Haunted Carson Valley, Nevada

Author’s note: It is not my intent to convince the reader to believe – or disbelieve – the stories that follow. These are merely some of the tales one hears in these parts.

Take them for what you will.

Genoa

Lying at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the site of Genoa became an important way point for the 49ers. By 1850, Mormons built a stockade, corrals and opened a trading post known as Mormon Station. The station sold food, clothing, tobacco and other supplies to those joining the gold rush. John Reese arrived with twelve wagons, supplies and stock in 1851 and created the first permanent settlement in what would become Nevada.

Genoa became the first capital of the Nevada Territory in 1861. That same year the capital was relocated to Carson City. Nevada became the 36th state to join the Union on October 31, 1864.

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Genoa Cemetery

Early white settlers buried their loved ones in small family plots on their property, while emigrants buried their fallen along the trail. Local lore holds that there is a grave for every mile of the emigrant roads. In 1865, Nevada Senator James W. Haines donated a parcel to create a cemetery in Genoa. The best-known grave is that of John “Snowshoe” Thompson.

Many of the graves, marked and unmarked, hold the remains of children. The Paranormal and Ghost Society believes Genoa Cemetery is “flourishing with activity”. Most of the ghostly antics are said to be the “playful demeanor” of children, but more than a few adult ghosts are thought to make their presence known, sometimes in less friendly ways.

In the Great Fire of 1910 cemetery records were lost. In the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps workers “cleaned up” the cemetery by burning overgrown sagebrush that covered old wooden grave markers, leaving many graves with unknown occupants. Some believe this made the departed restless.

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The Genoa Bar

“Nevada’s Oldest Thirst Parlor”

The Genoa Bar and Saloon has been a popular hangout for 167 years, and many customers choose to stay and have one more. Perhaps a few have stayed long past closing time. “Red” is the name of one playful ghost who loves the bar’s old jukebox. A friend who used to own the bar relayed many tales of the ghost’s hijinks, including throwing straws at staff.

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The Dake House

The Dake House is a Gothic Victorian house built in 1872 by C.W. Dake. Over time, the building served as the local morgue and funeral home. Later, it became an antique store, remaining in business today.

One peculiar tale deals with a painting of roses in a vase. The painting is said to be a “spirit painting” done by a well-known medium during a séance in San Francisco. Whenever selling it is discussed, it falls or flies from the wall without causing damage to itself or the wall.

The sound of mysterious footsteps, the presence of strange shadows and other odd occurrences have been described in the house. One visitor to the antique store claims he was slapped by an unseen hand. Shaken, he left and said he would never return. Witnesses claim to have seen several ghosts, including an older woman in a housecoat making sure everything is locked up for the night.

Mormon Station

Mormon Station, the oldest structure, is naturally said to be haunted. The most “spiritual” area is purported to be the chicken coop, for reasons known only to the spirits themselves.

The Pink House

The Reese-Johnson-Virgin House, more commonly known as “The Pink House” was one of Genoa’s first residences and was built in 1855. As one of the oldest surviving buildings in Nevada, In 1870 it was moved by oxen to the current location. Meetings held there established Genoa as the first county seat. The house served many roles over time.

Daniel Webster Virgin purchased the home in 1883. He was the first district attorney and later became a judge at the Genoa courthouse. The couple added the porch and ice house which was a popular summer hangout where guests enjoyed fresh ice cream.

Two of the Virgin’s children met untimely deaths. Ellen was killed by an overturned buggy and William died working in the lumber business. The third child, Lillian, went on to create the popular community fundraiser, Candy Dance.

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It’s said that the spirit of a housekeeper has extended her employment and continues to serve tea to guests. Maybe other spirits decided to stay so they could enjoy the beautiful charcuterie trays, homemade desserts, and great wine selection… and of course, ice cream, just as Mary served.

Cottonwood Cottage

The building currently named Cottonwood Cottage has housed many restaurants over the years. The staff tells tales of people being pushed out of bathrooms, doors locking from the inside, and of spirits levitating alcohol bottles. (Top shelf only, of course.)

Genoa Courthouse and Jail

The Genoa Courthouse was the first and only courthouse in Douglas County from 1865 to 1916.

