Tag: Tuscarora

Tuscarora Nevada

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Tuscarora, Nevada, is a small unincorporated community in Elko County, nestled at the base of Mount Blitzen on the eastern slope of the Tuscarora Mountains, approximately 50 miles northwest of Elko. Once a bustling mining town with a population exceeding 3,000, it is now a near-ghost town with about 120 residents, known for its historical significance and the internationally renowned Tuscarora Pottery School. The town’s history is a vivid tale of gold and silver booms, cultural diversity, and resilience, shaped by prospectors, Chinese laborers, and modern-day artists.

Origins and Gold Discovery (1867–1871)

Tuscarora’s story began in 1867 when a Shoshone Indian revealed the presence of gold to a trader along the Humboldt River. The trader shared this information with brothers John and Steven Beard, who, along with six other prospectors from Austin, Nevada, ventured to the west side of Independence Valley. By July 1867, they organized a mining district and named it Tuscarora after the USS Tuscarora, a Union warship on which one miner, Charles M. Benson, had served during the Civil War. The name also reflects the Tuscarora people, an Iroquoian Native American tribe originally from North Carolina.

The initial camp formed on McCann Creek, about two miles southwest of the present townsite, where placer mining yielded approximately $12 per miner per day. As news spread, nearly 300 miners rushed from Austin, prompting the construction of a four-room adobe fort for protection against potential Native American raids. In 1868, a four-stamp mill was relocated from Austin, but it proved inefficient. By 1869, the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad left many Chinese laborers unemployed, and over 100 of them arrived in Tuscarora, taking over abandoned placer claims on Beard Hill. By 1870, the census recorded 105 Chinese residents compared to 15 whites, highlighting the significant Chinese presence.

Silver Boom and Town Development (1871–1884)

In 1871, W.O. Weed discovered rich silver lodes on the east side of Mount Blitzen, two miles northeast of the Beard claims, shifting the focus from gold to silver. These discoveries, including the Mount Blitzen silver veins, led to the platting of the current Tuscarora townsite below the new finds. The original McCann Creek site became known as “Old Town,” primarily worked by Chinese miners, while Euro-American miners developed the new silver mines. The Tuscarora Mining District boomed between 1872 and 1884, producing an estimated $10 million to $40 million in silver and gold.

Photograph of Grand Prize Mill, Tuscarora, Nevada, 1891 - Elbert Edwards Photo Collection - University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries
Photograph of Grand Prize Mill, Tuscarora, Nevada, 1891 – Elbert Edwards Photo Collection – University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries

By 1877, Tuscarora’s population swelled to 3,000–4,000, including several hundred Chinese residents. The town boasted a vibrant infrastructure with saloons, restaurants, general stores, a post office (established in 1871), two newspapers (the Tuscarora Times and Review, which merged into the Times-Review in 1878), Methodist and Catholic churches, a public school, and fraternal lodges like the Masons and Odd Fellows. Six mills with 80 stamps processed ore from major mines such as the Grand Prize, Navajo, Independence, and Argenta. The Grand Prize alone yielded over $1.39 million in its first year.

The Chinese community, concentrated in “Chinatown” along McCann Creek, operated placer mines, sold goods like tea and silks, and ran opium dens, gambling houses, and a richly decorated joss house. Chinese laborers also constructed two ditches to bring water from Six Mile Canyon and upper McCann Creek, ensuring a reliable water supply. The Tuscarora Water Company, formed in 1877, further improved water access, reducing fire risks. Toll roads connected Tuscarora to railheads in Elko, Carlin, Battle Mountain, and Winnemucca, with over 200 oxen hauling freight wagons. The 52-mile route to Elko was bustling with stagecoaches and freight, costing 2–3 cents per pound.

At its peak, Tuscarora was a cultural hub with Plunkett’s Hall hosting dances, plays, and operas on a tilting floor that could transform into an amphitheater. Social events included Fourth of July celebrations with shooting matches, baseball games, and parades led by the Tuscarora Guard. The town had progressive elements, including a polytechnic institute, skating rinks, a ballet school, and an elocution teacher. However, violence was common, with Cornish miners (“Cousin Jacks”) known for knife fights and claim-jumping disputes, such as the 1908 fatal shooting of Edward Fannoff by Joseph McGowan over a mining claim.

