Oroville’s Hidden Gold: Ancient Temples, Antique Tools & Must-Try Eats Best of California

Hi, we're here in Orville, California. We're here at the Chinese Temple. I'm here with Gaylord who is our lead doset. Hi, Gaylord. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> What is this right here that we're looking at? >> I'm Pat Patterson and I love California. >> It's dated uh 1875. That's when it was manufactured in Foschan, China. Well, the purpose of the uh of the urn is to burn offerings and such. So, you could burn temple money, you could burn your fortunes here, you could burn incense and so forth. >> Well, let's go check out more inside. Okay. >> Tell me a little bit about this gorgeous, gorgeous place. Is it an active temple as well? >> Mainly, it's it's operating as a museum. >> And tell us about one of your favorite pieces in the museum. >> Oh, that's that's a tough one. You can you nobody has a single favorite piece, but I I I guess if I had to pick out some special thing, I would point to this uh inspiration board, boner board up here, this blue one. >> Oh, yes. >> Yes. Yes. It's this. It's the second oldest Chinese artifact in North America. >> And is it all handcarved, hand painted >> and made in China? >> Wow, that's amazing. That's That's a really good pick. That's a really good pick. >> Now, we're in the moon room. As you can see, the circular doorway in the back. >> Yeah, it's a beautiful doorway. Well, I keep talking to my dad how amazing this place is. If this place was in LA, there would be huge lines out the door. People would be making reservations to meditate in the courtyard. So, this is why you guys have to come check this place out. It really is worth the trip. [Music] How can some people get involved around the museum for volunteering? >> Well, we always hope that people that experience the the museum want to become volunteers, but there are applications and you just take them to city hall and it's a pretty easy process. >> Yeah. I I learned that if you go on the website, you just fill out an application. Uh they were even talking about how some people that have a gardening background can come and trim back the bamboo. Any little way that you can find to help, they're looking for it. [Music] Was all this donated from the Chan family or were there others? >> So, these donations came from all s different sources. There's a parade and sword here. >> And was it just people uh in the community, Chinese immigrants that just felt a need to donate parts of their family? >> It's not just the Chinese, it's it's people in general, >> of course. So, we were able to kind of get little pieces of history, everyone kind of banding together of all different backgrounds. >> Well, yeah, it uh it's a display room with various things uh with various topics. And so, uh you know, each case has an interesting little story to it. >> Amazing. >> Tell me a little bit about why the Chinese came to Orville. originally was the the discovery of gold. The Feather River was uh great deposit of of gold. The uh plaster gold was the the easy gold. This this is from the the original story. You can see all of the the uh uh herbal boxes. It's kind of hard to see, but on the box itself is a Chinese inscription. It's kind of vague, but if you open it up, you still have the >> No way. >> Herbal TE's in here. [Music] >> It must be really fulfilling to be a dosent. >> Well, yes, it is. It's It's enriching in various ways. one I I'm keeping myself active and and and making myself think and and and learn more >> and look into becoming a dosent in your community today. Does every dosent get that fabulous vest? >> Doesn't have my name on it, but it has my my my name on it. >> Can I check it out? >> Sure. >> Perfect. >> Okay. Thanks. Bye. This is [Music] >> food breaks in Orville. Not to be believed. Dessert. Laaflor de Mitua. Unbelievable new frontier of desserts for me. Pineapple fruits. All sorts of incredible things. Chamoya spiced delicacies. I love this hot sweets. So good. So good. We also had some great Thai food at Fu Noodle House. Armani, the family owner, many generations. Great place to eat locally here in Orville. So, I'm so excited. We're in Orville. We are at the Bolt Antique Tool Museum. I'm with David Dwey, local historian. And David, this is incredible. What's the beginning of this museum? a guy collecting tools in his garage and running out of room. Couldn't park the car in the garage. Wife said, "You got to do something." And and we're the beneficiaries. And the city was the beneficiary. Now, and and we were talking about like the fact that these are cataloged, numbered. They're all cataloged, numbered. You can see who made it. Well, let's check out the antique tool museum here in Olo. Let's go. So this guy does puns and one of the things throughout this interview I bet he puns me to death and it's hard to do cuz I'm kind of a punter too. >> It would be punishing started already. So Dave, what do you mean by the history of tools? Well, I'd like to tell the story about tools started out with a rock. A sharpened rock was the first tool man used the industrial revolution, the steam engine. Okay. >> Started everything up, >> right? >> And so the uh the theme for the tool museum there is the monkey wrench. >> Okay. >> And we have one here. >> Okay. >> 1935 monkey wrench. >> Wow. >> Uh kind of a strange name for a wrench, >> right? >> The early manufacturing centers and machine shops. They were all powered by one steam engine in the corner, then ran a belt over head. Right. Right. >> And then belts came down to the different machines. The kids that would climb up there to lubricate the bearings and adjust them, they called them the monkeys because they're clamoring around on the roof. So they became the monkey wrench. There's also the alligator wrench. And if you look at it here, you can see it looks like the mouth of an alligator. The automobile really started changing things. And one of the things they did is the automobile manufacturers got together and standardized tool sizes. So Dave, this is a sharpening device. >> Yeah. That you have a a stone here that that you can run around. >> Okay. There's different ways to hold it, >> right? >> Hold the tool against it. >> Wow. And and and Stilson Walworth 1869. And we were talking about wrenches that big or maybe locomotive and and used for railroad. >> Yeah. Oh my gosh. This is a replica built in about 1959. >> Okay. >> By the Bliss company. >> They're called Bliss Series. >> Mhm. >> And they made about 500 of them. >> So before all your stuff's in a museum, are you just a hoarder? >> Difference between a hoarder and a collection is is the collections organized. >> Cataloged and cataloged. At least that's my story and I stick to it. >> That's great. Come to the Bolt Museum here in Orville. Tool faded or not a tool fad. You are going to love what you see here. Okay, Dave. I'll be seeing you later. >> Be B. Get it? B. Yeah, I'm all a buzz with that. He's all a buzz with that. Let's go. Careful you don't get a bite from these teeth. Oh, but I saw it already. You know what time it is? Tooth hurting. Oh, that's a timely comment, I guess. Oh, so Dave, when you told me to meet you where all the planes were, I thought it was an airport. Well, you know, that's what I don't understand. Planes are supposed to be safe. Why do they call airports terminals? >> Oh, I hope you enjoyed that episode of Pat Patterson's Best of California. Tune in next time. I'm Pat Patterson and I love California.