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Happy Anniversary Washoe City!
Washoe City on the valley’s north end celebrates it’s 150th anniversary this year having been established in 1861. In 1961 historians, politicians and locals gathered to dedicate a plaque and monument...
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Ophir – Another Anniversary!
Ophir City, another Washoe Valley ghost town, celebrated it’s 150 year anniversary this year. Along with the other local ghost towns, Mill City, Franktown, and Washoe City, Ophir played an important...
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Washoe Valley Causeway
This 1964 ad by the Reno Harold’s Club Casino celebrates the “Washoe Causeway”- the bridge that crossed the wetlands on the north side of the lake to provide ore wagons access to the Ophir Quartz Mill...
View ArticleWhat Did They Put In That Time Capsule?
A couple of posts down we talked about the 100 year anniversary of Washoe City in 1961 and the bronze plaque and monument that was installed at that time. The local dignitaries also place a time...
View ArticleWashoe City’s Old Cabin
I have been asked several times about the history of the dilapidated log cabin on hwy 395 in Washoe City. This is the one on the north side of the highway in the old Cattlemen’s Restaurant parking lot....
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Orson Hyde’s Curse On Washoe Valley
There is an excellent article over at rgj.com by Emerson Marcus regarding some entertaining history concerning the old curse on Washoe Valley. As another disaster falls on us here in the valley,...
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San Antonio Ranch on Youtube
Mark Elsman, descendant of the Elsman family that owned the San Antonio Ranch in the south end of west Washoe Valley between 1927 and 1939 has posted a 10 minute compilation of home movies on Youtube....
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Nevada Enters The Union!
Just in time for Nevada Day and our national election, I’m posting this excerpt from William Stewart’s books “Reminiscences of William M. Stewart”. Mr. Stewart was Nevada’s first Senator to Congress...
View ArticleDenver Laughs at Washoe Valley
A bridal couple from Washoe Valley, at breakfast in Reno, conversed as follows. He- “Shall I skin you a pertater, honey?” She- “No thank you, dearie, I have one already skun.” Denver (Colorado) News,...
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Winters Estate Still a Monument
Winters Ranch History (editors note: scroll up to find later chapters as they become available) By: Rick Cooper Chapter 1: Early Days On the northwest corner of Washoe Valley, in the shadow of our new...
View ArticleVictorian Humor
Victorian Newspaper Humor: from the 1880 “Reno Weekly Gazette”: The “Dispatch” says there is a young lady in Ogden that is so modest she will not permit the “Christian Observer” to remain in her room...
View ArticleWashoe Valley Ladies
Nevada State Journal June 26, 1875: How They Did It In ’49 One of the most interesting features of the great Pioneer Picnic today is to be the following: When the excursion train arrives opposite the...
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First Reference to “The Biggest Little City”?
From the July 23rd, 1913 Nevada State Journal. Apparently Mr. Jones was a boxing promoter impressed with the level of betting in the city. 100 years ago today.
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Sun Down Town
Washoe Valley’s Newest Ghost Town I got a letter the other day from Pat Russell of Oregon who grew up in Washoe City in the 50′s and 60′s and in his letter, among other interesting things, he...
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Flood Destroys Franktown in 1881 Franktown’s 1881 Flood Local historian Patty Cafferata wrote this article for the Carson Times on the devastating flood in 1881 that wiped out the town of Franktown on...
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Last Train To Carson
The V&T passes through verdant Washoe Valley on its journey to Carson City You could take a train from New York City to Virginia City up until May 30, 1950. Then it was gone forever. It’s...
View ArticleCorrection
The folks at the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Company in Virginia City wrote in a correction to my article below “Last Train To Carson”. You could take the train from New York City to Carson City up...
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Who Is This Man?
What does this guy have in common with Washoe Valley and the TV show “Downton Abbey” and British Royalty? Check back later to find out!
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Washoe Valley Royalty
Washoe Valley and the English House of Lords This started out as a story of a prominent Washoe Valley resident of days gone by but it also ended up as a tale of historical research. I was rummaging the...
View Article100 Years Ago In Reno
News from the Reno Evening Gazette of August 19, 1914. Pope Pius given last rites. Relapse occurs in condition of pontiff and he fails to respond to all stimulants. Germany is advancing across Belgium...
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