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New Face on an Old Friend

John Lullo • 15 February 2023

In September of 2021 the front porch of the old house at White Sulphur Springs Ranch (WSSR) began to get a facelift that had been planned for years. Motorists traveling on Highway 89 near the entrance to the Mohawk Valley saw the improvements progress day by day.  Each time they passed the historic ranch site, the front face of the house looked a little different….a little better.


In February and March of last year volunteers John Barker and Don Maddelena made significant progress. All of the structural rebuilding was completed and approved by the County. Some of the original 140 year old balusters had been restored. New ones were made to match. Skirting and hand rails had not been seen on the old ranch house since they were destroyed in 2008. Great pains were taken to restore the original character of the historic ranch house. 


It was designated an historic structure in the 1983 Plumas County general plan. In spite of this the old house was in the process of being dismantled in 2008 when the community took notice and started the campaign to save what was left of the historic site. The Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (MVSC) was formed in 2009 and the restoration began. Community members who would like to be a part of this effort should call Judy Porep-Lullo at 530-836-0254.

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    Christmas 2022

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    John Barker and Don Maddelena working on restoration

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    Ranch House 2008

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White Sulphur Springs Ranch

He was a frequent visitor at the Mohawk Community Resource Center (MCRC) in Blairsden. He enjoyed th

Remembering Paul Bianco

by Brian Martinez • 1 February 2025
He was a frequent visitor at the Mohawk Community Resource Center (MCRC) in Blairsden. He enjoyed the library and some of the other conveniences. As it is for so many residents of Eastern Plumas County, the resource center is a familiar and important community meeting place. In the course of his many visits, he got to know the MCRC coordinator, Holly Johnson. After a while and many conversations later, Holly realized that this guy had an important story to tell. He was a senior citizen, a longtime resident of Graeagle, and a part of the history of Plumas County. Paul Bianco’s grandfather came to Ellis Island from Italy in 1917, probably to escape the world war that was destroying Europe. Paul’s father was a World War II naval veteran and Paul was born in San Francisco in 1946. He was in his late 30’s, on a long horseback ride on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1985 when he stopped for a while in Graeagle. In his words he was “overwhelmed” by the appearance and ambiance of the community. He saw an impressive loo

White Sulphur Springs Ranch Raises more than $42,000 in Donations Supporting Gumba's & Village Baker Fire Victims

by Tim Buckhout • 28 December 2023
White Sulphur Springs Ranch representative, Tim Buckhout, hands checks to Arisbeth Silva, owner of the Village Baker and to Matt and Elizabeth Cruse, owners of Gumba's Family Pizza, following the fire that destroyed both businesses September 15, 2023. On October 15, 2023, the community came together to raise funds for both businesses, with the hope that it could help the owners and their employees work through this terrible time. Learn more ...

Virtual Tour of Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum - Buffalo Bill Cody Wing

by Tim Buckhout • 26 October 2023
Historic White Sulphur Springs Ranch offers Second Virtual Tour
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