BYWAYS PLUS: DATES! - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

FAIR-
VIEW
A
Known
Nevada
Ghost Town
by Brace Mills and Alan Tuck
What's left of Fairview's once prosperous mining district can
be seen on these pages. Although the town's boom period lasted
only a little over two years, lessees managed to extract over
$4,000,000 in silver and gold ores. Most of this wealth came from
the Nevada Hills Mining Company's Boulder and Boulder
Number One mines.
The discovery of silver float in 1905 by F.O. Norton marked the
beginning of Fairview's short life. However, work didn't 1 begin
until 1906 when rich deposits of silver ore were located.
Several claims were purchased by a Mr. Wingfield and a Mr.
Nixon, principals of what was later to become the Nevada Hills
operation, and the development began.
By 1907, Fairview's population numbered about 2,000 and to
serve them, there were 27 saloons, a post office, assay offices, a
newspaper, a few banks, and a miner's union hall.
Nevada Hills Mining Company's operations were profitable
from 1911 until 1917, the year which marked the end of
production. The town then died quickly, leaving only a few
lessees to work claims.
TheNEVADIAN
Reno, Nevada
Right: Ghost's eyeview of evening sky at Dromedary Mill is
unchanged since 7977 when the Nevada Hills Mining Company
closed its Fairview operations. Insert photo: The Mill itself is better
preserved than the structure which supports it.
Above: 63 years of idleness has taken its toll of the settling tank.
Below: Structures protected by strips from empty cyanide cans, used
for siding and roofing in early mining camps, fared better.
30 The Desert Magazine/March 1980