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.

Lewis (Lower Town) (Middle Town)
(Upper Town) ( Dean)

DIRECTIONS: From Galena Railroad, take good dirt road heading southeast and follow for 3.5 miles to Lower Lewis. Middle Town is located 0.5 mile farther on, and Upper Town is another 0.5 mile past that.

"Initial discoveries in Lewis Canyon were made in 1867 by two prospectors, Jonathan Green and E. J. George. These early discoveries didn't create any immediate excitement, and it wasn't until 1874 that Lewis began to form. Mines that began to produce ore during that summer included the Defiance, Henry Logan, Lousy Miner, Comstock, Keystone, Upland, Mountain Joe, and Miller mines. The Defiance was the most productive of these early mines. Two men named Fraser and Sweeney purchased the mine in April 1875 from Tom Hildreth for $40,000. The Eagle and the Star Grove, two major mines destined to be the best producers of the district, were discovered in 1875. As a result of this mining activity, a 10-stamp mill, the Eagle, was built by the Eagle Consolidated Mining Company in the fall of 1876.

In 1877 the Lewis townsite was laid out. Because Lewis Canyon was very narrow, three different sites were actually developed, appropriately named Lower Town (the main section of Lewis), Middle Town, and Upper Town. The first business in the district, Ramsdell's General Store, opened in 1875. Other Lower Town businesses included Len Pugh's Hotel, F. M. Sponagle's Drugstore, and Gentsel's General Store. Middle Town developed into a small town but never achieved the prominence of Lower Town. The businesses in Middle Town included the Felex Boardinghouse, Cozzens Meat Market, Hill Variety Store, and two saloons, Finley's and No. 1. The Miners' Union Hall was also located here. Upper Town, or Dean, was the smallest of the Lewis sections and was located near the Star Grove Mine. The Green boardinghouse and a saloon were built there. The camp was a company town of the Star Grove Mining Company.

A post office opened in Lower Lewis on April 15, 1878, with William Mills as postmaster. By 1880, the three sections of Lewis had a population of 216, and growth showed no signs of slowing. The Nevada Central Railroad was completed in1880, and plans were made to build a spur line from Lewis Station, located three and a half miles away in Antelope Valley, to the mines in Lewis Canyon. This speculation led to the construction of two mills, the 40-stamp Highland Chief and the 15-stamp Star Grove. In addition, the Eagle Mill was enlarged to 15 stamps. The Highland Chief Mill and Mining Company (E. Young, president) began construction on its mill in April 1881. The mill, built by Beckett and McDowell of New York, consisted of 40 stamps, a 23,000-pound main driving wheel, and an 1,800-pound main belt and was equipped with Powell-White rotary furnaces. The total cost of the mil was $250,000.

The railroad spur, the Battle Mountain and Lewis Railway, was completed in April 1881 and greeted with great fanfare. The grading for the spur had begun on January 28, and the twelve-mile spur was finished by April 25. The engine was named the John D. Hall, in honor of the president of the railway. By summer, Lewis had a peak population of 700, its own railroad, and three large mills and was looking forward to the future. A newspaper, the Lewis Weekly Herald, began publication in town on November 23. Even the law came to Lewis: Abram Hull built a jail in Lower Town at a cost of $2,125. The droves of thirsty miners led to the construction of the Lewis Brewery, one of the few built in the state. The brewery was owned by two men named Cozzens and Fuchs, both of whom ran other businesses in the town. A school, which educated students until 1900, was built in 1881. However, not all was wine and roses for Lewis. A major labor dispute occurred at the Star Grove Mine during the summer of 1881. The company tried to cut wages and was forced to close when no miners would work. When the company tried to reopen the mine, intense violence broke out and three men were shot. One of them later died. A group of 250 Austin miners started out for Lewis to aid their mining brothers. When the company heard of their approach, the dispute was quickly resolved and the original wages were restored. The biggest blow to Lewis was a disastrous fire on December 5 that started in Sponagle's Drugstore and destroyed many businesses. That sad event signaled the beginning of the end for Lewis.

The Battle Mountain and Lewis Railway, in the face of mounting financial woes, was forced to curtail operations in early 1882. The Star Grove Mining Company went bankrupt after producing $300,000, and all properties sold at sheriff's auction in April. Another auction in May saw the Battle Mountain and Lewis Railway's railroad bed sold for $4,401 to H. D. Gates, a Lewis resident. In June, with no ore to process, the Eagle Mill also went bankrupt and shut down. By 1883 Lewis was rapidly becoming an abandoned town. The Herald folded on January 17, and the Star Grove Mill was torn down in February by G. W. Bothwell. The mill was dismantled and shipped, via Ledlie, to Bernice (Churchill County)-one of the few times the Battle Mountain and Lewis Railway was used after the Lewis boom went bust. The Highland Chief Mill closed down in 1883, sealing Lewis's fate. There was a slight revival during 1885 and the railroad was used for a short while, but a miners' strike closed the mines. The railroad was abandoned and the rails were torn up in 1890.

The post office moved to Dean in October 1894. By this time, only about 30 people lived in Lewis Canyon. The mines near Dean were operated intermittently until 1905, when all mining ceased. The post office closed on November 30, and soon only the ghosts of the past wandered through Lewis Canyon. An occasional leaseholders tried to make a go of it, but nothing substantial ever developed. The total production for the Lewis mines stands at just over $3.7 million.

As ghost towns go, Lewis provides an enjoyable visit for the traveler. In Lower Town, stone foundations and wooden rubble remain. The Lewis Cemetery is located to the north of the townsite. At the mouth of Lewis Canyon are stone walls of two mills, Star Grove to the left and Highland Chief to the right. Remains of Middle Town are located about half a mile into Lewis Canyon. Foundations of the Eagle Mill are on the right and stone foundations are on the left, among a huge stand of aspens. This is a beautiful spot to explore! The only standing buildings in Lewis Canyon, located at Dean, another half mile beyond Middle Town, are small cabins inhabited by miners working the Betty O'Neal Mine. Foundations and large tailing dumps remain. All in all, Lewis is definitely one of Lander County's best ghost towns, and offers something of interest for everyone. The visitor can, and should, spend a full day examining the different sections of town. Make time to visit Lewis. There are places for overnight camping in Lewis Canyon, with the best being near Middle Town. Fresh spring water is also available here."

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