I bought these photos on a prayer. They were from the Hugh Shamberger Collection, so I prayed they had a story. When I read the back of one of the photos, “My lease on the Lone Mountain Treasure Hill claims - Where I ‘hit’ the high grade - and afterwards - went broke,” I knew there was a story! Just what story I wasn’t sure.
Where:
One photograph says “Treasure Hill Lone Mountain.” When one thinks of Treasure Hill in Nevada one thinks of White Pine County. When one thinks of Lone Mountain in Nevada one thinks of Elko County. Neither seem logical and I could not find a connection between the two in any of my research books. So I did a Google search for ‘Lone Mountain’ and ‘Treasure Hill’. Only one hint seemed like it might be my answer. An article in the Reno Evening Gazette. And that article answered all my questions and gave me the story I was looking for! November 27, 1925: The Treasure Hill Group was on the northwestern point of Lone Mountain nine miles from Millers. [It should be pointed out that Gilbert was also in the Lone Mountain District just not on this side of the mountain. As we learn in the ‘Story of Gilbert’ Hendel could be found there also.] |
The Treasure Hill Group was being leased by Charles A. Hendel and W. H. Hawley. Their third delivery of ore to the Desert Mill at Millers yielded $63.43 a ton—the highest grade yet!
When:
On the back of one of the photos it says, “1926?”. These photos would have been taken from 1925 at the earliest to 1927 at the latest as confirmed by the newspaper articles.
On the back of one of the photos it says, “1926?”. These photos would have been taken from 1925 at the earliest to 1927 at the latest as confirmed by the newspaper articles.
Who:
One photograph is signed “CAH” and another looked like “CA Harold” But these come from the Shamberger collection and that means it is Charles A. Hendel. He is mentioned in at least three of his books: Candelaria, Rawhide and Weepah. We even have a photograph of Hendel in the “Story of Gilbert” with his partner EA Hawley.
1. “The Story of Candelaria and its Neighbors: Columbus, Metallic City, Belleville, Marietta, Sodaville, and Coaldale” by Shamberger
2. “The Story of Rawhide” by Shamberger
3. “The Story of Weepah” by Shamberger
4. “Nevada Place Names” by Carlson
5. Reno Evening Gazette
One photograph is signed “CAH” and another looked like “CA Harold” But these come from the Shamberger collection and that means it is Charles A. Hendel. He is mentioned in at least three of his books: Candelaria, Rawhide and Weepah. We even have a photograph of Hendel in the “Story of Gilbert” with his partner EA Hawley.
1. “The Story of Candelaria and its Neighbors: Columbus, Metallic City, Belleville, Marietta, Sodaville, and Coaldale” by Shamberger
2. “The Story of Rawhide” by Shamberger
3. “The Story of Weepah” by Shamberger
4. “Nevada Place Names” by Carlson
5. Reno Evening Gazette
Charles Hendel Biography
So, why are these photographs of the Treasure Hill Claim in the Shamberger family archives. The note on the small photo holds the key. Two of the photographs have Hendel’s name or initials. He actually accompanied Shamberger on one of his trips to Weepah and Rawhide to identify places and tell stories.
Charles was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Nevada in 1904 to work in construction. This would most likely be with the Newlands Project or, perhaps, railroad building. He served in the United States Navy during World War I. In 1913 he returned to Nevada and settled in Smith Valley. He became the first postmaster [from his store] in Simpson on November 13, 1913. He held this position until November 27, 1920.
In the 1920’s he roamed around western mining camps: Gilbert, Rochester, Millers, Lone Mountain, Bisbee and Tombstone (the last two in Arizona). His most notable stay was probably in Weepah where he ran a general store and was the communities only post master from April 8, 1927 to July 2, 1929. He was one of the last to leave Weepah. From there he became a civil contractor with the United States Navy being stationed in Hawthorne (be sure to see his photographs of early the Hawthorne Naval Base in the “Story of Hawthorne.”)
He would serve as Nevada Assemblyman from 1943 to 1949 and was noted for his passion to bring water to Nevada from the Pacific Northwest.
He spent time in California and Oregon during this period. He retired in 1946 and built Mark Twain Camp. It was a combination Boy Scout Camp and fire lookout. He was instrumental in getting highway 359 paved from Hawthorne to Mono County. Mark Twain Camp is just inside the Nevada border on this highway.
So, why are these photographs of the Treasure Hill Claim in the Shamberger family archives. The note on the small photo holds the key. Two of the photographs have Hendel’s name or initials. He actually accompanied Shamberger on one of his trips to Weepah and Rawhide to identify places and tell stories.
Charles was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Nevada in 1904 to work in construction. This would most likely be with the Newlands Project or, perhaps, railroad building. He served in the United States Navy during World War I. In 1913 he returned to Nevada and settled in Smith Valley. He became the first postmaster [from his store] in Simpson on November 13, 1913. He held this position until November 27, 1920.
In the 1920’s he roamed around western mining camps: Gilbert, Rochester, Millers, Lone Mountain, Bisbee and Tombstone (the last two in Arizona). His most notable stay was probably in Weepah where he ran a general store and was the communities only post master from April 8, 1927 to July 2, 1929. He was one of the last to leave Weepah. From there he became a civil contractor with the United States Navy being stationed in Hawthorne (be sure to see his photographs of early the Hawthorne Naval Base in the “Story of Hawthorne.”)
He would serve as Nevada Assemblyman from 1943 to 1949 and was noted for his passion to bring water to Nevada from the Pacific Northwest.
He spent time in California and Oregon during this period. He retired in 1946 and built Mark Twain Camp. It was a combination Boy Scout Camp and fire lookout. He was instrumental in getting highway 359 paved from Hawthorne to Mono County. Mark Twain Camp is just inside the Nevada border on this highway.