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ELKO COUNTY
GHOST TOWNS
O through Z
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"Old Heart of Nevada: Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Elko County, Nevada."
O
OASIS
Oasis was first settled by E.C. Hardy, who raised horses, in the early 1880s. Oasis also became a popular stopping off point for travelers. A gas station, small motel, and now an RV park have served. In July, 1947, the Oasis Hotel and Casino opened and was owned by Sam Tooley. The ranch is still in operation today as is the RV Park, gas station, and small store.
OLA
Ola, located five miles west of Wendover, is a signal station and siding on the Western Pacific Railroad. Ola was established in 1910 and is still used today. The original signal station shack still stands at the site.
O'NEIL
While O'Neil was a specific location for a post office, the name generally refers to the entire area covered by the O'Neil Basin. The O'Neil's first came to Elko County in the mid-1880s after having been essentially run out of White Pine County because of their "odd" ranching practices. The entire family, including the women, were so intimidating and dangerous, that juries and judges continually acquitted the O'Neils of rustling, brand alteration, and even the attempted murder of a constable. Nobody wanted to stand in their way and make an enemy of the clan. They were ruthless and hired many gunmen to protect their range. There was absolutely no tolerance of anyone trespassing throughout the O'Neil Basin. But gradually, the O'Neils began to change and eventually became highly respected ranchers. When cattle and sheep prices dropped dramatically in the early 1920s, it spelled doom for the O'Neil empire. A school opened in 1932 near the old Helsley Ranch and was in operation for a number of years. The O'Neil Basin continues to be a prominent ranching area and numerous pre-1900 buildings are left on the scattered ranches in the basin.
OSINO
Osino came into being as a side-track station for the Central Pacific Railroad in 1869, and later served as a stop and signal station for the Southern Pacific Railroad. During the 1880s, a small settlement developed, mainly due to the formation of the Arthur Lowe and Company cattle partnership. In November, 1901, the few residents were excited when a telephone line to Osino was completed from Elko. The original ranch house, built in 1882, still stands at Osino.
OWYHEE (Duck Valley)(Number One Settlement) Photos
The name Owyhee was given to the area by two Hawaiians who worked with the Hudson Bay Company. The name was the original phoenetic spelling of Hawaii before being corrupted by white settlers. Before Owyhee became the home of the Western Shoshone and Northern Paiutes, Owyhee Meadows had served as a stop on Hill Beachy's Elko-Idaho Toll Road beginning in 1869. The oddessey of the Western Shoshone placement at Owyhee was a long-drawn out affair marred by terrible hardships. The Shoshones, or Newe, had signed the Ruby Valley Treaty of Peace and Friendship on October 1, 1863. The treaty was officially ratified on June 26, 1866. However, little was done to accomodate their needs and efforts to find a place to relocate the tribe were minimal at best. Exposure to diseases carried by the whites proved devastating and the government showed no interest in improving conditions. As early as 1870, the tribe had requested Duck Valley be established as their new home. It took another seven years before President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the order on April 16, 1877. Once the reservation was established, the town of Owyhee began to form. The town was made the end terminus for the daily Owyhee Stage Company. During the 1880s, the Northern Paiutes, under Chief Paddy Cap, were added to the reservation. During the 1920s, prominent Elko County attorney Milton Badt discovered that the government had not been paying the $5,000 a year promised by the Ruby Valley Treaty. Some money had been paid in the early years but was given to white overseers who neglected to dispense it to the Indians. The Shoshones and Paiutes refused to draw an annuity from the government and always have considered themselves very independent. They dealt directly with horse and cattle buyers, were very seldom cheated, and were greatly respected for their livestock raising abilities. The completion of the Wildhorse Dam in 1937, greatly helped the reservation, not only because of the additional irrigation water but also because of income generated by recreation. The reservoir has always been operated for the benefit of the reservation, although attempts have been made in recent years to wrest control of the reservoir from the reservation. Today, Owyhee has a population of about 1,200 and continues to be a thriving agriculture-based community.
P
PATSVILLE
Patsville came into being as a result of the boom at nearby Rio Tinto in 1932. The small town was named for Pat Maloney, who with Madge Clark, ran a sporting house and dance hall. During the 1930s and 1940s, Patsville had a drug store, service station and garage, boardinghouse, saloons and a red light district. Many miners also had homes in Patsville. The population remained about 50 for most of the town's history. Once the Rio Tinto boom had collapsed in 1947, Patsville began a quick slide into oblivion. A number of buildings still stand at Patsville.
PEQUOP Photos
Pequop, located west of Toano, was first a side-track station on the Central Pacific Railroad and later on the Southern Pacific Railroad. A couple of buildings were built to house section crews. The station was located high in the mountains and snowplows were constantly needed to keep the tracks clear. However, the prominence of the new diesel engines lessened the need for Pequop. By the end of the 1940s, only a couple of railroad workers were assigned to Pequop. All of the buildings are long gone and only foundations and scattered debris are left. The old railbed of the Central Pacific Railroad is easily visible, coming in at almost a right angle to the new Southern Pacific tracks.
PHALAN STATION
Phalan Station was a stop on the Cherry Creek Road beginning in the 1880s. The station was established by John Phalan, a former miner at Cherry Creek, who bought the ranch from Eddie Lichlyter. The Wells-Cherry Creek stageline ran for many years and was extended to Ely in the 1890s. However, once interest in Cherry Creek and Ely faded, Phalan sold out and moved away. The Phalan Creek Ranch is still in operation today although not much remains from the early days.
PIERPOINT STATION
Pierpoint Station, located south of Mountain City, was a short-lived stop on the Elko and Idaho Tollroad. In 1870, it also served as the northern terminus for the Johnson Tollroad, which ran to Bruno City and ended at Friend's Station. However, once the Elko and Idaho Tollroad ceased operations, the station was abandoned. Subsequent stage lines didn't use the station. Nothing remains at the site.
