Historical – Page 6

Bodie -v- Mojave Ghost Towns

Bodie and Mojave Desert ghost towns are examples of abandoned settlements in the Western United States. Still, they are located in different regions and have distinct historical and geographical contexts.

Here’s how Bodie ghost town compares to Mojave Desert ghost towns

Location:
- Bodie Ghost Town is located in eastern California, near the Nevada border, in the Bodie Hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is not part of the Mojave Desert.
- Mojave Desert ghost towns, on the other hand, are scattered throughout the Mojave Desert region, which covers parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. These ghost towns are found in a desert landscape, whereas Bodie is in a mountainous area.
Historical Significance:
- Bodie Ghost Town was once a bustling mining town during the late 19th century. It boomed during the Gold Rush but declined when the mines became depleted. It is known for its remarkably well-preserved buildings and artifacts, making it a popular tourist attraction and a State Historic Park.
- The Mojave Desert ghost towns have diverse histories related to mining or other industries. These towns experienced growth and decline due to factors like mining, railroads, or changes in economic activity in the region.
Geography and Climate:
- Bodie’s location in the Sierra Nevada Mountains has a colder, alpine climate with snowy winters. It is not in a desert like the Mojave Desert ghost towns, which have hot, arid desert climates.
Preservation:
- Bodie Ghost Town is notable for its excellent preservation, with many buildings and artifacts remaining intact. It provides a unique glimpse into the past due to its relatively isolated location and the efforts to protect and maintain it.
- Mojave Desert ghost towns vary in their levels of preservation. Some may have deteriorated significantly, while others may have been partially restored or maintained for historical and tourist purposes.

In summary, while Bodie Ghost Town and Mojave Desert ghost towns share the common theme of being abandoned settlements in the American West, they differ in their locations, historical backgrounds, climates, and levels of preservation. Each ghost town has its unique story and charm, showcasing the diversity of the history and landscapes of the Western United States.

Similarities

While Bodie Ghost Town and Mojave Desert ghost towns differ, they also share similarities due to their historical significance as abandoned settlements in the American West.

Here are some commonalities between them:

Mining History: Both Bodie Ghost Town and many Mojave Desert ghost towns have roots in mining activities. They were often established to support nearby mining operations for gold, silver, copper, or other valuable minerals.
Boom and Bust Cycles: Both ghost towns experienced periods of rapid growth and prosperity (boom) followed by economic decline and abandonment (bust) as the mining or other industries became less profitable or were exhausted.
Historic Architecture: Both Bodie and the Mojave Desert ghost towns feature historic buildings and structures that reflect the architectural styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These buildings offer insights into the daily lives of the people who once inhabited these towns.
Tourism and Preservation: Many ghost towns, including Bodie, have been preserved and turned into tourist attractions or historic sites. Visitors can explore the well-preserved or partially restored buildings and artifacts, providing a glimpse into the past.
Cultural Significance: These ghost towns hold cultural significance, representing a particular era in American history when mining and westward expansion were prominent. They serve as reminders of the challenges and opportunities that shaped the American West.
Isolation: Bodie Ghost Town and many Mojave Desert ghost towns are often located in remote or isolated areas. This isolation contributed to their decline and abandonment as access to resources and services became more challenging.
Natural Surroundings: While Bodie is mountainous, some Mojave Desert ghost towns are in arid desert landscapes. Both types of locations offer unique natural surroundings that add to the appeal of these historical sites.
Photogenic and Cinematic Appeal: Bodie and Mojave Desert ghost towns have been popular settings for photography and film productions. Their well-preserved or picturesque appearances have made them attractive for creative projects.
Historical Documentation: Researchers and historians have documented the histories of both Bodie and Mojave Desert ghost towns, helping preserve the stories and heritage of these places.

In summary, Bodie Ghost Town and Mojave Desert ghost towns share several similarities in their historical origins, economic activities, architectural heritage, cultural significance, and appeal as tourist destinations. However, it’s important to recognize that each ghost town has unique characteristics and history that make it special.

Mining Frauds and Scams

The Mojave Desert region, with its history of mining activities, would not have been immune to such fraudulent activities. To learn about specific instances of mining frauds and scams in the Mojave Desert, you may want to consult historical records, books, and academic sources that focus on the history of mining in that region. Local archives, historical societies, and mining museums could also be valuable resources for uncovering such stories.

General information about mining frauds and scams in historical contexts.

