GOLD TO GRAPES
In 1852, Jacksonville struck gold—literally and figuratively.
In 1852, Jacksonville struck gold—literally and figuratively. James Clugage and James Poole, two “packers” carrying supplies to the mining camps in Northern California, discovered gold on Jackson Creek, sparking a rush of thousands into Southern Oregon. The settlement, first called Table Rock City, was renamed Jacksonville in 1853.
Early miners worked streams with pans and sluices, later digging shafts often manned by Chinese laborers who formed Oregon’s first Chinatown. Hydraulic mining, introduced by Chinese labor boss, Gin Lin, transformed the industry, and Lin left with a fortune after the Chinese Exclusion Act.
As mining grew harder, agriculture became the lifeblood of the community. Government land claims encouraged settlers to farm grains, orchards, and vineyards. Photographer Peter Britt recognized the Rogue Valley’s ideal climate, experimenting with over 200 grape varietals and producing wines under his Valley View Vineyard label. His orchards of pears, peaches, and apples inspired the region’s thriving fruit industry.
The early 1900s “Orchard Boom” attracted settlers and investors, but over supply, frost, pests, and World War I ended the craze. Prohibition shuttered wine production until 1972, when Frank Wisnovsky revived Britt’s legacy with Valley View Winery, the Rogue Valley’s first bonded winery. Today, Jacksonville is the gateway to a nationally celebrated wine region, a town shaped by both gold and grapes.
Explore the Story of Gold to Grapes in Jacksonville, OR in Real Life
Jacksonville, Oregon is a walkable historic landmark. We encourage you to explore Jacksonville for yourself in real life. Below you'll find some links to real life experiences related to the story of "Gold to Grapes".
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Jacksonville Wine Trolley provides a hop-on, hop-off service (Fri-Sun) to roughly five Southern Oregon wineries with a $30 day pass, including free tastings and 10% discount on purchases at participating locations. Seasonal.Narrated History Trolley
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Historic Jacksonville Walkthrough History Tours: Free Saturday morning walking tours starting from the historic courthouse, exploring 19th-century buildings and stories of local pioneers. Tours leave from Courthouse Square (North 5th between C and D Streets) at 10 am every Saturday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Reservations are not required. For information, info@historicjacksonville.org or 541-245-3650.
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Historic Jacksonville Walkthrough History Tours: Free Saturday morning walking tours starting from the historic courthouse, exploring 19th-century buildings and stories of local pioneers. Tours leave from Courthouse Square (North 5th between C and D Streets) at 10 am every Saturday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Reservations are not required. For information, info@historicjacksonville.org or 541-245-3650.
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Live Entertainment: Listen to live artists in the Gold Room at the Jacksonville Inn, Bella Union Saloon, McCulley House Pub, Boontown Saloon, South Stage Winery, or Daisey Creek Winery, or grab a picnic and see renowned acts at the Britt Music & Arts Festival, which runs from June through September.
GOLD TO GRAPES
Virtual Tour of "Gold to Grapes" Display at the Jacksonville History Center in Oregon
GOLD TO GRAPES
Join Us on a Deep Dive Back in Time...
Gold Discovery
In February 1852, James Clugage and James Poole, two “packers” carrying supplies to the mining camps in Northern California spent a night with the Rogue Valley Indian agent. There they learned of his son’s discovery of gold on Jackson Creek the previous fall. The next day they did a little panning of their own and struck gold. After filing land claims, Clugage publicized their discovery. Within months, over 3,000 miners had rushed over the Siskiyou Mountains into Southern Oregon to stake out the latest “Rich Gulch.” Merchants and hangers-on soon followed. The early assemblage of tents and rustic cabins was originally called Table Rock City after the nearby land formations, but by 1853, the settlement was renamed Jacksonville.
Gold to Grapes
The history of Southern Oregon is often told through its gold mines, but the region’s greatest legacy may have emerged from the fertile valleys left in their wake. What began with a gold strike on Jackson Creek in 1852 sparked waves of settlement, agriculture, and entrepreneurship that transformed the Rogue Valley. From mining camps and homesteads to orchards and award-winning vineyards, this is the story of how a gold rush ultimately laid the groundwork for a thriving wine industry.
