When
it comes to historic mining camps in Central Nevada’s Shoshone Mountains, perhaps
the most familiar names are Berlin and Ione.
But
tucked into a canyon about five miles southeast of Berlin are the remains of
Grantsville, a mining community that once boasted a population of nearly 1,000.
To
reach the site of Grantsville, follow directions to Berlin-Icthyosaur State
Park from the small town of Gabbs. Head north for about two miles on Nevada
State Route 361, then turn east on State Route 844. Continue for 16 miles, then
when you reach a fork in the road, turn right on a dirt road (NF-120) and
continue for about 5 miles to reach the townsite.
Gold
and silver were discovered in the Union Mining District, which included Ione,
in the summer of 1863. As miners began to spread out across the range, the camp
that would grow into Grantsville formed in the upper part of Grantsville
Canyon.
The
camp, however, was short-lived when most of its residents departed after
hearing about a large mining discovery in White Pine County in 1868-69.
In
1877, a mining outfit called the Alexander Company began working the site and
erected a twenty-stamp mill. The population of Grantsville quickly swelled and
by 1879, it boasted several dozen stores selling general merchandise,
furniture, baked goods, and jewelry as well as a brewery, three saloons,
barbershops, blacksmith shops, a laundry, a bank, a print shop publishing the
weekly Sun newspaper, and a post
office.
According
to historian Stanley Paher, the stamp mill was doubled in size a year later
and, while the Sun folded, another
weekly paper, the Bonanza, took its
place. There was sufficient commercial activity that Grantsville had stagecoach
service to Austin (via Ione) as well as a second line to Eureka, via Belmont.
There
was even talk of extending the Nevada Central Railway, which ran between Austin
and Battle Mountain, south to the area.
But
like most mining communities, the good times came to an end. By 1885, the mines
started to fade and the exodus of residents began. A year later, the population
had declined to less than 50 residents and, in 1887, the post office closed for
good.
Historical
records indicate that the community experienced several very brief, small-scale
revivals during the years between 1907 and 1947, but none revived the town.
Yet
despite the years of neglect and abandonment, enough of Grantsville remains
today to make it worth a visit. More than a half dozen structures, including
the substantial ruins of a stamp mill, can still be found.
Driving
into Grantsville Canyon, one of the first things you see is the mill, to your
left. To the right is a small wooden structure that appears to have been used
by a mining company since the floor is covered with torn sacks once filled with
rock and dirt.
Farther
ahead are the ruins of other buildings made of adobe, wood, and stone. On a hillside overlooking them is the former
Grantsville school house, a particularly well-constructed structure of brick
and metal siding.
The
ruins stretch out across the canyon’s flat expanse east of the mill and provide
at least a hint of the size of the community, which truly has been left to the
ghosts. Be careful while exploring, however, because the site also has several
open mine shafts (fortunately, most are fenced).
In addition to the fairly extensive ruins,
Grantsville also has a small cemetery. Not much remains of it except for a post
and some collapsed fencing.
Good sources of information about Grantsville
are Stanley Paher’s “Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps” and Shawn Hall’s, “Preserving
the Glory Days: Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Nye County, Nevada.”
