Articles from the Historical Society in Josephine County Oregon

Dry Diggings III - Placer Mining at the Dry Diggings in 1905

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today is a concrete structure that was constructed in 1911 to be used for electrical power but was never used. It is just a short walk to the dam site west of the manager's office at Tom Pearce Park.

If you are traveling to Rogue River on the old highway 99, turn left on Whispering Pines Lane and the dam site is between Whispering Pines and Gordon Way.

The Ament Dam, as the Golden Drift was more commonly named, was also the first irrigation dam of consequence from 1909 until it was removed just prior to the completion of the Savage Rapids Dam in November of 1921.

The next installment will be about the vital role the Ament Dam held in irrigating this end of the Rogue River Valley.

I would just like to mention in closing that Pierce Riffle, just below Savage Rapids dam was named for a homesteader by the name of Reuben Pierce and not Tom Pearce.

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- Guide to Lewis & Clark
• Sacagawea Dollar Coin
- Sacagawea Coins & Coin Sets

• Oregon Trail Games
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• Trail of Tears:
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• The Dominguez-Escalante Expeditions Journal:

Through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in 1776

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• The Gathering of Zion:
- The Story of the Mormon Trail

• National Geographic's Guide to:
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• Scenic Driving - Travel guides
- Scenic Driving in Utah

• Historical reading
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