PIE STATION (Pie Creek)(Milk Station)
Pie Station, or Milk Station as it was first called, was a stop on Hill Beachey's Elk-Idaho toll road beginning in 1869. The station was run by a German baker who had a sign out front with "Piecake" on it. Gradually the station became known as Pie Station. Once the Beachy line had folded, the station was abandoned. The station was reestablished by J.H. Weiland in 1897 to serve the Gold Creek stageline. The station was permanently abandoned in 1907. Well-weathered, low adobe-type walls are all that is left of Pie Station. A horse barn located a short distance away is of more recent origin.
PILOT (Pilot Peak)(Pilot Peak Mining District)
Pilot Peak served as a landmark for emigrants crossing the salt flats of Utah on their way to California. The peak was named by John C. Fremont in 1845, a few years after the first emigrant group, the Bartleson-Bidwell Party, came through in 1841. The first mine on Pilot Peak was the Pilot Peak Mine, owned by F.H. Darling. In July, 1878, Walter Brown made some small silver discoveries and organized the Pilot Peak Mining District. With the completion of the Western Pacific Railroad, a stop and signal station named Pilot came into being. A couple of buildings were constructed to house the section crew and their families. The Pilot station was fazed out in the 1920s and the section crew was moved elsewhere. The buildings were dismantled for use at other stations on the railroad. Today, not much is left at the various sites. At Pilot, on the railroad, only a couple of concrete foundations and scattered debris marks the site. Not much except for small ore dumps and collapsed workings are left at the mines, located up Miners Canyon. Evidence of the California Trail still exists nearby. Wagon ruts and rust marks on the rocks show sections of the trail which was currently being marked by members of the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA).
PROCTOR
Proctor first received notice in 1872 when small discoveries made by Frank Proctor led to the formation of the Proctor Mining district. However, after a small rush to the area, the mines were abandoned when the small veins ran out. When the Western Pacific Railroad was completed through the area in 1909, Proctor became a stop and signal station for the railroad. The Arnold Loop was completed in 1914 and Proctor was abandoned. At the same time, interest in mining faded completely. Only mine dumps are left and nothing remains at the Proctor station.
R
RACINE MINING DISTRICT (Superior Mining District)
The district was first worked during the spring of 1872 and was named Racine after the town in Wisconsin. However, by 1875, the district was abandoned. A last try was made in 1881 when the Stella Mine was worked. Apparently, however, the mine must have run out of paying ore because that is the last mention of any mining activity in the area. After visiting the site, it was apparent that the limited mining that took place definitely ended in the 1870s. Only small ore dumps mark the site and there is no evidence that anyone has tried to renew mining there.
RASID
Rasid serves both the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads as a signal station and is located about four miles northeast of Halleck.
RED POINT
Red Point, located between Herrell and Shores, served as a stop and signal station on the Oregon Short Line, run by the Union Pacific Railroad, beginning in 1925. It was so named by Archie Bowman after the prominent red formation located on an adjacent hill. Because of its location, Red Point received heavy use as a cattle shipping point. When the Oregon Short Line curtailed its operations in 1978, the buildings and tracks at Red Point were removed. Today, concrete foundations and wood rubble mark the site.
REED STATION (Stewart Station)(Willow Creek Station) Photos
Henry Reed purchased the Willow Creek Ranch in 1879. Beginning in 1875, Willow Creek Station was established to serve Smith Van Dreillan's Elko to Tuscarora stageline as a meal and overnight stop. However, Dinner Station received the lionshare of the business. After Van Dreillan folded his line, Reed Station continued to be a stop for other subsequent stagelines. It was also the main shipping point for years for all supplies heading to the mines on Lone Mountain, located only a couple of miles away. Reed died in 1906 and soon after the ranch and station were bought by Robert Stewart and his half-brother, John Carter. At the time, the stage was still running to Tuscarora. However, with the emergence of the automobile, the station was used less and less until it was no longer needed. Over the past 40 years, Reed Station has seen many different owners and it continues to be an active ranch today. However, most of the buildings on the ranch are of a more modern vintage and only a couple are from the early days of Reed Station.
RIO TINTO Photos
Rio Tinto was one of the last true boom towns in Nevada and it was all due to the dogged determination of one man, Samuel Franklyn Hunt. In 1919, Hunt found some traces of copper a few miles south of Mountain City. In 1931, Hunt's constant promotion of his mine at Rio Tinto finally paid off when Ogden Chase became interested. Hunt and Chase formed the Rio Tinto Copper Company. The announcement of the strike created a rush to the area, reviving the nearby town of Mountain City, and creating two towns, Rio Tinto and Patsville, located a mile below Rio Tinto. At Rio Tinto, a large group of tents and shacks were thrown up. The Mountain City Copper Company began production in earnest in 1935 when almost eight million pounds of copper were produced. 1937 was Rio Tinto's best with more than 33 million pounds mined with a value of $4 million. At the time, 340 men were on the company payroll and the mine and mill operated around the clock. Actual mining stopped in the spring of 1947. The remaining 60 workers were stunned when the mill was shut down in September, 1947. The town of Rio Tinto emptied quickly. Most of the buildings were bought and moved to Elko, Carlin, and Mountain City. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, a leaching operation yielded another 7.7 million pounds of copper but didn't revive the town. Today, Rio Tinto is still a fascinating place to visit. A few of the small family homes still remain. Foundations of the many houses and apartment buildings that were moved show the layout of the town. The most impressive ruins of the town are those of the concrete school. Just above the town are the huge remains of the mill. Rio Tinto exudes the true essence of a ghost town and is a must for any ghost town enthusiast.
