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Taylor, Nevada – White Pine County Ghost town
Taylor, Nevada, located in White Pine County approximately 15 miles southeast of Ely, was a quintessential mining boomtown of the late 19th century. Established following the discovery of silver and gold in 1873, Taylor epitomized the rapid rise and fall of mining communities in the American West.
Founding and Early Development (1872–1880)
Silver and gold were discovered in 1873 by prospectors Taylor and John Platt, guided by a local Native American, Jim Ragsdale, who was paid $500 for leading them to a silver ledge. The Taylor Mine was staked and sold in 1875 to the Martin White Company of Ward for $14,000. Concurrently, the nearby Monitor Mine was discovered, laying the foundation for the town’s growth. However, significant development did not occur until 1880, when the camp of Taylor began to take shape. In 1881, the Monitor Mill and Mining Company constructed a ten-stamp mill seven miles northwest of Taylor on Steptoe Creek, which began operations in September 1881, processing ore from the surrounding mines.
Boom Period (1881–1886)
Taylor’s peak came in 1883, following new ore discoveries and the construction of the Argus Mill. The town’s population reportedly reached 1,500, though some historical markers exaggerate this figure at 15,000, likely an overstatement given the scale of operations. By the end of 1883, Taylor boasted a vibrant community with three general stores, four restaurants, three boarding houses, seven saloons, a brewery, a drugstore, a doctor’s office, a school, an opera house, a Wells Fargo office, and professional services. Two newspapers, the White Pine News and the Taylor Reflex (relocated from Ward), were published, reflecting the town’s cultural and economic vitality. The annual Fourth of July celebration became a social highlight, cementing Taylor’s role as a regional hub by 1886. During this period, the mines shipped over $260,000 worth of ore (approximately $8 million in 2025 dollars), primarily silver, with gold, copper, and lead as secondary outputs.
Decline (1885–1890)
Taylor’s prosperity was short-lived. By 1885, the free-milling silver ore began to deplete, and a tragic accident in 1886 at the Argus Mine—where a drill struck dynamite, killing one miner and blinding another—accelerated the town’s decline. The Monitor Mill closed in 1886, followed by the Argus Mill in 1889. By 1890, only a handful of residents remained, with many businesses and buildings relocated to nearby Ely, which was emerging as a more stable economic center.
Revivals and Final Decline (1918–1991)
Mining in Taylor saw intermittent revivals. In 1918, the Wyoming Mining & Milling Company built a 100-ton cyanide plant at the Argus Mine, processing 60,000 tons of ore in its first year (1919). The mill operated from 1921 to 1923, producing 40–50 tons of ore daily, but closed again due to falling silver prices. World War II temporarily spurred mining activity, with local mines yielding over $3 million in silver, gold, copper, and lead over their lifetime. In 1980, Silver King Mines, Inc., of Salt Lake City initiated a $10 million open-pit operation, which continued until 1991. This final phase destroyed much of what remained of Taylor’s original structures, leaving only a few buildings and mining remnants.
Present Day
Today, Taylor is a ghost town, with only two buildings remaining and much of the site obscured by modern mining operations. Located at coordinates 39°04’47.0″N, 114°41’07.0″W, it is accessible via a well-maintained gravel road off U.S. Highways 6, 50, and 93, near Ely. The Nevada State Historical Marker No. 99, erected by the Nevada State Park System and White Pine Public Museum, marks the site, summarizing its history. The area remains of interest for ongoing mineral exploration, but the town’s historical footprint is minimal, with most structures lost to time or modern mining.
Connection to Nevada Northern Railway
Taylor’s mining operations were closely tied to the Nevada Northern Railway, which connected Ely to national rail networks starting in 1906. While Taylor’s boom preceded the railway’s construction, the railway facilitated ore transport from nearby mines during later revivals, particularly in the early 20th century. The Nevada Northern’s Ore Line, extending to Ruth and McGill, supported the region’s mining economy, indirectly sustaining Taylor’s intermittent operations.
