Weblog Commenting and Trackback by HaloScan.com The Barnyard: Weekend Rambler

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Weekend Rambler

There is gold in dem dere hills folks, the view from Pliocene Ridge in route to Alleghany and Forest City on a Motherlode foray.


There are few active mines left up here other than placer gold claims along the rivers and a couple of them are here in Alleghany home of the oldest active claims.
The 16-1 mine is over 80 years old, this isn't a photogenic town, lots of junked vehicles and junk everywhere.
The old Wells Fargo stage stop vault is all that's left.
The saloon was open for business though, time for a cold one.
An ancient 4x4 truck, any old truck enthusiasts out there that can identify it its make? I bet it has one heck of a granny gear, it is flathead powered and the engine is next to the driver.
The surviving general store of Forest City, like most the front was the store while the family lived in the back. Forest City boomed quick as it had rich deposits that were relatively easy to get to .
The dance hall bar suspended in time, left for eternity.
The dance hall itself and its collapsing facade, though it appears the Historical Society and E Clampus Vitus are trying to do some clean up and restoration here in Forest City, and it has a population of forty down from a population of over 1000 during the boom days.
Main street today, it was once lined with shops and saloons and no trees were visible in old photos, the town burned three different times but a few of the remaining houses are still lived in full time or used as hunting cabins.
A boulder miners used for drilling contests and a few drills, it is behind where the Brewery stood, apparently some of the best available, Prohibition never made it here.
Ye olde school house.
An assembled steam driven two stamp mill, the first one I have seen complete for the most part, it even had the old drive belts in place.
Of course all these towns had "Houses of Comfort" or ill repute if you prefer, the brothel marked by red painted stones on the front steps.
Of course it had a second story back entrance with a hillside trail for those wanting to be more discreet about their visits.
These towns are both deep in the foothills, a very rugged country of steep canyons, deep winter snows and perilous narrow shelf roads. Many investors refused to invest in these towns after being scared to death on the stage ride in, the roads were so dangerous, steep, slick, narrow, and perfect for ambushes from the guys in the black hats. There is still plenty of gold to be had up here if you have the gumption to look for it, the experts figure only 10- 20% has been recovered but there is no way to actually figure that out. There is no telling what these vast hills hold deep within their bowels.
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Dang, a sure sign I am getting old, Laurence Welk is on and I haven't changed the channel yet. I remember watching Hee Haw, LW, Gunsmoke and Bonanza at my Grandparents on Saturday nights when we were helping them with the farm as a child in the Deep South. Funny us true rednecks did not find Hee Haw insulting, even the California perspective of us, I can vouch that Ca. rednecks are just as stereo-typical as those of us from Dixie and cruising these backroads can have a "Deliverance" feel for sure as you are isolated in a big way. Stay tuned the adventure will continue...

10 comments:

Gayle said...

My first memories are of Allegheny, Goat! You sure are dredging up memories. I believe my father worked the 16-1, but it's been a long time and we moved when I was 6. I almost fell down a mine-shaft in Allegheny and was saved by a goose. No, I'm not kidding. His name was Alex, and my folks thanked him by killing him and eating him. I went to first grade in Allegheny under a tyrant of a teacher named Mrs. Wolf. She beat my left hand black and blue trying to force me to become right-handed, but it didn't work. I'm still left-handed. I still remember the pine trees sparkling in the snow and skiing on little skis my father made out of barrel staves.

Yes Sir, this post brought back a lot of long-ago memories. WOW!

Goat said...

Gayle, if you lived there as a small child that was not an easy life. I think only 50 people live their now and I doubt it has changed much since then. Alot of the junk does not appear to have moved in 60 years, tiny tiny kouses and ancient house trailers. I am sure it had far more people then when there were several operating mines within a few miles.
You would definately have used the Oregon creek covered bridge that first sparked some memories.

Goat said...

Forest City is about 7 miles from Alleghany on the other side of the ridge.

Gayle said...

Yes, I remember a covered bridge. I don't remember Forest City but only because I was so young. We did have a friend I called "Uncle Forest" though. :)

I don't remember it being a tough life, either, but I wasn't the breadwinner, thank goodness!

Gayle said...

Yes, I remember a covered bridge. I don't remember Forest City but only because I was so young. We did have a friend I called "Uncle Forest" though. :)

I don't remember it being a tough life, either, except for my poor goose, but I wasn't the breadwinner, thank goodness!

Goat said...

Yea, life at that age is usually fun and generally happy, I bet seeing your goose eaten for dinner was rough though.

Goat said...

The 16-1 has private tours $95 two person minimum and is still in operation, They have an interesting website as well.
http://www.origsix.com/index.asp

Gayle said...

ACK! $95 for a two person tour! That's outrageous! I used to give tours of a gold mine in Virginia City (actually the mine was down the south side of the mountain in what was called "Silver City" but there wasn't any city there) during my summer vacation back in 54. The price of admission was 50 cents.

There's a story behind that. Do you remember William Bendix of "The Life of Riley" fame? He had the same reputation for being cheap as Jack Benny. He argued with me about the price of entering the mine and would only pay me a quarter! I wouldn't let him in but he finally paid the entire 50 cents, grumbling the entire time. I didn't understand because I didn't have a television set, but other tourists were mumbling "that's William Bendix." It didn't mean anything to me and I was very angry with him. Then when I got home I told the story, and was informed who he was and that he was only "pulling my leg" and living up to his public image. How embarrassing that was. LOL!

Goat said...

$190 for a two person tour, proceeds go to the historical society. There are free self guided tours at other closed mines though.The 16-1 is a working mine so I am sure that has something to do with the high price and it is a three hour tour that takes you deep into the mine.

Trader Rick said...

Great Virtual Tour, Goat!