Gold Mining
Early mining focused on placer gold, surface gold washed into streams by rain and snow melt. Picks, shovels, gold pans, and sluice boxes were the initial tools of the trade. Surface efforts soon gave way to shafts and pits. The introduction of hydraulic mining allowed men to move massive amounts of earth. The later introduction of “stamp mills” provided a way to crush rock and extract valuable ore.
Chinese
Like others, Chinese laborers came to the U.S. in search of “Gold Mountain.” As mining became labor intensive, they were hired to do the hard work. Chinese workers created a small Chinese enclave in Jacksonville, creating Oregon’s first “Chinatown.” Laws prevented the Chinese from filing mining claims, but they could work for individuals owning claims and buy supposedly “played out” claims. Most workers were overseen by Chinese labor bosses, one of the most prominent of whom was Gin Lin. Lin is credited with introducing hydraulic mining to Southern Oregon. Lin himself owned a number of mines, amassing a fortune before returning to China in the late 1800s following the passage of the U.S.’s “Chinese Exclusion Act.”
Agriculture
As mining became more labor intensive, agriculture, fueled by “free” government donation land claims, became the mainstay of the local economy. Farms soon replaced mines as a source of economic security. Grains were the primary crops, but individuals also experimented with vineyards and orchards.
Orchard Boom
Peter Britt also planted orchards of pears, peaches, and apples. He experimented with various varietals as well, eventually planting species that would provide extended growing seasons. Taking their cue from Britt, other individuals planted their own orchards. In the early 1900s, the Medford Commercial Club, now the Chamber of Commerce, looked for ways to promote the town’s growth. They began a national campaign advertising the great advantages of the region’s orchard industry— “Anyone can plant fruit trees and make easy money.” Jacksonville also benefitted from the “hype,” attracting individuals like Frank TouVelle, Alfred Carpenter, and his wife, IBM heir Helen Bundy. The “Orchard Boom” continued until the mid-19-teens when, like other speculations, the hype couldn’t match the oversupply, and the inevitable “bust” occurred. World War I, blockades stopped the export market; insect blight, frost, and drought took care of the rest.
Early Viticulture
Although known primarily as the photographer who documented Southern Oregon life from the 1850s into the early 1900s, Peter Britt recognized the possibilities of the region’s Mediterranean climate. He experimented with over 200 varieties of American and European grapes and furnished vines for almost every vineyard in the Rogue River Valley. Britt’s records show that he made muscatel and zinfandel wines as well as a popular claret which he marketed under his Valley View Vineyard label. By 1880 he was producing 1,000 to 3,000 gallons of wine per year, eventually filling orders from as far away as Wyoming. During the early 1900s “Orchard Boom,” vineyards took a back seat to grapes. The anti-alcohol sentiments that blossomed after the Civil War also contributed to their decline. In 1912, Oregon took up the issue of prohibition in a statewide ballot initiative. On January 1, 1916, Oregon went dry, three years before the Volstead Act inaugurated nationwide prohibition, and the state’s early wine industry died.
Grapes—Today’s Gold
Although the area’s early wine industry may have died, it was not forgotten. In 1971, Frank Wisnovsky, a civil engineer who helped lay the underwater tubes in the Bay Area’s Rapid Transit System, started looking for a site to grow wine grapes, a quest that brought him to the Rogue Valley. From the archives of the Southern Oregon Historical Society, Wisnovsky learned of Peter Britt’s early experiments with grape varietals and his successful marketing of his Valley View wines. He purchased acreage in the Applegate Valley and in 1972 planted 12 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Gewürztraminer. Named in honor of Peter Britt, Wisnovsky’s Valley View Winery became the first bonded winery in the Rogue Valley since Prohibition. That was the beginning of what has now become a major regional industry. Oregon is now known for its micro-breweries and its wine industry—and Jackson County is emerging at the forefront of the latter! Boasting diverse terroir, multiple microclimates, and gold medal award winning wines, the Rogue Valley has been named by USA Today the second best wine region in the nation—and Jacksonville has become the major “gateway”!
Second Gold Rush
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Jacksonville experienced a second “Gold Rush.” There was still gold to be found locally. Instead of putting people on welfare, Jackson County gave out mining permits, allowing residents to dig for any residual gold. Some got lucky, but most latter-day miners only found enough gold to live from day to day. However, almost every inch of Jacksonville was “undermined.” To this day, “souvenir sink holes” periodically open over old mine shafts around town.