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In late November 1897, a night of drinking at the Millerville Saloon turned deadly. Adam Uber of Calaveras, California had a few too many when popular local teamster, Hans Anderson, decided to torment him for fun. At some point, Hans grabbed Uber and was shot for his troubles, dying on the bathroom floor. Uber was arrested and taken to the Genoa jail. Sobering up the next morning, he claimed to not remember anything of the previous night. A week later on the morning of the 25th at 2 am, Thanksgiving Day, vigilantes appeared, held the sheriff and undersheriff at gunpoint, and dragged Uber from his cell.

Hanging Tree

The mob beat Uber and took him half a mile down Genoa Lane to a stand of cottonwood trees. Throwing a noose over a low branch, they hanged him. With his last words, Uber cursed his killers to seven generations.

Afterward, they cut down and shot his body to make certain of his demise.

It seems Uber had his revenge. Soon after the killing, several members of the mob met untimely deaths, one dying in a runaway horse accident at the base of the hanging tree. The town residents cut down the branch where Uber was hanged, but the curse seemed to continue. Uber, it is said, can sometimes be seen at the base of the tree or in the courthouse jail.

Uber lies in an unmarked grave in Genoa cemetery, perhaps unable to rest until his curse expires.

Genoa Peak, Paradise Flight 901A and the C.V.I.C. Hall

On March 1, 1964, Paradise Flight 901A, bound from San Jose, California, crashed into Genoa Peak after two failed landing attempts at Lake Tahoe. At the time, it was the second-worst single plane crash in the US. All 85 passengers and crew were killed as the plane struck the mountainside at over 200 miles per hour.

Because of the remoteness of the site and blizzard conditions, rescuers spent nearly a month locating the victims’ remains. Carson Valley was sparsely populated and did not have facilities to handle so many deceased. The C.V.I.C. Hall, the center of Carson Valley community life, was pressed into service as a makeshift morgue. The bodies of the first seven victims arrived at the C.V.I.C. on March 3rd. It was not until March 30th that the final body was recovered. The impact was so violent that FBI investigators were brought in to undertake the grisly process of identifying scattered remains. Local families opened their doors to grieving relatives who came to claim their loved ones.

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Accounts of the crash describe a litany of errors and safety violations. Years afterward, the mountain remained littered with bits of luggage and personal items, poignant reminders of a sudden and deadly catastrophe. Visitors to the site can still see the wreckage of the aircraft despite the work of “souvenir hunters.”

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In terms of loss of life, this was the worst tragedy in Carson Valley history. It is not surprising that some say the C.V.I.C. Hall is haunted.

Manoukian (Logan) Professional Building

Before modern transportation shrank the world, Carson Valley was remote to medical care. Carson Valley Hospital was built in 1914. As cars and roads improved, access to Carson City and Reno hospitals ended the need for a local facility. The hospital closed in 1924 and the building became a boarding house for teachers until 1948 when it was abandoned and languished in disrepair for 30 years. When new owners restored the building, stories of ghosts began to circulate.

Hubby reports that when he was a kid, the building had a “haunted house” appearance and there were rumors of strange happenings there. Stories of children being tickled by an unseen, friendly presence, doors slamming without a cause, and an apparition who does not take kindly to skeptics are part of the lore of this charming old building, now beautifully returned to its former state.

Carson Valley holds a long and rich history, from the traditions and oral accounts of the Washoe tribe to modern digital media. Some say that it holds much more and that the past may literally walk among us from time to time. Others simply appreciate the stories as fiction.

But, should you find yourself in the Genoa Bar and see a straw on the floor that wasn’t there a moment ago, or drive down Genoa Lane late one night and see an indistinct figure near the cottonwoods, or see an odd shadow cross the stage of the C.V.I.C. Hall, or hear a door slam upstairs as you transact business in the Manoukian Building… perhaps just for a moment you might allow yourself to wonder if being in the Carson Valley is entirely the same thing as living here.

(PS: Hubby said Rod Serling should have narrated that last part.)

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References

• Carson Valley Historical Society. Snowshoe Thompson. 1991. Pages 1-36.
• Paher, Stanley. Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Nevada Publications, 1970. Page 55-61.
• Paranormal and Ghost Society: Genoa Cemetery
• Pink House: Our History
• Record Courier: Old Hospital Gathering Place for the Towns Ghosts
• Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection: Downtown Genoa
• Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection: Downtown Genoa, 1890
• Wikipedia: Genoa, Nevada
• Wikipedia: Paradise Airlines Flight 901A

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