Decline and Bust (1885–1917)

The boom began to fade in the early 1880s as silver production declined. By 1881, Grand Prize stock plummeted from $940 to 5 cents per share. Production fell below $50,000 annually by 1895, and many mines, including the Young America, closed in the early 1890s. The 1880 census recorded 1,400 Americans in Tuscarora, with ten mines and three mills still operating, but new discoveries elsewhere drew miners away. By 1908, the Tuscarora News suspended publication as residents left for a strike at Gold Circle. In 1917, most mining equipment was sold for scrap, marking the end of major operations.

Revival Attempts and Modern Era (1987–Present)

Tuscarora remained dormant until 1987, when Fischer-Watt and Horizon reopened the Dexter Mine using open-pit methods. This operation, located south of town, threatened Tuscarora’s historic structures, but resident resistance and the mine’s unprofitability halted it by the early 1990s. Total production from 1867 to 1990 included over 500,000 ounces of gold and 7,632,000 ounces of silver.

In 1966, Dennis and Julie Parks moved to Tuscarora, establishing the Tuscarora Pottery School in a historic two-story hotel. The school, now led by Ben Parks, gained international fame, offering summer workshops that attract artists worldwide. The Friends of Tuscarora and Independence Valley, formed in the 1990s, restored the Tuscarora Society Hall, completed in 2013, as a community center and historical exhibit.

Today, Tuscarora has about 120 residents, a post office, a bar and grill, two schools, and a library branch. Visitors can explore picturesque ruins, the historic cemetery, and mine remnants, though caution is advised. The town’s high desert setting, surrounded by sagebrush, aspen, and public lands, offers hiking, biking, and a swimming hole. Tuscarora’s resilience is evident in its survival through busts, modern mining threats, and environmental challenges like Mormon cricket invasions.

Legacy

Tuscarora’s history reflects the boom-and-bust cycle of Nevada’s mining towns, enriched by its diverse population and cultural contributions. From its Shoshone origins to its silver-fueled heyday and artistic revival, Tuscarora remains a testament to the enduring spirit of the American West. Its cemetery, with wooden markers and restored headstones, and the Pottery School stand as reminders of a town that, as locals say, “never died.”

Nevada State Historic Marker No 48

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.

Tuscarora

This colorful historic camp originated with an 1867 discovery of placer gold by John and Steve Beard.  In 1871, W.O. Weed discovered the rich Mount Blitzen silver lodes, two miles northeast of the Beard claims.  These and other mines made up the Tuscarora Mining District, which experienced its boom between 1872 and 1884 and ultimately produced between $10 million and $40 million.  

At its peak, Tuscarora boasted a population of over 3,000, which included several hundred Chinese.  The Chinese mostly conducted placer mining at the Beard discovery site, later called Old Town while the main camp developed at the present location of Tuscarora, platted in 1871.  Toll roads, crowded with stage coaches and long strings of heavy freight wagons, serviced the camp from railheads at Elko, Carlin, Battle Mountain and Winnemucca.  Tuscarora residents shifted their work between mining gold and silver, and ranching in Independence Valley.

By 1895, Tuscarora’s production had diminished greatly from its boom days to below $50,000 annually.  The camp struggled until 1917, when most of the mining equipment was sold for scrap.  This ended operations at Tuscarora until 1987, when Fischer-Watt and Horizon re-opened the Dexter Mine.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 48

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

NORTHEASTERN NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Nevada State Historic Marker No 48 Map

Summary

NameTuscarora, Nevada
LocationElko County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude41.2805, -116.1138
Nevada State Historic Marker 48

Sources

The Times Review

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The Tuscarora Times-Review was a significant publication in the small mining town of Tuscarora, Nevada, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Operating from 1887 to 1903, the newspaper served as a vital source of local, regional, and national news for a community centered around the silver and gold mining industry. This report explores the newspaper’s history, its role in the community, its publishers, and its legacy, drawing on available historical records.

Background and Establishment

The Tuscarora Times-Review was established in Tuscarora, Nevada, a town founded in 1867 after gold discoveries by brothers John and Steven Beard. The town’s name was inspired by a U.S. gunboat, itself named after the Tuscarora Indigenous people of North Carolina. A major silver strike in 1871 spurred the town’s growth, relocating it to its present site on the slopes of Mount Blitzen. By the 1880s, Tuscarora was a bustling mining community, necessitating a local newspaper to document its activities and connect residents with broader events.

The newspaper succeeded the Tuscarora Times and Mining Review (1883–1886) and began publication on January 3, 1887, under the editorship of O.L.C. Fairchild. It was published weekly, starting with volume 18, number 19, indicating continuity from its predecessor. The Times-Review ran until December 26, 1903, covering a 16-year period marked by the rise and decline of Tuscarora’s mining economy.