Mining frauds and scams have occurred in various mining regions throughout history, including the Mojave Desert region. Some common types of mining frauds and scams include:

Salting the Mine: This fraud involves planting valuable minerals or ore samples in a mine to make it seem more productive than it actually is. Investors are then lured into investing in the mine, only to discover that the value was artificially inflated.
Phantom Mines: Scammers may create fictitious mining operations on paper, complete with impressive documentation and financial reports. They then seek investors, promising high returns, but the mine doesn’t actually exist.
Pump and Dump Schemes: In these schemes, fraudsters artificially inflate the stock prices of mining companies by spreading false information or rumors about the discovery of valuable resources. Once the stock prices rise, they sell their shares at a profit, leaving other investors with worthless stocks.
Unscrupulous Claims: Some individuals have made fraudulent mining claims on public lands, hoping to sell those claims to investors or mining companies. These claims may not have any actual mineral deposits or rights.
Misrepresentation of Assays: Scammers may manipulate or falsify assay reports, which are essential for assessing the quality and quantity of minerals in a mine. Investors can be deceived into thinking a mine is more valuable than it is.
Ponzi Schemes: Ponzi schemes can also be associated with mining investments, where early investors are paid with funds from new investors rather than actual mining profits.

Please note that while mining frauds and scams have occurred historically in various regions, including the Death Valley area, specific details and cases would require in-depth historical research and documentation. If you’re interested in learning about specific instances of mining frauds in Death Valley, I recommend consulting historical records, books, and academic sources that focus on the region’s history.

Goldfield, Nevada

/goldfield-nv/

Goldfield, Nevada, is a small town in Esmeralda County, in the southwestern part of the state. It has a rich history, primarily centered around its boom and subsequent decline during the early 20th century.

Here’s a brief overview of the history of Goldfield:

Discovery of Gold: Goldfield’s history began in 1902 when prospector Tom Fisherman and his partner Harry Stimler discovered gold in the area. This discovery led to a rush of prospectors and miners to the region, hoping to strike it rich.
Boomtown: The town of Goldfield quickly grew as miners and entrepreneurs flocked to the area. By 1903, it had become a booming mining town with a rapidly growing population. Goldfield was known for its numerous mines, including the famous Combination Mine.
Infrastructure Development: During its peak, Goldfield saw significant development. The town had hotels, saloons, theaters, banks, and even an opera house. The Goldfield Hotel, constructed in 1907, was one of the most luxurious hotels in the state at the time.
Mining Industry: The mining industry was the lifeblood of Goldfield. The town produced significant gold, silver, copper, and other minerals. It became one of the largest gold-producing towns in Nevada.
Labor Strikes: Goldfield experienced labor strikes and tensions in the early 1900s as miners demanded better working conditions and wages. The labor disputes occasionally turned violent.
Decline: Despite its initial success, Goldfield’s fortunes began to decline in the late 1910s. The ore veins started to run out, and the town’s population dwindled. The decline accelerated during the Great Depression.
Modern Era: Today, Goldfield is a small, historic town with a much smaller population than its heyday. It is known for its preserved historic buildings, including the Goldfield Hotel, which is rumored to be haunted.
Tourism: In recent years, Goldfield has seen a revival of interest in its history and has attracted tourists interested in the town’s gold rush past.

Goldfield’s history is a classic example of the rise and fall of a mining boomtown in the American West. While it may not have the same prosperity it once enjoyed, its history and architecture continue to captivate those interested in the Old West and the mining industry.

The Stoddard Boys

Of all the brother acts operating in and around San Bernardino County during the Mormon period, Few accomplished more for the ultimate benefit of the area than the Stoddard boys, Arvin and Sheldon.

Neither cut an imposing figure. Arvin, the quiet one, was only 5’5″ tall and weighed 135 pounds soaking wet, while Sheldon wasn’t much larger. But what they lacked in height, they more than made up in spirit.

Arvin, however, had an imposing ally in his wife Caroline. She was 6 feet tall and weighed well over 200 pounds — a formidable Amazon and an extremely vocal one too. One is tempted to ask if she carried him across the threshold on their wedding night.

She became Arvin’s mouthpiece and did not hesitate to make her opinions known, particularly when the chips were down. As their grandson, R. Jackson Stoddard wrote in the March 1970 issue of the LA Westerners Branding Iron, “For although she followed the will of her husband, in many cases the will of her husband was truly only a reflection of her own wants and desires.”

Today, a stretch of the Mojave Desert between Victorville and Daggett is blanketed with sites bearing the Stoddard’s names. They include the Stoddard Mountains, Stoddard Hills, Stoddard gulch, Stoddard Valley, Stoddard Well and Stoddard Wells Road — all directly attributable to Arvin’s work in the area during the 1850s and 60s.

