Poking Around Masonic Ghost Town and Chemung Mine 

Your videos have really opened my eyes to how beautiful the desert areas of the States are / can be . Brilliant :)

I remember those cans! You're right, they only existed for a year or two at most, in the very late 1970s. The old-style pull-tab cans had been discontinued because they resulted in pull-tab rings littering EVERYWHERE, but it took the manufacturers a couple years to come up with today's pop-top cans where the tab stayed attached. The little push-in circle was not supposed to come loose, just as in your example, but the simple fact was that when you pushed it in, your chances of cutting your thumb on the sharp aluminum edge was VERY real (and a little scary, of course). Oddly enough, they didn't show up everywhere. For instance, I never saw them here in Texas where I live, but I did encounter them when I traveled up north to Canada (circa 1980). I guess they must have been in Coors country, Colorado, too.

The "push-tab" used primarily on Coors Beer cans in the mid-1970s. The push-tab was a raised circular scored area used in place of the pull-tab. It needed no ring to pull up. Instead, the raised aluminium blister was pushed down into the can, with a small unscored piece that kept the tab connected after being pushed inside. Push-tabs never gained wide popularity because while they had solved the litter problem of the pull-tab, they created a safety hazard where the person's finger upon pushing the tab into the can was immediately exposed to the sharp edges of the opening. An unusual feature of the push-tab Coors Beer cans was that they had a second, smaller, push-tab at the top as an airflow vent-a convenience that was lost with the switch from can opener to pull-tab. The "push-tab" was introduced into Australia in the early 1980s and was locally known as "pop-tops". - Wiki

1910-11. Originally called Lorena in Cali. $700,000 harvested. Likely a Mercury from the '50s. Those Rake arms rotated at the bottom of a tank to keep minerals in suspension in the solution after it comes out of Ball mills or Stamping Plants. Arsenic was used to float the gold particles to the surface for skimmers to scrape off into a slurry. Might be worth scratching around in the ore at the bottom of a chute. Nuggets? Flower gold?

I haven’t been to “Masonic”, since 1974, in my first off-road 4x4 that I built after high school. Thanks WH you liked it as much as I did.

There was a plastic cap that had two buttons to push open the two holes that you could buy separately. I was told when I was a much younger, that those cans came about because people would drop the pull tab off of a can inside the can and then swallow or choke on them later.

During the earthquake in 1994, part of the ceiling fell down in Santa Clarita Lanes. Along with the ceiling panels came one of those cans of Coors, apparently left by a workman when the building was built.

I do remember those cans but they was a failure. they was not a needed kind of can and they was not safe. I'm 61 yrs old and i still drink beer but i gave up the hard stuff and i don't smoke anymore either. gave up smoking about 15yrs ago. I'm a retired musician(piano/keys) i had two strokes in 2013 and a heart attack in 2017. I'm lucky to still be alive and i really enjoy your vids. keep up the great work you are doing. I have a 37yr old daughter and two granddaughters (15 & 6).

New follower... I live in northern Nv near Tahoe... I loved the adventure! Super cool to see! Stay safe hon. (I came to you through abandoned and forgotten places channel)

I don't recall ever swallowing a tab from those Coors cans but boy, did I suffer a few bloody fingers from poking those holes.

Make a video of your quilting bee circle. I'm sure you have interesting friends! My father was a Mason and Shriner. He had four sons, none of whom joined that order. There was probably some sort of steam engine installed on the concrete base. You're probably right. people in those days didn't spend much time enjoying the view. I'd bet Winters were miserable .

Us clampers are big fans of you Wonderhussy I have heard your name more than once at clamper doings. The beer can was probably left at the plaqueing 🤠

Coors was my beer during the era of the push-tabs. Never had an issue of the circular tab coming off. But it was common to push your thumb too far into the hole and can easily cut your thumb when trying to pull it out-especially after a few.

I'm sure I had some beer from those Coors cans..it was very late 70s. Honestly, it was hard drinking beer from the tiny circular shape and made guzzling impossible (yes with the vent open). Soo grateful they were discontinued. Your adventures are fantastic, eastern Sierra yes.

I was at Oakland Army Base 9-11-1972 for 6 days..First time I'd seen a Coors beer can like that....

