Fright Night Archives - Miners Foundry Cultural Center

The Joseph Mayer Organ

Although many historical pieces on display at the Miners Foundry, the Joseph Mayer pipe organ is a definite favorite. Born May 27, 1823 in Baden Wurttemberg, Germany, Joseph Severin Mayer was the first builder of organs in California. He immigrated to the United States in 1853 and initially worked in several organ factories in New York City. Eighteen months later, he left for California to try his luck in the gold fields. He prospected throughout the Mother Lode Country, but fortune did not favor his quest. He settled in Marysville in 1856 and eventually moved to San Francisco, where he established a successful organ business on the south side of Page Street, near Octavia. Joseph Mayer passed away on October 15, 1909 in San Francisco.

Kat Alves Photography

The organ was originally built in 1872 for a Jewish Temple located on lower Post Street. The congregation moved to a new building near Laguna in 1899. The organ moved with the congregation and therefore survived the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906. The Temple later became the Zen Soto Mission, a Buddhist sect and the organ, not needed for services, was nearly forgotten. In 1966 a pipe organ technician named Paul Alexander discovered the organ in a dilapidated state and spent the next five years rebuilding it, together with Robert Hunt. The keyboards, main frame, manual actions, stop knobs, and wooden pipes are all original. Of the twenty eight organs built by Mayer in San Francisco, the only piece surviving to this day is the organ housed at the Miners Foundry.

The organ was purchased in 1974 by David Osborn and Charles Woods, and installed in what was then the American Victorian Museum, now known as the Miners Foundry Cultural Center. A dedicatory recital was given by Reiko Oda-Lane on November 30, 1974, one hundred and two years after the organ was built. Many more organ concerts followed, to the delight of the Nevada County community. Sadly, the roof over the organ deteriorated over the years and leaks caused severe damage to the instrument, rendering it not playable. The organ remains a favorite historical piece for all who visit the Miners Foundry, and is a feature of our annual Fright Night Celebration.

Our History

By Paul Matson, President, Miners Foundry Board of Trustees

Charles Woods and David Osborn moved to Nevada City in 1957, leaving San Francisco to continue their work as artists and preservationists in the Sierra Nevada foothills. They shared a passion for all things Victorian, historical and artistic. Nevada City, with its wealth of neglected, but intact array of Victorian, Gold Rush era buildings was a perfect new home for them, for the rest of their lives.

Immediately they plunged into civic life by vigorously opposing the construction of the freeway through the middle of town in the 1960’s. Subsequent to that they worked with city officials to create Nevada City’s Historical Ordinance. They joined and helped create the first Board of Directors to purchase, operate and restore the Nevada Theatre, so that it could once again take its place serving as a live theater. They designed and produced posters promoting the reopening the Theatre and the Nevada City bike races, to name a very few contributions.

In 1972 they purchased the then defunct Miners Foundry which for many decades had produced equipment for the mines of our region and points beyond. With their eye for the historic, their artistic gifts and a vast collection of Victoriana, they transformed this dark, gritty industrial space into a vital, driving force in our community. Naturally, the buildings were rehabilitated with a meticulous care exercised toward maintaining their historical integrity. They are Historic Landmarks locally as well as nationally.

A few years later I was elected to my first of five terms on the Nevada City Council and began attending a multitude of events at the Foundry, then known as the American Victorian Museum (AVM). My life-long friendship with Charles Woods and David Osborn began there, allowing us to collaborate on numerous city issues, often having to do with historic preservation in our little town.

Osborn/Woods encouraged Terry Brown and Paul Perry to make the move from San Francisco to Nevada City. Paul and Terry soon established Music in the Mountains. Osborn/Woods founded KVMR community radio right there at the AVM, along with a string of annual events including the International Teddy Bear Convention and Robbie Burns Night. My personal favorite is Fright Night, which to this day is one huge, rocking, costume extravaganza.

In 1989 the AVM fell of hard times and the property was acquired by the Nevada City Winery. The winery had the brilliance, the resources, and skills to help establish the Miners Foundry Cultural Preservation Trust, to which the building was dedicated and donated. This wonderful structure, in the heart of the Queen City of the Northern Mines, was once again on line to serve as a hub, a focal point, and a center for all things cultural, educational and civic.