RIVERSIDE
Riverside, located near the present-day Boies Ranch, served as a siding and depot for the Oregon Short Line from 1925 to 1978. During the construction of the railroad line, a small temporary town was built at Riverside to accomodate the construction crews. Once the line was completed, those buildings were removed. Only concrete foundations remain.
ROWLAND (Buesta)(Diamond A)
While a number of ranches were homesteaded in the Rowland area during the 1880s, the small ranching community didn't really form until the 1890s. The name Bueasta was a conglomeration of the names of three local ranchers: Frank Buschaizzo, Lou Eastman, and Joe Taylor. During the Gold Creek rush, the Mountain Home-Gold Creek stage ran through the Taylor Ranch. A sawmill was also active during the 1890s. For many years, Rowland served local residents and travelers with a post office, store, assay office, and saloon. In 1918, Scott built a new rock store which became the main supplier of groceries, clothing, and farm supplies for the area. The Bruneau Gold Mining Company was incorporated. The three-stamp, 20-ton amalgamation mill was completed soon after. The mine itself had over 700' of workings. In August, 1927, the Bruneau mine and mill closed because of a lack of funds. Both the mill and mine were operated intermittenly until 1939 when all mining ended for good. Rowland once again became solely a ranching community. Over the years, the many smaller ranches that made up the Rowland area have been purchased and consolidated into larger ranches. At "old" Rowland, a number of buildings from the early years remain, including ruins of Scott's stone store and saloon. The old schoolhouse is used as a storage building. The ruins of the mill are located at "new" Rowland, to the south. While an official cemetery was never organized, a small graveyard is located at the old Scott Ranch, near an old orchard.
RUBY
Ruby is a siding on the Western Pacific Railroad and is located at the north end of Clover Valley. At times, since the railroad was built in 1910, the siding has been used to ship cattle and other perishable goods from Clover Valley. The corrals built at the siding are now gone.
RUBY CITY (Lurline)(Fairplay)
While the promotional town of Ruby City didn't come into being until 1913, the area did have an earlier historical distinction. On February 7, 1879, the Fairplay post officeopened in the area at the ranch of C.W. Grover, Jr. Grover's ranch also served as a stop on the Ruby Valley Stage run by Kelly and McCain. Ruby City began to develop in 1912 when a group of Utah land promoters purchased 5,000 acres. Within a year, 70 tent homes had been erected at Ruby City. During 1914, a 10' wide, five-mile long canal was built to bring water for irrigation and populace to Ruby City. It was never used. Dry years prevented any water from ever reaching the town. Despite this, a large hotel was also built. By 1915, the town contained a hotel, two schools, store, blacksmith shop, and a Mormon Church. Without adequate water, the planned dry farming community couldn't develop. By 1918, almost all residents had left. Not much remains at Ruby City. Very few permanent structures besides the hotel were built. All were either moved or torn down. Scattered debris, foundations, and the still faintly visible roads are all that is left.
RUBY VALLEY Photos
The first white to traverse the valley was Jedediah Smith in 1827. Later, the Hastings Cutoff from the California Trail came through the valley. This was the path of the ill-fated Donner Party in 1846. The establishment of Fort Ruby, just over the county line in White Pine County, in 1862 led to the settlement of the valley. The first place settled was the Overland Ranch. During the 1860s, many new homesteaders took up land in Ruby Valley and most of them were soldiers from Fort Ruby, who received land as part of their severance pay. By 1870, there were 53 people living in the valley. The next year, the number had increased by 100. Electricity finally came to Ruby Valley in 1916 but it wasn't until 1960 when the Wells Rural Electric Company installed lines that everyone had easy access to power. The last old business in the valley, the Rock House Bar, has now closed. During the 1960s, Ruby Valley had some celebrity ranch owners. Joel McCrea and "Wild" Bill Elliot both bought ranches in the valley. Ranching is still the life-blood of Ruby Valley. The fertile and beautiful valley continues to be a prosperous area. Ruby Valley is a spectacular place to visit, not only for the history but the scenery as well. Old buildings of stone, brick, and wood, abound throughout the valley. There are at least five cemeteries in the valley, at Cave Creek, Gardner Ranch, Wright Ranch, upper Ruby Valley, and at the Mormon church. Other family plots exist on some of the older ranches.
RYNDON
Ryndon first served as a grading camp during the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad in 1869. Later, a siding was added by the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1902, the Southern Pacific established Ryndon as a construction camp during the digging of the Ryndon tunnel. The camp was a wild and dangerous place. Ryndon quickly earned the reputation as one of the most lawless towns in Nevada. Shootings and knifings were common place. In 1923, Guy Aguirre was hired as foreman for Ryndon. When Aguirre retired in 1967, the railroad part of Ryndon closed for good. While nothing is left of the Ryndon camp, there are many new homes in the area that were built during the recent Elko boom.
S
SAGE
Sage is a siding on the Western Pacific Railroad and is located between Shafter and Spruce. Only concrete foundations of the old water tank are left.
SAN JACINTO Photos
San Jacinto was one of the many ranches that were part of the huge ranching empire of Governor John Sparks and Jasper Harrell. A school was started in 1903 with teacher Edith Plumb. The ranch was sold to the Vineyard Land and Stock Company in 1908. The Utah Construction Company then took over in 1914. Homes for company officials and bunkhouses for the men were built. In April, 1916, the Shoshone-Hailey-Twin Falls and Wells Auto Stage began running and had a stop at San Jacinto. In 1925, the Oregon Short Line was completed and set up a stop and siding just east of the ranch. The ranch is still in operation today. Old buildings are intermixed with the new. Not much is left at the railroad siding, most having been removed when the tracks were torn up in 1978.
SCHLEY
Schley was a post office that was located on the Tom Short Ranch in north Ruby Valley. The ranch stayed in the Short family, under Bill Short's ownership, until 1941 when he died. The old two-story brick house and rock barn still stand at the ranch.
