Amador County – At the wish of its former owners, the 187-acre Cuneo Land Trust was deeded in December to the Mother Lode Land Trust, which ceremoniously received the keys to the property and buildings last week.

Executive Director Ellie Routt of the Mother Lode Land Trust said the Cuneo land on Jackson Gate Road in Jackson, is bisected by China Graveyard Road, and includes the Chichizola Store and a pink house on the hill at 1316 Jackson Gate Road. The property cleared escrow Dec. 29.

The late Stanley and Marian Cuneo were founding members of Cuneo Land Trust, and started to preserve the land for cattle ranching and open space with timber management. Routt said all current leases of the land or buildings will be honored, and Leggett Piano Service will stay in place, in the Chichizola Store, where Mother Lode Land Trust now has an office.

She said the old 1800s Chichizola Store was handed down from Marian Cuneo’s family and the project will have a new name in the future, probably keeping the Chichizola name. The home was built in 1910 and still has period furniture, so it may be established with period museum displays. Routt said Mother Lode Land Trust may try to rent the six-bedroom home to a family as a residence, or they may rent rooms to community groups, so the Trust could still use it.

They have discussed rough plans for use of the property, such as having a “living farm,” for school groups, or coordinating school tours in conjunction with Kennedy Gold Mine tours. There is also blacksmithing equipment for living history.

Plans include conservations easements, continued cattle grazing, forest management, open space protection, nature hikes for school science programs, a community farm and living history at the old General Store. The facility has old ledgers that show purchases in 1800s with old, local family names, listed with purchases, and prices. Those type of things can be part of historical displays, Routt said.

Routt grew up in Amador County and has been Mother Lode Land Trust executive director for five years. The Trust was started in 1990 as Amador Land Trust, by ranchers, conservationists, resource specialists and other concerned local citizens. Now Mother Lode Land Trust, it owns more than 3,000 acres and 19 easements, of which 15 are actively managed, including PG&E watersheds around Mokelumne River, Bear River and Blue Lakes, and Kennedy Meadows in Tuolumne County.

Mother Lode Land Trust board of directors includes Mike Kirkley of Sutter Creek, Kevin Bonneau of Volcano, Dan Port of Ione, Bob Dean of Calaveras, Carlan Meyer of El Dorado, Susan Bragstad of Amador City, and Scott Oneto of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension office. Routt said they are always looking for new board members.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.