Headed to Elko in the fall of 2025, I made a few stops off I80. I visited a few ghost towns, several graves, and an old mill.
I’m trying to get something posted about the sites I visited in late 2025 and early 2026. Don’t worry, I’m also working on new in-depth articles.
Oreana
Oreana (different from Oreana Station) had a five-stamp mill in 1865. It processed ore from the Montezuma Mine at Arabia. A second mill opened in 1866. The town grew, and a post opened in 1867.
Spence Grave
Atop a lonely hill overlooking the Humboldt and Oreana is a solitary grave. Little Mary Ann Alice Spence died in 1867 of cholera at only 5 years old. Her parents were James and Matilda Spence, living in Oreana. They moved to Oregon but later returned with the headstone to mark her brief life.
Fairview/Golconda mill
Outside of Golcono are the ruins of an old mill.
Stone House
The Overland Stage Company built a stone house in the 1860s as a waystation where travelers could eat and sleep. Starting in 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad used the location as a spring for the trains. A small settlement named Stone House (Stonehouse) grew to serve the train and local ranchers. A post office operated from 1890 to 1915.
Argenta
In 1866, prospectors found silver, and a small town grew. A post office opened two years later. With the arrival of the railroad, Argenta became a shipping hub for Austin. They hoped to become the main regional shipping center, but Battle Mountain won out. In December of 1970, residents of Argenta picked up and relocated to Battle Mountain.
Between 1930 and 1969, $3 million worth of barite was mined on Argenta Mountain. The mine closed in 2015.
Baby Mitchell’s Grave
Alongside I80 is a long grave for a baby girl. Some say she died on a wagon train in the 1850s. The cross says she died in 1913, but it has been replaced several times. The small cross next to it is for Archie the dog.
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