supervisor, Richard Crawford

3) Julian Historical Society secretary, Jan Mattias

4) Richard Bailey, grandson on Dru Bailey, founder of Julian

Photo Gallery
Please click here for photos from the performances of Gold Hill.

The singing of America - Gold Hill

(Note: please click on the song for a short clip in mp3 format.
To stop the music, select the (X) button in your browser or your Mp3's stop feature in the player.)

Song #1
GOLD FREE GOLD
(Introducing California's 1849 gold rush)

CHORUS:
...They rode close to their saddles
held tight to their reins
forded deep wide rivers
crossed the mountains & plains
sailed on ships around the horn
a new California's quickly born
those brave young souls sought the Mother Load of
gold, free gold...

Song #2
DRUE BAILEY
(Drue's first impression of Julian area)

...CHORUS:
Not one more step I'm tired of wandering now
gonna farm and raise some cattle
right here I'll settle down
not one more step I'm
caught in a spell
like the condor flying ore the ridge
this is where I'll dwell...

Song #3
FRED COLEMAN
(Coleman's discovery of placer gold)

...CHORUS:
What was that glimmer
that shimmer, that glitter?
What was that color in the stream
that caught his eye?
Could it be fools gold or
mica or who knows?
Something is shining
got to find out why...

Song #4
SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIO
(Miner's rush for San Diego's gold)

...CHORUS: 1
San Diego Californio
is the place where we will go
in the mountains to the east
they've found rich quartz above Coleman Creek

Song #5
GOLD HILL
(The first quartz strikes)

...CHORUS:
Gold Hill
people are a coming still
to make a fortune or work a claim
so will go and some remain on
Gold Hill...

Song #6
JULIAN CITY
(A town is born)

...CHORUS:
Drue called it Julian City
after cousin Mike's last name
when asked "why not Bailey?"
he said, it's all the same
They both are family names and Mike's better looking by far
and sporting a charming grin
chewed on his cigar

Song #7
SWINDLERS
(Miner vs. Cuyamaca Land Grant case)

...CHORUS:
Those swindlers tried to steal that land any way they could
but despite Cuyamaca's tries
the little town stood
many deserted leaving those that would
fighting together for the common good...

Song #8
BANNER CITY
(Discovery of gold and birth of Banner)

...CHORUS:
See that banner waving in the valley below?
L.B. Redman staked a claim, tied a flag to a pole
Just east of Julian beyond Cuyamaca Grant's range
that's how Banner got it's name...

Song #9
GOLDEN CHARIOT
(Discovery of Banner's Golden Chariot Mine)

CHORUS:
Boys, drop your picks, give your hammers a break
I've staked us a claim, time to celebrate
your "Blarney Stone's" filled with Irish luck
Good fortune's come a riding on a GOLDEN CHARIOT...

Song #10
MISCHIEVOUS WALTZ
(Drue Bailey's Prank)

...CHORUS 1:
It's the last dance of evening
Loren Wilcox draws out his bow
the town folk danced until
their feet would no longer go
It's time to be loading the wagons
Loren's played every song that he knows
but no one can leave 'til he plays Sweet Marie real slow...

Song #11
BANNER SLIDE
(First road connecting Banner to Julian)

...CHORUS
Riding back from Julian the
music it was fine
danced holes in our shoes
gotta get back to our mines
singing we won't go home 'til morning
this trail's not very wide
the sun's come up, the canyon's steep
going down Banner slide...

Song #12
STAGE RACE
(Fierce pioneer stage race)

...CHORUS 1:
Sixty miles to San Diego
Stokes leads down Julian's grade
hoofs and wheels thundered above
screams the passengers made
drivers whipped panting horses
in their frantic rush
fiercely competing,
fares were slashed and cut...

GOLD HILL References: (click here for complete listing)

For Booking Information:

Enthrall Inc.
Celia Lawley
Email: celia@enthrallinc.org
Phone: 760-782-9202