Northeast Oregon’s Powder River is a small cool, quiet and refreshing stream, but not so long ago, it was a river under siege.
It’s a landscape where monstrous gold-dredging machines ravaged the river valley floor. Square-bowed and built of steel and wood and iron, three giant dredges lifted and sifted the terrain, reaping a golden harvest worth $12 million during the peak of the depression era.
Today, it is a park that holds on to history and takes visitors aboard to see and touch the past at the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area in Sumpter, Oregon.
Garrett Groth is an Oregon State Park Ranger and guides visitors aboard the dredge. He pointed out how the buckets moved like the chain links of a chainsaw, bored into the riverbank, and carried loose rock back into the dredge’s hulking interior:
“It would have been noisy – very noisy,” Groth said. “You could hear it all the way in Baker City which is about 20 miles as the crow flies.it would have been deafening out hear when it ran from 1935 to 1954.”
Stroll into the heart of the dredge – it’s big as a barn and filled with gears and belts, winches and pumps –where the rock passed through steel cylinders, separating rocks by size before water and sluices separated the gold from the dirt.
Groth adds they took out just 60 percent of the gold:
“The trammel only processed about three-quarters of an inch holes so all the big chunks that went thru the dredge got left in the back in the tailings – so all those tailings you drove by coming from baker city are littered with big chunks of gold.”
Nearly six miles away, a crowd is eager to experience the golden days of the Sumpter Valley Railroad that connects Sumpter with McEwen Depot.
Photos: Sumpter Railroad train robbery
When the train whistle blows near Sumpter, Oregon one thing’s for sure: adventure isn’t far behind!
“Last call! Train Number One to Sumpter departing in five minutes!” said railroad conductor, Jim Ross: “It’s a special run a special event – we’re running folks up to the dredge, close to 140, 150 people. So, it’s all good.”
Tourists have replaced the cattle and timber that were transported down the rail line a century ago. It’s a chance for folks to escape city hubbub for a slower pace and learn more about Baker County’s past.
“At its peak in 1910, it ran from Baker City to Prairie City and over three five- thousand-foot mountain ranges. The railway was very important to the economic development of Eastern Oregon and little Sumpter Valley tied it all together.
Today’s special run is also filled with adventure of a different sort.
Back to the 1890’s when another kind of character followed the line – it’s the great Sumpter Valley Train Robbery as a half dozen train robbers on horseback fire blank shots at the train guards.
“Now, don’t be reachin’ for no pistols. where’s the gold?” said one of the robbers.
This special event occurs throughout the seasons – the robbers and the train guards are all volunteers who like to give guests some extra excitement that’s allin fun.
“We’re an all-volunteer organization and just love doing this,” Conductor Ross said. “We meet all kinds of great people who come up here to ride – come from all over the state and the world. It’s really a pleasure to show off Eastern Oregon.”
If you would like to visit more of Oregon – consider a walk on the wild side with my latest book: “Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids.” You’ll find activities to engage any kid, from archery to clamming on the coast to hunting for thunder eggs to zip-lining through trees in an aerial adventure park.
In addition, be sure to check out “Grant’s Getaways Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon.” you will enjoy 48 uniquely Oregon adventures highlighting my fish and wildlife encounters. scores of colorful photos by “grant’s getaways” photographer, Jeff Kastner, show off some of our finest moments in the field. you can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon adventures in: "Grant's Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures."
