Amador County – The Save the Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel campaign has raised nearly $39,000 and counting heading into a sold-out dinner and auction next weekend.
Save the Wheel Committee Chairman, Jackson City Councilman Keith Sweet said on March 29 he had “sent out thank you notes for $35,850,” which “includes the $7,200 from the sold out dinner ticket sales. All expenses are being paid for by the National Hotel so I am considering the ticket sales as a donation. I am hopeful that we will have $60,000-plus after the dinner event is completed.”
A donation announced March 8 was $5,000 from McDonald’s of San Joaquin County owner Craig Schrader, who also owns Martell McDonald’s franchise. Sweet said Schrader kept a promise made several months before that he “would make a donation to a civic project in the community as part of McDonald’s on-going commitment to being a good community partner.”
Amador County Board of Supervisors in February approved $15,000 to be paid over three years for the Save the Wheel project, and Supervisors sought tickets to the dinner and said they would make donations for the auction. Sweet said Jackson City Council put $25,000 in the Save the Wheel fund to get it started, and by March 12 had spent about $1,200 of it.
Sweet said the project needs $77,000 in matching funds for the grants received for the Save the Wheel project.
The historic preservation of Wheel Number 4 in the Kennedy will include construction of a wheelhouse building with a roof and large Plexiglass front wall, for visitors to view the wheel, while protecting it from the elements.
Fundraising efforts included the eighth edition reprinting of “Kennedy Wheels,” a historical booklet written by Evelyn Garbarini as told by Emmet Garbarini. The “booklet describes the role these massive structures played in keeping the Kennedy Mine operating in the early 20th century and includes many historical photos showing the hard rock mine landscape of Jackson.
“Kennedy Wheels” is now for sale for $7.50 per copy at Jackson City Hall, Amador County Chamber of Commerce, Kennedy Mine Gift Shop, Hein & Company Bookstore and Bubble Gum Book Store in Sutter Creek.
Eleven years ago, the City used a $150,000 grant from Caltrans to complete structural repairs and remove decay from Wheel 4, but decay continues in its exposed condition at the top of the hill in Kennedy Tailing Wheel Park on Jackson Gate Road.
All funds generated will go toward this project and serve as matching funds for a $596,000 grant the City is seeking from Caltrans.
The benefit dinner and auction: Wheels of Gold and Tales of Old is 6 p.m. Saturday, April 14 at Thomi’s Banquet Room in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