I wish all of the places you visit someone would have kept them intact,just enough to keep their historical place. Thanks for the trip.Stay safe.

I love your language and your vocabulary, Sarah. (I'm known to use words like "spiffy" and "nifty" myself, so I highly approve!) The idea of a drinking game for every time you say "Yikes!" is extremely amusing!

I have GOT to take the Masonic trail next time I'm in Bridgeport. Thanks WH for the tip!!!

Bodie still has chops!

I love your videos. They always cheer me up when I'm feeling down. And please, please be careful when climbing on those old structures.

Visited Masonic many years ago. Took Hwy182 out of Bridgeport and then took the dirt road up into the hills. If you go in far enough there's a spur trail to a meadow next to a creek that makes a decent campsite.

I went to a science camp during the summer of 1975 which was partially sponsored by Coors. The took us on a tour of the brewery in Golden, CO and made a big deal about this can design and how "revolutionary" it was. This style only lasted a few years before it was replaced by the style we now know. Part of their promotion was the fact the the push in tab was intended to stay attached to the can to lessen the litter problem and to keep people like Jimmy Buffet from "cutting his heel on a pop top". You were supposed to push down on the button on top to equalize the pressure and make it easier to open. Overall, the design was one big pain to use. You had to push the button very hard, which hurt, and it was easy to scrape your finger or thumb when pushing down the big tab into the can. Anywho, I'm sure that this far more info than anyone wanted or needed. BTW, I love your channel and always look forward to your Wednesday uploads.

Masonic is one of my favorite mining camps. Been all over that place for over 30 yrs + all the surrounding area. I've been a Mono Lake Committee member since 1981 and knew David Gaines. Great vid. BTW, if there are any Amateur Radio guys out there, about 1/2 way up the Masonic Rd, I could get full squash into the Hayward, CA 2m repeater from there. It was only good for about +/- 1/4 mi. Tropo tunnel? Who knows, but it always worked. Cheers.

Thank you wonderhussy for sharing this interesting lovely place with lots of ruins have a great day be safe

How can anyone give you a "thumbs down" do you have "hussie" competition out there a gaggle, a pride? 🍀

That was a great find. I followed along on Google Maps as you were saying where you were. Gotta get Laaary to go back with you so we get his perspective on the machinery. After you give him a haircut !!

My Grampa was a 33rd degree Mason, which I believe is the highest you can go. My father followed in his footsteps and also was a 33rd degree. I'm not much for drinking and memoriclubs so I never joined. The Masons started out as skilled laborers who worked the engineering on such things as the pyramids and King Solomon's palaces. They didn't want other people stealing their skills so they formed a secret society with special ways to recognize each other, like handshakes. Some people say it's satanic but I assure you my father and grandfather did not worship the devil. Their credo was to do good deeds for others who needed help.

You are right, those rusty things are stiring equip. The powder is crushed ore which goes into amalgamating pans with water and mercury. It's stirred up and the mercury capture the gold flakes, and is separated later.

you"re correct. I bought several cases of coors in Arizona in the 70s, back then ln az you could buy beer at the age of 19. At the time they were trying to get rid of pull tags and Az was a test state for those cans. I live in chico wish to have run into you last month best regards, Bill

Thank you for the great adventures! Please stay safe on these adventures! Hope you have more grand adventures soon! 🧧🤙🌅

We had that style of pop top aluminium can for a couple of years also and I thought they worked quite well. You just depress the small circular tab slightly to break the seal and it would let the pressure equalise without the contents spraying everywhere. Then depress the larger tab, not intended to seperate from the rest of it. Pouring or drinking from these worked well and stopped a small litter problem with discarded pull tabs from the previous style.

On the old Coors can - you push in the small button to release the pressure, then press the large one. And the both are supposed to stay attached to the can. I was too young to drink them back then lol

You scar me when you climb out on that stuff. Don't get hurt.

One of my favorite ghost towns, was first there in 81 with my dad, uncle and cousin, I was ten, a lot of cool stuff to see back then, still go back there a lot great place to camp.

I was there in 1985 - The structures were in better shape back then. Thanks WH

Those were some interesting ruins I might explore sometime. Agree, nice natural scenery around that area.

Frikkin watch them old beams. U scared me.

It is a really nice area. Love the bushy pine trees too. Gorgeous views.

