IMLAY - Imlay, Nev., located in central Pershing County, was established in 1907 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was to serve as a water stop for the railroad's steam engines.
At the turn of the century, steam engine trains were the latest in travel technology and companies such as Southern Pacific were racing against time to connect the East and West coasts with railroad tracks for the trains.
Long-time Imlay resident and historian Janiece Monroe gave a brief history of Imlay to members of the town board recently. She referenced the book "Southern Pacific, Salt Lake Division" by John R. Signor, for the beginning days of the town. The rest of Imlay's history she told from her own experiences.
"In those days the engines had to have water stops every 10 or 20 miles to replenish the water to make the steam," she said.
The final leg of the railroad from Salt Lake City to San Francisco would complete the coast to coast union. The Salt Lake Division of the SP railroad ran from Salt Lake City to Reno.
Many small towns sprang up along the various rail lines. In 1907, Imlay consisted of a water tower and a few houses for the railroad workers. The engine stalls, or roundhouse, as it was commonly referred to, was completed by 1909. By 1912 Imlay had many more homes, along with a school, stores, barber shops, restaurants and a hotel.
Imlay had become a booming rural metropolitan community with its own 25-cycle electric and water systems. Many of the homes in the town were the first in the area to have indoor plumbing. It was all property of the Southern Pacific.
Imlay saw many troops through the station during WW I. The Imlay Beanery, which was the train depot, restaurant and hotel, was the hub of information for the town with the coming and going of military soldiers.
It also fared well during the Great Depression with the railroad providing employment for all who lived in the town. A few new homes were built in 1930 Imlay. Through the 1920s and 1930s Imlay maintained a population of around 300.
Monroe grew up in the mining town of Tungsten, a few miles away from Imlay, but spent much of her teenage years visiting Imlay. Still, in the 1940s the town offered more than most communities close by. An ice cream parlor, butcher shop, clothing store and hardware store were just a few of the bustling businesses located in Imlay at that time.
Monroe's favorite memory was eating at the Beanery. She showed two holiday menus from Thanksgiving and Christmas 1937 that named a full dinner with all the trimmings, including dessert, for $1.
She met her husband Stan in Imlay. Stan's father was an engineer for the railroad and had lived his entire life in Imlay. The couple married in 1950. After a short time in Texas while Stan was in the military the couple returned to Imlay where they still live today.
Now back at home Stan began working for the SP and continued until his retirement in 1993.
In 1955 the engines changed from steam to diesel. The modern engines were faster and safer. This modification did not change things in the town of Imlay, except that the engines did not need to stop for water. But they did continue to stop to load and unload passengers, freight and livestock.
- See IMLAY, Page 18 -
Monroe tells of a town that always had something going on. Whether it be the 24-hour Pan card games or theatrical performances at the school, the community was engaged and some form of entertainment could be found on most any day she said.
During this time Monroe says there were around 200 people living in Imlay. Not much more than the current population of 171, but "it seemed like there was more people because of all the activity," Monroe said.
"We had a lot of fun here. Then TV came in and changed everything," Monroe said.
The 1960s were the turning points of the town. Monroe cites the invasion of television as an element that kept folks in their homes separated from their neighbors. Then in the latter part of the decade the train depot closed. Imlay ceased being a passenger and freight stop on the SP railroad.
Slowly the businesses closed and the owners moved away; buildings no longer occupied began to deteriorate and were torn down. The massive roundhouse, depot and the hub of the town, the Beanery were torn down. The SP turned the town over to governing of Pershing County.
The town hasn't changed much in appearance since the closures and demolition of most of the business buildings. Some business structures have since been turned into homes and can still be seen in Imlay if one knows what they are looking for.
Many of the families living in Imlay are remnants of the old railroad families. The Monroe's still have four generations living in Imlay. Sadly though, Stan is the last of the original SP Railroad workers still in the town.
Some of Imlay's current residents moved there for employment at one of the area mines; others have moved there in search of a slower paced lifestyle. Whatever the reason the town remains.
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