SHAFTER (Bews) Photos
Bews was established as a siding for the Nevada Northern Railway in 1906. During April, 1906, a railroad construction camp was organized and contained 150 Greeks and Italians. Bews was renamed Shafter when the Western Pacific Railroad reached here in September, 1907. As the Western Pacific neared Shafter, numerous lots were sold in the town. The Western Pacific began regular operations on November 9, 1908. A community of about 40 resided at Shafter for years. Both railroads maintained sections crews and small depots at Shafter. All businesses closed in 1957 and Shafter was basically abandoned after that. Until a few years ago, a couple of buildings still stood at Shafter but have since been dismantled. Only numerous concrete foundations now mark the site. A small cemetery is located nearby. The new Western Pacific Railroad bed now covers over the abandoned Nevada Northern Railway rails.
SHERMAN (Walther's) Photos
Valentine Walther and his wife, Sophie, homesteaded along Sherman Creek in January, 1876. Sherman served as a stop on the stageline heading south to Hamilton for many years. The Walthers provided meals and overnight lodging. Walther had one of the best orchards in Nevada and raised cherries, plums, apricots, and apples. In 1902, Walther and Nick Scott began building a huge two-story log home, made of 18" logs. The structure was and is one of the most impressive ever built in Elko County. The ranch is still active although the old two story log house was moved to Elko in the late 1990s to serve as an office for the chamber of commerce. The original log school house still stands as do a few other old buildings. Sherman is located behind a private gate. Please don't enter without prior permission.
SHORE
Shore, located between Hubbard and Red Point, was a stop and signal station on the Oregon Short Line, run by the Union Pacific Railroad. The stop was named for George Shore, a local rancher. The stop is sometimes erroneously listed as Shores. Only concrete foundations of the water tower and signal shack mark the site.
SILVER ZONE
The pass at Silver Zone was part of the Hastings Cutoff of the California Trail. The Donner Party passed through in 1846 on the way to their unfortunate destiny in the Sierras. Signs of the trail are still visible in the area. The name Silver Zone came about after Major Robert Goldman discovered silver in May, 1872. During the summer, a small boom camp formed and Moffitt and Gassett began running a stage and freight line from Toano. However, the boom went bust by the next summer and the camp was empty by fall. It wasn't until 1907 that Silver Zone revived. The construction of the Western Pacific Railroad led to a work camp being organized. When construction of the railroad was completed in the area, the camp was disbanded and Silver Zone became a siding and housed a section crew. Silver Zone Pass is the highest point on the Western Pacific between San Francisco and Salt Lake City at 5875'. While trains still rumble through Silver Zone Pass, there is little left except concrete ruins at the railroad siding. At the old mines, a few signs of the short-lived boom camp are left.
SIXTEEN MILE STATION
Sixteen Mile Station, then known as Dorsey Station, was briefly used as a stop on Hill Beachey's Elko-Idaho tollroad during 1869 and 1870. Later, in 1875, Smith Van Dreillen started the Elko to Tuscarora stageline. The station was renamed Sixteen Mile because of its distance from Elko. The station was established as a meal and overnight stop. However, a new route over Adobe Summit led to a virtual abandonment of the old route that included Sixteen Mile Station except for some freight traffic. With the arrival of the automobile, Sixteen Mile Station became used less and less and finally was abandoned. The station caught fire and was destoyed in December, 1928, but the building had not been occupied for years. Only scattered debris and a faint foundation mark the site.
SONAR
Sonar, a signal station on the Western Pacific Railroad, is located between Tobar and Ventosa. Nothing was ever built at Sonar.
SOUTH FORK (Shepherd's Station)(Coral Hill) Photos
The South Fork area was first settled in 1867. George Shepherd organized the Denver-Shepherd tollroad, which ran to Hamilton, in the fall of 1868. The road, also known as the Elko-Hamilton road, was the first tollroad built in eastern Nevada. His station was the first overnight stop south of Elko. Shepherd's toll road fell victim to the vicious stage wars that occured during the 1870s. Not one to give up, Shepherd opened a new tollroad from Elko to Bullion in 1870. In April, 1885, all of Elko County mourned when George Shepherd died. Over the years, while memories of Shepherd's Station have faded, the area has continued to be the home of many ranches. With the completion of the South Fork Dam, the area is now a popular recreation area. Not much remains at Shepherd's Station except some foundations and scattered debris.
SPANISH RANCH
The Spanish Ranch was established in 1871 by Pedro and Bernardo Altube. The brothers were Basques who had come to Independence Valley after initially ranching in California. Pedro was 6'8" tall and was called Palo Alto, "Tall Pine," by his vaqueros. Palo Alto, California, where he had a large ranch, was named in his honor. By the 1880s, the Spanish Ranch was one of the largest and most prosperous in Elko County. Around the turn of the century, the Altubes son, Jules, took over the management of the ranch. Jules Altube continued to own the horse ranch until 1918 when he sold out. The rich history of the Altube family in Elko County was over. In 1913, the Union Land and Cattle Company was organized and added the Spanish Ranch to their vast holdings. The Union Land and Cattle Company went bankrupt in 1925 and the Spanish Ranch division was bought by John G. Taylor and E.P. Ellison. Old buildings still at the ranch include the cookhouse, originally a drugstore in Tuscarora; the original blacksmith shop, and the main ranch house. The Ellison Ranching Company continues to operate the ranch and many other ranches in the area.