Alan Haley, a prominent local attorney and member of the Board of Directors of the Nevada City Winery crafted the Indentures of Trust. To this day those Indentures govern and guide the Miners Foundry Trustees in their custodianship of the facility and its multitude of activities. We are so fortunate that the Nevada City Winery was able to secure the property, and immediately return it to its all important role of community service.

For me, it’s all come full circle. A few years back I joined the Foundry Board of Trustees, and am honored to work as its President on its behalf for our town and surrounding areas. It is an incredible gift we have received. To say that it is a remarkable asset is an understatement.

Thank you, and we’ll see you at the Miners Foundry sometime soon!

Fright Night ~ Friday, October 31, 2014

Mumbo Gumbo

Fright Night returns to the Miners Foundry on Friday, October 31, 2014. This year the legendary Nevada City Halloween party will feature 3 bands on two stages, a full bar, food for purchase, face painting, a photo booth, and the ever popular costume contest.

Nor Cal favorite Mumbo Gumbo will headline in the Osborn/Woods Hall and Scary Little Friends will open for Mount Whateverest in the Stone Hall.

Doors open at 8:30 with live music starting at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 in Advance and $25.00 at the door, plus $2.00 Historic Preservation fee. Tickets are available online, by phone or in person at the Miners Foundry, (530) 265-5040, or in person at Briar Patch Co-Op.

Tickets

Event Schedule

8:30 p.m.    Doors Open
8:30 p.m.    DJ Set (Stone Hall)
9:00 p.m.    Mumbo Gumbo (Osborn/Woods Hall)
9:15 p.m.     Scary Little Friends (Stone Hall)
10:30 p.m. Special Digital Projections designed by light artists Romero Alves, Zach Haller, and Todd Wahoske (Osborn/Woods Hall)
10:45 p.m.   Mt. Whateverest (Stone Hall)
11:00 p.m    Mumbo Gumbo (Osborn/Woods Hall)

SONY DSC Mumbo Gumbo blends many genres from rock to soul, afropop to lush balladry, zydeco to country, into a celebratory, danceable noise, creating something less a specific style than a particular feeling: The Sound of Sheer Joy.

Moving back and forth between sly, sometimes melancholy explorations of romance and individuality, and ebullient, unabashed celebrations of family and commitment, Mumbo Gumbo weaves a rich tapestry of sound and sensibility that transcends genre. The result can be positively relentless, as the band’s extended jams drive dancers wild while giving non-dancers plenty to enjoy.

Mumbo Gumbo is both an institution on the NorCal concert scene and an ever-evolving collective that fills listeners with joy and longing, and always has audiences dancing their hearts out.

Mount Whateverest ~ “Flaming Eye”

The musicians who comprise Nevada City rock band Mount Whateverest form a musical unit capable of reaching staggering heights. Their music is a noisy collision of sugar-coated pop, space-jazz interludes and giant, classic rock riffs.

Changed school yard choruses combine with thumping glam rhythms to create the kind of day glow rock and roll not heard since T. Rex roamed the Earth.

Armed with distortion boxes, lasers, and lots of extra oxygen, Mount Whateverest are so high, they’re breaking through into the bottom of something else entirely.

Scary Little Friends ~ “A City At Night”

Santa Cruz / San Francisco based Scary Little Friends feature lilting vocals and surfs-up psychedelic guitar with underlying southern soul roots and strong songwriting.

Their live shows combine an understated professionalism with raw talent by offering authentic heartfelt performances that connect with their audience the old fashion way.

Photo by Akim Aginksy

The Mission of the Miners Foundry Cultural Center is to preserve, enhance and utilize the historic Miners Foundry for cultural, educational and social activities. The Foundry is a non profit organization.

To support cultural programming and the preservation of the historic Miners Foundry, please become a member or make a donation today.

