In about 1862, gold was discovered in Grimes Creek in what was then Washington Territory; later to become the 300 square mile Boise Basin mining district. It is claimed that more gold was eventually pulled out of the Boise Basin mines than from either the California or Klondike mines. Almost 3 million ounces of gold were produced in the district.

As it happened, the main route to the diggings was from the west. Miners from California, Oregon, and California, seeking the next promise of riches, would travel from Portland to Umatilla on the Columbia River, then overland (roughly along today’s US30/I-84) by stage or wagon – crossing into what is now Idaho near Weiser on the Snake River upriver from the treacherous Hells Canyon.

A mail route was soon established along the Idaho road with two stations along the 100 mile stretch between the Snake River and Placerville, the primary town at the time in the gold district.

The major mines played out long ago, mail routes have shifted, Placerville is a near ghost-town, and the stage and mail stations no longer exist – even the ruins have melted back into the land.

Except at this one location, these roses remain – leaving with them thoughts of those who once lived here and planted them.