Please remember to exercise caution when exploring Nevada's Ghost Towns & Mining Camps. Open shafts, drifts going into mountainsides, and old buildings, are all DANGEROUS. Be aware of your surroundings, and let someone know where you are, especially if your plans change.

Hilltop (Kimball) (Marble City)
(Marble Canyon)

DIRECTIONS: From Tenabo, head north for 1.5 miles. At the end of road, exit left and follow for 12.5 miles. Exit right and follow for 2 miles to Hilltop.

"Long before mining came to this district, the canyon area was active. A camp named Marble City was located here during the 1860s and served as a stop for travelers, a watering place for horses, and a place to get a good meal. Some mining exploration was undertaken, but no major work was done until 1887, when the Mayesville Mining Company worked the Mayesville Mine for three years. The mine produced $33,000 before the company folded in 1890. The town of Hilltop began in 1906 when prospectors discovered gold ore very close to the original discoveries of the 1860s. Two mines, the Hilltop and the Independence, were soon producing ore. The Hilltop boom really got under way in 1908, and by 1909, close to 200 people were living at Hilltop. The town itself was well developed, with several fine houses, a school, numerous stores, and saloons. On February 17 a post office opened, with Chris Nelson serving as postmaster. Many solid wood-frame buildings were also constructed, and Hilltop gained a look of permanence. By 1912 mining activity was in full swing. The Hilltop Milling and Reduction Company (Frank Lebar, president) built a 10-stamp, 75-ton cyanide plant. The Philadelphia West Mine (formerly the Independence) produced $135,000 during a one-year period before the ore vein played out in 1913. Another prominent mine, the Kattenhorn, was discovered in 1912. The mine was owned by the Kattenhorn brothers, who shipped 100 tons of ore per month to a smelter in California. The ore assayed at 35 ounces of silver to the ton, and more than $95,000 in silver was produced before the mine closed in 1923. The Kimberly Consolidated Mines Company was also prominent at Hilltop. Incorporated in 1910, the company took over the holdings of the Philadelphia Western Mining Company, gaining control of 24 claims that showed values in gold, silver, copper, and lead. The ore from Kimberly Consolidated's mines was milled by the Hilltop Milling and Reduction Company until 1918 when Kimberly built its own 50-ton mill and cyanide plant. The main holding, the Kimberly Mine, ran out of ore in 1919, and the company folded after achieving a production of $161,000.

Hilltop's population varied greatly during the teens. By 1918, mining had slowed and only about 50 residents were left. The Hilltop Nevada Mining Company was organized in 1920 and purchased the holdings of the defunct Kimberly company at a sheriff's auction in March, but that move was not enough to save Hilltop. The start of the auto stage led to an exodus to Battle Mountain. Many of the fine houses built in Hilltop were moved there, and all of the businesses also moved. The last to go was the E. O. Swackhammer store, which moved in 1923. About 20 miners remained in the camp, though, as the Hilltop Nevada Company expanded its operations. The company spent $300,000 in 1922 to build a 150-ton flotation mill, which began operations in October. The mill was not a success and operated only until September 1923. The mill was moved to Dayton (Lyon County) in 1934. The company continued to mine the district until the late 1920s. By the time operations were curtailed in 1927, $1.5 million had been produced. After Hilltop Nevada closed, Hilltop became a virtual ghost town. The school closed in 1927, and only 15 people still called the dying town home. The post office remained open, showing that Hilltop still had a small spark of life.

In1930 the Hilltop Mine and a few additional claims were leased to the Buckingham Mines Corporation, which opened the mine in May and had minor production for a couple of years. A barite mine was put into production here during 1930 also. While not a great producer, it was active off and on until 1969. By the time it was abandoned for good, it had produced $300,000. Hilltop, however, didn't last that long. The post office closed on March 14, 1931. Hilltop still had about a dozen residents during the 1930s, but by 1940 the town had once again become a ghost. The remains at Hilltop are quite extensive. While only a few shaky wooden buildings and foundations mark the center of town, the number of mining and milling ruins is significant. Cement foundations of the Hilltop-Nevada Mill are located in a side canyon, below the townsite. The ruins of the Hilltop Milling and Reduction Company's mill are located on the side of the hill, behind the townsite. Many other mine ruins are scattered throughout Hilltop Canyon. If possible, plan to spend a day exploring Hilltop. Fresh spring water is available here, and the tree-filled Hilltop townsite makes for a relaxing visit. For pure pictorial and explorational enjoyment, Hilltop is one of the best spots in Lander County."

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