Yerington Monday: The Mines of Lyon County: Pine Grove

Yerington Monday:  The Mines of Lyon County:  Pine Grove

(Posted on Facebook December, 28, 2015)

Everyone knows about the Anaconda Mine at Weed Heights, but if you are like me, you may not know much about the many mines in our county.  I thought it would be interesting to explore them and discover some of our mining roots.  Yerington and Smith Valley are well known for two things mining and farming.  These two industries have been crucial in developing our towns in Lyon county.

Pine Grove is one of the lesser-known gold mining camps but lasted longer than most. Gold was first discovered here in 1866 and within a year or so the town had grown to 300 people. Its zenith was in the 1880's when three mills were shipping $10,000 in gold bullion each week and the town had grown to over 1000 people. Pine Grove is located about 26 miles south of Yerington in the mountains just south of Wellington, NV

At one time, all of the Crazy Horse Mining Area was owned by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) who did not realize its value. Lyon County records note the sale of this property to him.  It was to become a large copper installation mined by Anaconda Copper Company.

Pine Grove, about 1870

Gold was discovered here in 1866 by William Wilson.  By summer, the area was saturated with prospectors.  The town site was originally named Wilsonville, but was changed to Pine Grove in 1868.  By this time the townsite had a post office, the weekly News, and a population of around 200.  Two steam-powered stamp mills and three arrastras treated both gold and silver ores.  Supplies were brought in by freight lines from as far away as Sacramento California.

Pine Grove Nevada Painting

Pine Grove - 1885

School at Pine Grove

Many of the people who worked in the Pine Grove Mine settled with their families in Yerington or on ranches in the valley after the mining boom was over.  Foremost among them were the Wilson family, the Morgan family, the Strosnider family and others, including descendants of William Dexheimer, the grandfather of Phyllis Matheus.

Cathie Richardson  Lives in Fallon Nevada

“I walked up to the cabin and sat on one of the windowsills, the cabin has really large windows.  I really liked the view from the inside out.  Lots of people visit up there and leave their mark on the inside walls of the cabin so I added them to my drawing.  Lots of love notes, hearts, names and a note to be careful next to a smiley face.  I will be. “  ~~~ Cathie Richardson  Lives in Fallon Nevada

Pine Grove remains

History of Pine Grove, NV An Indian showed William Wilson the gold bearing rocks in June of 1866 and prospectors stampeded the area through the summer.  At first called Wilsonville, the camp was renamed Pine Grove, with a post office, the weekly news, and a population of 200. Two steam powered stamp mills and three arrastras treated both both and silver ores, while stages and freight lines brought in supplies and hauled out bullion. In the early 1870's, the population reached it's peak of 600.  The tri-sectioned camp straggled for a mile of the canyon and contained five saloons, three hotels, a variety store, a hardware store, a Wells Fargo agent, a dance hall, blacksmith shops, general merchandise, barbershops, a shoeshine shop, a school, oxen yards, livery stables, and two doctor's offices. There were two large mines, the Wilson Mine and the Wheeler Mine.  By 1893, these two mills produced $8 million in bullion.   Additionally, a stage and freight line was established, which connected the mining camp to nearby Wellington in the Smith Valley. After the demonetization of silver in 1893, the Pine Grove mines were only worked intermittently Towards the end of the decade, the mines began to decline and by 1893, the mines were worked only intermittently.  Today, only a few individuals work the mines from time to time. Pine Grove also served as a regional supply center for local ranchers until the later part of the decade, when the mines began to decline. By the early 1870's the population had swelled to 600, and the town was comprised of five saloons, three hotels, general stores, hardware store, Wells Fargo agent, dance hall, blacksmith shops, barber shops, school, livery stables, and two doctor’s offices. Pine Grove Ghost Town Trail Pine Grove is located about 26 miles south of Yerington. To reach it, head 11 miles south on State Route 208, then turn onto an unmarked but well maintained dirt road. Follow the dirt road for 11 miles, then turn right on Pine Grove Mine Road (it’s marked). Continue west for four miles to the remains of Pine Grove. The town is located in Pine Grove Canyon, a heavily wooded, ruggedly beautiful slash in the eastern slopes of the Pine Grove Hills. The journey up into the canyon passes through scenic, craggy cliffs and gullies. Starting from East Walker Road, the trail runs along FR 059 southwest into Pine Grove Canyon within the Pine Grove Hills. Beyond the intersection with FR 193, the road is rocky and infrequently maintained. The embedded and loose rocks make for a rough and slow ride. Sagebrush and scrub brush grows around the trail, which is quite corrugated along the sections that are not rocky. Climbing toward the hills, FR 059 rolls into and out of shallow canyons. An historic information board marks the entrance to the area where there are remains from the old mining camp of Pine Grove. Special Attractions: Extensive remains of Pine Grove ghost town. Short, scenic trail to a historic, well preserved ghost town. Challenging 4WD track from Pine Grove to the intersection with Western #36: Scott’s Canyon Trail Today, Pine Grove is only a shadow of its former glory, but still claims enough to make it interesting. At the east end of the town, visitors will find an informative historic marker adjacent to the stone remains of a former building. If you wander through the high sagebrush around the town's remains, it's also still possible to find the remnants of other buildings, such as partial walls and stone foundations. The stone remains of a former building near the historical marker. A historical marker at the entrance to the site. Gold was discovered in 1866 and the town prospered until about 1880. Peak population was about 600 people in the early 1870s. At one time the town had five saloons, three hotels, and a dance hall. One hole was particularly interesting because of an intricate stone wall that had been constructed near the entrance (perhaps once part of a building at the opening of the mine).  Of course, as with any abandoned shaft, it's safe to look at from a distance, but never enter the mine. Additionally, the shafts and stamp mill are located on marked, private property. A little farther up the canyon you can find the remains of a leaching operation from the 1960s. Fortunately, the more modern mining work did not destroy a fine wooden and rusted iron stamp mill, still standing on a hill, or the horizontal mining shafts that reach deep into the mountainside. A view of the remains of a 5-stamp mill. The remains of a five-stamp mill. Close up of the remains of a five-stamp mill. The casting reads "Joshua Hendy Iron Works." This company was a world leader in mining equipment and shipbuilding technology and was located in San Francisco, then later, in Sunnyvale, California. This building appears to have been a garage or storage building. Most of the buildings in Pine Grove were destroyed some years ago when a severe storm sent a mudslide down the canyon destroying almost everything in its path. Today, only a few buildings still remain. Most notably the old boarding house which has about two feet of dirt covering the first floor. A substantial building; probably a boarding house. The lower floor has become partially buried in runoff soil. This building, half buried, balcony is long gone, dates to the 1870's.  As late as 1969 there were at least 3 other buildings near this one, thanks to vandals, they are no longer standing.