Winners of the 2013 Fright Night Costume Contest

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the 2013 Fright Night Costume Contest. Photos were taken at Fright Night and posted the next morning on our Facebook page. Participants were asked to tag themselves in their respective photo and encourage friends to like the photo of them on the Miners Foundry Facebook Page. In the event of a tie between winners we would resort to an old fashion name drawing. Winners, Please contact the Foundry to collect your prizes by calling (530) 265-5040 or emailing Kat Kress at [email protected]

First Prize:

Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry
One Miners Foundry t-shirt

First Prize Winner of Best Individual Costume

First Prize Winner of Best Couple Costumes

First Prize Winner of Best Group Costumes

Second Prize:
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry
One Miners Foundry t-shirt

Second Prize Winner of Individual

Second Prize Winner of Couples

Second Prize Winner of Group

Third Prize
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry

Third Prize Winner of Individual

Third Prize Winner of Couples

Third Prize Winner of Group

Fright Night Costume/Photo Contest Rules

We are just one week away from the 35th Annual Fright Night, October 31st at the Miners Foundry. This year promises to be another infamous evening of sensational costumes and decorations, an epic dance party, rollicking rock n’ roll and a night you won’t forget.

One of the many highlights of Fright Night is the costume contest that always leaves the entire town talking. Last year hundreds of people dressed up to have their photo taken for an online contest that allowed friends and fans of the Foundry to vote on Facebook for the winners in the categories of best individual, couple and group costumes. Several thousand likes and comments later, a handful of folks walked away with bragging rights for the entire year. Will that be you this year?

Here are the details on the costume contest

Thursday, October 31st, stop by the photo booth at the Foundry and get your photo taken. We will post the photos the next morning on our Facebook page. Tag yourself in the photo. Encourage your friends to like the photo of you on the Miners Foundry Facebook Page, and the photos with the most likes in the following categories – Individual, Couple and Group (most be 6 or less people). You can vote more than once, but not more than once for a photos. Winners will take home the prizes listed below and bragging rights as the best Halloween costume of Fright Night 2013. Click here to see last year’s winners!

First Prize:
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry
One Miners Foundry t-shirt

Second Prize:
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry
One Miners Foundry t-shirt

Third Prize
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry

Winners will be announced on the final day of Dia de los Muertos, Saturday, November 2.

Fright Night with Achilles Wheel ~ Thursday, October 31, 2013 ~ 7:00 p.m. Doors / 8:00 p.m. Show ~ $20.00 Advance / $25.00 Door

Achilles Wheel ~ “This Is Life”

Fright Night returns to the Miners Foundry on Thursday, October 31, 2013 with local favorites Achilles Wheel! A Miners Foundry tradition, Fright Night is the Halloween party of the year with great music, unbelievable costumes, food available for purchase, and a no host full bar. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the music starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 in Advance and $25.00 at the door, and are available online, by phone at (530) 265-5040, in person at the Miners Foundry office and at Briar Patch.

Tickets

Photo by John Taber

Achilles Wheel is a high energy Roots and World music / Rock and Roll band featuring award winning songwriting, numerous stringed instruments, and more drums than you can believe. The fiery epicenter of the Achilles Wheel sound is Jonny Mojo on lead guitar and vocals, Paul Kamm and Shelby Snow on rhythm, bass, and vocals, and Gary Campus and Mark McCartney on drums and vocals. Their debut CD 13 Hours was recently recorded at the historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City.

Achilles Wheel

Photo by Akim Aginksy

The Mission of the Miners Foundry Cultural Center is to preserve, enhance and utilize the historic Miners Foundry for cultural, educational and social activities. The Foundry is a non profit organization. To support cultural programming and the preservation of the historic Miners Foundry, please become a member or make a donation today.

Miners Foundry

Winners of the 2012 Fright Night Costume Contest

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the 2012 Fright Night Costume Contest. It was a pretty close race but the people have voted and the following photos received the highest number of “Likes” on our Facebook page. Winners received a package from the Foundry that included free tickets to an upcoming event, memberships, tshirts, delicious treats courtesy of Cheri Snook’s Ice Cream, and more! All photos are courtesy of photographer Douglas Hooper who set up and shot hundreds of photos over the course of the evening and our good friend Todd Wahoske who made the Fright Night sign!

First Prize Winner in the Individual Category!

First Prize Winners in the Fright Night Couples Category!

First Place Winners in the Fright Night Costume Contest – Groups!

Second Prize Winner in the Individual Category!

Second Prize in the Fright Night Couples Costume Contest Category!

