Just 2 more pictures... and then I promise to quit... Sheep Camp The last "city" before Chilkoot Pass (Dyea route). In April, Sheep Camp was booming. A Dyea newspaper reported that there was "scarcely an inch" of available ground in the area in which to camp, with "tents so thickly set as to prevent one passing between them in any instance." Tents and buildings stretched across the narrow valley, and estimates of the town's length varied from one to two miles. A newspaper reported that within the camp there existed "two drug stores, a hospital, fifteen hotels and restaurants, coffee stands and lodging houses too numerous to mention." It also had "two laundries, a bath house and several store houses, numerous small stores and many saloons." Jack London at Sheep Camp
"Canvas Town" – South Melbourne, Victoria. Temporary accommodation for the thousands who poured into Melbourne each week in the early 1850s during the Victorian gold rush.
Kanowna and The Sacred Nugget Kanowna was a mining town in Western Australia. Gold was first discovered there around 1894. "At its peak, it was home to some 12,000 people, 16 hotels, a hospital, railway station, race course, school, post office and 2 breweries. Kanowna is located about 20km (12.5 mi) east of Kalgoorlie, where gold is still mined today. By 1897 the town’s popularity began to wane. Around this time, local priest Father Long announced to the townfolk that he’d seen a huge gold nugget in the area. The Sacred Nugget, as it became known, is still the subject of mystery. It is said to be a hoax, suggested as a way to stop miners from moving on, but some [W.G. Manners] believed Father Long saw something." Citation in the link claims this is a crowd gathered to hear Father Long’s announcement Father Long in 1898 The town was abandoned by 1953. There is little trace of the settlement in the area today. . .
"The California Gold Rush that followed the 1848 discovery was the largest and most important event in the opening of the western frontier, and it set the stage for many more smaller rushes and booms throughout the west." Placer Miners at Spanish Flat, California 1852 "In the late 1850’s, the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in Colorado signaled the first major push into the Rocky Mountains. At about the same time, silver was discovered at the Comstock Lode in western Nevada. In California, Mining was beginning to wane after 10 years of frenzied mining and prospecting and the Comstock discovery resulted in an exodus of miners to the new district. The town of Virginia City would be built at the site of the Comstock lode, which would become one of the greatest ore deposits ever discovered." 1860’s view of Virginia City, Nevada
@Joe Riley Having lived in the same State, NV, as well as many trips on vacation, I have visited Virginia City many times. With two wives! The first one as we were driving northward towards the town, asked me to stop along the road. Growing up the hillside she had spotted BERRIES growing wild, in the middle of nowhere. They were ripe and delicious; she knew their name in German, I learned later they were Thimbleberries, looking like elongated Red Raspberries, somewhat similar to Loganberries. I probably remember too much. Frank
Years back I took some extra duty and did a graveyard security detail for an auction house with many old things, I found a book called Then and Now of pictures taken long ago and retaken in the same place now, I never forgot it, wish I had it. I really do like this kind of posts.
From my uncle he was a German soldier taken in WW2 and 1981 Rots close to Normandy of 12th SS HJ Div, the original turned out to be a historic picture he did not take the original but was in it in rear, he went back in 81 on a trip to relive some places while he still could do so, there is much info that went with this picture I have. Look closely as part of the original wall is still there
I have a friend that analyzes pictures for a Govt Agency for Nat Security he said looking for shadows is the key of you can if available what is there now that was not yesterday, the latest satellite imagery is amazing.
Andy Irvine - The Close Shave Come gather round you diggers all who work the goldfields rare It's of a trick was played on me and it's caused me to despair I came to town the other day me precious gold to trade And there I met a pretty maid who did me heart betray And her lips were red as roses and her eyes a deep sky blue Her hair was yellow as the gold she stole from me and you We went into a Public House and there we did imbibe Whiskey and strong porter and dreadful stuff beside 'T was then she asked me up to bed to which I did agree But truth to tell I fell asleep before she'd earned her fee When I awoke next morning no trousers could I find But scattered all around the room were women's clothes so fine Me jacket, shoes and gold was gone and all that's left behind Was a woman's dress, a yellow wig and a shaving kit, not mine Why did she need a wig, why did she need to shave? 'T was then the truth it struck me in a fit of blinding rage "Me pretty maid's a man!", I cried, and thanks be I fell asleep For I'd rather lose a bag of gold than wake up with that creep To venture in the street again I cautiously inclined I had a shave, put on the wig and wore the dress so fine And as I walked along the street a digger gave a wink And I thought of all the gold he had and I offered him a drink Now you may think it sinful, you may think it bold To take advantage of the lads who struggle for the gold It's easy putting on a dress and drinking whiskey neat But leave your shaving kit behind when they are fast asleep