Idaho Treasure Hunters

I found this story and just had to post it here in hopes that everyone who reads it will get a good laugh and have a brighter day because of it.  I know it really made my day.  

The story goes as follows: There's a lovely story (most likely apocryphal) about two London cockney treasure hunters, let's call 'em Bill and Charlie, who ventured into the grounds of one of England's more splendid Georgian country mansions, in the vain hope of gaining permission to hunt, while trying to project a good image for themselves, and the hobby.

Finding themselves on the manicured front lawn of the stately house, were immediately seized upon by a small terrier dog making several attacking and yapping passes at their trouser legs.  Amidst the commotion, an upstairs window opened.  It was the lady of the house, inquiring as to their business.

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Location of historical marker:  Idaho 11 – Milepost 28.6

Oro Fino City was the commercial center of Idaho's earliest gold camp in the great days of 1861.  It flourished here for more than a year.

Pierce City was only two miles away, but another town sprang up near some rich gold strikes.  In its first few weeks, Oro Fino City had "about 90 houses – more going up every day; nine or 10 stores, more saloons than are needed, two smith shops, two butcher shops, three families, and about 500 inhabitants."  But with the gold rush over, the place was abandoned.  The deserted town burned to the ground, August 10, 1867.

The picture was taken at the Orofino Fourth of July parade in 1900.  The mining camp Oro Fino was founded about forty miles north of the present city of Orofino.  In 1861 Oro Fino had six restaurants, two hotels, 20 whiskey shops, 10 gambling saloons, two bakeries, one watchmaker, one bookstore, one barbershop and three doctors' offices.

If you would like to see other postings regarding historical markers go to Idaho Historical Markers.

The Idaho Treasure Hunters Forum is now up and running!  Several categories and forums have been created with more to come as they are needed.  If you have a category or forum suggestion let us know.  We will consider your request and let you know if we add it to our site.

You must register at Idaho Treasure Hunters to comment or add a forum topic.  Every comment or topic created in the forum each month will earn you one entry in the monthly drawing.  You can still gain a daily entry by filling in your info on the "Contact Us" page, and five entries by finding the gold coin each day.

You can upload an Avatar, make friend requests, view our membership directory, and more, so make sure you register.  

I apologize that I am late in posting the winner for July in our monthly drawing.  I was in Utah all last week painting the exterior of a house and man was it hot.  It was in the mid 90's most days, but I think it may have gotten up to almost 100 degrees!.  You just can't paint with those temperatures; the paint gets really thick and hard to spray and doesn't stick properly to the surface.

We at Idaho Treasure Hunters are working on a forum and hope to have it up and running very soon.  I am getting help with the setup from my friend, neighbor, and fellow web guru Marc.  You will have to register to post in the forum, but the great news is that each post gets you one free entry in the monthly drawing for that month!  This is in addition to your normal daily entry and the five entries you can get daily by finding the gold coin.  For information on where the coin is hiding for August click on the drawing link in the navigation bar.  Another addition we are starting this month is any comments you make on posts from the last 30 days will also earn you another entry in our drawing.  That means many opportunities to win.

We didn't have as many entries last month in our drawing, so make sure you enter this month as often as you can.  Now, on to our winner. The winner in the July 2010 Idaho Treasure Hunters drawing is………  Timothy S. from New Bethlehem, PA.!  Timothy, please leave a comment on this post and send me an email with your two book choices and I will get them to you within 24 hours of you contacting me.  Timothy, you can also enter again for this month as well, so don't forget!

More posts coming this week, so stay tuned.  Make sure you have subscribed to keep up on posts, and register to be able to post comments and post in our upcoming forums.  Until then, happy hunting!

Location of historical marker:  Idaho 11 – Milepost 28.6

The famous gold rush days of Idaho began on September 30, 1860, when W.F. Bassett struck gold just about here.

E. D. Pierce, who knew the country, had let 12 prospectors, including Bassett, out from Walla Walla in August.  After news of the strike spread, about 60 men came in and wintered nearby in spite of snow and Indians.  Next spring the stampede was on and by that July this six-month-old county cast the largest vote in Washington Territory.