Ely, Ward, Taylor, Noname, Nevada

Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. In 1906 copper was discovered. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50.

Easter dinner at the Jailhouse Casino's Cellblock Steakhouse 

Ward Charcoal Ovens

The charcoal ovens are associated with the silver mining ghost town of Ward, Nevada.  The charcoal ovens are two miles to the south of the townsite. Six large ovens remain in excellent repair, 30 feet high, 27 feet in diameter, with walls 2 feet thick at the base. The ovens were in operation from 1876 through 1879.  They were built of quartz latite, an igneous volcanic rock welded tuff by traveling Italian masons who specialized in the ovens, who were known as carbonari.  The charcoal ovens prepared charcoal from locally harvested timber for use in the smelters at Ward.  The Ward ovens are the best-preserved of their kind in Nevada. 

Shortly after arriving in Ely it started raining and rained for a day and a half.  Our dusty roads turned into muddy roads.

Filling one oven required trees from six acres of land.

Ovens were loaded from the rear window and burned for 12 days

Ward

By 1875, Ward was the largest town in White Pine County boasting a population of 1,500 and a large, fancy hotel. Education was a priority so an abandoned red-light district house was converted to a schoolhouse. The Martin White Company of San Francisco purchased all mines during the summer of 1875 and that company was the main producer for many years. New discoveries helped propel the town to its peak during 1877. Ward’s population reached a high of close to 2,000. Also in 1877, a city hall was constructed and Wells-Fargo opened an office. The 601 Vigilantes kept the town virtually crime-free. The name came from six feet under, no trial, and one rope. The 601 doled out quick justice, and Ward’s crime rate dropped to zero. Ward began to decline as 1878 progressed. The combination of vanishing ore deposits and a new boom at Cherry Creek spelled doom for Ward. By 1880, the population had shrunk to 250. A huge fire on August 18, 1883 destroyed the city hall, the school, and virtually all of downtown Ward. By 1885 only one business was left in town, and the population stood at 25. Ward was basically a dead town until 1906 when all of the Martin White holdings were sold to the Nevada United Mines Company. This revival continued until 1920. Today, Ward is an active mining site.  The town has been mostly destroyed by repeated flash flooding in its low-lying site. Only the smelter, mill foundations and a cemetery are left.

Ward Cemetery

Taylor

Silver and gold were discovered in 1873 in what was to become Taylor. This was a typical mining community supported chiefly by the Argus and Monitor mines. In seven years, the town boasted a population of 1,500 people, seven saloons, 3 general stores, an opera house, a Wells-Fargo office, and professional services including a doctor. By 1886, Taylor was the center of county activity. A social highlight was the annual 4th of July celebration.  Mining continued at Taylor intermittently until 1919. Then a 100-ton cyanide plant at the Argus Mine gave new hope. But production declined when the price of silver plummeted. Mining activity renewed during World War II. More than $1 million in silver, gold, copper and lead had been produced. 

Taylor Shaft

Taylor Cemetery

 

Noname Mine

We were headed to Hamilton this morning but the muddy roads were not cooperating.

Someone didn't want their picture taken

Round up time

We interrupted this red tailed hawk and his bunny got away

Lunch time