One building, thought to be a cookhouse, The inside is lined with old newspapers on the walls to help keep out the cold winter blasts, some dated back to 1867!  The latest of the newspapers were dated in the early 1930s when the town was vacated to become a true ghost town.

This little house is in great shape, it might be from a latter period.  And this building above looks like an old school house to us but it was probably the mine office.

Sadly, the wooden building you see above has burnt down.

The most interesting thing about Pine Grove is the cemetery.  Remains of the cemetery are high atop the ridge on the north side of the canyon.

ALICE MARIA

Daughter of

A.D. & Sarah A. Robinson

Died Jan. 19, 1868,

Aged 15 years 6 mo's.

& 28 days.

Her last request.

"I want to be an angel.

And with the angels stand.

A crown upon my forehead.

A harp within my hand

EDWIN R. WILLIS

DIED

MAR. 30, 1897

AGED

68 YEARS

DANIEL JAMES DORSEY.

Born

March 18, 1857.

Weaverville,

Trinity County Cal.

Died Dec 4. 1886.

Pine Grove Nevada.

Aged 29 yrs. 8 months,

& 16 days.

Directly east of the center of the former town, you'll also pass the ruins of a more recent placer operation (they appear to be from the 1960's mining efforts). Here, the rusting remains of various mechanical processing machines have become the newest ghostly remains at Pine Grove. Several companies have pursued the district in recent times including Teck Resources in the early 1990's. Teck spent US $2.2 million dollars conducting geologic mapping and sampling and also drilled 188 reverse-circulation holes (67,488 ft) and two core holes (614 ft). Much of the drilling was on 100 ft centers. Although much of the district remains unexplored, Teck dropped the property. Lincoln is in possession of all of Teck's technical data, including drill hole logs and certificates of assay from ALS Chemex. Lincoln controls 100% mineral interest in claims covering nearly 7.2 square miles (18.1 square kilometers). The Company has mining leases on the Wilson and Wheeler mines (12 patented claims) and 243 unpatented claims owned directly by Lincoln. The Company's land position covers the main gold mineralization in the district, exploration targets, and adequate land for mine and processing facilities. The patented claims (private property) are under the jurisdiction of the State of Nevada. Unpatented claims are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service. Pine Grove, NV Ghost Town Video https://youtu.be/GNK0j3cFN_M Pine Grove Ghost Town Ride from Dayton, NV This will give you an idea of the condition of the road to Pine Grove. https://youtu.be/qStONGCDUu4