Dredging for Gold

COLORIZED IMAGE

This is the Porter Brothers Corporation's electric Yuba dredge working the old mine tailings on Helena's north side. The dredging stretched from the N. P. Railway tracks north to what is now Faw Rd. (see illustration below). The dredge worked the flats from 1935-43, then again from 1945-50. During that time a reported 45,000 ounces of gold were recovered from the gravels. At 1939 gold prices, that works out to $1,575,000. That translates to $181,000,000 in the July 2026 market. Dredging stopped in 1943 due to the war-time restrictions on gold mining. When the ban was lifted in 1945, the Porter Brothers resumed operations, shutting down in 1950.

Dredge Toured by Royalty, 1939

Norwegian Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha toured America in 1939, making a stop in Helena. According to local newspaper accounts, the royal couple were quite interested in the operation of the Porter Brothers' dredge.

1955 Aerial Photo Overlay of Tailings
Showing the Extent of Dredging

A color view of the Porter Brothers dredge. Date unknown.

Shipped to Idaho

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