SPRUCE MOUNTAIN (Sprucemont)(Spruce)(Hickneytown)(Black Forest)(Latham)(Jasper)(Steptoe)(Johnson)(Killie) Photos
Spruce Mountain, located in southern Elko County, has been the scene of mining activity since 1869. During those years, small communities named Sprucemont, Spruce, Hickneytown, Black Forest, Latham, Jasper, Steptoe, Johnson, and Killie came to life and then died. These camps stretched for over six miles, from the west to east slope of Spruce Mountain. The area has had a fascinating history and is one of the most intriguing historical sites in Elko County. Spruce Mountain's illustrious history began in 1869 with the discovery of the Latham, later Killie, Mine by W. B. Latham. By 1870, close to 100 men were working mines and claims around Spruce Mountain. Three separate mining districts were organized: Latham, Johnson and Steptoe. Two separate camps formed; Sprucemont on the west slope and a company town at the Starr King property on the east slope. By 1872, the town of Sprucemont had grown to almost 200. On the other side of the mountain, the company town at the Starr King continued to grow. About 150 people made it their home. However, a miners strike in 1875 led to a virtual abandonment of Spruce Mountain. By the end of the year, only 50 people were left. From 1875 to 1880, mainly assessment work and exploration were done. The first real spark of new life came in April, 1880. At the time, seven businesses were still active but the district's population had shrunk to 50. The Milo Mine was discovered and began producing $75 per ton ore. The Milo Mining Company was formed and F.B. Beach was named superintendent. The company constructed a small 15-ton furnace in August. This was the beginning of a strong revival. Other small mines began to attract outside interest. The Harrell controlled Starr King Mining Company kept Jasper growing. By March, Jasper had reached its peak population of 175. By June, 1887, Spruce Mountain had 200 miners and five saloons to serve the thirsty men. However, by the end of 1888, the mines began to fail as ore veins thinned and faded. The smelter in Jasper shut down in 1889 and by the end of summer, all mining had stopped. When the Starr King company folded in 1890, Spruce Mountain entered an extended period of very low activity. Mostly insignificant production occurred until 1899 when the Monarch Mining Company was organized. This signalled the beginning of Spruce Mountain's longest period of sustained activity. The financial panic of 1907 had a devastating impact on companies active in the district. From 1926 to 1928, seven mines produced over $400,000. A number of new companies entered the district in 1929. Much exploration and organization of new companies took place in the early 1930s. While all this activity was going on, businesses were operating at Black Forest, Sprucemont, and Monarch. However, Sprucemont was dying. Most mining was taking place on the east side of Spruce Mountain at the Black Forest and Bullshead Mines. The biggest year of production ever on Spruce Mountain was in 1945, when almost $300,000 was mined. From 1944 to 1948, close to $900,000 was produced. Spruce Mountain mines had produced every year from 1899 to 1952. Since 1961, absolutely no production has occurred. Total production from mining on Spruce Mountain was $2.9 million. Today, Spruce Mountain is a fascinating place to visit. At Sprucemont, the old log post office is the only building standing. However, many dugouts, foundations and rubble clearly show the layout of the town. The meticulously built stone foundations of Spruce Mountain's first smelter are located just to the north. Just east of Sprucemont is a small complex of buildings built by the owners of the Ada H. Mine. About two miles further east are the remains at the Monarch Mine. There are at least a dozen buildings in various stages of decay. Buildings from the 1890s struggle to stand next to structures from the 1940s. This situation is quite unusual in ghost towns. Cement foundations and ruins of the smelter are located at the mouth of the still accessible Monarch Mine. Another mile east, on top of Killie Pass, are the remains of the Killie (Latham) Mine. During the 1920s, the camp had a half dozen buildings. This is where the original discoveries on Spruce Mountain were made. While only scraps of wood and brick mark the camp's site, a number of log structures built before the turn of the century still remain nearby. Between Killie and Black Forest, one mile east heading down Black Forest Canyon, are the only remains of the tramway. The line was sold for scrap and dismantled except for one transom which still stands. Black Forest has much to offer. A number of buildings, including the post office/boardinghouse, remain. However, sometime between June and September of 1993, most of that building collapsed. Two mining buildings remain. One housed a small smelter and the other still contains original equipment used to pump water out and fresh air into the mine. About a half mile past the mine are another group of frame buildings. This was the main Black Forest camp. The frame building that still stands, barely, housed the mining offices. A boardinghouse is located adjacent. Across the road are the cement foundations of the school. A number of other ruins of family dwellings are evident. Another mile east is Jasper. A number of buildings are scattered along the quarter mile townsite. Most are miners quarters built during the Bullshead operations in the teens and twenties. A couple pre-turn of the century cabins still stand. Foundations of two smelters are visible and the metal stack of the Bullshead smelter remains. At the Bullshead Mine, located high up in the adjacent canyon to the south, are extensive mining ruins. A couple stone ruins from the 1870s remain amid rubble from later buildings. The last signs of operations at Spruce Mountain are located a couple miles east of Jasper at the edge of a valley. Only slag heaps and one wall mark the site of the smelter Charles Spence built in 1916. Besides the buildings and townsites, there are a multitude of mines, headframes, ore chutes, and dumps. With so much to see, Spruce Mountain provides the best opportunity in Elko County to view a hundred years of history with the old side by side with new.
STAMPEDE STATION
Stampede Station was used as a horse-changing stop on the Tuscarora to Carlin road during the 1870s. Its exact location is unknown except that it was located near a good flowing spring along the west side of Lone Mountain. The facility was used for a time as a drop off point for supplies heading to the miners scattered around Lone Mountain.
STOFIEL (Butlers)(Wildhorse)
Stofiel was named for Walter Stofiel, who first came to the area in the 1870s and became involved with mining at Island Mountain with Emmanuel Penrod, one of the original locators of the Comstock Lode. With the boom in Gold Creek, the Stofiel stop became an important shipping point for supplies heading to the camp. In 1897, Henry Van Dreillan began running a stageline from Elko to Gold Creek. The stage station was run by the Butler family until it outlived its usefulness in the late teens. The construction of the Wildhorse Dam in 1936 brought many workers to the area. The dam was completed in January, 1937, and was dedicated on September 6. Besides providing irrigation water for ranchers and farmers, the reservoir became an instant recreation spot. A couple of businesses opened near the reservoir. Even today, Wildhorse Reservoir continues to be a mecca for recreationists and sportsmen. A store and gas station are located nearby.
