GOLD POINT GLEAMINGS #15 SEPTEMBER 20, 2005

Reason #10-He was in Las Vegas working
# 9-It was raining
# 8-It was sunny
# 7-He was doing Red Dog Lil honey do's
# 6-He was watching TV
# 5-He was sleeping while watching TV
# 4-He was taking care of guests
# 3-He was doing projects around Gold Point
# 2-He really has no reason
# 1-What difference does it make you're getting another newsletter aren't you!!

Well, now that you have the reasons (or if you prefer- -the excuses) let's get started shall we?

In the previous newsletter I mentioned that we were going to get a donated Seagraves fire truck from the Genoa Fire Department of Nevada. So last year in April we went up and picked it up. The equipment on the truck was donated by the East Fork Fire District.

We met with Fire Chief Todd Carlini of the East Fork Fire District, Douglass Co. Commissioner Tim Smith, Fire Chief Bill and a whole bunch of great fire fighters from the Genoa Fire Department.

On our side there was our county commissioner Ben "Boom" (3/4 down on Gleamings #7 you can find out how I gave him his nickname), Dan, (assistant fire chief) and Diane, Pat, Red Dog Lil and I. We also brought along Dan from Fish Lake Valley, our mechanic, in case of a problem on the way back to Gold Point.

The crew fixed a delicious breakfast buffet we all enjoyed. Then they turned the keys over to us and gave us some training on the pump and instruments.

If anyone out there would like to see the pictures, just drop me an e-mail requesting such. I will be happy to forward you some pictures taken that day by our friends Dee & Sharon of Dayton.

When it was time to go, Bill took us down to the fuel depot in Minden/Gardnerville. While fueling, I noticed that one of the back tires was missing some rubber. So we went over to where they had some spare tires on the rims and picked up 3 extra ones for the trip. Then over to the tire shop to change that bad tire. Then off to Gold Point.

We were between Schurz and Walker Lake when we started losing rubber chunks on another rear tire. Big bummer, huh? We reduced our speed and limped into Hawthorne. After looking around we found an emergency truck repair place that would change tires for us when they got back from a call outside of town. After a total of about 3 hours we were back on the road again.

Except for needing to add oil in Mina the rest of the trip went just fine.

The truck has been a great addition to our "fleet". We now have the Seagraves, a 1975 International forestry fire truck, a early 50's 4000 gallon tanker and the mid 60's La France.

Shortly after receiving the new truck, Dan and Pat went out on a small brush fire over the hill by Pigeon Springs area. It was now baptized!

Last year with government grant money, we replaced the 8 rear tires on the tanker. We also replaced the split rims. The new tires were bigger than the original ones. The old ones being 10.00 x 20 and the new ones being 11.00 x 24.5. These will outlast the life of Sheriff Stone.

This year with another grant, we are getting new tires and rims for the Seagraves. Next year we'll replace the tires on the International.

We finally cribbed the 10,000 gallon tank given to us by the county. We chained it to the trailer, (donated by our neighbor Bruce) and installed a 4 inch butterfly valve. We next are going to build a box around the valve end to protect it from freezing. Then fill it. Being painted black it should absorb enough sun in the winter to keep the tank from freezing. That's what a lot of people tell me. We'll then order some soft suction hose and couplings and, god forbid, if needed we can fill the trucks during an emergency.

Other than replacing batteries and fixing and improving minor things on all the trucks, that pretty much wraps up the Gold Point Fire Department info.

Last April we were invaded by the Queho Posse chapter of E. Clampus Vitus. It was a fun invasion of around 40 clampers clamping around from Friday night through Sunday the 18th.

The reason for this was a dedication of the historical town of Gold Point.

They arrived Friday night and Saturday morning. They were a happy group that always seemed to have a hand wrapped around a can of beer. In fact one of them, who shall remain nameless, lost his hat. I found it in the outhouse a couple of weeks later and brought it to him at a meeting. Good thing it was already brown. Ha Ha.

Saturday night I was inducted into the secret fraternity along with 3 other souls. I would tell you the initiation we had to endure but then they would kill me and then hang me out to dry. Then there would be no more newsletters from Gold Point!

Sunday morning was time to unveil the monument. It was a concrete monument in the shape of Nevada with a plaque imbedded in the middle. I have pictures of that if you'd like to write asking for them.

It was around that time that Pat built our new 1000 dollar outhouse. Yes, you read that correctly, 1000 dollars. That's because inside the wooden exterior is a brand new $700.00 plastic porta-potty. Pat framed around it with 4 x 2's. Using some leftover tongue and groove wood from the saloon extension, he made it look just like an old fashioned outhouse from the olden days. Complete with a moon cut above the door. When the light is on at night the moon is lit up. It's fun to see the expression on peoples faces when they come back from it. They just didn't expect to see such a fancy shitter. The cost is still going up on it. Occasionally it has to be serviced for a monetary fee.