Conclusion
Taylor, Nevada, exemplifies the boom-and-bust cycle of Western mining towns. From its rapid growth in the 1880s to its near-total disappearance by the late 20th century, Taylor’s history reflects the challenges of sustaining resource-dependent communities. Its legacy endures through historical markers, sparse remnants, and its role in White Pine County’s mining heritage, preserved in part by the Nevada Northern Railway Museum’s efforts to document the region’s rail and mining history.
Nevada State Historic Marker
Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. These roadside markers bring attention to the places, people, and events that make up Nevada’s heritage. They are as diverse as the counties they are located within and range from the typical mining boom and bust town to the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in Northern Nevada Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost or damaged.
Most of the markers across the state are large blue metal markers. However, there are a variety of other marker styles out there. For this guide they have been simplified into a few categories (blue, blue small, concrete, and stone). Sometimes, the markers are on buildings, fences, or metal stands.
Silver and gold were discovered by Taylor and John Platt in 1873 in what was to become Taylor, a typical mining community supported chiefly by the Argus and Monitor Mines. In seven years, the town boasted a population of 15,000 people, seven saloons, three general stores, an opera house, a Wells Fargo office, and other businesses. By 1886, Taylor was the center of county activity, a social highlight being the annual 4th of July celebration.
Mining continued intermittently until 1919. At that time, a 100 ton cyanide plant at the ArgusMine gave the area new life, but production declined when the price of silver plummeted. World War II renewed mining activity temporarily. Local mines yielded more than $3 million in silver, gold, copper, and lead.
STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO. 99
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
WHITE PINE PUBLIC MUSEUM, INCORPORATED
Nevada State Historic Marker Map
Summary
| Name | Taylor, Nevada |
| Location | White Pine County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.0885, -114.7522 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 99 |
References
Bodie 601 Vigilante Group
Bodie, California, a gold rush boomtown in the late 19th century, was notorious for its lawlessness and violence. Amid this chaotic environment, the Bodie 601 vigilante group emerged as a response to the perceived failures of formal law enforcement. The group’s name, “601,” is commonly interpreted as “6 feet under, 0 trials, 1 rope,” reflecting their commitment to swift, extrajudicial justice. This report examines the origins, actions, and legacy of the Bodie 601 vigilante group, focusing on their most infamous act—the lynching of Joseph DeRoche in January 1881.
Historical Context
Bodie’s rapid growth followed the discovery of gold in 1859 by William S. Bodey, with a significant boom between 1877 and 1880 when the Standard Company unearthed substantial gold deposits. By 1879, Bodie’s population swelled to approximately 2,712, supporting over 2,000 buildings, including 65 saloons, gambling halls, and brothels. The town’s violent reputation was fueled by a high murder rate—31 killings between 1877 and 1882—earning it the moniker of a “shooter’s town” by the Sacramento Union. With an ineffective legal system, where only one of 40 murder charges resulted in a conviction, citizens turned to vigilante justice to restore order.
Vigilante groups were not unique to Bodie. During the Gold Rush era, similar committees formed across the American West, notably in San Francisco in the 1850s, where the term “601” first appeared, symbolizing rapid retribution. These groups arose when communities believed law enforcement was inadequate or corrupt, a sentiment echoed in Bodie’s lawless streets.
The Formation of the Bodie 601
The Bodie 601 vigilante group consisted of business owners, miners, and other residents frustrated by rampant crime and the failure of the legal system to deliver justice. Operating in secrecy to avoid scrutiny from newspaper reporters, the group’s membership reportedly included both masked and unmasked individuals, suggesting a mix of anonymity and open defiance. Their actions were driven by a desire to curb the violence that plagued Bodie, particularly in response to high-profile crimes that inflamed public sentiment.
The group’s name, while popularly understood as “6 feet under, 0 trials, 1 rope,” lacks definitive contemporary evidence for this interpretation. A note pinned to Joseph DeRoche’s body after his lynching read, “All others take warning. Let no one cut him down. Bodie 601,” but no newspaper from the time explicitly decoded the numerals. The meaning likely evolved as part of Bodie’s mythos, reinforced by similar vigilante groups in San Francisco and Virginia City, Nevada.
