Josephine County History, Hikes and Information: Historic Browntown

Historic Browntown, Josephine County, Oregon

A current hike through what was one of the richest areas on earth when it was first discovered.

Not much has changed since the 1800's, as far as the mining laws are concerned. The deserted valley looks peaceful, and lies quiet in the afternoon sun. Where once there were hundreds of gold miners, and the camp followers who preyed upon them for their own income, the silent ghosts of the past are but a memory of another era. Our files on this boomtown are thin. The pioneers who lived here are long gone and mostly forgotten.

Browntown was established in 1853 and named for Henry "Webfoot" Brown. Webfoot was most likely a reference to his being from Oregon, and our state's reputation for high rainfall. That's why the University of Oregon has football playing DUCKS.

Browntown was built on Althouse Creek which was named for the Althouse brothers who first discovered gold here. The importance of Browntown to the area must have been great, as it was host to a dozen stores, a hotel, an Opera House, blacksmith shops, several saloons, and the traditional houses of ill repute.

Closer to my heart was the fact they even had a Masonic Lodge. There were reported to be over a hundred cabins along this narrow gulch, and the Althouse trail led to Happy Camp California. Back then of course, no one could be sure of what state they were actually in. When tax collectors came representing California, they became Oregonians, and the Oregon tax boys were told to "get out of California."

The Althouse Creek flows quietly past as it journeys to join the Illinois River for their plunge to link-up with the mighty Rogue River in its rush to the Pacific Ocean, and freedom from the confines of the sheer canyons it has helped to carve through our beautiful Oregon Wilderness.

The old roads that we walk, are not those upon which Browntown was originally erected. Those have long since washed away. Gone are any signs of the golden past.

There was also another Browntown built by necessity, as it so often happened in these camps when the return started to diminish - The miners ended up mining away the entire town, and the buildings were torn down for the earth underneath them. The town was rebuilt in name only, but the miners realized that their wealth was fleeting and never again invested in permanent sites to chase their dreams.

The docile looking Althouse is a far cry from the raging torrents that arrive in the Spring.

It was really big news when the opera house went up! Can you imagine; a professional opera house in what even today seems like the "middle of nowhere", and having travelling entertainers drawing throngs of well-paying and appreciative customers.

The miners were said to have thrown gold coins, and nuggets on the stage for child star Lotta Crabtree, and she left with a small fortune.

Ten years later, she was said to have returned, but this time her act was highly patriotic, since it was in 1863, and the entire region was composed of Southern sympathizer's; she was not well received and quickly departed, never to return.

You can walk for miles in this rugged valley. It becomes even more impressive when you realize that not far from here , a seventeen pound gold nugget was found! That's right - 17 pounds of solid GOLD!

Looks a lot prettier now, doesn't it?

Over the years everything has been flooded, and years after Browntown achieved its' glory, a commercial venture dammed and flooded the valley, and dredged away everything. Now when we walk through the paths and roads, we are on and between rows of tailings; like small mountains of leftover rock.

The hike is scenic and quiet. Typical of the area; no planes, vehicles, or signs of anything other than the occasional deer, and myriads of birds, and the ever-present fish.

Keep in mind if you visit here that every inch of this area is subject to the mining laws. It is ALL off limits to the public for mining, panning, or even picking up rocks. This entire creek has Federal Mining Claims on it.

You may visit, but please pick up your trash, and leave it as you found it. We made our trip thanks to the President of the Waldo Mining District, and good friend: Tom Kitchar.

Just to stand here and realize that once there were miners all along the Althouse is a rewarding experience in itself.

Now, and then you can see signs of the early miners.

These trees were here through all the changes. Wish they could talk.

Nature's jigsaw on the magnificent forest giants.

Even our Schnauzers enjoyed the trip, but it seemed almost too quiet without their brother.

No, our dogs didn't do this. They said it was a Sasquatch.

The forest is full of trees that have witnessed the rise and fall of Browntown.

The forest is regenerating.

This is evidence of the hydraulic mining of the past.

The new and unimproved Browntown up ahead.

Tailings mark the way.

Winding up the Althouse Creek.

Scared the snake right out of his skin.

Old cables are in evidence all over the valley floor.

There is reportedly an old graveyard on the slopes above us. Adhering to their culture, the Chinese miners have long since been exhumed and returned to their ancestral homeland.