Once served as a shipping center during the early gold rush days, gold dredging operations at the turn of the century left large gravel mounds west of town. Near Alder Ponds lie piles of processed rock, called windrows, as well as the dredge ponds from the operation of one of the largest dredges to be used in 1911. Two of Harry Plummer’s road agents were hanged near here in 1864. It’s estimated over $100 million dollars in gold was extracted from this area. Even today, visitors can pan for gold at Alder Gulch River of Gold. A few buildings remain, along with a few residents.