Flag of the Mormon Battailion (note spelling)

There were four Stoddard Brothers at the beginning; Rufus, Albert, Arvin and Sheldon, who were all born in Canada. When their father died in 1838, mother Jane gathered them all up and crossed the United States border, first to Ohio in then to Warsaw, Illinois, where she became hooked on the Mormon religion. When the church made it’s great trek to Salt Lake City in 1847, she and her boys were in the initial contingent.

Rufus was the first of the boys to reach California, arriving in San Diego as a member of the Mormon Battalion. After his group was disbanded in Los Angeles, he remained in the area for almost a year before he rejoining his family at Salt Lake City in 1849.

Sheldon was the next to go. Leaving Salt Lake in 1848, along with 30 other men found for the placer diggings near hang town, they traveled as far as Mountain Meadows with a larger company who hired Capt. Jefferson Hunt to guide them to Los Angeles over the Old Spanish Trail.

At the Meadows they left Hunt’s party and turned west to take what they thought was a shortcut to the gold fields and for the next 17 days blindly followed a false trail without a guide, compass or map to go by.

On the 18th day, hopelessly lost in facing death without water their lives were spared when a sudden rain squall drenched the area. As Sheldon later wrote, “We caught the water by spreading out our rubber blankets on the ground and drank it with a spoon.”

They then turned east on the Muddy River, followed at South until they fortunately encountered Capt. Hunt’s company again and accompanied it up the Mojave River, through Cajon Pass and down to the Chino Ranch.

Tragically enough, on the same trip another group of would-be minors left Hunt’s command at Provo, Utah, insisting they also knew a shorter route to the gold fields, only to blunder into Death Valley, where five died before the survivors made it to Los Angeles.

From Chino the party went on to Mariposa, where they broke up to mine, while Stoddard ran a trading post in nearby Carson Valley for a few months before returning to Salt Lake with a herd of horses and mules.

in March 1851 Sheldon married Jane Hunt, daughter of Capt. Hunt, and the following month they accompanied the first group of Mormon colonizers to the San Bernardino Valley, making temporary camp at Sycamore Grove.

After the Mormons purchased the San Bernardino Rancho that September, and moved down into the valley, Sheldon built the first log cabin in the settlement on First Street,, west of I Street. His cabin was later moved to and made part of the Westside of this stockade constructed on the present courthouse site as protection against hostile Indians.

For the next 14 years Sheldon Stoddard was engaged in freighting and carrying mail between San Bernardino and Salt Lake City, crossing the Mojave 24 times in all. In 1865 he made one trip to Nevada in Montana with a mule team which covered over 1300 miles, and took six months to complete.

Arvin Stoddard and his wife also came to San Bernardino with the first Mormon train and lived in the stockade for three years before receiving an urgent message from Mormon leader Brigham Young, authorizing him to investigate a gold strike in the Calico Hills to see if he could ” obtain as much gold as possible to help finance the founding and furtherance of the faith,” keeping only enough to live on during the venture.

Arvin and Caroline, ardent church devotees, packed their wagon and with their poor young children in tow, headed for the hills without hesitation.

But before looking for gold, Arvin searched for water to raise crops to feed his family and stock and to flush through sluice boxes used to separate flakes of gold from the desert sand.

One of his more successful wells, known as Stoddard Well, is still flowing today and besides furnishing the family with ample water, also provided an impetus for others to break out a new road on almost a straight line from Lane’s Crossing, near today’s Oro Grande, to Fish Ponds Station between present-day Barstow and Daggett, thereby saving many miles compared with the old route, which followed the westward band of the Mojave River.

Although it took him almost 8 years of prospecting, Arvin finally struck a rich claim and extracted a sum that Caroline estimated at $60,000 before calling it quits and lighting out for Salt Lake City to hand to Brigham Young.

But before they reach the Mormon Temple, they were held up by Indians and robbed of all their hard-earned loot, except for a few thousand dollars hidden in Caroline’s underwear.

As her grandson related, “The Indians were neither red nor brown. they were more white than any Indian she (Caroline) had ever seen.” Caroline deduced they were renegade Mormons, acting on behalf of the church, and although her suspicions were never resolved, her once benevolent attitude toward the Mormon hierarchy changed overnight and led to her eventual break with the church.

In 1869 the Arvin Stoddards move to Milford, Utah, where they build a hotel called, naturally, “The Stoddard House,” where they lived until Caroline died in 1904.

Sheldon Stoddard remained in San Bernardino for the rest of his life, Rev. and honored by all who knew him for his contributions to the county and state.

After serving as president of the pioneer society, he spent his final years surrounded by old friends like John Brown and Billy Holcomb. They camped and fished together in their mountain retreats and dedicated monuments to the pioneers in Cajon Pass. he was active up to the day of his death in 1919 at the age of 89.

From:

Heritage Tales 1988
by Fred Holladay
published by the City of San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society