Publication Details

  • Publication Period: January 3, 1887 – December 26, 1903
  • Frequency: Weekly
  • Volume Range: Vol. 18, no. 19 (Jan. 3, 1887) to Vol. 47, no. 35 (Dec. 26, 1903)
  • Publishers:
    • O.L.C. Fairchild (1887–unknown period)
    • Bingham Bros. (June 15, 1887 – November 17, 1900)
    • T.C. Plunkett & Son (November 20, 1900 – July 16, 1903)
    • W.D. Plunkett (July 18, 1903 – December 26, 1903)
  • Note on Errors: The newspaper was known to have frequent misnumbering of issues, a common issue in small-town publications of the era.

The Tuscarora Times-Review was a four-page newspaper, typical of frontier publications, featuring local news, mining reports, advertisements, and stories from the broader American West. Its rarity is noted, as newspapers west of the Mississippi before 1900 are scarce, making surviving issues valuable historical artifacts.

Role in the Community

The Tuscarora Times-Review played a crucial role in documenting life in Tuscarora during its mining boom. It covered topics such as:

  • Mining Industry: Reports on silver and gold strikes, mine operations, and economic developments were central, reflecting the town’s primary industry. The newspaper’s proximity to the Tuscarora volcanic field, a hub for Eocene-era epithermal deposits, underscores its focus on mining news.
  • Local Events: Social gatherings, community disputes, and daily life, including issues like “Trouble with Tramps,” were regular features.
  • Wildlife and Environment: The newspaper occasionally reported on fish and game, reflecting the region’s natural resources and their importance to residents. References to these topics from 1884–1903 are preserved in the Fred Wright Collection at the University of Nevada, Reno.
  • Advertisements: Local businesses, saloons, and services advertised in the paper, providing insight into the town’s economy and culture.

As one of the few communication channels in a remote area, the newspaper connected Tuscarora’s residents—miners, merchants, and families—to each other and the outside world. Its coverage of “cowboys, Indians, saloons, gold miners, and gunfights” captures the quintessential Old West atmosphere of the time.

Challenges and Decline

The Times-Review faced challenges typical of frontier newspapers, including limited resources, small staff, and reliance on a fluctuating local economy. The frequent change in publishers suggests financial or operational difficulties. By the early 1900s, Tuscarora’s mining industry began to wane, reducing the town’s population and economic vitality. This decline likely contributed to the newspaper’s cessation in 1903, as the community could no longer sustain a local publication.

Archival Preservation

Surviving issues of the Tuscarora Times-Review are held in various libraries and archives, as documented by the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America project. The newspaper is also referenced in the University of Nevada, Reno’s Special Collections, particularly for its wildlife-related content. Researchers can access these materials on-site, though some collections are restricted under state or federal law.

The Library of Congress provides a MARCXML record for the Times-Review, and Chronicling America offers digitized pages from 1756–1963, though not all issues may be available. The newspaper’s historical significance is enhanced by its inclusion in these collections, ensuring its availability for future study.

Legacy

The Tuscarora Times-Review remains a valuable primary source for understanding life in a late-19th-century Nevada mining town. Its reports offer insights into the social, economic, and environmental dynamics of Tuscarora, as well as the broader American West. The newspaper’s focus on mining aligns with the region’s geological significance, as evidenced by modern studies of the Tuscarora Au-Ag District.

Today, Tuscarora is a near-ghost town, with picturesque ruins and a functioning post office as remnants of its past. The Times-Review encapsulates the town’s vibrant history, preserving stories of a community shaped by the pursuit of precious metals. Its legacy endures through archival collections and the continued interest in Nevada’s mining heritage.

Conclusion

The Tuscarora Times-Review (1887–1903) was more than a local newspaper; it was a chronicle of a fleeting era in Tuscarora, Nevada. Through its pages, historians glimpse the triumphs and struggles of a mining community in the American West. Despite its short lifespan and operational challenges, the newspaper’s preserved issues remain a testament to the resilience and spirit of Tuscarora’s residents. As part of broader archival efforts, the Times-Review continues to inform and inspire research into Nevada’s rich historical tapestry.

Sources

  • Chronicling America, Library of Congress
  • Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers
  • University of Nevada, Reno, Special Collections Department
  • ResearchGate, Tuscarora Au-Ag District
  • Travel Nevada, Tuscarora History