Gold Hill's 1937 Ford Dump Truck

An old Ford dump truck in Gold Hill, Nev. CC BY-NC-ND-4.0

An old Ford dump truck in Gold Hill, Nev. © Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

"Based on the truck's distinctive features — like the slanted hood line, separate fender-mounted headlights, horizontal-bar grille, suicide-style doors, and stake-sided dump bed — this is a Ford Model BB series heavy-duty dump truck from 1937," according to Grok. "These were common in mining areas like Gold Hill, Nev., often painted yellow for visibility and safety."

If that analysis is incorrect, please let me know in comments. 

Lady Justice Has Eyes Wide Open

© Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Photographed in 2010. 

by Glenn Franco Simmons

One of the most-impressive buildings in Virginia City, Nev., is the ornate — by Wild West standards — Storey County Courthouse at 26 South B. St.

Located near the equally historic Piper's Opera House, the courthouse is an impressive structure that must have magnificent views of Virginia City northward, from its second-story windows. Whether standing inside or outside the courthouse, which features a jail and courtroom, it is easy to imagine the destinies of lives forever changed in this building.

The National Park Service's "Three Historic Nevada Cities" series features historically important information about Carson City, Reno and Virginia City.

"The Storey County Courthouse was built in the high Italianate style that embodies 19th-century ideals of decorative opulence as well as law and order," according to the NPS."

It replaced the first courthouse, which was destroyed the catastrophic Virginia City Great Fire of October 1875.

"Reconstruction began in 1876 and the present building, designed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Kenitzer and Raun and built by contractor Peter Burke, was completed in February 1877," according to the NPS. "The total cost of construction, including fixtures and the jail, was $117,000, a remarkable sum even for the Comstock boom years."

It even features a memorable and iconic sculpture.

© Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

"A life-sized figure of Justice stands as sentry at the entrance, but she is not blindfolded, a rare occurrence in our national symbology," according to the NPS.

The Comstock Historical Marker (No. 8) that is located outside the courthouse (at the time this photo was taken) states that "over the years, a legend has evolved that she {Justice} was one of only a few created not blindfolded."

"The courthouse's statue of Justice is the only one to grace the exterior of a Nevada building," according to OnlineNevada. "The full-sized, zinc figure came from New York and cost $236, including shipping. Local folklore maintains it is one of two or three in the nation without a blindfold, presumably because the Wild West needed Justice to pursue crime vigorously. In fact, Justice with eyes exposed was a common option in the nineteenth century, and over twenty examples survive throughout the country."

In Virginia City, all enforcement had to have its eyes wide open because it was the epitome of Wild West skulduggery.

"The façade of the building was decorated with elaborate ironwork, painted contrasting colors, and a pediment that included the date of construction, 1876, also the national centennial," the NPS states.

The NPS also said the Storey County Courthouse is the most opulent of all Nevada courthouses built in the late 19th century.

© Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Photographed in 2010.

"Far exceeding the cost of its counterparts, the building served the state's richest community," the NPS states. "Ironically, the county built the courthouse at a time when the boom economy of Virginia City was on the verge of collapse. Perhaps due to the inevitability of a downturn, local leaders rebuilt their town following the devastating 1875 fire in grand style.

"The Storey County Courthouse remains a vivid example of this community's rebirth in the face of economic decline. A portion of its restoration was funded through a grant from the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund."

It is a building that needs to continue to be kept up because of its historical significance as not only a courthouse, but also a jail.

"Storey County's two-story Italianate structure includes a two-tier jail, a spacious courtroom, and large iron-sheathed vaults for records," according to OnlineNevada. "Electrified during The {Great} Depression, the courtroom features Art Deco style light fixtures. The building is one of two 19th-century courthouses (the other being in Eureka) still serving local government."

According to another Comstock Historical Marker (No. 17) outside the courthouse, "This two-story jail was completed in 1877, and featured 10 individual cells, each of which had bunkbeds and 'state-of-the-art' plumbing for the day."

Men and women were jailed there.