Second Place Winner in the Fright Night Group Costume Contest!

Third Prize Winner in the Individual Category for Fright Night Costume!

Third Place Winners in the Couples Fright Night Costume Contest!

Third Place Winners in the Fright Night Group Costume Contest!

Fright Night Costume Contest and Photos

Over 700 people turned out for last night’s Fright Night, proving just how much you and Nevada City love this annual event! The costumes were incredible, the food – Calla Lily Crepes and Cheri Snook‘s Hand Dipped Ice Cream – were delicious, the sound and lights (thanks Greg Cameron & Mark Jacoby) were totally awesome, and the music was fantastic. Zepparella, Achilles Wheel, Mount Whateverest, and Persist To Rise rawked our world! Thank you to the volunteers and everyone who came out to support the Foundry. And a HUGE thank you to Doug Hope Hooper for setting up this year’s photo booth and capturing so many great memories. Don’t forget you can contact him at www.hooper.smugmug.com to purchase your own pics. Now on to the Fright Night Costume Contest! Click here to start voting and to see all of the costumes!

Prizes are on an individual basis

Voting:
All costume photos will be uploaded to Facebook.
Tag yourself in the photo.
The photo with the most Likes wins!
You can ask your friends to vote!
You can vote more than once, but not more than once for a photo.

Prize:
First Prize:
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry
One free hand dipped ice creams from Cheri’s ice cream
One Miners Foundry t-shirt

Second Prize:
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry
One Miners Foundry t-shirt

Third Prize
Two tickets to a Foundry show
One year membership to the Foundry

Winners will be announced on Day of the Dead, November 2nd!!!

Start voting!

Fright Night – Nevada County’s biggest Halloween bash 34 years and counting!

FRIGHT NIGHT, the Miners Foundry legendary Halloween Party is best known for fantastic decorations, titillating costumes, sweet treats, and lots and lots of rock n’ roll.

This year’s much anticipated FRIGHT NIGHT features four bands on two stages, two full bars, an infamous costume contest that always leaves the entire town talking, a spectacular light show, a photo booth to capture the good times, food to keep you fueled all night, plus the entire Foundry, with its beautiful stone halls and high wood beam ceilings, festively decorated.

Headlining FRIGHT NIGHT is Zepparella, the San Francisco based all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band. Zepparella brings the passion, the beauty, the aggression, and the musicality of Led Zeppelin alive. Lead by drummer extraordinaire Clementine, the band is also comprised of singer Noelle Doughty, guitarist Gretchen Menn and bassist Angeline Saris. The musicianship of the group is top-notch and evident with their embrace of Led Zeppelin’s penchant for improvisation. Often performing in angelic white, their live shows are disarming, mesmerizing, and, well, rocking. The band promises a special surprise for FRIGHT NIGHT this year.

photo credit hojji firemaker

Also performing are local favorites Achilles Wheel featuring Gary Campus, Paul Kamm, and Mark McCartney of the Deadbeats, bassist Shelby Snow and guitarist, singer songwriter Jonny Mojo Flores. Their blend of psychedellic rock, blues and bluegrass is fresh, lively and will make you want to dance. Members of Achilles Wheel have headlined The Oregon Country Fair, The Trinity Tribal Stomp, The Marin Summer Music Festival, and performed at other festivals including The High Sierra Music Festival and The Kate Wolfe Festival. Performing alongside Achilles Wheel are the exotic and mesmerizing Troupe Al Ama belly dancers. Everyone’s favorite party band Mt Whateverest, will rock the Osborn & Woods Hall with their “astro-noise-space-grunge direct from the foothills to your skull”, their words not ours! Rounding out this bill is Persist To Rise, an accomplished four-piece metal band that wowed audiences at this year’s Battle of the Bands.

This local tradition dates back to 1978 when Bobby Angel coined the name and produced the first five FRIGHT NIGHT’s at the American Victorian Museum as a fundraiser for community radio station KVMR. Those first years are something of legend with elaborate set designs by Kitty and TJ Meekins, out of this world costumes, and a who’s who of local musicians performing. The first Fright Night was $2 with costume; simulcast live on KVMR and featured Mighty Dread, Harry Harpoon and the House Wreckers, plus a special appearance by the Phantom of the Opera.

