Kennett, California facts for kids
Kennett was once a very important copper mining town in northern California, United States. It was a busy place until it became completely covered by the waters of Shasta Lake. This happened when the Shasta Dam was being built. Today, Kennett is about 400 feet underwater, depending on how full the lake is. It was the biggest and most important mining town in its area, besides Redding and Shasta.
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Kennett's Early Days
Before European settlers arrived, the land around Kennett was home to the Wintu people. They lived in many villages. The Wintu name for the Kennett area was Munuktsiraw. They first met Europeans, like fur traders, in the early 1800s. Sadly, many Wintu people died from diseases brought by the newcomers.
The first Anglo-American settler in the area was Pearson Reading. He received land from the Mexican government in 1843. Instead of forcing the Native Americans away, Reading became friends with them. He taught them about farming. Shasta County was formed in 1850. By 1852, many settlers came looking for gold and other valuable metals during the California Gold Rush.
The first time Kennett was mentioned in writing was in a newspaper article from June 7, 1852. It announced that gold had been found in Backbone Creek, which is where Kennett was built. John Sisk was one of the first Anglo-American men to settle there in June 1857.
Besides mining, Kennett also grew because of railroad construction. A railroad camp was set up near Kennett. This led to many businesses opening nearby to serve the railroad workers. Once the railroad was finished, it became very important for Kennett's growth.
How Kennett Was Founded
During the railroad's construction, the settlement on Backbone Creek was named Kennet. It was named after a railroad man known as "Squire" Kennet. Not much else is known about him. Later, the town's name started to be spelled Kennett, perhaps by mistake on a map.
In 1884, a 24-year-old man named Charley Golinsky came to Kennett. He wanted to open a store for the miners. Golinsky's store quickly became the most important in town. It was even used as a place for people to vote in 1886. His store also became the Kennett post office, and Golinsky was chosen as the postmaster. He later added a hotel to his store. His family moved to Kennett and became one of the town's most well-known families.
The two biggest mines in the area were the Mammoth and Golinsky mines. They had very pure copper ore, which brought a lot of wealth to the small town. Parts of these mines are still above water today. However, they are hard to reach and have been sealed off for safety reasons.
Kennett During World War I and the Great Depression
Kennett continued to do well. It had an economic boom during World War I because metal prices went up. But when the war ended, the town faced tough times. The mines, smelters, and railroad lines had grown too big for a peaceful economy.
The largest mine in Kennett, the Mammoth mine, closed for good in 1923. This was a huge blow to the local economy. By 1931, Kennett was no longer an official city. Its population had dropped too low to remain incorporated.
Shasta Dam and Kennett's End
The government had thought about building a dam in the area since the 1870s. The New Deal programs in the 1930s gave them the chance to do it. In 1935, construction on Shasta Dam began. There are no records of public meetings to ask Kennett residents what they thought. The town's small population was likely seen as not important enough.
Most people sold their land to the government willingly. Some waited until the water started to rise before leaving their homes. Kennett was completely underwater by 1944. This was one year before the dam was fully finished.