"Women were housed on the second level and men on the first floor until 1963, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that males and females could not occupy the same facility without being physically separated," according to the marker. "There was heavy wire mesh strung between the posts of the second level to prevent falls and mingling of the inmates.

"The jail operated continuously from 1877 until September of 1986, when the county's insurance carrier decided it was unwise to operate it with only one fire exit in the event of a fire. Inmates were then housed at the Carson City Sheriff's Jail, for a fee, until the current jail was opened in 1992 on the outskirts of town on Truck Route, SR341."

Security was built into the jail.

"The walls of the jail were covered in boiler plate, after a successful escape in 1897 by an alleged murderer who had worked on the building as a bricklayer," according to the marker. "'Red Mike' Langan knew the walls had not been properly filled with rubble material as required and was able to dig his way out and escape. The county went to great expense to see that this did not happen again."

The marker makes no mention of Mr. Langan being caught, and I have not been able to determine if he was re-imprisoned.

"The doors of the jail were built by C.F. Nutting of San Francisco, the same company that supplied the vaults in the rest of the courthouse," the marker notes. "The stone floors are made of 'Kate's Peak Andesite," a very dense and heavy granite which was quarried from the hills a short distance to the east of Virginia City."

© Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Photographed in 2010.

© Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Photographed in 2010

V.C. 'Flag On Fire' Poem A Masterpiece

An American flag used from 1861-63. Public domain.

by Glenn Franco Simmons

Torn from a wooden pole on top of Mount Davidson, an American flag was carried by the fierce wind when it suddenly became illuminated by the setting sun peaking through storm clouds over the rugged Sierras.

The pioneer Virginia City residents could not believe their eyes.

The spectacle was so profound that a famous American female poet took up the challenge and put the experience ~ which captivated countless Comstock Lode onlookers ~ to inspiring patriotic poetry.

This post reveals her long-lost poem, as well as the four American flags, any one of which may have been the flag torn asunder, because all were in some form of use at the time.

C.C. Goodwin* mentions, in passing, the poem titled “The Flag On Fire” by Anna M. Fitch in his literary fictional masterpiece titled “The Comstock Club.”

He notes that in July 1863, a heavy storm with thunder descended upon the pioneer mining outpost. One can almost imagine it happening.

“… As the sun was disappearing behind Mount Davidson, the clouds broke and rolled away from the west,” writes Goodwin of the fictional event, “while at the same time a faint rainbow appeared in the East, making one of those beautiful spectacles common to mountainous regions.

“At the same time the flag on Mount Davidson caught the beams from the setting sun and stood out a banner of fire. This, too, is not an unfrequent spectacle in Virginia City, and long ago inspired a most gifted lady to write a very beautiful poem, ‘The Flag on Fire.’”

Mount Davidson, July 24, 2011. © Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

“From the summit of Mount Davidson, looking westward from Virginia City, Nevada, float the stars and stripes,” Ms. Fitch writes. “On the evening of July 30th, 1863, upon the breaking away of a storm, this banner was suddenly illuminated by some curious refraction of the rays of the setting sun. Thousands of awe-struck persons witnessed the spectacle, which continued until the streets of Virginia, 1500 feet below, were in utter darkness.”

At a time when there were sympathizers of The Union or the Confederacy in Virginia City, the poem was sure to inflame the pride of patriotism in the hearts of those who supported The Union and not in those who supported The Confederate States of America.

The poem is cast in a reverential, almost religious, style that seems to indicate a feeling among some observers that the illumination of the Stars and Stripes was somehow divinely ordained and proof that the United States of America would continue to prosper and be victorious in The Civil War.

What no writer mentioned was which American flag was atop Mount Davidson.

The Flag On Fire

by Anna M. Fitch

Up the somber

Silent chamber

Of the silver-seamed Sierra,

Where the Pi-ute

Roams in quiet

And the eagle spreads her eyrie ~

Climbed on our flag, and sat in splendor

Climbed our flag, and sat in splendor

Thronged with elemental wonder.