The Lynching of Joseph DeRoche
The most documented act of the Bodie 601 was the lynching of Joseph DeRoche on January 24, 1881, following his murder of Thomas Treloar. On January 15, 1881, at a ball in the Miners’ Union Hall, DeRoche danced with Treloar’s wife, despite Treloar’s objections. Later that night, as Treloar and his wife walked down Main Street, DeRoche ambushed them at the corner of Main and Lowe Streets, shooting Treloar in the head with a British Bulldog pocket revolver. DeRoche was arrested but handed over to a drunken Deputy Farnsworth, allowing him to escape briefly down Goat Ranch Road. He was recaptured eight miles away and returned to Bodie’s jail.
Public outrage over the murder simmered through the weekend. On the night of January 23, 200–300 men, including members of the 601, organized a secretive committee. Between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. on January 24, they marched to the jail on Bonanza Avenue, armed with shotguns and revolvers. Jailer Kirgan, confronted by cries of “Bring him out” and “Open the door,” complied, and DeRoche was removed from his cell. The vigilantes marched him to the corner of Main and Lowe Streets, where the murder occurred, and used a gallows frame from Webber’s blacksmith shop for the hanging. DeRoche, described as displaying “dogged and defiant submission,” was asked if he had any final words. He reportedly said, “I have nothing to say only O God,” before being hanged. A note bearing the 601 inscription was pinned to his body, serving as a warning to others.
The Bodie Free Press described the event as “awful and impressive,” noting the deliberate planning and the community’s resolve to punish DeRoche without a trial. The swift execution underscored the group’s commitment to immediate justice, bypassing a legal system that often failed to convict due to claims of self-defense.
Legacy and Impact
The lynching of DeRoche cemented the Bodie 601’s place in the town’s lore, contributing to its reputation as a lawless frontier settlement. The event was widely reported, amplifying Bodie’s image as a “terribly wicked place,” despite efforts by some residents to counter this narrative. The 601’s actions reflected the broader vigilante tradition in the American West, where communities took justice into their own hands when formal systems faltered. However, the lack of trials raised ethical questions, with some historians suggesting that vigilante groups occasionally targeted innocent individuals, as seen in controversies like the Montana vigilantes and Henry Plummer.
Bodie’s violent era waned as gold reserves depleted, and by the early 20th century, it transitioned into a ghost town. Today, preserved in a state of “arrested decay” by California State Parks, Bodie attracts visitors eager to explore its Wild West legacy. The story of the 601 vigilante group remains a central part of this narrative, symbolizing the harsh realities of frontier justice.
Conclusion
The Bodie 601 vigilante group was a product of its time, born from the lawlessness of a gold rush boomtown and the community’s desperation for order. Their most notable act, the lynching of Joseph DeRoche, highlights the brutal efficiency of vigilante justice and its lasting impact on Bodie’s historical identity. While the group’s actions addressed immediate concerns, they also contributed to the mythologized image of Bodie as a violent outpost of the Wild West. The 601’s legacy serves as a reminder of the complexities of frontier justice, where necessity and morality often clashed.
Sources
- Bodie, California. (n.d.). The 601 vigilante group and Joseph DeRoche. Retrieved from www.bodie.com
- True West Magazine. (2019, July 2). Vigilante Committees. Retrieved from truewestmagazine.com
- Piatt, M. H. (2010, August). Correcting Recent Bodie Myths. Retrieved from www.bodiehistory.com
- Pacific Adventure Club. (n.d.). The Infamous Bad Man of Bodie and the California Ghost Town. Retrieved from www.pacificadventureclub.com
- When In Your State. (n.d.). How the gold rush created the most lawless town in the American West. Retrieved from wheninyourstate.com
- Legends of America. (n.d.). Old West Vigilantes. Retrieved from www.legendsofamerica.com
Nevadaville, Colorado – Gilpin County Ghosttown
Nevadaville, Colorado, is a historic gold-mining town in Gilpin County, located in the Rocky Mountains just west of Central City at an elevation of approximately 9,000 feet. Now largely a ghost town with only a handful of residents (around 6 as of recent records), it represents a classic example of Colorado’s boom-and-bust mining history during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush era.
