DAUNT, CALIFORNIA LABOR EXCHANGE SCRIP

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V26 2023 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 34, August 20, 2023, Article 17

DAUNT, CALIFORNIA LABOR EXCHANGE SCRIP

Dave Lewis writes:

"I have read your articles on Labor Exchange Scrip as well as the Steve Whitfield 2007 article including his list of known branches. I have not been able to purchase the Shafer book.

"Recently I purchased a Daunt, California 5/100ths note (Branch #209) and was fascinated by the Daunt (Springville) history. Do you have an updated list of the California branches and have you seen or heard of the Daunt Scrip?

"William Daunt built the store, bar and rest stop in the 1860's which was a favorite of the sheepmen, lumbermen and travelers in and out of the mountain area of California. The Daunt post office was established February 18, 1886. The Daunt store burned in 1897 and the Town's name was changed to Springville on January 24, 1911. Springville had a population of 967 in the 2020 census."

5 Hundredths Daunt, CA (Branch #209) Labor Exchange Units Obverse

5 Hundredths Daunt, CA (Branch #209) Labor Exchange Units Reverse

I was not familiar with this particular Labor Exchange scrip note. The 2013 book Panic Scrip of 1983, 1907 and 1914 by Neil Shafer and Tom Sheehan includes an Appendix by Steve Whitfield on the G. B. DeBernardi Labor Exchange Scrip of 1896-1905. I've got the book and can report that the Daunt issue is NOT listed - no branch 209 is recorded. Nice discovery piece.

Dave also passed along this short item about the Daunt brothers. Thanks! -Editor

'Bit of History' is brought to you by Jeff Edwards. All photos are from the collection of Jeff Edwards courtesy of the Edwards Gallery, 248 N. Main St., Porterville.

Travelers to the mountains generally stopped by Springville on the way. It was the survey of the east-side railroad in 1886 that spurred action in the hills. The Frazier Mill was built in Mountain Home and also the cattle industry got a boost. The Daunt family had a little store and bar in the Springville area and the chimney of the building can be found on the Museum grounds in Springville.

The four men shown above are the Daunt Brothers, who worked in the area and also in the store and bar. The town was originally named Daunt, but many people called it Springville after the soda spring by the Tule River. In 1911, a town near Ventura was also called Springville. That town gave up its claim to the name, and Daunt officially became Springville.

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE LABOR EXCHANGE NOTES OF GIOVANNI DEBERNARDI (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n51a15.html)
MORE ON LABOR EXCHANGE NOTES (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n52a12.html)
BOOK REVIEW: PANIC SCRIP OF 1893, 1907 AND 1914 (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n28a07.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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