The ghostlike locale of Silver Mountain City came to life Saturday morning, as historical researchers Karen and Rick Dustman led the Alpine County Museum tour through what remains of the once-thriving mining community.
The Dustmans' descriptions of the long-gone businesses, buildings, streets and the colorful men and women who toiled there filled the imaginations of the 42 visitors.
Many were from Alpine County, some from other places in California including Placerville and Ripon, with several from Carson Valley.
Karen's words in the brochure that was handed out at the beginning of the tour set its tone: "...stand beside old Main Street (today's Highway 4) and close your eyes," she wrote, "and you can almost imagine the clink of glasses in the saloons and hear the thunder of Giant Powder exploding in the mines."
Karen and Rick certainly brought the old community to life.
Located off California Highway 4 and a 20-minute drive from Markleeville, Silver Mountain City is now covered by trees and bushes. Once a bustling community, its thousand residents were mainly miners seeking their fortune. Many labored in the mines for $4 a day.
The streets were carefully laid out in a grid pattern and contained a jail, hotels, retail establishments, livery stables, and a large number of saloons. Hogs had the run of the streets.
When Alpine County was formed in 1864, Silver Mountain City was its county seat but the seat was subsequently moved to Markleeville.
The tour visited the sites of the long-gone structures and Karen and Rick described what they were like.
Most of the buildings were hastily built with whatever material was at hand yet they managed to withstand the harsh winters. Rick passed around a piece of metal sheathing from the side of one-a flattened tin can with nail holes.
He noted the importance of not removing things of historic interest, and that he would return the item to where he found it.
Remnants of the jail built in 1867 remain. It had six cells, two of which are now in the jail at the Alpine County Museum in Markleeville. Other sites visited included Ryan's Exchange Saloon, Swinerton's Hardware Store, Betschmann's Stable that also had a blacksmith's shop, and the Fisk Hotel.
Built around 1863, it boasted oyster dinners, and Rick passed around a plastic bag with oyster shells found at the site. They too would be returned to where they were found. The hotel was disassembled in 1883 and moved to Markleeville where it still stands at Main and Montgomery streets.
Powers' Store, which advertised groceries, dry goods, and clothing, was also noted. The original sign for that store is in the Alpine County Museum and includes a display of some of the items that were likely sold by Powers.
The site of the Silver Mountain Bulletin was pointed out. After it folded in 1867 its place was taken by the Alpine Chronicle that originally began publication in Markleeville in 1864. Also visited were the sites of the Ogden Saloon that had a section for court hearings and county offices, and Errickson's Hotel.
Errickson had an affair with the wife of Ernest Reusch, who shot him dead.
A band of masked men seized Reusch as he was being taken to Mono County for trial and hanged him from Hangman's Bridge, just outside Markleeville.
But in spite of the riches envisioned by those who trekked to Silver Mountain City and great speculation in mines and other property, little money was made for the ore was too hard to work and Silver Mountain City faded.
Being at Silver Mountain City had special meaning for several of the participants who had family ties there.
Among them were Dennis Nelson and his wife from Ripon. Dennis' great-grandparents lived there; Annie Hay gave birth to a daughter Mary Hay in 1869.
Marian and Doug Liesz who live in Placerville told of their great grandfather Hiram Scott who came to Silver Mountain City in 1863 and brought his wife there a year later. He invested in the Mamouth and Yreka mines.
Following the tour and lunch at the museum, a slide show was presented depicting some of the Silver Mountain City buildings and people.
A second tour is planned for September.
For information call the Alpine County Museum at (530) 694-2317.
Karen has written three books and she and Rick are completing "Silver Mountain: Ghost of the Sierra."
For information, contact Karen at (530) 694-2122.
Karen Dustman is an attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
