In the 1860s, Americans saw everything from the birth of college football to a bloody four year war fought on our own soil. But prospectors scouring northern Nevada’s Humboldt Mountains had something else on their minds — gold. Given their tenacity, it was inevitable that if there were minerals to be found they would find them. And the Humboldt Mountains were rich with gold and silver ore. So they did. The prospectors named the area Rochester in honor of their hometown in New York State.
In 1907, Hutchinson Stevens staked a group of claims on Crown Point Hill at the top of Rochester Canyon. A few years later he froze to death on top of the hill and Joseph Nenzel relocated his claims. In June 1912, he struck a silver rich ledge 20 miles northeast of Lovelock. This discovery led to the development of one of Nevada’s most important mining areas — the Rochester mining district.
The underground mines also led to the development of towns with their own Philharmonic Orchestra, railroad, hotels, saloons, churches, newspapers, schools, and a combined population of some 2,000 people. A Reno newspaper of that era reported that in a single day, two saloons, a restaurant and a lodging house were built in the booming town of Rochester. A significant portion of local businesses were owned by women who sought fortunes not in mining but in the lively commerce of the mining camp.
Today it’s pretty much all gone. Fire, flood and the march of progress has obliterated almost every trace of Rochester, but it was once a place where strategically-placed posters invited the public to the Muleskinners First Annual Ball. To be held in the New Dreamland Hall, it promised to be the greatest event ever held in Rochester with free punch, free supper and music by the Lovelock Band. Ladies were admitted free. Miners parted with $2 of their wages to eat, drink and dance the night away.
People who want to know more about Rochester can visit Coeur Rochester’s exhibit at the Marzen House Museum in Lovelock. Or, they can drive through Juniper-laden Rochester canyon and picture what once was. At the end of that ride they might take in a tour of the current incarnation of the mine — Coeur Rochester.
The Rochester exhibit is separate from the elegant two-story Marzen House, but Curator Bill Snodgrass is happy to unlock the building that houses it. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a three dimensional model of East Rochester circa 1916 by Dale Darney. This augments a description of the town from boom to bust while a display showcases the canyon’s geology. A visitor walks away with an appreciation of “the youngest, richest and best mining town in Nevada.”
After negotiating 25 miles of hairpin turns on a narrow, winding road bordered by ancient rock formations, the motorist reaches Coeur Rochester. It’s a ride that roughly 300 employees (60 percent of whom live in Lovelock) make all hours of the day and night in all kinds of weather. Upon arrival at Coeur Rochester the tourist is greeted by security personnel like Jamie Leavitt, of Lovelock, and provided with steel-toes, a helmet, a reflective vest and safety glasses.
“They make you walk like a horse,” observed volleyball mom Leavitt about the steel toes during a recent tour.
Many of the tours are conducted by Wendy Anderson, of Winnemucca, who started with the company as a haul truck driver in 1988. Today, she works with the safety team. Anderson is proud of Coeur Rochester’s efforts to protect the Canyon’s wildlife, which she says includes deer, foxes, rabbits, birds, ducks and rock chucks (whistle pigs). “They look almost like beavers but they don’t have the beaver tail and when they talk to each other it sounds like they’re whistling,” she explains. “I love to watch them.”
But worker safety is of primary importance to the North Dakota native. “We just want to make sure everybody’s safe. The workers matter because they’re the ones out in the field doing the job,” she said. “It’s important that we supply them with the right tools and everything they need to do the job safely.”
For Annette Schumacher, of Lovelock, that tool is an 87-ton diesel machine — the dozer. “My main job is to push the dirt, keep it on grade and make sure everybody’s safe,” said the mom of three (and grandmother of five) who also owns and operates a dog grooming business in town.
Coeur Rochester bought the property in 1983 and restarted mining as a surface mine in 1986. Except for a three-year shutdown from 2007-2010 due to low metal prices, the mine has operated continuously since reopening. They are currently in the process of permitting an expansion which would extend the mine life by 5-7 years. Approval is expected by early 2016.
To arrange a tour of Coeur Rochester call 273-7995
The Marzen House Museum, located on 25 Marzen Lane is open seasonally from May 1 until Sept, 31, Wednesday-Sunday from 1:30 p.m. — 4p.m. and can be reached at 273-7213.
