I was lucky enough to stumble upon a few more photographs related to the vineyard house.  The following are pictures of Robert Chalmers, Louisa Allhoff/Chalmers and check out the high-res, worth the wait, image of the vineyard house at approximately 1900.  This is the only photo I have ever seen of the vineyard house which actually shows some of the grape vines which once covered many acres, also if you look close, you'll see the Marshall Monument in the background to the right.

 

Martin Allhoff / Martin Allhoff Jr.

Robert Chalmers / Louisa Weaver

A HISTORY OF THE COLOMA VINEYARD WINERY

AND COLOMA VINEYARD HOUSE 

Martin J. Allhoff

Sacramento, Calif., Oct. 26th-1933

A correct History of the once Celebrated Coloma Vineyard Winery

And Coloma Vineyard House

This winery at one time was numbered with the largest in the State and today nothing remains but the house – a photo of the house is attached to this report. 

The Winery, Distillery and Barn that at one time housed from 12 to 14 Horses used on the Vineyard and for hauling was torn down in 1883. 

The Cooperage including the 600 gallon capacity improved Johnson Still (copper) was sold to the California Winery at Sacramento, Calif. 

This Vineyard and Winery was started by my father Martin Allhoff in the early fifties and is located about one quarter of a mile southeat of the main town of Coloma: it adjoins the Marshall Monument which is on the west side. 

The three connecting buildings of the Winery were built on sloping land therby giving each of them a ground floor.   

On the first floor was the entrances to each of the Cellars or Vaults. 

The first and Second Cellars were built by my father Martin Allhoff in 1860 and 1866; both of these Cellars were built of Soft White Rock quarried at Granite Hill about two miles South of Coloma both of these two cellars were arched overhead with stone. 

These two Cellars contained Sixteen five hundred gallon casks made of Eastern Oak with manhole to each cask. 

The Third Cellar was built by Robert Chalmers in  1875.  The side walls and ends were built of Granite taken from the Old Coloma County Jail built in early days and afterwards torn down when the County Seat was removed to Placerville, Calif. In 1856. 

The laying of the corner stone to this cellar was duly celebrated by many prominent people or citizens of Coloma who made speeches suitable for this occasion, standing on the corner stone.  In this corner stone were deposited a bottle each of the different wine, Brandy & Cordials manufactured at this winery, also letters, papers & etc a number of old relics by Mr. Marshall (James Wilson Marshall, Discoverer of Gold).

Joining this cellar was the main business office and the Western union Telegraph Office.  On this floor bottles and Barrels were washed and made ready for use also Bottling room and when Labels were placed on each bottle, wagons were also loaded from this floor ready to be hauled to Shingle Springs and Auburn and placed on board the train two four horse teams  were always on hand to haul the Shipments.  The principle destinations of the Shipments were to Nevada and Utah.

The first floor of the Second building was used for a fermenting room.  It was equipped with a large Stove used only when necessary to complete the fermentation of wines when the weather turned cold and stopped the fermentation large puncheons and Barrels  were used in this room.

The third building the largest, contained the Hopper where wagons loaded with grapes would back in after bing weighed on How es Standard Scales which had a weighing capacity of ten tons the grapes would be unloaded on this Hopper where four men ready waiting to rub the berries from the stems, the berris falling through to a large roller were then crushed and from there the mash was transferred to the large fermentation vats and treated according to the kind of wine to be made.

This floor had twelve fermenting vats averaging in size from three hundred to twelve thousand gallons a two inch rubber hose was used to carry the wine down to the Cellars.  All wine and first and second water from the vats for distillation was run into a receiving tank nearby which was connected with the distillery by pipe.  The Still was one of Johnsons Improved (Copper) with a Six hundred gallon Boiler, the distillery was located about fifty yards north of the Winery.

This Winery was supplied with clear spring water and piped to all parts of the Winery. On the top of this building is a large Bell and was rang every day at 12 noon except Sundays and holidays Correct time was received every day over the Western Union Tel Wires and all inhabitance of the town could adjust their clocks to the correct time.  This Bell could be heard at Lotus two miles distance.