Founding and Early Growth (1859–1860s)
Nevadaville traces its origins to 1859, shortly after John H. Gregory discovered the first significant lode gold deposits in the area (known as Gregory Gulch or Gregory Digging). At the time, the region was part of western Kansas Territory. The settlement initially formed as a camp for miners working nearby claims, particularly the Burroughs lode and Kansas lode. It was first known simply as Nevada or Nevada City (and sometimes associated with Bald Mountain), with the post office later operating as Bald Mountain to avoid confusion with other “Nevada” towns.
The town quickly attracted hundreds of prospectors, many of them Irish immigrants, who lived and worked in the crowded Gregory Gulch area alongside neighboring settlements like Central City (the social and economic hub) and Black Hawk (the smelting and industrial center). Nevadaville served primarily as a working-class residential community for miners. By 1860–1861, it had grown rapidly, boasting quartz mills (around 20–40 in the vicinity), stores, hotels, private dwellings, and a population that reportedly reached about 2,705—slightly larger than Denver’s at the time (around 2,603). Some accounts suggest it approached or exceeded 4,000 residents in its broader peak period.
Early institutions included a Masonic lodge organized in 1859 (initially Nevada Number 36 under the Kansas Grand Lodge, later becoming Nevada Lodge Number 4 under the new Colorado jurisdiction). A large fire in 1861 destroyed over 50 buildings, including a boardinghouse run by naturalist Martha Maxwell, but the town was quickly rebuilt.
Peak Prosperity (1870s–1890s)
The name changed to Nevadaville around 1870. The town continued to thrive as gold mining expanded, supported by stamp mills and other infrastructure. It featured saloons, a general store/trading post, city hall (which also served as a fire department and jail), churches, a school, and other businesses typical of frontier mining communities. The population hovered around 900–1,100 in the 1870–1890 census periods, with a predominantly working-class character compared to its flashier neighbors.
Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, and Nevadaville benefited from the broader mining economy in Gilpin County, one of the state’s earliest and richest gold districts. However, it faced challenges, including another major fire in 1887 that damaged much of the commercial district. Structures were often rebuilt using more durable stone foundations and brick. A second fire or economic pressures in the late 19th century further tested resilience, but the town persisted into the 1890s.
Decline and Transition to Ghost Town (1900s–1930s)
The primary cause of Nevadaville’s decline was the exhaustion of easily accessible gold (and later silver) ores around 1900. As mines played out, miners and families moved away in search of new opportunities. Economic factors like the Panic of 1893 accelerated the downturn. Census data shows a sharp drop: 823 in 1900, 367 in 1910, 51 in 1920, and just 2 by 1930. By the 1920s–1930s, most buildings were abandoned, demolished, or left to decay; two-thirds had vanished by the mid-1950s.
The town never fully recovered, unlike Central City and Black Hawk, which later benefited from gambling legalization in the 1990s. Nevadaville remained isolated and largely deserted, with scattered mine ruins, foundations, and a few grave sites dotting the hillsides.
Modern Era and Preservation
Today, Nevadaville is a semi-ghost town. A small number of private residents (estimates vary from 2 to 6) still live there, and visitors can drive or walk along the public Main Street to view remaining historic structures from the road. Key surviving buildings include:
- The Nevadaville Masonic Lodge #4 (built in the 1870s), Colorado’s only active “ghost town lodge,” which still holds meetings thanks to ongoing efforts by Freemasons to preserve it.
- The Kramer Saloon (or Joseph Kramer’s Saloon), City Hall (with basement jail cells), Bon-Ton Saloon, and Bald Mountain Trading Post/General Store.