Flushed with warning,

Dawned the morning,

O’er Nevada’s gold-girt canons

While momentous

Clouds portentous

Beat aloft their dusky pinions,

And the lengthening day slow wheeling

‘Neath its swarthy height was reeling

Now the marring

Lightning scarring,

Cleaves the mailed front of heaven,

Sifting, shifting,

Drifting, rifting,

Clouds capricious course till even,

So the swarthy army marches,

Conquering through the shadowy arches.

An American flag used from 1861-63. Public domain.

Cloud-bemantled,

Storm-ensandled,

Droops the flag, all gloom-encompassed,

Now unfurling,

Waltzing, whirling,

To the music of the tempest —

While aloft the dark-browed legion

Marshals through the storm-wrapped region.

Now the crumbling

Shadows, tumbling

Into silver-skirted showers

Lo! Upbuildered

From the gilded

Eastern crags, a rainbow towers;

Linked with Carson’s purple fountain,

Circling the desert, vale and mountain.

Fire! Fire!

Fire! Fire!

Who has set the flag on fire?

What vile traitor

By Creator

Spurned, thus dare defy despair?

God of prophecy and power,

Stay the omen of the hour.

An American flag used from 1863-65. Wikipedia. Public domain.

Oh! the splendor,

Oh! The wonder,

To the worshipping beholder!

Gathering, glowing

Flaming, flowing

Skyward — fiercer, freer, bolder

Burn the beating stars of empire,

Lit by traitor-torch, nor camp-fire.

Blood nor palette,

More than all that,

Mid those starry embers linger;

Tis an omen

Sent to no man —

Signet on an unseen finger —

Prophecy from heaven’s own portal,

Borne by winged worlds immortal.

Now circling

Darkness purpling,

Plumes the rock-ribbed mountain hoary;

Yet the hallowed,

Flag unpillowed,

Burns aloft in stilly glory;

Wonder-mute, no man inveigheth;

Peace, be still! a nation prayeth.

An American flag used from 1863-65. Public domain.

Anyway, V.C. fans, more about Mrs. Fitch, if you are interested. In an obituary about Ms. Fitch published in “Paradise of the Pacific” Vols. 16-18 (Jan. 1, 1903), her literary accomplishments were noted.

“… She had literary tastes, and in the exercise of her talents displayed genius,” according to the publication. “One particular poem she wrote, … titled ‘The Song of the Flume,’ was regarded by William Cullen Bryant as classic. She also wrote ‘The Flag on Fire,’ ‘Over the Hill,’ ‘The Loves of Paul Fenly,’ and ‘Bound Down’ — a book of Fate.

“She caught a good deal of her inspiration from the scenes, the incidents and the romances of the great Pacific Slope, where most of her life was spent. With her husband she wrote ‘Better Days,’ or a ‘Millionaire of Tomorrow,’ a tale of the present period dealing somewhat with the labor interests.”

I encourage you to visit the Nevada Women's Project to read more of Mrs. Fitch’s bio, as well as others’ stories.

“How did she acquire such literary stature?” the project asks? “Anna’s most important influence was her husband, Thomas Fitch. Fitch was a wanderer searching for his life’s goal; that of a U.S. Senator or Territorial Governor, a pinnacle of political success which he never seemed to find. He was fortunate in his searching that he met a young San Francisco author, Anna Mariska Shultz, and he married her there on January 1, 1863.

“At this point her geographical world expanded far beyond her wildest imagination. She moved with Tom to all the Western territories (including Hawaii) and numerous states well over 20 times as he sought that elusive U.S. Senator position or governorship of a territory. Even though he attained the high rank of a U.S. Congressman from Nevada, that wasn’t enough. An orator with a keen mind, he seemed to have no equal, and he became known far and wide as the ‘Silver Tongued Fitch.’

“However, by the prestige Anna achieved in the literary field, it seems to prove that he met his match intellectually. Anna achieved her success as she relentlessly moved from one home to another, for Tom felt it was necessary to purchase a home and establish residency in every move to show that he was serious about being a permanent resident. Setting up one household, or even several, could be considered average for a married couple. Setting up the number of households she had to and still making time for writing, as well as anti-suffrage activities and other social involvements, would be considered superhuman, even by today’s standards.”

