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MONTELLO
(Elko County)
Present Montello was created in 1904 when the Southern Pacific Railroad built the Lucin cutoff across the salt flats of Utah. Earlier, Montello was the name of a siding located a couple of miles to the west. The original name of the old siding was Bauvard, which see. However, long before the town of Montello formed, the area was the site of a rarity in Elko County and Nevada history, a train robbery. It took place during January of 1883, when the Central Pacific Railroad was in operation. The engineer stopped his train when he saw a red-flashing light on the water tank. He and his crew were immediately set upon by masked bandits, tied up, and put in the siding shack. The bandits headed to the Wells Fargo express car where messenger Aaron Ross was protecting the shipment. Ross steadfastly refused orders to come out and surrender. He barricaded himself in the car and despite being hit by three bullets, continued to defy the robbers. Another train approached the siding. The robbers met the train and ordered the crew to continue on. With guns at their heads, the crew could do little. The robbers returned to work on the express car. When they tried to force their way in again, Ross was able to shoot one. They then tried to smash the car by ramming the engine into it. Fears of another train coming forced the robbers to abandoned the attempt. The only booty taken was $10 found in the conductor's wallet. Sheriff Henry Taber of Elko organized a posse. With a reward of $1,250 each, it was easy to assemble the posse.
The first two, Orris Nay and Frank Hawley, were wounded and captured in Utah County after a shootout with the posse on January 28. The pair told the posse where the rest of the gang was hiding out. The other three surrendered without incident when confronted by the posse, which was armed with dynamite and a small cannon. Sylvester Earl, Erastus Anderson, and Frank Francis, along with the other two, were taken to Salt Lake City. The prisoners were returned to Elko in February. All pled guilty and Nay, Hawley, and Francis received 14 years in prison. The two teenagers, Earl and Anderson, received 12 year sentences. Ross was treated as a hero for refusing to surrender to the robbers and received rewards from the Central Pacific Railroad and Wells Fargo. The rewards for capture were divided among the 17 men of the posse, each receiving $350.
The town of Montello was later created in 1904 by the Southern Pacific Railroad during the construction of the Lucin cut-off. The first train came through the town on March 4. Houses were moved to Montello from Kelton and Terrace, Utah. Montello replaced Terrace as the main railroad division point, forcing the town of Terrace into oblivion. The town was initially known as Bauvard, the same name of the old siding located three miles to the southwest. That post office was transferred to the new town. However, the post office's name wasn't changed to Montello until February 27, 1912. The name Montello means rest in Shoshone. The railroad built a large hotel and complete railroad facilities at Montello. A small chinatown developed because many of the Chinese roadbed and maintenance crews were based at Montello. The 40 Chinese residents supported a store and joss house. In July, 1904, O.T. Hill finished construction on an eight-room house, store room, and lodging house for Wes Johnson. Johnson also opened a general merchandise store soon after. In October, a part of the new library was used as a school. Ethelyn Allen taught 10 students during the first year. A schoolhouse was later built in 1906. During 1907, the Utah Construction Company purchased the Vineyard Land and Livestock Company's vast holdings. Montello, because of its convenience to the railroad and their ranches, was made the headquarters.
The company ran a store in Montello for many years and in fact the original store, with the UC logo on it, still stands in Montello. In September, 1908, the Southern Pacific Railroad hotel was destroyed by fire. During Montello's early years, from 1904 to 1929, population ranged as high as 800. The town also served as a supply point for the mining camp of Delano, located to the north. The railroad payroll reached as high as $1 million a month in 1915. A new substantial school was built in 1910. Teachers that served the school during the next decade included C.I. Bonham, M.D. Hunter, Helen English, Matilde McQuisiton, Olive Burgess, and Alma Nichol. The old school was moved downtown and converted into the town's amusement hall, run by the Montello Amusement Corporation. The Montello Mercantile Company was incorporated in July, 1912. The main stockholders were James Dean, R.R. Nixon, and Andrew Wilkerson. A new jail was built by A.C. McGinty during the spring of 1916. It replaced the original railroad tie jail which could be escaped from by removing a tie or two. A flu epidemic struck the town in 1918-1919 and caused a number of deaths.
During the 1920s, however, Montello began to decline. A major blow struck the town when a large fire burned the business district in October, 1925. The Wes Johnson store, Nelson Cafe, Bryant Pool Hall, post office, and the home of A.R. Cave, were destroyed. The fire was started by an exploding coffee urn in the Nelson Cafe. In addition, the Utah Construction Company was broken up and sold. One part of the holdings, the Gamble Ranch, continues to be one of the largest in Elko County. When the ranch sold again in 1950, the purchase price was $3 million. Montello received national attention in November, 1928, when future president Herbert Hoover gave a campaign speech. The next year, local doctor J.D. Sherrod, was elected vice-president of the American Chiropractors Association. The Montello Consolidated School Orchestra was featured on a KSL radio broadcast in March, 1936.
When diesel engines were introduced in the 1950s, it spelled the end of Montello's importance to the railroad. Soon after, the roundhouses and shops were removed. Only the huge water tower was left behind. In July, 1956, Roark's Meat and Grocery store burned to the ground. A boost for Montello took place in 1960 when a paved highway was built from Oasis. Today, Montello is a quiet town with a population of about 75. Many of the homes moved from Utah in 1904 still remain. The old original depot has been moved and converted into a home. The school, jail, and other old business buildings also stand. The cemetery is located just north of the main street. The water tower dominates the old railroad yards and trains continue to rumble through Montello. A store, gas station, post office, and a couple of saloons are still in operation at the town.