That STONE building was the post office for I believe 2 years... Not sure how long but it was short lived. There were a heck of a lot of people there between Masonic and the Che Mung (your second stop) closer to Bridgeport. I've done videos on both.

When I use to drink ,I always knew my limit, unfortunately I always got drunk before I reached it. Nice vid Lil BIT. ;)

Much better to be a Wonderhussy than a Clamper.

Freemasons are like aspen trees. Although on the surface they appear to be separate trees, in the hidden depths below ground they are actually all interconnected by their roots and are actually one tree.

We were in Upper Masonic many years go and I came across a bear track. Kept my eyes open after that!

The concrete abutment you saw in the building supported the stamp mill and the stirer was indicative of a Cyanide ore processing system.

Love poking around places like this. Always good to see your posts.

I was quite familiar with the pop top can and the basic rule was to push the small one first, being with less internal pressure as a rule making the larger one easier to push in next. Trying to do that bigger one first took a quite a lot of pressure and no surprise people had nasty accidents.They were not designed to be idiot proof.And kids would get their fingers badly trapped in the hole.

Thank you very much Sarah. Keep em' coming.

Coke and Pepsi had similar cans in the early 80s. They were used after the old pull tabs and before the current design.

My dad was a Clamper back in the 70s. Only men allowed. They drank a lot.

Outstanding adventure. Thank you Wonderhussy you Rock!

Very interesting, I like Mine Nuts especially the crunchy ones. 😅😅😅. Your always a blast, I'm glad you don't weigh much, you couldn't pay me to go out on some of those buildings. I wish you had used your Drone more, it real is cool to see an overhead view, also maybe do some metal detecting along the foot path between buildings. You might try around the hot springs where people may change clothes. Hi out there Dave, SEMPER FI, I'll call this next week. Well Sarah your Birthday is the 22nd, I'd bake you a cake but I don't know when you'll be home so l have send something else. Can't wait until next Wednesday. 👍🇺🇸❤

Love the video's! Stay safe and happy!

LOL,,FORGOTTEN AND ABANDONED PLACES,,YOU 2 SHOULD DO A VIDEO TOGETHER? TRULY AMAZING SARAHA,YOU ROCK! YOU SHOW NV TOURISM HOW IT IS DONE.. STAY SAFE,SAFE TRAVELS..EXCELLENT VIDEO ,THANK YOU

I'll bet that the concrete structure you found at the upper camp was the base of a steam-engine that turned those overhead belt-rollers. The mining town at Swansea AZ had a giant version of the concrete base for a large Corliss steam engine to run the mine-works.

Men with power doing a business venture that literally dried truly an American west history

Love your videos. Wonderful sense of humor

Interesting geology and quite a neat valley there! Quite a find....Be cautious around those old timbers...Perhaps a camera-drone would be in order? Great post & photograpy!

Wow, amazing trip, thank you!!😊

Found the Clampers plaque of the guys who started this mine ( Pittburg Liberty) and why one of them died there. I can't believe she walked up there! Now the Chumung mine is off the side of the road and there is a lot more stuff there which includes a partially rusted away old 1950's sedan in the Aspens and we see the upsidedown frame of an old car which can be described as a Holes-mobile ! Must have stayed at the Travertine Hot Spring near Bridgeport CA. 4/5 WH stars!

I'm 57 and I totally forgot about those cans, but I remember drinking out of them. They were used on soda cans as well.

Another great video, you do take chances climbing around those broken down places!!!! Take Care and Stay Safe Wonderhussy!!!!!!

Looks like a great area to camp and high enough to be above the smoke and heat. Only 4 hours away, I think I'll spend a few days there. Thanks for the awesome info Sarah. BTW, building up my collection of Benchmark atlases; I've got 4 now thanks to you.

Woah stay safe Sarah, clambering on shady looking wooden struts! I love your shooting, you always have something interesting to look at, great POV camerwork or something beautiful and classy for us to look at - YOU! Stay safe and as cool and funny as always, Ian aka Dr Nitrogen x

Always love to watch you and your videos Hussy. Take care 🙋‍♂️

I remember those cans. Difficult to open without cutting you thumb or finger. They came out with a plastic disk that had two spikes on it that you could line up with the tabs and push down to open. Does the antiquity act apply to people, I may be an artifact. Thank you taking the time to show the mill ruins, I find it interesting to see what effort they made to recover gold.

