North Star Foundation


  • Built in 1905 by North Star Mine. Built as Foote family residence and lodging for shareholders and board members

  • North Star House, 33 surrounding acres, plus 100 acres across Old Auburn Road acquired by A.B. Foote (son of A.D. Foote) in 1929 from Newmont Mining. Property given to A.D. (probably part of a severance package).

  • Foote family residence until 1968

  • In 1968, property and house purchased by Mansdorfer and used as a religious school. 

  • Some time in early 1970's the deed for the house and 33 acres was purchased by Terra Alta Development and leased back to Mansdorfer. 

  • Late 1970's religious school stops doing business, property and house integrated into Terra Alta's larger North Star property (~760 acres).

  • North Star property pending sale by Terra Alta (as of April 2003).

  • Buildings/structures on historic site: 18,000 sq. ft. North Star House; Designed by Julia Morgan, Hague House (approx. 4000 sq ft),  Assay Office (approx. 1000 sq ft), Gardner's Cottage (currently a private residence), ruins of North Star Cottage (burned), two stamp mill foundations, various smaller out building foundations.

  • Julia Morgan: 1894 - One of the first women to receive a baccalaureate degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, 1902 - first woman certified in architecture by the famed Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, 1904 - first woman certified in architecture by the State of California, designer of Hearst's San Simeon, creator of more than 700 buildings throughout the west, designer of the Arts & Crafts style North Star House; one of Morgan's earliest commissions.