The North Star House

The North Star Mine located on Old Auburn Road in Grass Valley, encompassed over 700 acres of land and contained two main mine shafts, many operational buildings, stamp mills, and was a very active mine property from 1851-1956. On February 18, 1887, Mr. James Duncan Hague, a mining engineer and New York City financier, purchased the North Star Mine from Mr. Bourn for $245,450. The corporate headquarters, first in San Francisco was shortly moved to 22 William Street in New York City. Later as the mine became more successful and prosperous there was a need for a more suitable social center for entertaining eastern investors, other mining owners and managers, visitors from San Francisco, and the gentry of Grass Valley. James Hague commissioned the house. He also was in competition with the Bourns who had the Empire Mine Cottage designed by Willis Polk, renowned San Francisco Bay Area architect. It is believed that Julia Morgan, whose father was a mining engineer, was introduced to Hague by her mentor Phoebe Hearst, wife of mining prospector George Hearst, and mother of William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper magnate. The Hearst’s, James Hague, the Foote’s and most of the social and business leaders of Northern California belonged to the Pacific Union Club of San Francisco, where much of the networking of the day took place. Arthur and Mary Foote worked with Julia Morgan on the arts and crafts design of the house.