Gold Rush Days gets underway tomorrow on the Clear Fork River, courtesy of the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA). The event will be held Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1 at Swank West GPAA Gold Claim at the corner of Gatton Rocks and Cutnaw roads, just off State Route 97 between Bellville and Butler.
Admission is free and each day there will be gold prospecting demonstrations, entertainment, metal detecting, gold panning, food vendors, ducky races, and more.
But, okay, there may not actually be a “rush,” but it’s still a fun event, and who knows? Maybe the summer’s floods will have dislodged some new finds. According to a GPAA newsletter from several years ago, the Swank claim is known for burgundy colored garnets and fine flour gold. The claim also produced two quartz rocks with gold nuggets layered in them, one valued at $50,000.
“Everybody watches over each other and it is like a big family. We all want to help each other find something valuable,” said prospector Bill Hogsett.
He added, “I have been coming to this spot for 20 years searching for gold, gemstones, and garnets. Once you get gold fever, you cannot let it go.”
Hogsett and his wife, Theresa, travel across the country to take part in the events. “We get to play in the river for a few days and search for valuables. I like to collect some of the rocks and I also look for fossils. We have a lot of fun here and it is our favorite place that we have been to,” said Theresa Hogsett.
Bellville was part of an Ohio Gold Rush that occurred in 1853. Dr. James C. Lee came across gold while he was panning in Dead Man’s Run. Dr. Lee created a burst of excitement and drew a number of tourists to the village of Bellville in the search to discover gold.
But as a 1973 geological report reads, back in 1853, panning operations at one Bellville site produced as much as $1.50 worth of gold per day, “an indication of how futile the gold-mining operations in Richland County have been.”
But there’s just a chance someone may find a significant nugget.
Whether or not visitors try their hand at prospecting, the event provides an opportunity to get out-of-doors, discover a new hobby, or enjoy the food and entertainment.
The Buckeye Chapter of GPAA was founded in 1996. People from across the nation traveled to Ohio in hopes of finding gold. Panning for gold is not an easy hobby because it does require a great deal of hard work and skill.
“We use a gold pan and we place a classifier on top of the pan that works like a strainer. Once we’ve got the dirt and rubble in the pan we place it under water and shake the pan to loosen everything up. This can be a very long process,” said Hogsett. “I have found some gold over the years. Anyone can find gold; you just have to know the flow of the river because the gold will lock up in the pockets of the stream. It can be difficult to learn but once you fully understand it then you never forget it,” said Hogsett.
“We have been here for about a week. We have found some flour gold in the river. We just like coming here because it is a nice place to camp and the people here are very friendly,” said Calvin Heinbaugh of Pennsylania. “Flour gold” is fine pieces of gold that is found in the river.
“We just started doing this about two years ago. We just travel to this one because we love the camping area,” said David Crider of Pennsylvania. “This isn’t an overly expensive hobby, but it does take some determination and dedication,” said Hogsett.
