Merlin, OR

Taylor Creek - Grants Pass, Oregon

Taylor Creek is made for hiking, fishing, gold panning and hunting.

Located in the Siskiyou National Forest is some of the most beautiful scenery God ever created.

It can be reached by following the mighty Rogue River out of Merlin and cutting south on Briggs Creek Road.

There are miles and miles of hiking trails along Taylor Creek and they can be accessed by a host of trail-heads so that you can pretty much select the difficulty and length of your hike.

There are hundreds of beautiful waterfalls and tranquil ponds along Taylor Creek. This trip in late Fall is so peaceful, the colors are spectacular and the waters are low enough that the falls that are normally underwater are now all adding to the charm of Taylor Creek by creating sounds exaggerating their size.

Doing their best "Niagara" imitations, they funnel the waters through channels and chasms normally hidden from sight, and the sounds of rushing water are magnified by the close proximity of the creek walls.

Numerous gold mining claims are indicated by signs attached to trees along the miles of creek. Mining has been profitable in these valleys in Oregons' colorful past and just because you may not see a claim marker that doesn't mean the land is not claimed. Huge numbers of gold claims are on record for all of the rivers, streams and creeks in this area.

No one will keep you from traveling through a gold claim, but if you plan to do some "panning" make certain to check the public records before you go.

These trails along Taylor Creek go from "near the road" to so far down you can only see the sun for a half hour a day when it's directly overhead.

Continuing our Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" found us at the legendary Pottsville located in Merlin, OR.

This Father's Day weekend celebrated the 25th annual Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Inc. Branch 9 celebration.

Pottsville was established by Eugene "Debbs" Potts, former State Senator and Mayor of Grants Pass. It is the home of thousands of items from Oregon's history.

You will find tractors, steam engines, logging and mining equipment, a stagecoach and a group of old cars.

You couldn't begin to count the people here today. There were vehicles from many states and all parts of Oregon.

We had learned of this celebration through the Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program.

Over the years, I had head of Fordson Tractors, named for Henry Ford and his son Edsel; thus the "FORDSON."

This huge tractor was built in 1912, and was used a lot in the Dakota's and other vast farmland areas. It is steam powered and burns wood, and has water tanks on each side.

When wood was not available, they fed it the straw residue left from the threshing, and it burned vast amounts to keep it running.

This Portable Sawmill made short work of creating a huge square timber out of a rough log. With this, you could buy a piece of Oregon forest, and build your own cabin.

This amazing diesel engine weighs 56,000 pounds and was used in the 1930's to provide irrigation for Fresno, California.

The man pictured, bought it because he appreciated its' rarity and transported it to its' new home here in Pottsville.

Its' new job is to impress crowds and blow smoke rings. When it's running, the ground vibrates! It was very impressive!

There were tents all over the area selling all types of food and non-alcoholic beverages. We found a huge flea market selling everything from tractor parts to barbie dolls.

Exhibits from gold panning to rug weaving made for an event with interest to everyone.

We met some old timers who lived during the Great Depression, and how very difficult it was for those people is hard to fathom.

One gentleman entertained us with stories of life in the 30's; where they worked hard every day just to have enough to eat. At the last, he left one lingering warning. He said today's economy seems a lot like the Great Depression era, and that we're not out of this one yet. I hope he is wrong.

It was an enlightening experience. To realize how hard our previous generations had to work, we sure have it nice by comparison!

Please visit the Josephine County Historical Society's website for more information on the Passport To History program.

Below are the links to my earlier Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" blogs.

Introduction

Caveman

Schmidt House

Blind George's Newsstand

Grants Pass Historic Homes Tour

Historic District Tour

Grants Pass Pharmacy

Rogue Theatre

Hugo Community Church

Haines Apple Tree

Ament Dam

Grants Pass Cemeteries