Pat also started work on the Lone Mountain cabin located at the Southwest corner of 3rd and Gold. He was able to totally rebuild the exterior walls one by one. They didn't use 4 x 2 framing back then - only board and bats were used for the walls. Over time they disintegrated to a point where they were about to let the cabin fall to the ground. It was a two room cabin with a center wall dividing the rooms. It was this wall that was really keeping the cabin alive.

One by one Pat raised the walls on each side and installed the 4 x 2's to make a sound frame and then lowered the ceiling back down. Then he put on plywood sheets over the frame and then board and bats over the plywood sheets. We had to buy new board and bats for the South and East sides because the wood splintered to pieces and were not usable again. We are not treating them so with time they will age quickly and look old.

The cabin then sat for year or so before Pat and I started working on it again. Partner Walt came in first with the wiring and installation of the electrical boxes. Then we insulated the ceiling with R-30 before sealing it up. After insulating the walls it was time to cover with the drywall. Our friend Phil from Independence, (famous for his photos of Death Valley seen at Phil Kember's deathvalleyphoto.com), came over and showed Pat and I how to hang drywall. After hanging the North walls in both rooms we were left to do it ourselves. He was a good teacher because it turned out wonderful.

I then taped all the walls and spotted the screws over a two day period. Pat installed the a/c unit in the South wall and installed the windows after replacing the glass in three out of the four windows.

It was now time to cover the walls with the finished product. The top section got covered in old newspapers from the 20's and 40's. I had the 40's and the 20's came from Dan and Diane. 1923 to be accurate. We hung it using wheat paste like the old days. Boy it sure turned to toilet paper after applying the paste. I would put up the large full sized papers and Pat came behind putting in the little sections or filling in the holes.

The bottom section was done in 8 x 1 tongue and groove pine. We installed little strips of wood first at the bottom, middle and top of the 3 foot high wainscot. This is what we nailed into to secure the wood. Then a corner molding around the top edge of the wood to give it a finished look.

We now are waiting for partner Walt to come back and finish the electrical.

Pat also finished putting on the front porch. The old timers had a half porch on it. The porch was on the North half and you walked up old stairs on the South half. Now it's all the way across so it's easier to put out chairs and watch the beautiful sunsets we have out here.

The original 12 x 1 rough cut boards on the ceiling are being left as is. We are also leaving on the old wallpaper on both sides of the center wall. I will just have to staple it up in a couple of places. We are also not painting any of the trim inside. Everything is being kept as close to original as possible to keep that 90 year old look. Not sure if we are going to carpet it yet or use throw rugs like the old timers would have used. I would appreciate your opinion on that. What would you like to have if you stayed in it? The old 4 x 1 tongue and groove floor to put your bare feet on or a nice indoor/outdoor carpet?? Let's have a public poll and see who wins.

Here are some donations... Carl from Beatty donated a bunch of old shakes he collected. He even took the time to bring them up to Gold Point as I was in Las Vegas and didn't have the time to go get them. John and Sheila donated a picture of the post office when the sign read Hornsilver. This has been put up in the newly redone museum/post office. More about that later. Bruce from near Lida has donated more coolers and an ice maker.

Up at the saloon we put up a new porch overhang on the North side where the bands for the party always set up. We used large pinion pine logs for the uprights instead of 4 x 4's. It looks nice and rustic. Then had some cold steel rolled into corrugated sheets for the roof. That way it will rust up real brown. So far it's rusting very nicely. We completed this just before the chili cook-off this year.

In the interest of time and space I will keep the talk of the two chili cook-offs down to a bare minimum. Both years were very successful for the Gold Point Fire Department. Everyone had a great fun time as usual. This year the crowd was a little shy of last year. We believe this was due to the high cost of gas this year. We had a record number of breakfast servings Sunday morning though. I barely was able to keep up on the scrambling of chicken embryos and the flipping of hot cakes.

So much goes on during this event that it really needs a newsletter by itself. Those of you who were there know what happened. Those of you who weren't there should try to make it out next year to experience it.

The fire department purchased a bunch of fire extinguishers for the townspeople of Gold Point this year with some of the money we made. Next year we'll get more. They will go into cabins that nobody occupies in case, God forbid, they're needed.

