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.

 

Hamilton (Cave City)

DIRECTIONS: From Ely, take U.S. 50 west for 37 miles. Exit left and follow for 9 miles to Hamilton.

"While discoveries were made on Treasure Hill in late 1867, the terrain left much to be desired for a proper townsite. The search for a better site led to the organization of Cave City in May 1868, at the base of Treasure Hill. The new town inherited its name from the nearby hills, which were honeycombed with caves. The name was soon changed to Hamilton, after W. H. Hamilton, who, along with Henry Kelly and Ed Gobin, laid out the townsite. By June, the town had a population of 30 and one business establishment, a saloon. Then, rich discoveries on Treasure Hill created "White Pine Fever", and during the ensuing months, a huge rush to the district took place. A post office opened on August 10, and by winter Hamilton's population had swelled to 600. Businesses included a lodging house, a restaurant, and four saloons.

Once the spring thaw began, Hamilton's boom was on. In spring 1869 the town had a floating population of more than 10,000. Stage lines were running to Hamilton on a regular basis by summer, the four major ones being Wells-Fargo (Elko-Hamilton twice a day, beginning operations in February 1869), Wilson Brothers (triweekly stage from Austin, beginning April 1, 1869), Len Wines (stages from Austin and Elko to Hamilton and Treasure City, December 1868), and Pacific Union Express Company (Elko-Hamilton, February 1869). The last two merged in spring 1869 and added stages to keep up with the demand for goods.

When White Pine County was organized in March, flourishing Hamilton was selected as the county seat. A $55,000 brick courthouse was completed in the fall, and by the next summer Hamilton boasted a population of 12,000 and was incorporated. Main Street became lined with one- and two-story stone buildings. At the peak of White Pine Fever, there were close to 100 saloons (which meant the construction of a couple of local breweries), 60 general stores, and many other businesses. The town also had theaters, dance halls, skating rinks, a Miners' Union Hall, and fraternal orders.

Literary enlightenment came to Hamilton on March 27 when the Daily Inland Empire began publication. James Ayers and Charles Putnam ran the paper, which had a fierce rivalry with the White Pine Daily News. The Daily Empire lost the battle on April 10, 1870, although it was revived in October and November for the governor's race.

Because of the huge population crush, and in anticipation of an increase to as many as 50,000, a group of San Francisco investors organized the White Pine Water Company to bring a water supply to Hamilton. The project employed 150 men to lay a twelve-inch pipe along a three-mile route to Illipah Springs and cost $380,000. The first water flowed through the pipeline on August 14, 1869. When the population decreased, the need for the 2.5 million gallons per day provided by the pipeline disappeared. The White Pine Water Company soon folded, and Stanford Mill interests acquired its property at a sheriff's auction on April 14, 1870. While Hamilton was not the center of mining activity, several mills were built near the town. Rothschild's Smelting Works was built in 1869 at a cost of $60,000. Its three furnaces, housed in a 209-foot-by-30-foot brick building, had a 20-ton capacity and 45-foot smokestacks. Other mills in the area included the 10-stamp Nevada (also known as the Dunn and McCoore, started May 20, 1869), the 20-stamp Big Smoky (also known as the Treasure Hill, built at a cost of $60,000 and started May 24, 1869), and the 24-stamp Manhattan (started June 1, 1869).

During the peak of the White Pine rush, close to 200 mining companies were active in the district. Most were just speculators, and once the uncertainty about the mines' potential became clear many of them left the district. Hamilton then experienced a depression and residents left as quickly as they had come. The 1870 census showed that population of the ounce-bustling town had shrunk to 3,915.

Hamilton's decline was hastened by a disastrous fire on June 27, 1873. An owner of a falling store, discouraged by prospects for the future, set fire to his establishment to collect insurance. The fire spread throughout the business district and caused $600,000 in damage. Hamilton's slide continued, and by late 1873 the population had shrunk to 500. By 1880 only three saloons and two stores were still in operation. Another fire struck the town on January 5, 1885, destroying the courthouse and much of what remained in the dying town. And in 1887 Hamilton was dealt its worst blow when the county seat was moved to Ely. Hamilton was not quite dead, but only a few people inhabited the scattered buildings that remained. There was leasing activity on Treasure Hill, which kept a few small businesses running, but not much else. The population wasn't large enough to support the post office, and it closed on March 14, 1931, pounding the final nail into Hamilton's coffin.

Until recently, several stone buildings, most notably the two-story Withington Hotel, were still partially standing. But an earthquake, and humans, finally crumbled those buildings. Only rubble and pieces of stone walls now remain to mark the once-mighty Main Street. A number of smaller wooden buildings that somehow escaped the fires are scattered throughout the site. A trip to the Hamilton Cemetery, just north of town, is a fascinating exposure to the history of the area. The town revived in the early 1980s when extensive mining operations began on Treasure Hill. Once again Hamilton is the base for mining companies and has about 75 residents. Although heavy equipment abounds in Hamilton, care has been taken not to disturb the ruins. However, huge leaching pads and aluminum buildings tend to detract from the historical flavor of the town. Nevertheless, Hamilton is worth the trip. Many other ghost towns from the age of White Pine Fever are located around Treasure Hill. Plan at least a day to enjoy the beautiful White Pine District."

 

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