When the record-shattering blizzards of 1948-49 threatened the lives of thousands of livestock, Operation Haylift flew into action. The winter storms of 1948-49 were the heaviest in the West since 1889, and thousands of residents and more than 1 million cows and sheep were stranded in remote regions of Nevada and other states. The mission was to drop bales of hay from planes to … [Read more...]
Fishing Winnemucca Lake
Demand for fresh fish during the Comstock boom days was met by resourceful fishermen who brought their catch to market from Stillwater Marsh east of Fallon and from Pyramid and Winnemucca lakes. Some of the local Indians made a good living bringing wagonloads of salmon-like cutthroat trout to the gourmet restaurants and fish markets in Virginia City and other Western Nevada … [Read more...]
Nevada History: Great Basin Crescents
On a Father’s Day outing to Fort Churchill several years ago, I happened to discover one of the most interesting Indian artifacts I ever found in my many years of searching the farms, ranches, and Nevada deserts. The finely chipped artifact was made of shiny black obsidian about 2” long. This material was commonly used to make arrowheads, projectile points, scrapers and other … [Read more...]
More About Potosi, Virginia City’s Older sister
Since I wrote a previous article about the similarities and differences between the old silver town of Potosi in Bolivia and our own Virginia City here in Nevada, I have had some questions from a few of my readers about this interesting topic including inquiries about the existence of a few other “Potosis.” The name Potosi appears to be an idiom for “extraordinary richness.” … [Read more...]
Nevada’s Contribution to the Civil War
No sooner had the Pyramid Lake Indian Wars ended and fear of attack from hostile Indians subsided in the Nevada Territory and on the Comstock in 1860, the American Civil War began. Fortunately, the Comstock militiamen had received much welcome help from California reinforcements to help put down the Indian uprisings. California had become the 31st State on September 9, 1850. … [Read more...]
The ‘Slim Princess’ Railroad
By 1880, the owners of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad decided to pursue another venture to tap into the new mining districts developing in the south-central part of Nevada. The idea was to construct a new railroad line to connect Carson City and the Comstock to the Colorado River at the southern border of the state. The Carson and Colorado Railroad was started at the … [Read more...]
The Remarkable Story of Charlie Parkhurst
During the early days of the Comstock Lode, before the railroads were built, the preferred method of transportation for passengers and small freight was by stagecoach. These sturdy coaches, drawn by teams of four or six horses, followed the rough and treacherous mountain roads taking people, baggage, mail, gold and newspapers to every community in western Nevada and eastern … [Read more...]
Nevada’s Fort Churchill
Just one year after silver was discovered in the Comstock Lode, a band of Paiute and Bannock Indians attacked several white settlers at Williams Station about 30 miles east of Virginia City along the Carson River. The station was burned and several men were murdered. When word of the attack reached the Comstock, a volunteer group of soldiers and vigilantes was formed under … [Read more...]