Page 62 - 2007 DT 12 Issues
P. 62
August Virginia City, continued from p. 1 the school had closed, and just two
years later the Virginia and Truckee
D e s k S c h e d u l e lay dormant because the owner was did the same. Although the rails were
fighting with the Confederate Army in torn up for scrap metal to help the
Wed/ 1 OPEN OPEN the east. As the story goes, he found World War II effort, the actual rolling
Thurs/2 G. Wojciecowski F. Davis the missing man and bought the claim stock was saved, bought by Holly-
------------- J. Barrett for $500. The mine turned out to be a wood. When close to three miles of
Fri/3 G. Fazio OPEN bonanza and he became rich. Another track were laid between Virginia City
and Gold Hill in 1976, the trains ran
Sat/4 R. Conductor K. Nelson miner had again, but now they hauled tourists.
Sun/5 D. Langdon OPEN a different The big gold and silver strikes are
Mon/6 OPEN OPEN story, but in gone, but Virginia City is still a gold
Tues/7 M. Slagle M. Pults the end it in- mine of history like no other. The
volved the
H. Weldon ------------- acquisition wooden-planked sidewalks echo with
Wed/8 V. Sperry OPEN of a mine the sound of boots from the glory days.
Thurs/9 B. Wolin F. Davis that spelled Old buildings contain shops now, but
------------- J. Barrett riches. His you can use your imagination—this is
Fri/10 G. Fazio P. Williams name was where the bustling Western town had it
Sat/11 P. VanDooremaal C. McLaughlin G e o r g e all; hotels, restaurants, banks, bawdy
houses, saloons, and even an opera
Sun/12 D. Langdon OPEN H e a r s t , house . . . . And, yes, Virginia City's
Mon/13 J. McManus M Gossmann the father "Boot Hill" is still there, a testimony
Tues/14 M. Slagle OPEN James Finney, “Old Virginny” of William to the days when the six-gun often
H. Weldon -------------- Randolph Hearst who built the im- decided an issue. Getting there is
Wed/15 OPEN OPEN mense publishing empire. easy, Hoss. Just saddle-up and ride
It seemed that nothing could im-
Thurs/16 G. Wojciecowski F. Davis pede the rise of Virginia City. "The a few miles south of Reno.
V. Sperry J. Barrett flush times were in magnificent flow-
Fri/17 G. Fazio P. Williams er," wrote Mark Twain. But on October Footnote: James Finney, "Old
Sat/18 J. Kisosondi C. McLaughlin 18, 1875, the town was shattered by a Virginny," the prospector after whom
Virginia City was named, sold his original
Sun/19 K. Nelson M./L. Utah devastating fire. A reduced edition of claim for less than $100 and died broke
Mon/20 G. Wojciecowski F. Davis the Territorial Enterprise put it into in 1861.
---------------- J. Barrett dramatic words: "There was a con-
Tues/21 D./V. Wray D./V. Wray vulsion in Virginia City yesterday. A
Wed/22 B. Wolin R. Keough breath of hell melted the main portion News & Notes, continued from p.5
Thurs/23 G. Wojciecowski F. Davis of the town to ruins . . . a whirlwind
---------------- J. Barrett of storm and fire. The catastrophe is Graffiti Removal
Fri/24 OPEN P. Williams appalling." The story of disaster went
on, but the paper declared, "We know
Volunteers are needed to assist
Sat/25 K. Nelson OPEN our people will rally from this blow." as “Tag Team” leaders for graffiti re-
I. Hyman ------------- And so they did. The town sprang back moval throughout the Canyon. BLM
Sun/26 D. Langdon M./L. Utah to life with new buildings, including an training will be provided. Graffiti
Mon/27 D./V Wray D./V. Wray impressive courthouse and a two-story removal teams will be organized un-
Tues/28 M. Slagle J. Geier school with heating and indoor water. der a subcommittee of the Natural
H. Weldon -------------- However, Virginia City's great days Resources Committee.
Wed/29 M. Gossmann J. Geier were numbered; the 1890s ushering Training will begin after September 1.
Thurs/30 G. Wojciecowski F. Davis in the end with the stock market crash Distinctive uniforms or wearables will be
---------------- J. Barrett of 1893. The great mines were running provided by Friends for Team leaders.
Fri/31 OPEN OPEN out, and to top it off, Congress elimi- Please call Blaine Benedict at the
nated the silver standard for coins. The Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Asso-
Changes? Call Kate at 515-5350 town went steadily downhill. By 1936 ciation at 258-8265 to sign up.
Page 6 FORRC/August/2007