All buildings and land are privately owned, so exploration beyond public roads is restricted and discouraged due to safety hazards from unstable structures and old mine shafts. The site is part of the broader Central City–Black Hawk–Nevadaville National Historic Landmark District.
The Nevadaville Heritage Foundation works to preserve the site’s history, restore remaining elements, and educate visitors about its frontier legacy. Some accounts describe it as potentially haunted, adding to its allure for paranormal enthusiasts, though its primary draw remains its tangible connection to Colorado’s Gold Rush past.
Significance
Nevadaville exemplifies the rapid rise and fall of Rocky Mountain mining towns. Born from the 1859 gold discovery that helped spark Colorado’s development, it grew into a vibrant community rivaling Denver before fading as resources depleted. Its story highlights themes of immigration (especially Irish miners), frontier resilience amid fires and economic panics, and the transient nature of boomtowns. While much has been lost to time, the surviving Masonic Lodge and scattered ruins serve as quiet reminders of a once-thriving “working man’s” town in Gregory Gulch.
For further reading, sources like Gulch of Gold by Caroline Bancroft or local historical archives provide deeper details on daily life, specific mines, and families who lived there. Visitors to the Central City area can easily stop by for a scenic drive-through, ideally before dusk, while respecting private property.
Acoma, Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town
Acoma is an extinct ghost town and former railroad siding in Lincoln County, southeastern Nevada, in the United States. Located at approximately 37°32′54″N 114°10′21″W (elevation 5,528 ft / 1,685 m), it sits in the arid Great Basin landscape of Clover Valley, near the Utah border and west of Beaver Dam State Park. A variant name is Acoma Station.
Origins and Naming
The name “Acoma” was likely transferred from the historic Acoma Pueblo (“Sky City”) in New Mexico. In the Keres language, it roughly translates to “people of the white rock,” possibly referencing local light-colored rock formations.
Early Development (1904–1910s)
Development began in spring 1904 when the Utah and Eastern Copper Company initiated mining in the area. The first settlement formed around 1905, coinciding with the completion of the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad (later part of the Union Pacific) through the region.
Acoma functioned primarily as a railroad siding and support point:
- A section house was built to house maintenance workers.
- It supported ore shipments (especially copper) from nearby mines, including prospects in adjacent Utah areas.
A post office operated from 1905 to 1913, marking the town’s formal (if modest) establishment and serving as a lifeline for supplies and communication in this remote desert outpost.
Economy and Industry
Early focus: Railroad logistics and copper mining/shipping from regional prospects (e.g., connections to Utah’s Goldstrike Mining District). Operations were small-scale.
Later activity: The Acoma Mining District became known for perlite extraction from volcanic tuff deposits (mid-20th century onward). Sites like the Acoma Mine (also called Pulcepher and Comstock) produced granular perlite for uses in insulation, filtration, and agriculture. Reserves were estimated in the millions of tons, but production remained intermittent and small-scale.
The economy reflected typical Lincoln County patterns: short-lived resource booms tied to railroads and minerals in a harsh, arid environment.
Population and Community Life
Acoma never grew large. In 1941, it had a recorded population of about 15. Earlier peaks (likely in the 1910s) were probably in the dozens, consisting mainly of railroad workers, miners, and a few families.
Life was rugged and isolated, typical of early 20th-century Nevada desert outposts, with reliance on the railroad for connection to the outside world.
Decline and Abandonment
The post office closed in 1913 as initial railroad and mining momentum waned. Population declined further amid broader economic shifts, including post-WWI adjustments and the Great Depression. By the mid-20th century, Acoma was fully abandoned as a town, though limited perlite mining continued sporadically in the district.
Today, it is a classic Nevada ghost town with minimal or scattered remnants (e.g., old section house ruins) in a remote high-desert setting under Bureau of Land Management oversight. No permanent residents remain.
