Adventures in history: The Old Redwood Stage Road of Oregon and California

Oregon's Gold Country

The 1856 Turnpike and Puncheon Road

This section of the tour takes you on a route that circumvents the valley through Bridgeview and Takilma before arriving at the site of Waldo, a mining town that was established during the Oregon gold rush. If you were making this trip in the late 1800s, you probably would not have followed this route but in 1918, this would have likely been the most well traveled route through the valley. These travel patterns can be observed on a 1918 topographic map of Illinois Valley, which indicates the old Turnpike and Puncheon Road (Cave Junction's Old Stage Road) to be lesser used than the road that went toward the farming and ranching communities of Bridgeview and Holland. In the vicinity of present-day Bridgeview, a moderately traveled road can be seen forking off toward the mining community of Takilma. This road follows closely the present day Takilma Road. Before reaching Takilma, the map shows another moderately traveled road that crossed the East Fork of the Illinois River where it merged with the old Turnpike and Puncheon Road just before entering the town of Waldo. This route follows closely the same as the present-day Waldo Road. These roads would have offered the smoothest and quickest ride across the valley for vehicles and auto stages heading toward Crescent City.

The tour begins at Sixth Street in the town of Kerby, located about two miles north of Cave Junction. Two large buildings are on the corners leading into this street.

SET YOUR ODOMETER TO ZERO

0.0 Highway 199 and O’Brien. SET YOUR ODOMETER TO ZERO then CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD: You will need to cross to the other side of Highway 199 to continue the tour on O'Brien Road. Traffic moves fast. Be extra watchful as you cross Highway 199.

Highway 199 was not constructed until 1922 so there would have been nothing special at this point if you were driving this road in 1918. There were a few residences scattered along the old Redwood Highway but there was no town. The most prominent feature next to the road would have been the O’Brien school.

0.9 Waldo Road. TURN RIGHT to continue on tour. You are now driving on on a section of the Jefferson State Byway.

1.1 Bridge – West Fork of the Illinois River. There was no bridge here in 1918 so the crossing would have been made through the river.

The mining town of Waldo as it may have appeared around 1880. The Esterly mines were located on the other side of the hill on the right. The tour route enters the town from the right on this side of the small house in the middle right background. 3.6 Waldo: Pull into the large turnout on the left. You are now parked approximately in the same location as the small white house that is standing by itself in the middle right background of the picture. Waldo was one of the first towns established in southwest Oregon and sprang into existence when gold was discovered in this area around 1852. It was later discovered that the town had been constructed on a gravel bed that was believed to have gold. In the early 1900s, gold mining had declined and Waldo was largely abandoned and deteriorating. The semi-abandoned town was purchased by a miner and the gravel bed was washed out from under it. Everything was destroyed and nothing of Waldo remains except the site where it was once located.

Esterly Mine near the mining town of Waldo. Powerful streams of water were directed toward river gravel and washed through a sluice box to remove the gold.

4.4 Look for the old water ditch on the left and right side of the road. This was used to bring water to the Llano del Oro Mine, one of the largest in Oregon history. Esterly Lake near the historic site Waldo, Oregon. These lakes formed when water filled the basins created by mining operations in the late 1800s. The mines, later known as the Esterly Mines, were located about a quarter of a mile to the left. The upper picture shows the Esterly Mine in the mid 1800's with giant water nozzles being used to excavate the gold-bearing gravel. The water for these "water guns" was brought to the mine by water ditches like the one next to the road. The Osgood Ditch (see mile 5.4 below) was another important water source for these hydraulic mining operations. This mine was later filled with water to create the Easterly Lakes (lower right). An interesting highlight of this site was the discovery of Spanish artifacts during the early years of mining operations.

4.5 Rockydale Road: Continue driving straight ahead to the right.

Rockydale Road follows the approximate route of the 1856 Turnpike and Puncheon Road between Crescent City and southwest Oregon, it crossed the river near present-day Cave Junction where the old route is marked by Old Stage Road.

5.4 Takilma Road: TURN LEFT to continue the tour. The Jefferson State Byway continues straight ahead.

The town of Takilma (located about a mile to the right) was originally established to provide supplies for this area's long mining history, which included gold, chrome, and copper from the Queen of Bronze and Cowboy mines located on Hope Mountain to the right of the intersection.

