MIDDLETOWN, LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 95461 HOME OF socminco.com

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You might ask yourself; why ‘socminco.com’?

Here’s the answer: Years ago this was the home page for an “Old-West Trading Company” named ‘Socrates Mining Company’. After closing down the company the page has been used for personal purposes just as it is today.

In My Opinion

I have recently written and had printed six small books regarding the Middletown, Lake county, California area, my home. These books each tell a different story about something that happened here. They are full of local history, from our 480,000 year old natural fresh water lake to our violent volcanic past and how these have influenced the development of South Lake County.

This is not a profit motivated venture by me. The books are being donated to non-profit organizations to be used as a fund raising avenue. The books are available at the Middletown Senior Center thrift store located at 21256 Washington Street, Middletown and Gibson Museum at 21267 Calistoga Street, Middletown.

I hope you will make a donation to either one of these organizations and collect all six books and then, after reading all of them, comes that certain day when you visit the Middletown Cemetery, you will find that some of the markers speak to you differently, because now you are an informed member of the community that those resting there help build.

Middletown Senior Center, Post Office Box 1037, Middletown, CA 95461

Gibson Museum, Post Office Box 31, Middletown, CA 95461

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This is the first book, ‘MURDER IN THE MAYACAMAS’, and it tells the story of a 35 year old divorcee who was murdered during the stormy early morning hours of November 20, 1966. Law enforcement, to this day, has never solved this case. However, in 2018 some startling new evidence came forth and it completely changed the dynamics of this event. This book tells that story.

The book is comprised of 13,289 words on 74 pages

Read it on-line now

The second book, ‘GUENOC RANCH & The Days Of The Flying Muleshoe’, relates the history of the Ranch from the Lake Miwok, who lived around a lake they called Wennok, through all the major landholders to present day. It also tells the story of a period in time from 1955 into the 1970s that I experienced and that I called “The Days of the Flying Muleshoe”.

This book is comprised of 9,846 words on 71 pages

NEW!

NOW 24,414 words 142 pages

I have published on-line a 2^nd Edition of this book about Guenoc Ranch. It has lots of new history and is over twice as large as the 1^st Edition with more pictures. Click the below link to read the new version

Rancho de Guenoc

This is the third book, ‘CINNABAR’ - The Saga Of The White Cap Murders’. This book tells the story of murders that took place three miles south of Middletown, October 10, 1890, at a roadside saloon known as ‘The Camper’s Retreat’ and why the murderers were called White Caps and why it became a national story. It also addresses the Bradford mine and its relationship to the murderers.

The book is comprised of 12,041 words on 74 pages

Read it on-line now

This is the fourth book, ‘ENGLISH’. This book tells the story of the English family. From them fighting Indians in the 1830s in Missouri, to their move to Middletown and all the violence that followed them. The most infamous of the family was Lawrence Buchanan “Buck” English and most of the story focuses on his life. Also included as a bonus in the book is the story of a local kleptomaniac, “George Coburn”.

The book is comprised of 12,215 words on 67 pages

NEW!

I have published on-line a 2^nd Edition of this book about the English family. It has new history. It is now 14,211 words on 84 pages. Click the below link to read the new version.

ENGLISH

This is the fifth book, ‘FIRE’ - Middletown Is Burning - This book tells the story of Middletown’s history regarding fire, starting with the 1918 fire through the fire that destroyed Hardester’s Market. It also tells the story of some of the people involved during this time and reveals the history of some landmarks like the Lake County House.

The book is comprised of 11,296 words on 71 pages.

Read it on-line now

This is the sixth book, HISTORY- They Left Their Mark On South Lake County. There are eight short stories in this book plus an Addendum to the “FIRE” book. It starts with the Native Americans who lived around Wennock lake and ends with the Addendum to “FIRE.

This book is comprised of 14,544 words on 81 pages.