Every time a wildfire would occur my wife would ask me if we had anything to worry about. I said, No, There is a buffer of 10-20 houses between us and the wildlands. Now that I have seen what a bucket of fireplace ashes in 80mph winds can do, I realize none of us can ignore the threat. Thousands of burning embers were transported hundreds of yards to land on tinder-dry vegetation and homes. Every minute, as the fire blew closer at 80mph, more and hotter embers arrived to make just escaping the only option. The embers blew over and around many homes sparing them only to ignite homes further away, sending my theory “up in smoke”.
The very similar Caughlin Fire in Reno, just two months ago, should have
been all that was needed, but just that distance made the lesson abstract to me and it didn’t hit home until I saw the wind and flames from my own deck.
Personally, we will pay even more attention to fire safety around the house. Over the last several years fires have been started by abandoned yard waste burning, construction work, downed power lines, kids partying, unsupervised kids camping, and now, fireplace ashes. These are all areas where we should be vigilant. Also, we will make an evacuation plan: Learn the escape routes, organize our valuables (including livestock) for quick movement, and set up communication plans with family members.
On washoevalley.org I will permanently post the link to livingwithfire.com, the local site on how to prepare and manage and survive just such an emergency. I know a couple of years ago a group in the valley sought to organize a community plan for these emergencies and I will try to find out if it was implemented. If anyone knows, let me know and I will add it to this website.
Hopefully, our run of regional bad luck is over and we will never see another such fire. But the odds are against that. I also used to brag to family around the country that here in Nevada, we don’t have “natural disasters”. I think I should acknowledge that we do and be prepared.
Our thoughts go out to our neighbors that have been impacted by this fire and I hope if those that need assistance and those that can provide it will use this site to communicate and coordinate.
Fires: Attitude Adjustment
Washoe City’s Old Cabin
I have been asked several times about the history of the dilapidated log cabin on hwy 395 in Washoe City. This is the one on the north side of the highway in the old Cattlemen’s Restaurant parking lot. Word of mouth was that it was built as a movie set in the old days and is not an authentic original home.
I did some light research in the old papers and only found one circuitous reference so far but it backs up the story. In November 1959 a letter to the editor was published in the form of a eulogy to a Joe Farnsworth. Joe was apparently a long time resident and ex Virginia City cop and had quite a knowledge of the local surroundings and goings-on. The letter writer related the story of the cabin as he heard it from Joe. “Son, that cabin was put up by a movie company in the war years. Why they even installed electric lights so they could take night pictures. I watched them several times and they even invited me to be an extra with good pay, because I looked more western than any of those who were taking a part in the picture. Anyhow, I refused because I was never cut out to be an actor.”
I also searched for movies and Washoe Valley but as yet have come up empty. I did come across an article about a major motion picture shot in Carson City during the “war years”, however. The theme was contemporary though, and reportedly closed down Carson Street for several days. I’ll probably do an article on that and try to locate the picture later.
Speaking of movies, I had the pleasure of seeing “Virginia City” starring Randolph Scott, shot in 1940, recently and thoroughly enjoyed it as it is about as close as Hollywood can come to portraying the real history. Included are Stagecoach robberies and the building of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Plus he had the most beautiful horse in movies, I think. This movie is out on DVD.
Save This Site!
Due to protests on the internet, the Corporate Media Machine has finally had to report on SOPA and PIPA, the bills in Congress that hand control of the internet over to corporations. These corporate media empires, movies tv, and print, are losing the information control battle and their new strategy is “if you can’t beat the internet, own it”. This is bipartisan. Some Dems and Reps in Congress are bought and paid for by the corporations and other Dems and Reps are still fighting for us, the individuals. Let them know that all of us, Dems and Reps and independents want a free internet and exchange of information.
The bills in Congress require each web site to investigate every link they put up and every link in every comment or submitted post for any copyright infringement. A corporation will be able to have a site shut down and removed just on the suspicion of infringement and it will be up to the site owner to prove they are not guilty in court while their source of revenue is shut down. Free, nonprofit sites like this one will cease to exist. Only the wealthy corporations will survive and the internet will become nothing more than an online shopping mall.
Due you value the internet? Tell your congressman “Hands Off!”.
What Did They Put In That Time Capsule?
A couple of posts down we talked about the 100 year anniversary of Washoe City in 1961 and the bronze plaque and monument that was installed at that time. The local dignitaries also place a time capsule inside the monument to let future civilizations know what we were all about between 1861 and 1961.
Among the items are a Proclamation by then governor, Grant Sawyer; a copy of the original Territorial Statutes, setting up the local government; a townsite map of Washoe City and a program from the 50th anniversary celebration in 1911.
Literature of the period is represented by an 1861 copy of the “Eastern Slope”, Washoe City’s newspaper; A copy of “Orson Hyde’s Curse on Washoe Valley” (that we should do an article on), Sandy Bower’s after dinner speech of 1861 (likewise); and an 1862 history of Washoe County.
People and industry were included in the business and social directory and list of officials in 1862 and 1961. Also included here is something called a “Nevada Silver Centennial Official Cachet”.
Finally 18 photos are entombed depicting local dignitaries from both era’s, their homes, Native Americans, and the V&T Railroad among others.
Not quite a treasure chest but a collection of documents memorializing “the citizens of Washoe County, both living and dead, who have witnessed the progress of these years”.
It’s too bad nobody noticed the 150 year anniversary and stirred us all from our teevee induced slumber to have another civic party but I’ll put a note on the fridge for the 200th!
Washoe Valley Causeway
This 1964 ad by the Reno Harold’s Club Casino celebrates the “Washoe Causeway”- the bridge that crossed the wetlands on the north side of the lake to provide ore wagons access to the Ophir Quartz Mill from the Ophir Grade from Virginia City in the 1860s (See the article on Ophir below).
Remnants of the old causeway can still be found if one searches enough.
Harold’s Club was a great supporter of Western Nevada history and this site should create an article celebrating that! They had wonderful displays in the casino and produced books as well as these historically oriented ads periodically. Note: With my browser I can enlarge the ad enough to read it. Let me know if you have problems with this.
Onramp Improvements At The South Valley
We’ve been asked about the on ramp work at the south end of the valley and if anyone has any info- please send it in! Just from my casual observation it looks like they are addressing the deadly proposition of accelerating to 70 mph in a very short distance to merge with the thundering herd. Hopefully they are making the approach and merge area much longer to give mergers and mergees time to get to know each other.