The Jefferson State Byway goes to Happy Camp Road with access to hiking trails into the Red Buttes Wilderness and Siskiyou Wilderness. The Elder Mountain Demo Forest Trail is about five miles up Happy Camp Road. The world famous treehouse bed and breakfast, "Out and About", is located about three miles to the right on Takilma Road. They offer tours and have other family oriented activities. Takilma Road also connects to Black Butte Road, one of the access routes to the Siskiyou Wilderness. The Osgood Mining Ditch Trail, a water ditch that played an important role in mining around Waldo, is about five miles from this intersection to the right.

9.9 Althouse Creek: There was no bridge in 1918 so travelers would have had to drive through the creek to continue on their trip. The upper watershed of Althouse Creek was one of Oregon's most important gold mining regions and is the location where Oregon's largest gold nugget was found. Gold mining continues on Althouse Creek today.

Illinois Valley Grange located in the community of Bridgeview near Cave Junction, Oregon. The building was originally a two story structure. The top floor was removed around 1957. 10.1 Holland Loop Road: TURN LEFT to continue the tour. The gray colored building seen just beyond the intersection to the right is the Illinois Valley Grange, established in 1907. It was originally a two story, white building and would have been a prominent feature of this agricultural community that travelers would have seen as they passed on their way to the coast. The second story of the building was removed around 1957. Note: There is a large blueberry farm at this intersection. Blueberries begin ripening around mid July and may continue bearing into mid August. You can stop and pick your own berries.

10.5 Sucker Creek Bridge: The 1918 map showed no bridge at this crossing so cars would have had to go through the creek as was the case with most other crossings at this time.

The upper watershed of Sucker Creek was one of largest mining districts in this region and some people credit it with being the site of the first gold discovery in Oregon history. Gold mining continues on Sucker Creek today.

10.8 Fort Briggs: A historical marker on the left tells you the Fort Briggs story. The two-story house behind the sign was constructed around 1910 and would have been one of the things seen by travelers as they passed this point. The turnout is located on a sharp turn in the road. Be extra vigilant for traffic if you decide to make this stop.

12.0 Highway 46: TURN LEFT to continue tour.

12.4 Laurel Road: TURN RIGHT to continue tour.

13.8 Laurel Cemetery: The original cemetery that was first established in Kerbyville had problems with flooding so the graves were relocated on a hill near the 1856 Turnpike and Puncheon Road. This became known as Laurel Cemetery.

14.3 Old Stage Road: This is the original route of the 1856 Turnpike and Puncheon Road (known locally as the McGrew Trail) constructed from Crescent City to Kerbyville and Jacksonville during the Oregon gold rush.

14.7 Highway 199: TURN RIGHT to continue the tour.

15.7 Holton Creek – The metal flue of the Kerby Ditch, a water line for Kerby, can be seen on the left under blackberry brambles. This water ditch would have had water flowing in it as travelers passed in 1918. Continue one mile to Laurel Road.

15.8 Finch Road: When Kerbyville was established in 1856, the main transportation route from Crescent City was a pack trail called the Cold Springs Mountain Trail that crossed the Illinois River and entered Kerbyville in this approximate location .

The site generally credited as being the first gold strike in Oregon history was Josephine Creek, located about three miles away on the other side of the hills to the right. Miners probably crossed the river at this point to get supplies in Kerbyville.

05.9 Kerbyville Museum: The Naucke House would have been one of the buildings that travelers on the old Redwood Highway would have seen in 1918.

16.0 Sixth Street – Kerbyville. Sixth Street is located between the Kerbyville Masonic Lodge and the Odd Fellows Lodge, both constructed in the early 1900s. These buildings are used by furniture makers with unique designs made from local wood. It is worth taking a minute or two to go inside and look around.

Welcome to the heart of the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon with Oregon Caves, wineries, botanical drives, Oregon State Parks, Wild and Scenic Illinois River, three wilderness areas, and dozens of hiking opportunities. More....

If you are continuing to Grants Pass and Interstate 5, you can pickup the Highway 199 Road Guide and follow it from this point to where Highway 199 ends at Interstate 5.

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...