Historical Context in Lincoln County
Acoma formed during a period of railroad expansion and mineral prospecting in eastern Nevada. Lincoln County itself has deep roots, from ancient Native American habitation (Southern Paiute and others) to Mormon settlements in the 1860s and mining booms (e.g., Pioche). Acoma represents the smaller-scale, railroad-dependent outposts that dotted the landscape in the early 1900s, many of which faded quickly.
Its story embodies the boom-and-bust cycle common to Nevada’s mining and rail communities.
Sources: Primarily drawn from historical geographical dictionaries, mining records, and Lincoln County historical overviews. For visits, note the remote location requires proper preparation (4WD recommended, no services).
Gunfight Involving William F. Keys
Incident Overview
On May 11, 1943, a fatal Gunfight Involving William F. Keys, occurred in what is now Joshua Tree National Park, near the county line between San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California. The incident involved William (Bill) F. Keys, a cattle rancher and miner, and Worth Bagley, a former deputy sheriff and neighboring rancher. The conflict resulted in Bagley’s death, with Keys claiming he acted in self-defense.
Background
William F. Keys and Worth Bagley were neighbors engaged in a long-standing feud over a property line dispute and Keys’ use of a road on the contested land. The disagreement had escalated over time, creating significant tension between the two men. Bagley, leveraging his past experience as a deputy sheriff in Los Angeles County, was known to be assertive, while Keys, aged 63 at the time, was a well-established rancher in the region.
Details of the Gunfight
- Date and Location: May 11, 1943, on or near Bagley’s property in the Joshua Tree area.
- Events Leading Up to the Incident: The exact circumstances immediately preceding the shooting are not fully detailed in available records, but the ongoing property dispute was the primary catalyst. The confrontation likely occurred when Keys and Bagley encountered each other, possibly during a heated exchange over the disputed road or land boundaries.
- The Shooting: According to Keys, Bagley posed an immediate threat, prompting Keys to shoot him in self-defense. The precise sequence of events, including who initiated the confrontation or whether Bagley was armed, remains unclear from available sources. Bagley was fatally wounded and died at the scene.
- Aftermath: Hours after the shooting, Keys turned himself in to law enforcement in Twentynine Palms, California, asserting that he acted to protect himself. The legal outcome of the case is not specified in the provided records, but Keys’ decision to surrender suggests he sought to justify his actions through the legal system.
Investigation and Legal Context
- Law Enforcement Response: Local authorities in Twentynine Palms processed Keys’ surrender and likely conducted an investigation into the shooting. Given the self-defense claim, the investigation would have focused on corroborating evidence, such as witness statements, the presence of weapons, and the physical scene.
- Historical Context: The incident occurred in a remote, rugged area during a time when disputes over land and resources were common in rural regions. Self-defense claims in such conflicts were often evaluated based on limited evidence and the credibility of the individuals involved.
Analysis
The gunfight reflects the challenges of resolving property disputes in sparsely populated areas with limited law enforcement presence. The feud between Keys and Bagley underscores how personal animosities, combined with competing economic interests, could escalate to violence. Keys’ claim of self-defense suggests he perceived a credible threat, but without detailed records of the investigation or trial (if one occurred), it is difficult to assess the validity of his account.
The incident also highlights the cultural and legal norms of the era, where individuals often relied on personal means to settle disputes, sometimes with deadly outcomes. The lack of clarity in the historical record about the legal consequences for Keys indicates either a resolution in his favor or minimal public documentation of the case.
Conclusion
The gunfight between William F. Keys and Worth Bagley on May 11, 1943, was a tragic outcome of a prolonged property dispute in the Joshua Tree region. Keys’ self-defense claim and subsequent surrender to authorities suggest he sought to justify his actions, but the absence of comprehensive records limits a full understanding of the event. This incident serves as a case study of how personal and economic conflicts in rural settings could lead to fatal confrontations, shaped by the social and legal dynamics of the time.
Source
Information for this report is drawn from the National Registry of Exonerations, detailing the incident involving William F. Keys and Worth Bagley.