The Story of Quartz Mountain
Quartz Mountain
1926
This is one of several photographs that came from the Shamberger Family Archive. Since he didn’t write about this camp, why does he have the photograph.
Several other mini-panoramas were in the photographic archives. Some were identified as belonging to Charles Hendel. Hendel was featured prominently in his book “The Story of Weepah.” Hendel was known to have visited at least a half dozen mining camps in the1920’s.
So I believe the photograph came from Charles Hendel to Hugh Shamberger to yours truly.
Several other mini-panoramas were in the photographic archives. Some were identified as belonging to Charles Hendel. Hendel was featured prominently in his book “The Story of Weepah.” Hendel was known to have visited at least a half dozen mining camps in the1920’s.
So I believe the photograph came from Charles Hendel to Hugh Shamberger to yours truly.
Weepah, Comstock and Gilbert are familiar names to those who know anything about Nevada’s 1920’s mining boom. Although Quartz Mountain is less familiar, it followed the same path as the others. A quick beginning featuring automobile prospecting, a two to three year run, and a quick demise!
Initial discoveries of ore bodies were made here in 1920, but it wasn’t until 1925 that real work began when an ore shoot of high grade silver and lead was found in one of the mines. Within months nearly 500 people could be counted around the base of Quartz Mountain (near Gabbs and the Mineral County line).
In June the Quartz Mountain Townsite Company platted 400 lots. They included space for an airfield (unique among Nevada mining camps that I have read about). Rawhide - not too far away - was the location that many buildings came from, but trucks carrying buildings came from many abandoned towns from around central Nevada. The first store to have a substantial building was the Dodge Brothers Mercantile Store.
It wasn’t long before the town had several saloons, barber shops, cafes, grocery stores, and general merchandise stores. The post office opened on June 7, 1927.
Mining operations were easy. No wagons! No railroad! Just trucks that carried sacks of ore from the mines to the mills and on their way back brought supplies and the ever precious water to the camp. Yes, Quartz Mountain was just like most Nevada mining camps. Water was in short supply.
On January 15, 1929 the post office closed and before long Quartz Mountain was a ghost town just like her sister mining camps!
Since Hugh Shamberger never wrote about Quartz Mountain, I am going to use Shawn Hall’s Book “Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Nye County, Nevada” for a reference.
Initial discoveries of ore bodies were made here in 1920, but it wasn’t until 1925 that real work began when an ore shoot of high grade silver and lead was found in one of the mines. Within months nearly 500 people could be counted around the base of Quartz Mountain (near Gabbs and the Mineral County line).
In June the Quartz Mountain Townsite Company platted 400 lots. They included space for an airfield (unique among Nevada mining camps that I have read about). Rawhide - not too far away - was the location that many buildings came from, but trucks carrying buildings came from many abandoned towns from around central Nevada. The first store to have a substantial building was the Dodge Brothers Mercantile Store.
It wasn’t long before the town had several saloons, barber shops, cafes, grocery stores, and general merchandise stores. The post office opened on June 7, 1927.
Mining operations were easy. No wagons! No railroad! Just trucks that carried sacks of ore from the mines to the mills and on their way back brought supplies and the ever precious water to the camp. Yes, Quartz Mountain was just like most Nevada mining camps. Water was in short supply.
On January 15, 1929 the post office closed and before long Quartz Mountain was a ghost town just like her sister mining camps!
Since Hugh Shamberger never wrote about Quartz Mountain, I am going to use Shawn Hall’s Book “Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Nye County, Nevada” for a reference.