(*Editor’s Notes: C.C. Goodwin’s book has some racial epithets in it. However, society has advanced and matured. My post is not an endorsement of such views but an endorsement of Mr. Goodwin’s masterpiece, “The Comstock Club.”

(The 1860 black-and-white Virginia City and Mount Davidson photograph was taken from the Gould and Curry Mine. It is part of the Lawrence & Houseworth Series titled: “Album Views of Nevada.” Courtesy University of Nevada, Reno. Photo of Mrs. Fitch, public domain, courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Rest Easy, Sagebrush Kin

Public domain.

Rest Easy, Sagebrush Kin

Among Virginia City's legendary lore are heroes,

Where silver ghosts whisper through weathered boards,

Beloved banners sway like old miners' flags unfurled,

Against the vast sky's forgiving blue ~

Souls woven in the earth, forever held

In the Silver State's heart, where the wild winds renew.

Rest easy, kin of the sagebrush plains;

Your light endures in this Western town's timeless veins.

Rustic Rope N’ Treasures Features Memories

by Glenn Franco Simmons

On a blustery day in Virginia City with skies stubbornly dry, I ducked into one of my favorite haunts, Rustic Rope N’ Treasures (145 S. C Street #A).

This cozy little shop brims with outsized tales of ranch life: weathered pelts, cherished family heirlooms, a children’s rocking chair that was once the owner’s grandmother’s, a vintage movie projector owned by her grandpa, and countless other gems that whisper of Western grit and history (if my memory serves me correctly).

Curious, I later browsed the shop’s website, and the online shop truly represents the owner, Cheri Langus’ artistic skills, but also provides a glimpse of what’s in the physical store, and there is much, much more.

When I took this photo, Cheri said she would be getting more Charlie Kirk-themed knives in. They may have have arrived. Check out the shop! CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Think of a cowboy boot with beautifully arranged flowers! That can be seen on Rustic’s professional website with a country friendly twist. (If Cheri and George oblige, I would like to do a feature on their Western-themed rental business.)

Cheri told me she and her husband George served in the Nevada Air National Guard for 26 years. (Thank you both for your service!)

There is more than merchandise in Rustic Rope N' Treasures. There are stories.
Family histories. Treasure hunts. Ranching life. Western lore. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

On the website, Cheri said she moved to Nevada in 1975 and retired from the NV Air National Guard after 20 years’ service.

“I live & love to ride my horses,” she said, adding that she’s “active in the Reno Rodeo, riding on the Flag team. Love to ride with our friends on their ranches working cows.”

On the website, George noted that he retired from service after 26 years.

He said he’s the “owner and operator of a small trash & recycling business in the Reno/Sparks area. I do craft work with my wife as well. I also do leather; my stuff will soon be featured here. Stay tuned!” {When I took five years off from journalism, I was general manager of a trash and recycling company!}

They’ve also been married more than 30 years!

On a Yelp site in the owner’s section, Cheri wrote, “We began collecting our Western pieces for our house; well, that passion turned into an addiction. Before we knew it, we had 3, 5, 9 or more of the same items!”

Eventually, that passion graduated into staging events. 

“… I started in 2013 and in 2017 I branched into trade and craft shows and really enjoyed it,” Cheri explains on her Etsy site. “George and I love the outdoors, especially while on our horses, helping our friends gather and work their cattle. We love history and there is so much out there, as many of the items we find are reflected in my work. If it’s old, damaged, forgotten, and discarded. ... chances are, it's used. We see the endless possibilities for a repurposed life in these castoffs from history. This is how it began, my obsession of history and the Western way of life.

I wonder how old that ceiling is. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

“I began to find the ‘art’ in everything ~ from animal skulls, antlers, rusty or rustic items, wood, barbed wire, old windows to recyclable items. Everything has the potential to be repurposed; you just have to seek the possibility and the beauty it once had.

