posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:06 PM
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We enjoyed our traditional annual party and Yankee trade. This year a couple new members joined in the fun.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 8:51 PM
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The Argonaut A's attended the Elephant and Tiger wildlife sanctuary open house of the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in San Andreas. We awaited a year to attend, and it was worth the wait. The elephants and tigers came in closer due to the weather. The only one who can go near the elephants is Pat, who is feeding them. The photo is in the African Elephant barn. Can you see the elephant under the tree outside? The tigers were rescued and together eat 200 pounds of meat a day.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:41 PM
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The Argonaut A's will miss Ken Handy who passed away November 23, 2009. He had a quick wit and a good sense of humor. Ken and Pat were married 60 years. While Ken loved to collect many treasures over the years, his real collection that he leaves behind is his large family and true friends.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:35 AM
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Following the Nov 21 Argonaut A 11 am lunch meeting at Colina de Oro in Plymouth, there was a scenic tour of Amador County Bed and Breakfast Inn's. A new member received her badge at the meeting.We stopped at the Amador Harvest Inn in Shenandoah Valley in Plymouth for a photo in the brisk air by the beautiful shimmering lake. The inn is owned by the Deavers who also operate the vineyard and the Amador Flower Farm. Our route then took us to the Imperial Hotel where visitors and guests sip tea or wine outside on the balcony overlooking Amador City. Driving towards Stringbean Alley on Highway 49 we went to Sutter Creek and the beautiful Bed and Breakfast Inns. First we saw the English country Grey Gables Inn, then the large brick ivy covered Hanford House Inn, around the bend was the beautiful Foxes Inn with it's well manicured lawn in the heart of the town, and next to it the sprawling new england style Sutter Creek Inn. Just down the road and around the corner we found the Eureka Street Inn with it's craftsman style near Knights Foundry. Our tour took us to Jackson Gate Road and the Gate House Inn with the beautiful historic mansion inn and summer cottage. While we didn't drive out to Volcano's St George Hotel today, we have driven by the historic country inn on previous tours. Of course we ended up getting ice cream! More photos at photo gallery for november
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 7:08 PM
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Following the October meeting, the Argonaut A's went by modern iron to the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. Formerly the Towe Ford Museum, the California Automobile Museum is now operated by the Contemporary Historical Vehicle Association (CHVA).
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:34 PM
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Following the Argonaut A's meeting in Plymouth we had a funfilled and educational tour via Model A and modern iron to Amador County's prominent old gold mines and tailings of the past along the backroads. Participants received a map at the start, and one of twelve informational mining cards at each stop. The tour took us past several of the remains of mines once active in the county. We saw cement and stone foundations, metal debris, headframes, powder houses, and tailing piles. In addition we saw what was left of once active communities, such as New Chicago, New Philadelphia as well as many of the gold rush buildings of Drytown, Amador City, Sutter Creek, and Jackson.
Our tour went by the remains of the Plymouth Consolidated Mine, the headframe of the Fremont- Gover mines, the ore frame and open shaft of the Treasure Mine connected to Bunker Hill Mine, the Kennedy Tailing Wheels, Keystone Mine - headframe, stamp mill, foundations and buildings, South Spring Hill foundations on string bean alley, surface workings of the Mahoney mine and the Wildman Mines powder house and Emerson Shaft rock foundations. The tour stopped at the Central Eureka mines which were the longest working mines in the county. The Kennedy and Argonaut Mines are the two most famous mines in the area and also the deepest. Headframes, stamp mills, buildings and tailing wheels remain. The Zeile Mine powder house remains. We ended our drive with cold ice cream. More photos on sept 2009 photo gallery. 
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 7:54 PM
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The August 2009 Argonaut A's meeting celebrated with the addition of two new members. Afterwards we drove to the private "Farm to Flight Museum" with planes from WWI and vintage cars and toys. It was a delightful tour by a family with immense dedication over the years.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:28 PM
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July 18, 2009 the Argonaut A's toured from Jackson to Ione for a tour of the historical Preston Castle. Afterwards we continued to Colina de Oro for our meeting in Plymouth. The castle took us back in time to the early 1900's.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:12 PM
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Our June meeting was a lovely evening BBQ at the home of one of our members. Our junior member read a paper she had written on the Argonaut Mine and the Miners Graves, which we had toured last time.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:01 PM
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In May 2009, the Argonaut A's held our meeting in Plymouth. Afterwards we traveled the backroads of Amador county, going over hill and dale next to stonewalls built during the era of the gold rush. We drove our Model A through little running creeks through the mother lode towns of Sutter Creek to Jackson to the mother lode town of Jackson, California to tour three cemetery graves of the 47 miners of the Argonaut Mine disaster.