SUMMER CAMP Photos
Summer Camp, located between Melandco and Harrell, was a stop and signal station on the Oregon Shortline from 1925 to 1978. The stop was used to ship cattle. Only concrete foundations of the small depot and water tower remain.
SWALES MOUNTAIN
Copper and zinc were discovered on Swales Mountain by C.D. McNeill in August, 1912. He built a 25-ton concentrator but met with limited success and gave up by 1915. New mines weren't discovered until March, 1927. However, once again, success was limited and activity died within two years. Little was produced, however. Since then, the only production has been some from the Edgar Tourquoise Mine in 1973 and barite from the Longshot Mine. Because of the limited scope of mining on Swales Mountain, little is left. The most extensive workings are at the High Top claims.
T
TAYLORS
Taylors was named in honor of early settler, Taylor Postlethwaite. It was a initially a stop on the Van Dreillan stage. During the Cornucopia boom of the early 1870s, a new stageline joined the Tuscarora stageline at Taylors. The DeFrees Mill, built in 1875 and which treated ore from the Tuscarora mines, was located at Taylors. The old DeFrees Mill was dismantled to be used to build a boardinghouse and bunkhouse next to the power plant. Today, a bar and cabins cater to locals and sportsmen. The remains of the DeFrees Mill are located to the east of the cabins
TECOMA Photos
Tecoma was born with the arrival of the Central Pacific Railroad in 1869. A town, with a small Chinatown, began to form during the next few years. By 1880, Tecoma had a population of 60. By 1900, Tecoma had a population of 124. A big boost for Tecoma came in 1907 when the Southern Pacific Railroad built a spur from Tecoma to Buel. However, Tecoma started to fade quickly during the 1920s. Mining slowed down and Montello was becoming the main rail station in the area. The completion of the Oregon Shortline in 1925 was another crippling blow. Until that time, Tecoma had been the main freight shipping point for Contact. By 1930, most of the town's residents had left and all of the businesses had closed. The railroad spur, which hadn't been used in years, was officially abandoned in January, 1940. Over the years, the remaining buildings were dismantled for materials or moved elsewhere. Numerous concrete foundations and scattered debris mark the site. A small cemetery is located nearby.
TELEPHONE MINING DISTRICT
The Telephone Mining District was located at the head of California Creek, north of Island Mountain. The district was organized during the summer of 1885. The district was bounded by the Hick's District on the north, and Allegheny Creek on the south. McDonald build a couple of cabins at the mine and moved his family there. However, his high hopes were never realized and the mine only produced small amounts before being abandoned in 1890. Only small dumps and a collapsed shaft are left at the Telephone Mine.
TEN MILE STATION
Ten Mile Station was established as a stop on the Elko-Hamilton road, or Gilson Turnpike, in 1869. The station was located on the south bank of Ten Mile Creek. For many years, the station and ranch were run by George Clayton. During the 1890s, John Yowell took over the ranch and station. During the 1920s, the old Ten Mile Station was used as a speakeasy run by Evelyn "Little Eva" Mason. Prohibition agents closed down the operation in 1929. A ranch is still in operation at the station site today. A couple old stone buildings are left on the ranch.
TIOGA
Tioga, located south of Loray, served as a signal station on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The name Tioga is Iroquois for "at the forks."
TOANO Photos
Toano was established as a stop on the Central Pacific Railroad during late 1868. The new camp quickly achieved prominents of being the place that Central Pacific Railroad president Leland Stanford put together the special train, headed by the engine Jupiter, to attend the golden spike ceremony at Promontory, Utah, in May, 1869. Toano was made the western terminus of the Salt Lake Division of the Central Pacific. A town quickly formed and became the major freighting and staging center in Elko County, even outdoing Elko for a while. The name Toano was Shoshone for black topped or black coated, which the nearby mountains appeared to be. By 1870, Toano had a population of 117. While Toano had a population of 123 in 1880, the bottom was already beginning to drop out of the stage and freight market. The completion of the Oregon Shortline in the Snake River area in 1884 ended all of the stage traffic heading to Idaho. The town was forced to rely on the dwindling business heading south for survival. However, the future of Toano was doomed. The Lucin cutoff was completed in 1904 and Toano was abandoned as a terminal point. The few left in 1906 all moved to the new town of Cobre, a mile to the east, on the newly completed Nevada Northern Railway. The town of Toano was dead by the summer of 1906. Many of the town's buildings were moved, with the businesses, to Cobre. What structures that remained in Toano were razed when the Southern Pacific rebuilt the tracks around Toano and added a second set of rails. Today, while no buildings are left, there is plenty of evidence of the town. Huge stone foundations of the Marx store and the hotel are located in the center of many other foundations. Broken glass from the mutlitude of saloons is everywhere. A cemetery of more than 30 graves is located on the hill above town although vandalism and occasional couldbursts have left only a few with legible markers. All of those are of young children.
