2021 Humbug "Kevin Gallegos"
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E Clampus Vitus began in West Virginia in about 1844, started by a man named Ephraim Bee. The main theme of ECV was to have fun and to "take in" new members who had the same sense of humor possessed by Ephraim Bee. By 1850, ECV had landed in California's Gold Country. By 1853, nearly every camp had a chapter. In some camps, it was short lived, in others it survived longer. Anyone could become a member. One of the goals of the order was to take care of the "widders" and orphans of miners who had been maimed or killed in the mines. By the 1890's mining was on the decline throughout California, and so was ECV. In 1931, it was revived by Carl Wheat, George Ezra Dane, and Leon Whitsell. They kept the rituals that were used in the old mining camps. Ultimately, nearly every California historian of note was a member. Today, ECV is charged with preserving history by building monuments to people, places, and things. Dedicated September 11, 2021 E Clampus Vitus Grub Gulch Chapter 41-49
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