Old Wauconda

Old Wauconda. . , The first Wauconda came into being after the three Hedge brothers, from Wauconda, IL, discovered a wide ledge of quartz carrying free gold in the Spring of 1896. This discovery touched off a headlong rush to the area as prospectors envisioned another Eureka Camp. By 1898, a considerable community had grown up with a wagon road connecting the property to Republic. Before long a general store, three crude hotels, four saloons and a handful of other businesses made it a thriving place. A stage running from Chesaw to Republic, twice a week, always rattled to a stop in Wauconda to disgorge passengers and pick up mail. The camp soon boasted a population of more than 300. A Post Office was opened by 1901 and Wauconda was finally on the map. , Four patented mines, the Oregonian and the Wauconda No. 1, 2, and 3, plus 18 unpatented mines were here. The bulk of the mining was done by the Wauconda Gold Mining Co from 1898 to 1904. Over 2,000 feet of crosscuts, adits and drifts were dug, plus a 60-ton stamp mill and a sampling mill were built at the main tunnel for the processing of ore. Numerous 50 pound samples gave values of $10 to $18 per ton with a 95% gold recovery. By 1904, however, the mine was showing signs of depletion. Soon it closed, sounding the death knell of the original town. But its inhabitants simply picked up and moved over the Pass, about two miles, to the present site of the Wauconda Hall.