JAKE JACKSON MUSEUM & HISTORY CENTER

This 13' x 20' reconstructed cabin stands in the South Park of the Museum. It was originally erected in Munger Gulch, north of Weaverville, on the ditch that supplied water to the world famous La Grange hydraulic mine. Society members dismantled the cabin in 1970. Each piece was labeled, stacked in units, banded and hauled to storage in Weaverville. In 1981-82 the cabin was rebuilt and furnished with the bare necessities of a ditch tender’s life. It is constructed from hand hewn Douglas fir logs and fastened together using dovetail joints. Dowel pins secure the top log, as well as the ends of the logs in the doors and windows. Nails were used only in the flooring, ceiling and door and window trim.

There were a number of similar cabins distributed at 4 to 5 mile intervals along the 29 miles of ditch and flume carrying water to the mine. The resident ditch tenders patrolled sections equidistant from either side of their cabin, removing debris and other obstructions that had fallen into the ditch - water must be kept flowing at all cost or the mine would have to shut down. The ditch itself was 6'-8' wide and 4' deep.

The Ditch Tender’s Cabin is open to visitors during regular museum hours. Gold panning tubs for use by the public stand outside the cabin, along with a drinking fountain and picnic tables