TOBAR Photos
In 1908, Tobar was initially established as a construction camp for the Western Pacific Railroad. A substantial depot was built and a small town began to form. While Tobar was basically a railroad town, a new scheme actually brought Tobar to prominence. Tobar became the center of a planned dry farming community. By 1911, enough attention had been attracted to Tobar that there were about 75 people and 20 dwellings in the town and surrounding area. Tobar, besides becoming a dry farming area, also became the main shipping point for ore from mines at Warm Creek and Spruce Mountain, and produce from Clover Valley. During 1913, the Tobar settlement really took off. The population of the Tobar area was 500 and 400 were living on farms. Three thousand acres had been cultivated but droughts that began in 1915 doomed any future that the Tobar farms had. By 1916, Tobar began to decline. By the end of 1917, virtually all of the dry farms had been abandoned. By the end of the 1920s, only the station, school, the Clover Valley Store, and post office were open in Tobar. There were, however, many abandoned homes and businesses, including the old real estate office. During the 1930s, what was left of Tobar was used primarily by railroad workers and their families. One by one, the buildings were sold and moved. By 1950, only the water tower, depot, ore loading chute, cattle pens, and sectionhouses were left. In 1952, all of the remaining railroad buildings were sold and moved. The Tobar Depot was moved to Battle Creek where it served as a boardinghouse for a mining operation. Today at Tobar, extensive foundations and collapsed cellars show the layout of the once bustling town. Not much else is left. About one mile south of town are the concrete walls of one of the larger homesteads from the teens. There are a few other smaller homestead ruins scattered on the flat below the Tobar townsite.
TOLLER'S STATION
Toller's Station was the first stop out of Elko on the Gilson Turnpike, a tollroad, established in 1869. It was located near the present junction of the Lamoille Highway and the Jiggs Road. The station was the entrance to the toll road and fees were collected by proprietor George Toller. Once the tollroad became a public road, the need for the station ended and it was abandoned by the mid-1870s. Nothing is left at the site today.
TONKA
Tonka now serves as a signal station for the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads and is located where the two railroads join just east of Carlin. Tonka came into being during the construction of Tunnel 1 between here and Vivian. The tunnel was completed in February, 1903. In addition to serving as a siding, sectionhouses and cattle pens were built. Today, Tonka is only a signal station. The sectionhouses and cattle pens were removed years ago.
TOWN CREEK
Town Creek, located between Wells and Melandco, was a stop and signal station on the Oregon Shortline, run by the Union Pacific Railroad, from 1925 to 1978. Only concrete foundations of the small depot mark the site.
TUCKER STATION Photos
George Ganz established a station on the Beachey and Wines Elko-Idaho Tollroad in 1870. A tall, narrow, two-story stationhouse was built. Overnight lodging and meals were provided. Over the next 30 years, a number of other stagelines used Tucker Station. Henry Van Dreillan's Elko to Gold Creek stage ran through Osino, rejoined the main Gold Creek road at the station. In 1897, Will Martin established the North Fork-Gold Creek Stage Company, which ran from Dinner Station to Gold Creek. At Tucker Station, an adobe-type foundation is all that is left of the once proud station.
TULSACO Photos
Tulasco actually was a side-track station on the Central Pacific Railroad beginning in 1869. It was relocated to its present location in 1909 when the Southern Pacific Railroad straightened the tracks between Deeth and Wells. A sectionhouse and water tank were built at Tulasco at this time. In 1912, Tulasco became the terminus for the railroad spur built to Metropolis. A small depot, saloon, and restaurant were built. However, when the spur was abandoned in 1925, Tulasco became a siding again and housed only a section crew. Today, Tulasco serves both the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads as a signal station and siding. All that is left of Tulasco are the concrete foundations of the sectionhouse and water tower. Just to the east of the foundations is the old railroad bed for the Metropolis spur. The saloon was obviously located here judging from all of the broken bottles.
TUSCARORA
See Past Profile Section
TWIN BRIDGES
Twin Bridges was located between Taylors and Eagle Rock. It was not a stop but rather the spot where the Carlin-Tuscarora stageline joined the road used by the Elko-Tuscarora stage. Twin Bridges was also the name for the area where the Denver-Shepherd Toll Road crossed the South Fork of the Humboldt River.
U
ULLIN
Ullin is a signal station on the Southern Pacific Railroad and is located 8 miles southwest of Montello.
V
VALLEY PASS Photos
Valley Pass, located five miles west of Cobre, is a signal station on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Toano depot was moved to Valley Pass, and section houses and a large water tower were built. The arrival of diesel engines in the 1940s made the services of Valley Pass obsolete. The buildings were removed to other locations. Today, trains still run through Valley Pass. Only the foundations of the buildings are left. The impressive water tower, one of the few left in Elko County, stands guard over the site.
VALLEY VIEW
First discoveries in the Valley View district were made in 1913 by John Hankins, a Lamoille Valley rancher. A small camp, Hankins, formed during the summer but the bismuth and scheelite weren't valuable enough to continue mining. In 1925, the Mutal Mica Company, owned by Roy Rigsby, began extensive mica operations, shipping an average of 500 pounds a day. However, by the summer of 1927, the mines had run out of good mica, and the Mutual Mica company folded. Little interest was exhibited in the district until 1931. A new mining camp, Beryl City, sprang up during the summer. There was great excitement and the camp was constantly visited by a flow of curious people. However, Beryl wasn't a very valuable commodity and the camp and mine were abandoned by the next summer. Mine dumps and remnants of a couple cabins are left in the Valley View district.
VENTOSA Photos
Ventosa was a stop on the Western Pacific Railroad and was the next depot east of Tobar. The main purpose of the depot and stop was as a shipping point for Spruce Mountain ore. A special siding was built to load the ore. From the teens through the 1940s, about 10 people lived at Ventosa, working primarily for the railroad. The depot and section buildings were abandoned, sold, and removed in the early 1950s. Only concrete foundations are left at Ventosa today.
VIVIAN
Vivian is a siding on the Southern Pacific Railroad and was located three miles east of Carlin. In 1903, Tunnel #1 between Vivian and Tonka was completed. The Trip-O-Lite Products Company ran a diatomaceous earth operation from 1919 to 1922 at Vivian. A 12-ton per day mill was built in 1919. Foundations and part of the mill mark the site of Vivian.
VOIGHT
Henry Voight settled on a ranch in lower Lamoille Valley in June of 1870 that he purchased from the Wines family. The ranch continues to be in operation today and a couple vintage buildings remain.
