Friday Funday

Friday, Austin of Nevada Expeditions had to drop off his work ride for service in Reno, and he asked if I wanted to explore for a few hours. Hmmm, of course!

Nevada State Hospital

As an undergraduate in psychology, I loved classes on the history of mental health treatment. Techniques ranged from mundane to bizarre. One of my professors used to work at an old psych hospital, and he couldn’t figure out why his office had tile from floor to ceiling. He discovered it was a hydrotherapy room; as part of their treatment, patients were sprayed with high-power hoses.

I visited Nevada County Hospital in Nevada City, California, earlier this year. So, as we passed the old hospital, I made a quick stop at the Nevada State Hospital in Nevada, not California. 

The hospital opened in 1881 as the Nevada State Insane Asylum. The first patients, or “inmates,” as they were referred to, arrived by train in 1882 from Stockton, California. The asylum operated similarly to a Poor Farm, with the residents raising crops and livestock and operating a dairy. They provided for the hospital’s needs and sold excess.

The counties sent “old, harmless, incurable, idiotic and imbecile patients” to the asylum to alleviate their responsibility for caring for disabled residents. Soon, the hospital was overcrowded, with 196 patients in a facility designed for 160. In 1895, the legislature approved funding of $15,000 to add an annex.

The original hospital building was demolished, but later ones remain and are now part of Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health. I want to return and visit the cemetery. A marker was placed, but many graves are unknown.

Jamison’s Station

Jamison’s Station is the oldest settlement in Truckee Meadows, established in 1852 by Jamison, a Mormon trader. Jamison picked a perfect location; due to the river and marshes, every emigrant traveled past his trading post. As a result, pioneers would resupply and change livestock before their final push over the Sierra. Jamison’s Station is also likely the oldest ghost town in Washoe County.

Jamison’s Station is within the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation facility, and access has to be obtained through the administration. Thank you, City of Sparks, for allowing us to visit and document the historical site. I started research for a full article on Jamison’s Station.

“Cleanwater Demon House”

A paranormal hunter channel dubbed this ranch the “Cleanwater Demon House.” Unfortunately, only the brick and stone outbuilding remains. The house and barn were taken down recently, possibly due to the publicity.

I suspect there is nothing demonic about the old ranch house. Although this buck looked a little sketchy, maybe it is really a Nevada Wendigo.

Ladino Dairy Farm

I stumbled upon the old dairy buildings while searching for Huffaker school. I don’t know how I didn’t find the school that day; it is in a central area. It was fun finding a ranch in the middle of Reno.

The old barn was part of the Ladino Dairy Farm. Max Fleischmann, like Fleischmann planetarium, purchased the dairy and later donated it to UNR to study purebred stock.

We decided to stop as we were in south Reno looking for a pioneer grave at Steamboat. Unfortunately, the grave is on private property; if anyone knows how to access the grave, I would love to document it.

Ladino Diary Farm was sold last year; I hope new owners maintain the character and historic buildings.

Glendale

Glendale started in 1857 as a station stop and store for emigrants headed to the Gold Country. The town built a schoolhouse in 1864. By 1866, Glendale had several stores, blacksmiths, a hotel, and saloons.

Residents thought Glendale would be the principal town and supply center in Truckee Meadows. However, most residents abandoned the town after the transcontinental railroad bypassed Glendale and centered their central hub in Reno. The schoolhouse remained open until 1958, and in 1976 it was relocated to Sparks.

I visited the Glendale School earlier this year, but we saw the school’s original site and town on this trip. But, I’ll be honest, that wasn’t the reason for our stop. The real reason was a mid-afternoon treat at Starbucks. While there, Hubby called, asking me to delay in Reno an extra hour so I could pick our son up on my way home.

I guess we needed a few more sites to visit; Austin always has unique ideas.

Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery

As we didn’t know when Austin’s bus would be ready, we wanted to stay close to the shop. So we visited several cemeteries, including the Grand Army of the Republic.

Washoe Zephyr

Saturday was scheduled as the Sutro volunteer appreciation event. Sadly, the storm destroyed the tent and the event was rescheduled due to the wind and rain. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the site was untouched.

Interesting, it was Sutro Tunnels’ birthday this week, and the groundbreaking event was stymied with high winds and rain.

Cabin in the Sky

I donated a basket to the Comstock Foundation and Northern Nevada Ghost Hunters, which support restoring and preserving Comstock history. Darn it, I forgot a photo, but the basket turned out cute—signed editions of Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps and the accompanying atlas. I included a pretty fall basket and goodies for a day of ghost town exploring.

As Sutro canceled the event, and I was in Virginia City Sunday to deliver the gift basket, Austin asked if I wanted to meet for lunch at one of our favorite places, Cider Factory. Again, of course! After another delicious lunch, we headed to Gold Hill and Cabin in the Sky to deliver the gift basket.

Comstock Foundation and Northern Nevada Ghost hunters have done a lot of work turning the old restaurant into a visitor center. They are having a fundraiser and tour, which is why I donated the basket.

Northern Nevada Ghost Hunters gave us a tour of Cabin in the Sky and a preview of their event decorations; it will be a fabulous event! Comstock Foundation created an overlook with historical information signs below. It was pretty darned cold so I will explore more next visit.

Silver City Mills

As we were headed back to highway 50, Austin stopped at several mills just off the road.

Dayton Fox Hotel

The historic Fox Hotel in Dayton and the adjacent structure caught fire a week ago. As I was so close, I thought I would take photos of the devastation of the fire. I shared my plans with Austin over lunch at Cider Factory; great minds think alike and he already stopped in Dayton. Sady, he informed me the structures were already demolished, leaving only a vacant lot.

I decided to photograph the before and after; it is such a loss of history. I remember stopping in Dayton on spring break in graduate school when I saw my grandmother in Murphys, California. I always thought Dayton was underestimated by visitors exploring the history of Comstock.

The block is difficult to photograph; the sun is always at the back. I stopped on numerous occasions, with the same results. I am so thankful I still took photographs. Even though they might not be the best, they are irreplaceable now.

The one positive of the devastating fire is the stone wall of the Pony Express Station was saved and can now be seen.

Dayton Taphouse

As I was photographing the vacant lot where the Fox once stood, I heard a voice…from somewhere. As I’m deaf in 1 ear, I can’t localize sound and ended up spinning around several times, probably looking like a kid twirrling to get dizzy, only to fall to the grass.

This time, the spinning ended more pleasantly. Chris, the owner of Dayton Taphouse, was behind me. We talked for a while, and he invited me into the 135-year-old establishment. We had a great time chatting and sharing history stories. Then, Chris gave me a sample of rice and beans made from his mother’s recipe. OMG, they were delicious.
I look forward to returning and sampling more of their excellent made-from-scratch food.

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