Independence
Valley
Jack
Creek
Is
area is made up of many historic place. Some with communities
still around and some with great places to explore.
Jack
Creek, Lime Mountain, Deep Creek and the Cornucopia are just a
few of the mining camps that were settled in this area.
Jack
Creek is located 15 1/2 miles north of Taylors on Nevada 226.
Jack Creek was named in honor of its original settler, Jack Harrington,
who homesteaded in 1868 and spent the rest of his life ranching
at Jack Creek. The Jack Creek area became the prime source of
wood for Tuscarora, and both firewood and mine timbers came from
there. Mining was limited in the Jack Creek area. In August 1898
the Tuscarora-based Dexter Mining Company began construction of
a large power plant on Jack Creek. The old Defrees mill in Taylor
Canyon was dismantled for its wood to be used in building a boardinghouse
and bunkhouse at the power plant construction site. Power lines
ran to the forty-stamp Dexter mill in Tuscarora, and the plant
began producing electricity in January 1899. Heavy snowfall seriously
hampered the final phases of construction. The plant generated
more thank 900 horsepower, and the power system cost $50,000.
The plant brought many new residents to Jack Creek. By 1900 the
population of the Jack Creek area was seventy-four.
The
power plant was completely refitted and enlarged in 1910 but in
June 1911 it was struck by lightning. Initial newspaper reports
declared that the plant had been completely destroyed by fire
but a few days later it was already running again.
Gradually,
Basque began to purchase ranches in and around Jack Creek, and
by the 1920s it had become a small Basque community.
Despite
prohibition, the Jack Creek store also featured a bar serving
bootleg whiskey and home-brewed beer. Travelers and sportsmen
rented the upper floor of the two-story building. Dances were
a popular diversion at Jack Creek since trips to Elko were rare.
With
the arrival of school buses, Jack Creek children rode to the Independence
Valley school.
Jack
Creek continues to be a local sportsmen's mecca.
Foundations
mark the site of the power plant and some parts of the flume are
also still visible.
Located
in hunting area 6, Jack Creek also offers some good fishing.
Lime
Mountain, Deep Creek and Cornucopia mining sites are just a few
miles from Jack Creek. Be sure to check this area out on your
next trip to Nevada. It is well worth the drive. Our thanks to
Ghost Town author Shawn Hall for this bit of history.
Stop
in and visit our local sponsors for more history and sites to
see in the Independence Valley area.
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