“Our ranching friends call me the ‘trash collector’ which is funny since we own a trash & recycling business,”  Cheri continued. “As I am riding with our friends, scouting and scanning the mountains for the cows, I also scan the terrain, as there is always something to find. I will find sheds (antlers), animal skulls & rusty things which I pick up and tie on my trusty horse, Joker. Much of my materials are found in the mountains of Nevada, old ranches/homesteads, antique stores, from cowboys, etc.”

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Her store is a museum. I saw pelts, I think I remember a sled, and there are all kinds of other things. In the past, I’ve bought a sweatshirt, T-shirt and a sign the last time I was in.

But don’t think her items are limited to those. Oh, no. 

On their Etsy site and in the store, they offer beautifully crafted Western items that include lariat rope vases, lariat rope platters, wreaths, wine canisters, cardholders, home décor and wedding items.

The couple’s friendliness comes across in Cheri’s explanation of the Etsy photos.

“I put a lot of thought, style, prefect imperfections, etc. into my work,” she wrote in September 2025. “I take pride into creating the perfect piece for you. I will go above and beyond in the details of the product I make and will redo if I doesn't meet my standards. In my floral items, I will make sure there are no holes, and it's fluffed.”

The Etsy photos are proof in advertising!

In journalism school, my old-school professors (almost all of whom had been real journalists, not book-taught professors) drilled into me to never, ever use “unique.” “Nothing is unique,” they would thunder! “NOTHING!”

Well, many of Cheri’s items are one-of-a-kind and unique.

“Any rope items that do not have a tub, glass/ceramic vases, etc., is freestyle, I do not have a mold for any shape rope product,” she explained. “They are all done by hand, which allows for imperfectly perfect products.

“All of the items listed have SOLD at trade shows, made for family, gifted to friends, or donated for non-profits for their raffles to help raise money, or they were sold in the store. … I can show the variations of my work; what I can make, what I can do and to give you an idea of what I can do.

“I will create another in similarity. I can't do an exact. So, the item will be similar. This applies to wreaths, wrapped items and all rope products. Some items are literally a ‘one-of-a-kind’ and I will not have the ability to reproduce.”

The floral and fluff items she uses are seasonal, making those products even more special.

The Etsy reviews illustrate how pleased her patrons are with her art. (The three images at the bottom are from Rustic Rope N’ Treasures' Etsy site.)

Becky W. wrote a 5-star review about Cowboy Hondo Card Holders, “Just what my husband was looking for.” About the same item, Sandra wrote, “Love it Love it Love it!” and gave it a 5-star rating.

“Cheri is so talented, a great communicator, just absolutely wonderful!” Courtney wrote about a Ranch Rope Canister. “Came to me perfectly packaged and and exceeds my expectations! This will be a treasured piece for many years to come. I couldn’t be happier, and I highly recommend Cheri and her business! You won’t be disappointed!”

Regarding a beautiful Western Christmas wreath, Kela wrote, “LOVE LOVE LOVE my wreath! Cheri is excellent to work with really takes pride in her work. My wreath came out better than I could have imagined! Great communication and by far the best wreaths on Etsy! ❤️❤️❤️”

Rustic Rope N’ Treasures.

Rustic Rope N’ Treasures.

Rustic Rope N’ Treasures.

Maddy’s Place: Home, Family & Fun In Virginia City

All photos on this post CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

by Glenn Franco Simmons

On a recent stormy day, I walked Virginia City, Nev.’s boardwalks and discovered Maddy’s Place, where families and individuals can join in on family friendly candle-making and more.

The friendly shopkeeper explained how hard her family had worked to prepare the family run business that was not occupied by a business in years.

In fact, if you look at Maddy’s Facebook page’s (Facebook) photos of preparing the shop, you can see how well the wooden floor took to their work. The contrast between the old and beautiful restored floor is amazing.

At the back of the shop is a mural of Engine 22 of the V&T. No one knows who painted it, so if you do, please send Maddy’s Place a note or, better yet, drop by. It is a great place to relax and smell candle aromas.

One of the sisters said it was difficult to find this historic photo of candle-making.

As I said, it’s a family endeavor.