The Coloma Vineyard and Orchard consisted of about 160 acres and nearly every variety of grapes used for wine making was raised on this Vineyard  Many tons were bought from other growers and the quantity of grapes crushed each Season would average from fifty to one hundred tons.

The closing of this Winery cased many men to be out of employment one particular feature about this Winery was that during its existance not one employee had ever been discharged for drunkenness or being intoxicated during working hours.

(what remains of the winery & cellar)

The Coloma Vineyard House still in existence is a two story building all hand finished with granite and Brick foundation.  It was built by Robert Chalmers in 1879 at a cost of $15,000 furnished  The main building consisted of 18 Rooms Bath Room also Ball room 25 by 90 feet  Under the Ball was the dining room Kitchen, Pantry wood shed and Toilet.  The basement consisted of two large storerooms Bar or wine room and reading room this room was used as a Band Room where the Marshall Monument Brass and Reed Band organized with Joseph Reinhart from Georgia Slide as teacher.  Mr Reinhart led the first Coloma Band in the early fifties which played for the mock funeral held for Abraham Lincoln who was assassinated which president of the U. S. hundred of miners and citizens marched and took part in this parade.

The Coloma Vineyard House was noted for its excellent dinners and suppers served and all meals were strictly under the supervision of Mrs. Hardie (nee Allhoff) each year a Reunion was given and the very best of music was obtained for this occasion.  People from all parts of the county waited for the date of this Reunion.

The dance in the evening was crowded to its fullest capacity dancing being almost impossible owing to the dense crowd but all enjoyed themselves under the circumstances when all went home after the Ball was over remarking what a glorious time they had.

Marshall Monument

Unveiling

The names of the various kind of wines cordials and Brandies manuractured at this Winery are here given, viz

Wines Angelica, Burgundy, Sherry, Port, Green – Hungarian. Zinfindel Claret. Dry Muscat. Sweet – Muscat.  Catawba. Iabella. Tokay. Sauterne. Reisling. Cocomingo.

Cordials. Blackberry. Grape Brandy. Blackberry Brandy. Chalmers Catawba Wine Bitters. Orange Bitters.

Louisa M. Weaver was born at Millhousen France Nov 11th 1838 and was married to martin Allhoff in Dayton Ohio in 1852 and came with her husband to Coloma ElDorado Co California.  She died at San Jose Calif on Nove 18th 1913 and her remains were brought to Coloma by Martin J. Allhoff her son and Burried in the Allhoff plot beside her husband and children.  The funeral was conducted by the Rebeka Lodge of Placerville which she had been a long steady member.  In 1870 she married Robert Chalmers who died at Coloma Calif June 2nd 1880 and buried in the Chalmers plot.  They had 3 children.  Robert Jr. died Feby 24th 1873 – William Chalmers died April 13th 1876 both children were buried in the Chalmers plot at Coloma Calif.  Louisa B. Chalmers was born Feby 4th 1877 at Coloma Clif and died at the Lane Hospital San Francisco Calif July 13th 1900 at which place she was employed as a trained nurse  She was burried in the Allhoff plot in Coloma Calif beside her mother the funeral being conducted by the Rebeka Lodge of Placerville Calif which she had been a member of for many years.

Robert chalmers died June 2nd 1880 his brother George Chalmers who at that time was in business at Stockton calif and Louisa M. Chalmers wife of Robert chalmers were appointed Executor and Executrix of his Estate which was appraised at about forty eight thousand dollars but on account of litigation brought against the Estate by Hon Chas N. Fox attorney for Louisa M. Chalmers her name was withdrawn as Executrix of the Chalmers Estate, which left George Chalmers sole Executor of the Estate.  Many thousand gallons of wine, Brandies, Cordials and other liquors on hand had to be sold to satisfy the creditors, the principal place for the Sale of thse goods were to the regular customers.  In Nevada, and Utah when these goods were well advertised this required a Salesman which was attened to by George chalmers when business kept him from attending to this duty he was assisted by Martin J. Allhoff who had full charge of the winery and Shipping from Coloma Calif.

P.S. I had full charge of all parts of the business during Mr. Chalmers lifetime and assisted in closing up the Estate.