The miner grave cemetery tours were facilitated by Amador County Historical Society Officers. They shared with us stories of the 47 miners of our namesake, the Argonaut Mine graves at the Catholic cemetery, the Protestant cemetary and St
Sava's.
They showed us the plaque that will be put on the vista point below the Argonaut Mine headframe on Hwy 88 overlooking Jackson.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 3:13 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:31 PM
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March 2009, one of the Argonaut A's won a poster in the raffle after the 50/50 fundraiser. Following our meeting we toured from Plymouth a scenic route up and down, all around through hill and dale and into a creek up to Daffodil Hill with beautiful flowers.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:22 PM
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Our new member received her badge at the Argonaut A meeting at Colina de Oro. We listened to a vintage Model A alarm clock wake us all up with it's LOUD ahooga and then "good morning!"... and our fundraiser 50 50 raffle followed by a raffle of pottery on the wine theme... and off we went touring the wine country... stopping at the Story Winery to see the beautiful Consumnes Canyon views, then to Vino Noceto with the Doggie Diner outside the barn wine tasting.. and our last wine stop at Brays Winery with the Red Brazen Hussy Wine... until we toured through Sutter Creek and it's beads, masks and music for Mardi Gras... we waved our hats and flounced our 'Our new member received her badge at the Argonaut A meeting at Colina de Oro. We listened to a vintage Model A alarm clock wake us all up with it's LOUD ahooga and then "good morning!"... and our fundraiser 50 50 raffle followed by a raffle of pottery on the wine theme... and off we went touring the wine country... stopping at the Story Winery to see the beautiful Consumnes Canyon views, then to Vino Noceto with the Doggie Diner outside the barn wine tasting.. and our last wine stop at Brays Winery with the Red Brazen Hussy Wine... until we toured through Sutter Creek and it's beads, masks and music for Mardi Gras... we waved our hats and flounced our '29 feathers out the window! on our way to ice cream (of course!) See more photos below and in photo gallery.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:25 PM
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In January we added a new member... during the depression, she came to California with her family of 13 in two cars from Iowa. We installed officers this month. The President appointed our youngest member as Sergeant at Arms who did a great job with raffles .... Our tour was the Highway 49 Whistle Stop Tour. We drew cards to see who would lead... and luck of the draw... each time ... was the same leader!!! At each stop, we got out and blew our whistles! Second to last stop was at Kit Carson to visit an injured member... then final stop.... you guessed it for... ICE CREAM!! more photos at gallery
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:50 PM
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The Argonaut A's held our 2008 Christmas party with a delightful delicious dinner and fun festivities at Strings restaurant. Everyone raved about the food and service. We had a great Yankee Trade! The elves were split up, and we all fought over a set of "Naughty or Nice" mugs!
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:09 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 8:34 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 8:21 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 8:10 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 8:53 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:08 AM
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Welcome to Argonaut A's youngest new member, nine year old Caitlin Neuner! She had previously joined us in the parade earlier in the month. She toured in Grandpa's Model A to Fiddletown to the flea market and found the "Rock Hound Saloon" after a round of applause at the club meeting. What a large fiddle in Fiddletown! She is pictured with the former "younger" member.... smile....
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:59 AM
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The Argonaut A's theme of the "California or Bust!" was a great hit at the Italian Picnic Parade in Sutter Creek!
We wore clothing in the era of the depression, with vehicles laden down with furniture, mattresses, children, people packed in the cars, sacks on the fenders, coffee, flour and beans... one of our members brought his mother who had actually travelled from Iowa to California during that time. She shared stories of how her father sold the farm, packed 13 people into two vehicles and pulled a trailer... and dad sold the trailer and it's goods for 35 dollars on the way. They had 16 flats in such a short period of time, and it took 13 days to get to southern California. What a journey! can you imagine?
We enjoyed the parade and took first place!! Our two youngsters loved the ride in the rumble seat and in the back of the truck. We all enjoyed the picnic at the end of the parade and the kids the carnival.