Earlier this year there was a fire at Karen's place in Gold Point. It was in the ceiling around the chimney. Had it not been for the fire extinguishers we purchased a few years ago after a previous chili cook-off, things could have been very bad. Karen was able to slow the fire down enough until Dan and Mike got over there with water to put it out.

At this time we wish to thank all the generous people who came out to have fun and make the last two parties a success. Let's not forget all the people who donated their time washing dishes, cooking, bartending, garbage collecting, etc, etc, and etc. If it were not for the helpers we couldn't and wouldn't be able to have these events. Bravo to one and all. In fact, let's give them a standing ovation. hip hip hooray!!!!

Air conditioners have been installed in both Andre's and Hornsilver cabins. Next year we will put one in Stone's cabin and a second one in Radkie's. A TV/VCR has been installed in Andre's. Dynamite boxes have been installed in both Andre's and Hornsilver to hold VCR tapes. No smoking signs have been put up in all cabins.

Any one who has our old star route address in their book should change it. The post office has issued us a new one.
It's HC 71 Box 30. Gold Point, Nevada 89013.

Pat and I last week finished work on rescuing the old garage at the corner of 2nd and main streets next to Walt's gas tanks. It was held up with wires. We went in and using 4 x 1 boards secured the old wood to them. This strengthened the building quite a bit. Then, using  6 x 2's we put in cross framing on the back wall to stabilize it from moving side to side. We also put up some cross pieces above the doors in the front. Then we put in new 4 x 2 rafters in the ceiling. The building was really strong now. After putting on the plywood sheeting on the roof it is almost rock solid. New desert tan rolled roofing finished it off. We then took off all the wires and walked away into the afternoon sun.

Today it's raining. I know that's not big news to most of us unless you have a leaky roof. One of Red Doggie's honey do's was to re-roof the roof over the back room of the house. It was built originally as a screened in porch. You entered it by going out the original front door. The previous owners of this house then enclosed it. Well, they didn't have enough pitch on the roof. To say it has any pitch is generous. So over time it developed a leak. I put on the new roof and it didn't make any difference. In fact it leaks worse. There is a dip in the roof which collects a lot of water. I believe that walking all over it made it sag a little more. So now I'm going to have to go back and build a pitch to it and let you know how that works in a future newsletter.

The same condition is effecting my tool shed.

Here is the big question... What do old flat roofs and women's breasts have in common? With time they both start sagging. lol.
We better move on to something else before I get hit in the head with a frying pan!

Let's talk a little about Cindy's efforts in the museum. Throughout the winter and spring and right up to the party, she would come out and volunteer her time to work on reorganizing it.

We are going room by room totally fixing up the old place.

Starting in the old post office lobby she repainted the woodwork and the walls. The wood wall around the tellers cage was cleaned and re-oiled with Old English. The dry wood sucked up oil like our old water truck.

Then using some of my old photos of Gold Point she made copies with the computer. Framed them and hung them about the lobby. The old 50's wanted posters were put up around the top of the walls like a border. The old glass display case was emptied and fixed up. Then Cindy put in mostly all new displays pertaining to Gold Point.

The lobby now shows off old Gold Point much better than before. Cindy has taken down things that had nothing to do with Gold Point or even history. All those things were put there by us around the early 80's when it was the only building we owned. When I moved my stuff up here in the early 80's from the Sacramento area, it was in boxes. Without TV back then I emptied the boxes one by one putting up stuff I had collected from different places during my travels.

In the old store she has moved out most of the books. We want to fill up the shelves with old bottles and tins to give the appearance of an old general store.

The old "apartment" in the back will be re-done in a 1940's theme. This is to represent the time when Ora Mae's sons were in WWII. Eventually finishing up in the office of the post office itself.

When Cindy is here she is always happy to take people through the museum and talk about what she has learned about Gold Point. She's really happy when you buy her a drink in the saloon as a thank you.

We have a long way to go in the museum before it's all completed. If it weren't for more pressing issues like my leaky roof or saving falling down buildings it would get done quicker.
Without Cindy's help though, nothing would be getting done at all. She has actually gotten rid of some of the old dust in the place that was there when we bought the place during Easter weekend in 1982.

Before I forget, anyone wishing to catch up on back issues of Gold Point Gleamings has only to go to www.goldpointghosttown.com and go to the newsletter page, (Oh, you're already there!!!). All issues have been and will continue to be posted there.

Now some sad news. Early this year in February we lost two dear friends of Gold Point. Tigger the cat and one of our gunfighters, Mike Wake.

Our old tabby cat Tigger was laid to rest February 13th after around 20 years of age. It was a tuff time for Red Dog and I. He adopted us 3 years ago and was such a good kitty kat. Very easy going and never ruffled by animals bigger than him. He would never back down to big dogs who visited us and would always keep other cats away from the house. More than once we would see bunches of hair or hear cat screams from his fights.