Thirty-four years later, FRIGHT NIGHT has gone through many producers including artists and visionaries David Osborn and Charles Woods, KVMR, Foothill Theatre Company and it is now considered one of the Miners Foundry’s largest annual fundraiser. Expect an epic dance party, sensational costumes and theatrics, and a night you won’t forget.

KNOW & GO

What: FRIGHT NIGHT
Who: Zepparella, Achilles Wheel, Persist to Rise and Mt Whateverest
When: Saturday, October 27, Doors 8pm
Where: Miners Foundry, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, CA
Tickets: $20 adv/$25 door, available at BriarPatch Co-op, Nevada City Box Office and online at www.nevadacityboxoffice.org.
For more information call 530 265 5040 or go to www.minersfoundry.org

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another. ~Erma Bombeck

Volunteer at the Foundry and receive a complimentary ticket to the Foundry sponsored event of your choice!
(Must volunteer for a minimum of 6 hours to receive complimentary ticket)

Please contact Kat Kress at [email protected] (530) 265-5040 to Volunteer.

Volunteers are needed for the following events:

“Labyrinth”, Friday, October 19, 2012
The Miners Foundry Cultural Center and the Nevada City Film Festival presents “Labyrinth” (rated PG) the Jim Henson cult classic starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. Several Volunteer positions are available, including the Nevada City Box Office and Decorating.

Fright Night, Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Miners Foundry’s Annual Fundraising Event, FRIGHT NIGHT, returns this year with headliner Led Zeppelin Tribute Band, Zepparella, as well as Achilles Wheel, Persist to Rise and Mt. Whateverest. Many Volunteer positions are available, including the Decorating Committee and the Nevada City Box Office.

Power of 12

Power of 12 20th Anniversary Party, Sunday, November 4, 2012
Power of 12, Nevada County’s home grown R&B band, will be presenting a 20^th anniversary concert in conjunction with The Miners Foundry. Volunteer positions are available in the Nevada City Box Office.

Holiday Decorating Committee, November 12 & 13, 2012
The Foundry is currently seeking volunteers to help deck the halls, the wall, and everything in between! This is a great opportunity for students to earn community service hours.

Thank you!

October Volunteer Opportunities at the Foundry

Volunteer at the Foundry and receive a complimentary ticket to the Foundry sponsored event of your choice!
(Must volunteer for a minimum of 6 hours to receive complimentary ticket)

Please contact Kat Kress at [email protected] (530) 265-5040 to Volunteer.

Volunteers are needed for the following events:

Dark Star Orchestra, Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Performing to critical acclaim worldwide for over 13 years and more than 1800 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead concert experience. Their shows are built off the Dead’s extensive catalog and the talent of these 7 fine musicians. On any given night the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. This allows fans both young and old to share in the experience. Volunteer half the show, then dance the rest! If DSO isn’t your type of show, this is a great opportunity to volunteer for 6 hours and earn a complimentary ticket for another Foundry sponsored show. Many Volunteer positions still available.

Fright Night, Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Miners Foundry’s Annual Fundraising Event, FRIGHT NIGHT, returns this year with headliner Led Zeppelin Tribute Band, Zepparella, as well as Achilles Wheel, Persist to Rise and Mt. Whateverest. Many Volunteer positions are available, including the Decorating Committee and the Nevada City Box Office.

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers!

Fright Night 2012, Featuring Zepparella ~ Saturday, October 27, 2012 ~ Doors at 8:00 P.M. ~ $20.00 Advance / $25.00 Door

The Miners Foundry’s Annual Fundraising Event, FRIGHT NIGHT, returns this year with headliner Led Zeppelin Tribute Band, Zepparella, as well as Achilles Wheel, Persist to Rise and Mt. Whateverest. Rico’s Tacos will have their taco truck located at the Foundry and a no-host bar will be available. Come dressed in your costume, and prepare to rock the night away! Tickets are $20.00 in Advance & $25.00 at the door and available at Briarpatch, Nevada City Box Office and online at www.nevadacityboxoffice.org. For more information call 530 265 5040 or go to www.minersfoundry.org. This is a benefit for the Miners Foundry Cultural Center.

Purchase Tickets

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