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Even better known than the lucky
Frenchman was Boney Aguilar, a onetime
Mexican miner who found it more
profitable to provide hot mineral baths
for tired miners. Water tanks and an
adobe building near an abandoned mine,
just out of sight of the main part of
Silver Peak are reputed to have been
Boney's saloon and mineral baths. Taking
advantage of the natural mineral
springs, Boney advocated their curative
powers and his patrons agreed there was
nothing as relaxing and health restoring
as his hot baths unless it was the drinks
served in the saloon.
There were good times and bad for
Silver Peak and each slump seemed to
spell the end for the camp, but a new
discovery or demand would bring in a
new population. During one revival of
mining activity the citizens petitioned
the state for a high school. Nevada's law
The post office, once a residence, stands near Lazy Way Street. Just across from it
is the bottle house. Abandoned mine and mill site is just around the mountain
from Silver Peak.
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stated that there could be support for
only one high school in a 40 mile radius
and there was already one at Goldfield
38% miles distance. Silver Peak parents
agreed to put the school 11/4 mile distance
from town and the state moved in
a frame building from an abandoned
camp.
One night, shortly after the school
opened, a group of townsmen hauled the
building to the desired site in town.
When word got around the local law
saved face by fining the culprits and
then used the money to give the whole
community a party in the building.
Today Silver Peak is starting on another
renewal of life and children again
race up and down the dusty paths and
climb among the ruins of other boom
periods. The big production now is from
deep wells and evaporative tanks with
the end product being lithium carbonate
and associated chemicals.
Two routes reach Silver Peak; one goes
south 18 miles from U.S. 6 on State 47
and is surfaced, the other leaves U.S. 95,
five miles north of Goldfield on a dirt
road. The route from Goldfield, though
longer and sometimes rough after a rain,
goes through interesting, changing scenery
and crosses the great marsh and sink.
The old road skirted the marsh and the
miles of evaporative vats did not exist
until recently. Ruins of the Big Blair
Mine still stand along the old road, but
it is advisable to inquire in Silver Peak
as to the condition of the unmaintained
section of road before attempting to visit.
From the Goldfield road the settlement
of Silver Peak can be seen for some
distance across the turquoise blue water
and appears to be tucked back in a cove.
Upon reaching the old camp site the impression
changes like a mirage; buildings
of many periods, in various stages of disintegration,
are scattered about and only
a small resemblance to a main street remains.
A sign reading "No Peddlers, No
Agents," seems a bit out of place, and
one wonders when those gentlemen last
found Silver Peak a worthwhile market
place, or if they were ever welcome.
It is well worth your time to visit this
unique camp with its old buildings, abandoned
mines and half-finished adobe
walls which are in sharp contrast to the
new processing plant and the mobile
homes rising over the ruins of the past.D