Mike Wake alias Don deLavega Joaquin Murrieta Monolito Morales passed away February 17th. A more gentler and generous friend one could not have.

From Fish Lake Valley he was one of our High Dessert Drifters for many years.

In his will, his last wish was to have his ashes rest in the saloon for all eternity. His good friend Dan made a wall plague with a shelf for him.

The services in the saloon was held after the chili cook-off Monday the 30th of May, with his family and friends here to say their last good-bye's. Red Dog Lil, being an ordained minister, officiated at the ceremony. Mike was an Airman 1st Class in the Air Force. His job was jet fighter mechanic. As such, the Air Force sent us a flag. It was proudly raised and lowered to half mast on the post office flag pole. We then played taps and amazing grace. The flag was then raised and lowered and folded back up and presented to his family.

Another thing Mike wanted us to do was that when we had a drink in the saloon he wanted to drink with us. So when we pour a shot for us we pour one for him and set the shot glass on his box of ashes. Let me tell you he sure can drink. That glass is emptied every time we go up there.

Good bye and may God bless to both Mike and Tigger.

I'm almost finished.

Now for a new feature I hope you like. I'm going to call it "Tales from the not so old West".

It will be actual excerpts from Ora Mae's original Gold Point Gleamings.

Alan Patera, author of the books on Gold Point and Gold Mountain, and numerous other ghost town books, has compiled a notebook full of newspaper info. He has given me a copy. With each newsletter I will let you know what was going on in the past in and around Gold Point. If you'd like a copy of either of these two books you can go to www.goldpointghosttown.com and go to the "Mercantile Store" page and order one along with Gold Point t-shirts or hats. Remember Christmas is coming or at the very least someone you know has a birthday just around the corner.

Ok, the commercial is now over. Let's get to "Tales from the not so old West".

The following tidbits are from the May 6th, 1949 Goldfield News and Beatty Bulletin Vol. 46 no. 52 Gold Point Gleamings.

Now that the weather has moderated, prospectors are coming out of hibernation and creating quite a bit of activity around here. For example:

Keith Montgomery, nephew of the late Harry DeVotie (also Nevada State Senator from Gold Point), Don Martin, both of Hawthorne, spent Saturday and Sunday in Gold Point on a mining mission.

Martin has a chinchilla farm in Hawthorne. He paid $1000 for the first pair, which he purchased in Alaska. (wow that's expensive for two rodents)

Mr. and Mrs. William Allured of Tule Canyon have returned after spending the winter in Las Vegas. Mr. Allured is from Australia.

Senator and Mrs. Harry Wiley have been busy entertaining a number of guests. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Allen of Sparks visited with them for two weeks, and are returning this week to spend the summer. Sunday guests of the Wiley's were Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Pollard of White Salmon, Washington, where Mr. Pollard is postmaster and his wife is a school teacher.

John Sells of Goldfield came through Gold Point recently en route to Tule canyon for the summer.

Mr. and Mrs. John Finch and Mrs. Claire Borgerson spent Saturday in Bishop shopping. Groceries are cheaper in California, so they say. Mr. Finch works for the Ohio Mines.

Anyone thinking that Gold Point as a vacant mining camp where they can ransack cabins and make off with mining tools are warned to be careful. We keep a good watch for "junk men"

Old-timer Bill Downs was in town shopping and to pick up his mail. Now in his eighties he isn't feeling as spry as when he rode his burros from Tule for groceries once a month.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Powell of New Orleans, La. have a baby girl named Penelope. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Powell of Leipsic, Ohio have a baby girl named Linda Lee. Mrs. Wiley is a grandmother three times now.

I hope you liked "Tales from the not so old West". Next time I'll dig deeper and go back farther in time to give you more mining information from when Gold Point was new. This time I just wanted to give you a taste of the original Gleamings newsletter.

So who gives you a more informative newsletter, Sheriff Stone or Ora Mae Wiley? But, lets be fair to her. She didn't have a computer back then.

Next week after taking 4 months off, I'm heading back to Las Vegas to start work on a remodel at Caesars Palace. It should last about 5 months. So, I will be away during the week and home on the weekends if I don't have to work.

Now is the time to start thinking about the annual day after Thanksgiving dinner here at Gold Point. It will go on as long as I'm not required to work in Vegas during that time period. Rooms are still available. If I have to work it will be postponed until next year.

In closing, I will say thank you for reading this very late newsletter and hope to hear from you when you can.

Happy Trails and Sunsets,

Sheriff Stone &/or Red Dog Lil