At ~18:00 I think the large cement base with the drive shaft and flywheels looks like a stamp mill base. They could of use two step process, corse and fine. Might explain the second one that also looks somewhat a stamp mill. Or a second ore type. Sounds like I need to take a trip to silence the mind. Cool place, thanks for sharing.

By the late 60s the pull tabs from cans could be found on the ground everywhere from wilderness to the cities. The push buttons were the industries answer but caused injuries from cuts to swallowing the buttons, so they switched to what we use now. I only remember the push buttons in 70 to 71, but I only drank soda pop back then lol

I never had one of those pop tops fall into the can...I grew up then started to drink real beer.. The shot up car looks GM by the ignition switch.

hi Sara, i know a lady who was born in masonic during the depression, i have the history of masonic it was founded by three masons and there where three parts to the town ,lower,middle and upper town which represented the three degrees of masonry. dave sanders

I was thinking I drank out of a can like that in 1978? Not real sure though LOL🍻🍺🥂🍺

Thanks for the laugh. Yikers.

Beautiful looking area. Thanks.

Really enjoying you adventures, makes a change form boring old England at the moment.😘

Great video, & i love ghost towns.

There's got to be a water source around there that is a really nice area I would love to build a house are on there and just live there if there's a water source cool thank you for showing us. Oh I tell a lot of people about you and hope that you watch your show just as well keep the good work up

Cool area love old ruins cabins ol towns mill sites an mines thanks for taken the time to share great stuff as always be safe

Second car: 1948 Oldsmobile Business Coupe.

I do enjoy your videos! They have been a big help getting through this pandemic.

I think the real reason for the discontinuation of that style of can opening was that it lead to a lot of bloody thumbs; after all today's can tabs still leave a bit attached to the can.

Great narrative, we have the best character, a beautiful setting, a decent plot and all we need is some Climax,lol.

Push tops were also used on soda cans, at least in Oregon, after pull-tabs were outlawed as a litter prevention measure. Pushing the small one would release the pressure allowing the big one to be pushed. They were more complex (expensive) to manufacture and the seals failed sometimes, so that contributed to their being short-lived. I think the rotating shaft was part of a belt-driven machine shop, so each tool did not need its own source of power.

Another good one!

Good place to visit on a day trip. Thanks for sharing

Nice and gree up there. Great views/vistas.

Just discovered this channel. VERY intresting!! Thanks for sharing, miss! Greets from the Netherlands, T.

Awesome 👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎 video Wonderhussy great job nice country colorful and be safe ❤️

That's cool.

Big time wonder hussy fan so i yikes the channel and subscribed with the bell so stay safe & continue exploring new and exciting places because when you go we go so its not unappreciated but very much the opposite keep it up 😉

I don't think that Coors piece was supposed to separate ( that would be dangerous ) . I remember stopping in a bar in Westerchester Cal in the 70s, the bartender gal used a golf ball to depress the round tabs before serving it to you. That was smart , imagine trying to use your thumb all shift to do that - would have caused cuts for sure .

Yeah I remember those beer cans, I never drank coors, but I think Oly, Olympia beer used the same. I think 73 or 74, can't remember, too many beers. Hahaha

Enjoyed the trip around the sonic. Thank you.

Hi Wonderhussy, you should go see the ghost town of Brodie, I think you'll love it there.

love your video's!!!

With those Coors cans... if you pushed the small one first, it was much easier to open the larger one because you released the pressure inside the can. I always did it that way and never got so much as a nick on my finger.

Satisfactory! Thanks for giving E. Clampus Vitus some love. 💪🏼

Always interesting content

My first 12 years of my career were on the Toiyabe which you often visit. Miss Nevada a lot!

I enjoy your videos and humor...stay alive, shit happens...70 yo Navy Veteran

Love being able to see places and stuff that I wouldn't without you. And you can say whatever you want because it's all so cute. Larry in Ft. Worth, TX

So it seems Wonderhussies last video was filmed on top of a old building with her saying "I really shouldn't walk across this, But looks strong enough to support little old meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.... So take care lovely lady, we Do Not want that happening to you, Stay safe and keep up the good work, love your videos , leaving Mexico soon headed north, hope our paths cross one day...