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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW OSF project translating Bard into modern English stirs international debate ... Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Guest Opinion: Plaza fencing is ugly and wasteful ... OSF project translating Bard into modern English stirs international debate ... Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Guest Opinion: Plaza fencing is ugly and wasteful ... AS IT WAS As It Was: Jacksonville's Opp Mine struck it rich Comment By Craig Stillwell Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Craig Stillwell Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Sep. 30, 2015 at 5:21 PM By Craig Stillwell Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Sep. 30, 2015 at 5:21 PM » Social News It was said that Jacksonville mine owner John Opp put the “op” in “optimism.” But John Opp also saw “OPPortunity” in Southern Oregon. Impressed by a brief visit to the Rogue Valley in 1900, he abandoned plans to seek his fortune in Alaska and sent for his fiancée Rose to join him in Jacksonville, where they were married. Opp knew how to mine for gold, so he soon bought a mining operation from Jacksonville banker C.C. Beekman. The mine, located up Shively Gulch on Jackson Creek, did well for the first few years. John and Rose set up house at the mine and there raised three daughters, Gertrude, Julia, and Jean. The Opp Mining Company tunneled deep into the hillside, blasting and excavating tons of gold-bearing quartz ore, which was then crushed and processed in a large stamp mill. On May 20, 1905, the Opp mine hit a vein of gold that produced one of the largest strikes ever seen. Within weeks, two more large strikes followed. The total value was estimated at $19,500, about a half-million dollars in today's money. Proudly displayed at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland was a gold pan filled with nuggets from Jackson County’s suddenly famous Opp Mine. Source: Waldron, Sue, “Growing Up at the Opp Mine,” Table Rock Sentinel, March/April, 1992, pp. 12-15, 21-26. As It Was is a co-production of Jefferson Public Radio and the Southern Oregon Historical Society. As It Was stories are broadcast weekdays on Jefferson Public Radio and are available online at asitwas.org . By Craig Stillwell Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Craig Stillwell Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Sep. 30, 2015 at 5:21 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501