One of my favorite tales from “Rumford Stories” goes something like this: One day back in 1939, one of two hermit-style brothers walked into Charlie Nemon’s auto salesroom. “I’d like to buy that car,” he said. “Do I have enough in this box to pay for it?”

The salesman answered, “You have enough gold in there to buy two cars!”

Swift River gold.

Of course sticker prices were a good deal lower in those days, so never mind heading for the East Branch of Swift River for enough gold to buy your next vehicle. But you might get enough to make a little jewelry.

Byron jeweler Rosey Susbury was able to buy enough gold, maybe eight grains, to set in a clear locket and hang on a gold chain. She won’t reveal her source because someone else might find “The Panning Place” on the Swift.

At a special town meeting Jan. 3, 29 residents (there are 121 altogether) approved the Byron Board of Selectmen’s proposed purchase of the legendary nine acres of Coos Canyon so that it can be a protected public area.

Coos Canyon, like Whitecap’s summit, has been owned by a paper mill. The state has – and, it is hoped, will continue to do so – maintained the site that is beloved by generations of swimmers and picnickers, and gold miners.

But “$10,000 is a lot for a little town to spend,” said Patty Duguay, so she volunteered to organize a fundraising effort. After just two weeks, Patty was optimistic.

Outright gifts are welcome, of course, but the fun is in the raffle. You might win an oil painting by Olga Miller; or a weekend at Coos Cabin Campground or Coos Canyon Cottages. You just might win the necklace crafted by Rosey Susbury.

If I were to win one of the weekends, I might try my hand at panning for gold. “Every summer, hundreds of people from all over the world” do just that, Susbury said recently.

Coos Canyon is one precious asset – pure gold, you might say – of the many we treasure here in the River Valley region. The people of Byron (named after the poet) acting wisely and swiftly: They must raise as much of the $10,000 as possible by Feb. 28.

Help if you can. Checks should be made out and sent to the town of Byron. Buy raffle tickets there, or at the Healthy Communities office on River Street in Rumford, the Mexico Town Office, the NewPage paper mill, Roberts Chiropractor, or at Jerry Cohen’s office.

Go for the gold!

Linda Farr Macgregor lives with her husband, Jim, in Rumford. She is a freelance writer and the author of “Rumford Stories.”