Mini trip to Mono Lake

I missed photographing the fall colors, but wanted to visit before the snow flies. My main goal was Bennetville for my 3rd book, Beyond Bodie. It is at the top of Tioga Pass, and at 10,000 feet, it will soon close for the season.

Bennetville

I was worried about the hike, as I’m still recovering from surgery, and elevation is always a challenge for me. But Nevada Expeditinos took the pack, so I only had my camera. I had to rest a few times, but dragged my butt up to the ghost town. We had amazing fall weather and only ran into one person. True to form, I fell into the creek on the way back from the mine.

Bennetville is the second-highest ghost town I’ve visited, almost 1,000 feet below Montague Mine. A post office operated between 1880 and 1881 under the name Tioga. It seems crazy now, but at one time, it was thought that 50,000 people would call the isolated mountainous meadow home! The mines never paid out, and despite several attempts, Bennetville was a ghost town by 1890.

I even found a “Tami Story.” This is the first time in months I have been excited to deep dive into a story. I’m finally starting to feel like myself again. I’m halfway through a full article on Bennetville.

Crater

Have you heard of the ghost town of Crater, in the Mono Basin? No? You aren’t alone.

Crater was an oddball site I discovered during my deep dive into Mono County. It had a post office from 1899 to 1911, with Alta Mattly as the postmaster.

I haven’t had much luck finding information other than news of residents visiting town. USGS notes two structures at Crater. I suspect it was a ranch post office and never had much beyond a few houses and a school. Searching old papers for “Crater” in Mono County pulls up a million articles about the volcanic craters, but almost none about the settlement.

I was looking for Crater as it is the site where the posse caught up with the desperados who killed Sheriff Dolan. A shootout ensued, resulting in the deaths of Francisco and Solido. The posse took the bodies to the Crater school, where the justice of the peace, Pearl Mattly, ruled the killing justified.

Conway & Filosena Ranches

I got a little color at the ranches off Conway last week. Next fall will be different!

In the 1870s, ranchers James Wilson and Harlan Noyes settled the pastureland below Conway Summit and Mono Lake. Bodie was the largest purchaser of their cattle. John Conway of Bodie purchased the ranch in 1903. They expanded the ranch to include pork, dairy, and hay. In 1907, they started a stage line between Bodie and Lundy. Their house was used as a stage station to provide weary travelers with meals and a place to rest.

Jim Conway died in 1918. His family worked the ranch until the 1980s. A decade later, developers made plans to create housing sites on the ranch. The Eastern Sierra Land Trust worked with governmental agencies to preserve this historic ranch.

I have read books about Filosena Ranch (1st picture), but I haven’t written an article yet. It has so many interesting stories, many tying into the murder of Sheriff Dolan and the shootout with desperados.

Little Bodie

You have probably been to Bodie, but have you been to Little Bodie?

I have a full article here about Little Bodie & a Blinding Explosion.

Antelope Valley Cottonwoods

The sweetest history story. Have you noticed the Cottonwood trees lining Highway 395, just south of the Nevada border? They are stunning in their fall color, so I had to stop on the way home from Mono Lake.

Henry Dickson’s daughter had a handicap; her freedom was afternoon buggy rides. To protect her from the sun, Henry planted the Cottonwood trees around 1900 to shade her from the harsh summer sun.

My son has cerebral palsy. For many years, we didn’t know if he would be able to walk. Now he walks and is in college. I get choked up every time I drive through the protective shade he created out of love.

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