Old Bale Mill

No state plaque stands at this mill. Its three bronzes are the Native Sons' 1925 tablet, their 1988 rededication below it, and a Clampers plaque of 2000 on Dr. Bale by the parking area. The 1925 tablet calls the grant Carne Humana, Spanish for human flesh; the state park suggests the name may have begun with the Koliholmanok, a Wappo people. Bale paid the builders of this mill in pieces of his own rancho, then left for the gold fields and died in 1849. The 1850 census found his widow, Maria, holding 1,500 of the 17,000-odd acres.

What the plaque says

This historic grist mill, known as the "Bale Mill," was erected by Dr. E. T. Bale, grantee Carne Humana Rancho, in 1846. The mill with surrounding land was deeded to the Native Sons of the Golden West by Mrs. W. W. Lyman. Restored through the efforts of the Native Son Parlors of Napa County, under the leadership of Past Grand President Bismarck Bruck, a grandson of Dr. Bale, and by the Historic Landmarks Committee of the Native Sons of the Golden West. The restored mill was dedicated June 21, 1925. Tablet placed by Historic Landmarks Committee, Native Sons of the Golden West. Old Bale Mill Rededicated October 1, 1988 by Napa Valley Parlors and the Grand Parlor Native Sons of the Golden West Frank Compani, Grand President Dr. Edward Turner Bale Edward Bale sailed from England to California in the 1830s and settled in Monterey where he was named surgeon-in-chief of the Mexican army by General Mariano Vallejo. In 1839 he married Vallejo's niece, Maria Soberanes, and in 1841 was granted a large rancho in the upper Napa Valley. Cattle were raised for hides and tallow and wheat was planted along the river in this valley. Bale constructed a gristmill at this site to process the locally grown grain. He also built a sawmill on his rancho where logs were cut for the area's early frame buildings. He died in 1849 at the age of 38, leaving behind his wife and six young children. Dedicated April 15, 2000 Rededicated September 20, 2003 Sam Brannan 1004 E Clampus Vitus

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Schramsberg — 1.4 mi
• Charles Krug Winery — 2.0 mi
• Beringer Brothers Winery — 2.6 mi
• Site of Kelsey House, Calistoga — 3.6 mi