MANY MORE PARAD PHOTOS CLICK ON OUR ARGONAUT: PHOTO Gallery
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 6:22 PM
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In May, the Argonaut A's drove from Jackson in Amador County along the Pardee Dam for a Day at the Ranch at Hardy's Gold Country in Campo Seco. We met the Tokay A's who sponsored a BBQ and joined a car show.
More photos at photo gallery for May post
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 5:01 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:55 AM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 5:19 PM
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In January 2008, the Argonaut A's installed Officers and Board of Directors for the year at Colina de Oro. Recognition and kudos (kazoos) were given out with fun and laughter to members who had contributed in special ways in 2007.
After lunch Argonaut A's and guests toured Amador City and the Miner's Pick Museum, followed by ice cream at the Buffalo Chip (of course! ) More photos in Photo Gallery
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:45 AM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 2:10 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 1:30 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 5:34 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 4:27 PM
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Received news from our touring members, with a highlight of Mount Rushmore. Our meeting was held with our own highlight the return of our members to lunch at Colina de Oro for our September meeting. 
We rescheduled our Ladies driving lesson for Fall - or as we call it "know how to start and move the Model A in an emergency - and if needed be a backup" .... Some folks may be intimidated to take a driving lesson, but not a "know how to move the car out of the garage if I have to" lesson!
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 3:44 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 3:40 PM
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July 17, 2007 we met at Colina de Oro in Plymouth, followed by a tour through Amador County backroads to surprise our Treasurer on her big day ... journeying to our favorite spot at Baskin Robbins.
Celebration Surprise...eat drink and be merry... travel via Model A to be young again at baskin robbins... balloon, present, song, cake with ice cream!
More July photos at gallery...
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:31 PM
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In the last year the members of our small club have endured a lot of hardship and yet we continue to meet and support one another each month. Our members have lost a spouse (Richard Hackett Board Member), a brother Glenn Fiedler, (Argonaut A's Chapter member) a father "Scotty", a grandson Dusty, and Ken's brother. Two members, the Moore's, left due to serious health concerns and sold their Model A, Abigail. On a positive note, both our serious stroke victims, Bob and Ken have returned home and are on the road to recovery.
In May at a celebration of Richard's life held on his birthday the Argonaut A's donating a brick in his name to the American Legion as he was a Veteran of the war. We are proud of our family in the military - a grandaughter, a grandson and 3 nephews - navy, marine and army and we pray for their safety.
In April and May the Argonaut A's met at Mel and Faye's Diner in Jackson for lunch. At the May meeting we toured up to Pine Grove to an antique yard sale and visited with one of our returning members who had come home from the hospital.
More at Photo Gallery.... 45th NCRG Roundup
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:54 AM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 12:56 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 12:38 PM
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In February we met at Colina de Oro in Plymouth followed by a tour of Sutter Creek in preparation for the AAUW April tour.
Photos were taken by our Club Historian who has since been hospitalized. We keep Bob in our prayers for a speedy recovery.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:03 PM
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January 2007 saw the installation of the Argonaut A's Officers and Board of Directors, followed by a tour to Sutter Creek to view mechanical pieces of Americana by members of the Sierra Nevada chapter of Amica (Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors Association).
What a wonderful music array of Rags, Blues and Foxtrots played by rare player pianos, a roll operated organ, coin operated nickelodeons and orchestrions, and beautiful antique gramaphones. It was a real treat to see and hear these automatic musical instruments.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 8:09 PM
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A Spirit of fun and laughter was held with an old fashioned Yankee trade Christmas Party gift exchange.
All items were wrapped in newspaper anonymously and ranged from feeler gauges and continuity tester for Model A, gourmet coffee, Jim Beam BBQ all the way to (who would have thought?!) Baskin Robbin ice cream gift certificates!
We voted in 2007 Officers and Board of Directors ... to be installed January...
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 3:56 PM
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November 18th the Argonaut A's toured to view the monstrous fifty-eight foot diameter Kennedy Tailing Wheels which are a one-of-a-kind creation. Although not built during the Gold Rush, these huge wooden wheels were a direct result of a Gold Rush event and are probably the most remembered artifacts of any visit to Jackson today.
