Genoa's 'Pink House' named state historic place

One of Genoa's earliest homes, the Reese-Johnson-Virgin House, or "Pink" House, has been added to the Nevada State Register of Historic Places by the Board of Museums and History, State Historic Preservation Officer Ron James announced.

The register is Nevada's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.

Also added to the register was the historic schoolhouse in the remote Elko County mining town of Midas.

The Reese-Johnson-Virgin House is part of the Genoa Historic District and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

It is one of the earliest homes built in the settlement of Mormon Station and the site of important meetings that established early local government. It is also an example of early Carpenter Gothic architecture in Nevada.

The central core of the house was built around 1855 by Genoa pioneer Col. John Reese, who established Mormon Station. After Reese's business failed and he returned to Salt Lake City, the house was purchased by Genoa merchant J.R. Johnson, who moved it to its present location, enlarged it, and painted it pink.

Ownership then passed to Judge D.W. Virgin, another important pioneer, whose family owned it until 1938.

The Reese-Johnson-Virgin House was built in the Carpenter Gothic style, popular at the time, and was most likely inspired by the architectural pattern books that were newly available and widely used.

During the first decade of the 20th century, the Virgins added a Queen Anne-style porch. Although Queen Anne is a late-Victorian style, it was an appropriate and attractive complement to the original Gothic details.

The Midas Schoolhouse opened in 1928, and is recognized for its association with the educational and social history of the town.

Midas was established during an early-20th century mining boom and survived over several decades of the industry's boom-and-bust cycles. Today, Midas has about 20 permanent residents.