W
WARDELL
Wardell was a short-lived mining camp, located in the hills about two miles south of Moor. The Wardell Mine was discovered in 1879 by L.H. Wardell. Small amounts of silver ore were removed. Wardell was forced to close the mine and abandon the district. It wasn't until July, 1905, that Richard O'Neil and George Vardy relocated the Wardell Mine and began to produce iron ore. Moor became the shipping point for the mine. However, the veins in these mines were very short and further development could not located additional deposits. The men gave up and the Wardell district was abandoned for good after 1913. Not much interest has been exhibited in Wardell since. Collapsed shafts, mine dumps, and a couple collapsed cabins mark the site.
WARM CREEK
The Warm Creek Ranch was established by Albert Haws in 1858. The ranch later became part of the Horace Agee empire in 1901. Mining came to the forefront in 1912 with the discovery of the Polar Star Mine in March. Ten men were hired to develop and work the mine. Some silver and lead were found but the major mineral was zinc. Soon twenty-five men were employed and the miners even fielded a baseball team. Limited work continued until 1918 when the company folded. From 1915 to 1918, 1.2 million pounds of zinc were produced. After 1918, only small attempts were made to work the Polar Star Mine in the 1930s and 1940s. Total production is 1.8 million pounds of zinc, 41,000 pounds of lead, and some silver and copper. A CCC camp was located at Warm Creek from 1937 until it was disbanded in November, 1941. The ranch is still in operation today. A couple of older buildings are left on the ranch. A collapsed shaft, mine dumps, and a couple of small buildings, probably from the 1940s, are left at the Polar Star Mine.
WEAR'S STATION
Wear's Station was located on the old White Pine road. The toll station, run by R.G. Wear, was the beginning of the Denver-Shepherd Toll Road and also George Shepherd's other tollroad to Bullion, which was built in 1870. The station was abandoned when the Gilson Turnpike, on the east side of the valley, became the major thoroughfare to White Pine County. Shepherd's Bullion road became a public road and the need for the toll station was eliminated. Nothing remains at the station site.
WHITE HORSE
White Horse, located five miles south of Ferguson Springs at White Horse Springs, is an obscure mining district. Some lead, zinc and silver ore was found just after the turn of the century. The district was named for the great Gosuite chief, White Horse, who had triggered the Overland War by attacking Eight Mile Station, located a few miles away in White Pine County, in 1863. Some additional work was done on some claims during the teens but little, if any, production was made. The only recorded production from the White Horse District took place during the 1940s. The Kathleen and Blue Mines were developed and produced 6,200 pounds of lead, 160 ounces of silver, 800 pounds of zinc, and 28 units of tungsten between 1942 and 1949. No other activity has occurred since 1949. Only a shaft and old prospect pits are left at White Horse.
WHITE ROCK
The White Rock area was first settled by the Frost family in 1870 and were followed soon after by the Winter, Parus, and Riddle families. The small town of White Rock formed soon after, more in response to nearby mining than the ranching. Virgil Bartlett started the White Rock Tollroad in late 1870. As a result of the mining, about 25 people were living in White Rock by 1871. The Tuscarora-Mountain City daily stage came through White Rock. At the peak of interest of mining near White Rock, two other stages came to White Rock: Haes and Dolin, and Van Dreillen. However, when interest in the nearby mines faded in the late 1870s, White Rock became entirely dependent on local ranchers and farmers. While the population of White Rock was only 33 in 1880, the 1880s saw a large growth in the number of ranches in the area. Ranches are still active in the area and many old structures remain.
WILKINS Photos
Long before Wilkins became a stop on the Oregon Shortline in 1925, the Thousand Springs Valley was an active ranching area. As early as October, 1870, a station was built in the valley to serve the Toano-Boise stageline. However, the completion of the Idaho portion of the Oregon Shortline in 1884 ended the need for the stage and freight line to Idaho and it folded. A short-lived mining district, the Rough and Ready, was established in 1870, after some promising galena float was discovered. The district, located seven miles away from Wilkins, never produced and was abandoned the next year. In 1886, John Sparks and John Tinnan consolidated many of the small ranches in the valley, which became the base of their large ranching operation. A few years earlier, Jasper Harrell started the Winecup and HD Ranches. Harrell died in 1907 and ownership of the cattle company passed to the Vineyard Land and Livestock Company in 1908. The Utah Construction Company took over the Vineyard company in 1921. In 1925, the Oregon Shortline branch to Wells was completed and a small depot and water station was built near the Wilkins Ranch. The siding became an important cattle shipping point for the valley. In the 1940s, a hotel, store, and service station opened on US 93, near the Winecup Ranch and was owned by the ranch. In 1952, the Winecup Ranch and the complex at Wilkins were sold to Hollywood actor Jimmy Stewart. Only the heavily vandalized shells of the buildings are left of the motel and store. At the Wilkins siding, which was abandoned in 1978 when the railroad folded, the depot/water station still stands amid some old corrals. The siding is a couple of miles west of US 93. The Winecup and other ranches still thrive in the area. A kiosk commemorating the California Trail, which ran through the valley, has been built on the road to the Winecup Ranch. It gives a short history of the trail in the local area.
WILLIAMS STATION
Williams Station, located near where Smith Creek joins Huntington Creek, was a stop on the Denver-Shepherd White Pine Tollroad beginning in 1869. The station was run by Warren Williams but was abandoned once the Gilson road on the east side of the valley became the perferred road of travel to White Pine. Williams continued to ranch in the area for a number of years before leaving. Nothing remains of the stage station today.
WOOD
Wood was a simple siding on the Oregon Shortline Railroad. The rails reached Wood in October, 1925. The siding was used mainly to ship livestock and little was built. The rails were torn up in 1978 when the railroad folded. Wood was also the name of a short-lived post office in the northern part of Clover Valley that operated from April 18, 1900 until December 15, 1902.