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THE OXEN’S TALE #18 ~ The Jackson Gate
Frank Tortorich
Jackson Gate is on the north fork of Jackson Creek directly behind Teresa’s
Restaurant. It derives its name from a fissure in the rock where the creek
runs through. In 1849 a wagon road ran along side of the creek and then through
the fissure. This was a natural location to use as a gate to charge tolls. This
was the main road between Jackson and the mines to the north. The road continued
south through the main part of Jackson, then south on what is now Broadway, and
on to the southern mines. This was the predecessor to State Highway 49. In 1850
there were hundreds of miners with mining claims along the creek and around
Jackson Gate. The claims were small, 15 feet by 15 feet. If a miner built a tiny
cabin on his claim, he might find his front door becoming a giant step as the
adjacent mining claim owner might be digging right up the claim boundary or his
neighbor’s front door. One of the first establishments in the area was the
Chichizola Store in 1850. It was the official location to file mining claims.
The store is still there and a direct descendant lives in the home to the right
of the store. Take a drive out North Main Street in Jackson and think about
every square inch of ground being dug up for gold. If you wish to visit “The
Gate,” stop in at Teresa’s Place Restaurant to ask permission and get
directions. Or next time you attend an event in their banquet room, just look
out the window towards the creek.
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