Qu'est-ce que c'est?: August 2014

A few years ago, I purchased some 1860s cartes-de-visite from eBay. My main attraction to them was the sour looks on the both young boys' faces. I later found out, after researching the names on the back of all the photographs, why the poor boys probably weren't very happy.

Martin Allhoff was born in 1827 in Prussia and emigrated to the United States at a young age. By 1849 he and his brother John had arrived in Coloma, among the first of the wave of gold seeking Argonauts to search for their fortune in California's newly discovered gold mines. They prospered, and soon Martin had enough money to buy a home and 35 acres of land a short distance southeast of Coloma's main thoroughfare.
In 1852, John and Martin returned to their home in Dayton, Ohio where Martin then married Louisa M. Weaver in the Emanuel Church. John stayed in Ohio, but Martin and his new bride returned to Martin's home in Coloma, where they had three sons: Joseph (1857-1897), Martin John, Jr. (1858-1942) and Charles (1863-1866).

By the time Martin had returned to Coloma, the gold was becoming more and more difficult to find and the Coloma valley was becoming known more for it's fruit growers than gold miners. Martin planted a vineyard on his property and went into the wine business. It was, for a time, one of the largest wineries in the state of California, producing a variety of wines, cordials and brandies which were sold primarily in the Comstock Lode towns near Virginia City, Nevada, and also into Utah.
In 1867, Martin's agent in Virginia City was arrested on tax and license violation charges, and their stock was confiscated. Martin immediately set out for Virginia City to see if he might be able to straighten out the issue, but he was quickly arrested himself, albeit on a minor charge. He worried obsessively that he might be sent to prison, and concerned about the disgrace that would bring to his family, he decided to commit suicide. Early one morning, he slit his throat and bled to death.
His body was transported back to Coloma and buried in the Protestant Cemetery (now simply called the Pioneer Cemetery) across the street from his vineyard property. About two years later, Louisa married Robert Chalmers, who continued to run the prosperous vineyard, and in 1878 built the now-famous Vineyard House.

Robert built his dream house on a hill overlooking Coloma in 1878 for Louise and the children. Their Victorian mansion had 4-stories, 19 rooms, 9 fireplaces with a large shaded porch that wrapped around the home.
Their mansion quickly became the place where the local wealthy and elite gathered and partied. Many of the guests had made their fortunes during the Gold Rush.
Former President Ulysses S. Grant visited the home where Chalmers announced proudly that he intended to run for the State Legislature. The Chalmers were happy and seemed to have it all but then disaster struck.
Robert started experiencing a loss of memory. Louise became concerned when he would say one thing and do another. He became short-tempered and scared Louise, the children and the household staff.
His odd behavior worsened. Every time a grave was dug in the cemetery across from the mansion Robert would cross the road and lay down in the freshly dug hole. He would be found with his arms crossed in the traditional manner.
Family and staff had to restrain him and forcefully take him home. As his behavior became more violent several of the staff threatened to quit. For the safety off all concerned Louise made a hard decision.
She had a cell with iron bars constructed in the basement of the mansion. Robert was then lured into this space and locked in. His mind was lost to madness. He spent his days moaning and banging his head against the bars.
He was fed and checked on everyday but there was little anyone could do to help him. He eventually lost his sight to the basement’s darkness. In the end, he became convinced that Louise was trying to poison him--he stopped eating and starved to death in 1881.
Louise died 32 years later in 1913. The mansion was then sold to a series of owners and quickly became run down.