Afterwards we drove the beautiful fall drive along China graveyard Road to see the new Dalton Road of the Jackson Rancheria and along Highway 88 to Mel's for ice cream. See November Photo Gallery
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 12:20 PM
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In October, the Argonaut A's took a tour to wineries in the Shenandoah Valley. We visited the Sobon Estate Winery, Charles Spinetta Winery and the Bray Winery. Several of us even made it to our ice cream social at Baskin Robbins in Martell. See Winery Photo Gallery
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 10:55 PM
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Glen built the Huxter Wagon that will continue to tour in the Argonaut A's. We will miss him. May peace be with you as you join the angels... 
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 8:51 PM
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posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:08 PM
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The Seminar in August was held in Sutter Creek in the incredible "Barn" of one of our members. It was a great hands on session to go thru the Model A and tweak the various systems that will help it run better. It was a very enlightening session, with instruction on
See Argonaut A's Photo Gallery
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 9:02 PM
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August 2006 - Working Model of the Kennedy Mine at the Amador County Museum
Our August meeting was held at Denny's followed by tour to Amador County Museum for a special demonstration of working model of the Kennedy mine.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 7:13 PM
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Underground Gold Mine Tour - July 2006
The underground gold mine tour was fun! Along the way three of the cars had trouble, but we took care of it by helping one another out.
This provided additional push for holding a car workshop in August!
After the mine tour event we took a jaunt in our Model A's to Baskin Robbins.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 2:22 AM
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Airport Appreciation Day in Martell, June 2006
The club is invited to attend airport appreciation day. Several members participate.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 1:29 AM
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May 2006 - Mystery Tour to Amador Flower Farm
We had fun on the mystery tour winding through the little historic towns from Jackson to the Amador Flower Farm. Along the way we had mysteries to solve until we arrived at the Flower Farm in the Shenandoah Valley. Along the way we went through Martell, Sutter Creek, Amador City, Drytown, Plymouth, and skirted by Fiddletown. It was 16 miles each way.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:51 PM
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December 2005
The Argonaut A's Chapter, Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA) was chartered in December 2005 with a meeting in Jackson at Perko's.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:09 PM
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Our theme was Vote for Herbert Hoover, A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage! Gas 15 cents a gallon... and the crowd roared!!!
See Argonaut A's Photo Gallery
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 12:05 AM
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June 2006 - Argonaut Gold Mine
The Argonaut A's held a BBQ at our namesake - the Argonaut gold mine in Jackson, California. The food was great, with tri-tips and potluck items galore. What a perfect setting for the vintage cars!
County Historian, Larry Cenetto spoke to us about the history of the gold mines in the county in the 1900's and the disaster that occured at the Argonaut mine. We held a raffle and Larry donated a copy of the History of Amador County.
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 11:18 PM
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Monthly Meetings ....
The Argonaut A's Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA) meets the 3rd Saturday of the month.
Our usual meetings are on the 3rd Saturday of the month at lunch at Colina de Oro Restaurant at 11:00 am in Plymouth. They are followed by a local tour.
Most of this year and last, the Argonaut A's have met at the same location in Plymouth, California followed by touring the backroads of Amador County to our final destinations.
In January 2010, we will go tour to home filled with automatic pieces of instruments. February we are planning a mystery tour. March a tour to a private gold mining museum.
The Argonaut A's are the MAFCA chapter in Amador County. Members often meet for ice cream afterwards or even between meetings!
Argonaut A's Mission
The purpose of the club is to unite owners of Model A Fords within the local community in a spirit of good fellowship and fun activities.
To serve as a means for exchanging ideas, information and parts for admirers of the Model A Ford automobile, and to aid them in their efforts to restore and preserve the car in it's original likeness and/ or spirit of the Model A.
Contact Information
For details on the next meeting, contact Argonaut A's at argonautas.ford@yahoo.com
The main purpose of the club is to have fun with Model A's, local tours and sharing of information.
ps We are a small chapter and do not want to be solicited. Thank you for understanding.
.... ahooga! See you soon!Links
Other Links of Interest MAFCA Listing of California Model A Clubs The controls below let you control the music playing in the background
posted by Argonaut As Ford Chapter @ 12:13 PM
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MISSION: The purpose of the club is to unite owners and admirers of Model A Ford’s within the local Amador County community in a spirit of good fellowship and fun activities.
Argonaut A's meets the 3rd Sat of month. In addition to website, the chapter has more photos linked to the photo gallery.