“We are three sisters that want to help you create your own relaxing environment,” states their Facebook page’s intro. 

The sisters’ Shopify page is worth a look. They certainly have a range of products and supporting local businesses is important. Plus, Christmas is coming up!

Maddy’s Place patrons had the same pleasant experience I had with the staff friendliness:

“We took our teenage daughter there today,” says one comment on the Facebook page. “She had the most amazing experience. The woman was so helpful & fun. We enjoyed the whole experience. My daughter hasn’t stopped talking about how fun it was! Definitely recommend. Would be so fun for a Birthday party no matter how old or young. The retail part is super cute too.”

Put Maddy's Place on your Christmas list! All kinds of fragrances and possibilities.

That’s right! You can make your own candles there! And I was talking so much about the floor and mural that I forgot to take photos of the candle-making stuff, so be sure to go their FB page to check out all their photos.

“Maddy’s Place is a must-visit in Virginia City!” another person wrote. “It’s incredibly cute and inviting — perfect for events, girls’ nights, or just a fun outing. You can make your own candles, diffusers, and more, which makes the experience so memorable and hands-on. I definitely recommend stopping by!”

I will ask for more information about the candles and other products that can be made there on my next visit. And I will take photos of the candle-making process.

I liked the old-time children’s toys that were available. There was the old-fashioned magnetic roller and paddle-ball, plus some others. They are perfect time-consumers for children. They also make perfect gifts and you are supporting a local business.

If you know who painted this mural, please contact Maddy's Place.

Maddy’s is not popular with only girls and moms, so don’t stereotype it! One man wrote:

“Stumbled upon this place yesterday and dipped a candle. Loved it so much I went back today and dipped another. lol Very fun and creative.”

Maddy’s was under The Roasting House Coffee Shop prior to the new location. It is not located, according to its FB page, at 66 N C St. in Virginia City. Phone them at (775) 508-1613; email, Maddysplace.sales@gmail.com.

This is a great place for some inexpensive quality toys. Stocking stuffer possibilities.

Welcome To Virginia City, Nevada, Vibes

Anyone know why Lady Justice is not blindfolded? You can let me know
in comments. Anonymous comments are allowed. Most likely most locals
know, but many visitors are unaware of how unique this statue is in American
history. © Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND 4. Taken in 2010.

by Glenn Franco Simmons

I decided to launch a new blog dedicated entirely to Virginia City, a place that captured my heart during my first visit in 1990, because I love its history, lore and cultural influences.

Whenever I'm in Virginia City in spring, summer and fall, I feel the vibrations of not only motorcycles on C street, but also some pretty cool trucks and cars of all types and ages. So, I thought of "vibes" in that sense, to represent Virginia City's vitality today. I added "& The Comstock Lode" to memorialize a significant era in American history in my blog title.

Far from being confined to generalizations and stereotypes, I've found Virginia City to be a place of independent, freedom-loving Americans of many persuasions. And I haven't met one who hasn't been friendly.

In my archives, I have years of photos, and many stories already written but not published. I'm often in Virginia City at least monthly, if not weekly or more, even in heavy winter snow. That's how much I love it.

I'd live there, if I could.

While I already run a blog titled Silver State Backroads, I felt Virginia City deserved its own space without overwhelming my other website. This new blog will allow me to focus solely on Virginia City.

I haven't been active in blogging for a few years due to family health commitments, but I've continued to photograph Virginia City. Now, I'm excited to return to blogging and share those moments.

My wife's family have been here for generations and go back to her grandpa working on the V&T!

As a child, I grew up mostly in Freshwater, Calif., a small redwood-forested valley ~ as I am fond of saying, at that time, "There were more cows than humans."

For a number of years, I was a daily and weekly small-town newspaper editor and eventually editor/publisher on The Redwood Coast.

My hope is that as I connect more with the Virginia City community — both businesses and residents — this blog will grow into something truly special, reflecting the town's unique character and my love for it. It's nothing fancy because I am not interested in monetizing it.

I calculate that if this is good enough, people will occasionally visit it.

If not, it will be a heck of a lot of fun.