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662 Main Street in Pioche, Nevada
08 Friday Mar 2024
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662 Main Street in Pioche, Nevada
06 Wednesday Mar 2024
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Pioche Grade School
The Pioche Grade School was opened in 1909. The Mission Style architecture is unique and contributes to the Pioche heritage. At first the four main rooms with four teachers teaching two classes to a room was the norm, however; through the years as student numbers rose and fell the building had been adapted to the needs of the students and the funds available. The addition of the gymnasium and extra class rooms has enhanced its use over the years. It is the center for many community activities.
390 Main Street in Pioche, Nevada
31 Wednesday Jan 2024
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inPioche Heritage Park
IN 1985, Mary Louise Christian, as President of the Chamber of Commerce, secured permission from the State Highway Department to develop this area into a park. Plans were drawn and work was begun. It progressed well however in 1986 when Mary Louise and John Christian were tragically killed in an accident, it was still in stages of development. Many town folks rallied around and this park was dedicated as a memorial park for them. Jerome Sears donated the train to enhance the park and a gazebo was built with the mine tunnel backdrop to make it a charming place.
26 Friday Jan 2024
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Old Pioche Hospital
696 Meadow Valley Street in Pioche, Nevada
26 Friday Jan 2024
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Pioche, Nevada
In 1864, prospectors led by a native Paiute made the first silver ore discoveries in the surrounding hills. The wild rush of prospectors and fortune seekers drove the population to nearly 10,000 by the early 1870’s.
Pioche was known as one of the toughest and most lawless towns of the west. Hired gunmen were often recruited to ad- dress disputes over mining claim locations and encroachments. It has been reported that 75 men were buried in Boothill Cemetery before anyone had time to die a natural death.
Pioche is named after Francois L. A. Pioche, a French financier and mining owner-operator, who constructed one of the first smelters in the area and formed the Meadow Valley Mining Company in 1868.
Silver, gold, lead and zinc comprise the primary minerals that were extracted throughout the area. As with many mining camps, boom and bust periods were commonplace through the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In the early 1870’s, Pioche was the second leading producer of silver west of the Rocky Mountains. The last boom period for Pioche came with the onset of World War II as precious minerals were mined for the war effort. At that time, Pioche was second in the nation for lead and zinc production.
Pioche was designated the seat of Lincoln County in 1871. As one of Nevada’s most historical ghost towns, it provides a subtle reminder of the colorful, volatile and sometimes deadly, days of the mining boom.
28 Friday Apr 2023
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Old Fire Hall
Constructed in 1929 to serve the community as a fire hall.
This building housed Pioche’s first fire truck purchased in 1928.
Fire chief Herbert Cleine and wife “Ben” resided in the basement apartment for 25 years until the new fire hall was built. The present department was born in 1937 and have been some of the best fire fighters in the state.
247 Lacour Street in Pioche, Nevada
Located next to it and gone now was the Commercial Club.
24 Monday Apr 2023
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inPioche’s Boot Hill
A mining town from the late 1860s, Pioche is one of the most intact historic communities in Southern Nevada. Named for Francois L.A. Pioche, a San Francisco financier who, with partners, acquired some of the earliest claims in the area, the town grew quickly. Its isolation led to a lawlessness which was as famous as its mines.
The many murders in the area led to the creation of Boot Hill, the earliest cemetery in Pioche. There were six deaths from lead poisoning in the town before the first person died of natural causes, and this cemetery was in active use during the boom years. Though religious and fraternal cemeteries were later created, Boot Hill continued to be used for many years. Though in use today, Boot Hill remains a part of the history of Pioche. Let us not forget those who are buried here, for they too are a part of our heritage.
Dedicated this 9th day of May, 2009
by the Queho Posse Chapter 1919
E Clampus Vitus
in cooperation with the Pioche Chamber of Commerce
24 Monday Apr 2023
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Boot Hill Cemetery
Crime was rampant in Pioche in the early 1870’s. During the first few years of Pioche’s boom days it was said that 72 men “were buried with their boots on” before anyone died of natural causes. Many of these men are buried in this old Boot Hill Cemetery.
The historic marker “Pioche’s Boot Hill” says:
A mining town from the late 1860s, Pioche is one of the most intact historic communities in Southern Nevada. Named for Francois L.A. Pioche, a San Francisco financier who, with partners, acquired some of the earliest claims in the area, the town grew quickly. Its isolation led to a lawlessness which was as famous as its mines.
The many murders in the area led to the creation of Boot Hill, the earliest cemetery in Pioche. There were six deaths from lead poisioning in the town before the first person died of natural causes, and this cemetery was in active use during the boom years. Though religious and fraternal cemeteries were later created, Boot Hill continued to be used for many years. Though in use today, Boot Hill remains a part of the history of Pioche. Let us not forget those who are buried here, for they too are a part of our heritage.
24 Monday Apr 2023
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inPioche Aerial Tramway
This aerial tramway operated in the 1920’s and 1930’s carrying ore from the mines on Treasure Hill to Godbe Mill.
Built by the Pioche Mines Company, the tramway was mainly gravity powered with the aid of a 5 horse power motor. The weight of the ore in the full buckets going to the mill pulled the empty buckets back to the bin.
In 1928 cost of delivering ore via the tramway to the mill was 6 cents a ton.
Located in the hills above Pioche, Nevada.
The tramway above the Boot Hill Cemetery:
28 Tuesday Feb 2023
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inThe Railroads of Pioche
Railroads were the best option for moving ore in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. For the mines of Pioche, four railroads eventually served the area.
The first was started in 1872. Originally called the Pioche and Bullionville, it was reincorporated as the Central Nevada Railroad in 1873, and renamed the Nevada Central, though not related to the railroad near Ely. It went out of business in 1880.
In 1889, the Pioche Pacific Transportation Company, known as the Jackrabbit Line, built a new narrow-gauge line. The Pioche Pacific connected with the Jackrabbit Mine to the east. It did not finally close until 1948.
Next was the Caliente & Pioche Railroad. It was built by San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad starting in 1907, and connected Pioche to the outside world. It became part of the Union Pacific.
The final Pioche railroad was the Price Consolidated Railroad which began constructed in 1912. It too became part of the Union Pacific in 1940.
This plaque (located at Pioche Town Park at 186 4th Street in Pioche, Nevada) was placed by the Queho Posse, #1919 of the ancient and honorable order of E Clampus Vitus, with the Town of Pioche and the Pioche Chamber of Commerce.