Comstock Historic Preservation Weekend
May 13 - May 17, 1998
Join us for five days in May in one of the nation's largest historic landmarks for the 12th annual Comstock Historic Preservation Weekend, presented by the Fourth Ward School.
Since 1986, locals and visitors alike have gathered in this unique setting perched at 6200 feet on the shoulder of Mt. Davidson to enjoy, examine and celebrate the historic wealth of this famous mining community, the Comstock.
This year's Preservation Weekend features more than a dozen events exploring Virginia City's early years with a focus this spring onthe always constant danger of Fire on the Comstock!
The weather on the Comstock is always present. The program will continue with or without it, so bring good shoes, a warm jacket and a curious mind.
Jump to event schedule.
Fire on the Comstock
In the mid 1800s "First Water" was the battle cry of the volunteer fire fighters in the nations most famous mining community, Virginia City. This historic landmark experienced dozens of major destructive fires. Again and again, fire wiped out whole residential areas and laid waste to entire business blocks. Each time the wave of destruction swept through the Comstock, the area was rebuilt to prosper once more. Each time the fire alarms sounded, volunteer firemen scrambled from the various sections of town to the engine houses to get the hand pumpers and hose carriages to combat the blaze.
The first effort at volunteer firefighting took the form of bucket brigades following the first recorded fire on the Comstock, a burning cabin which was pelted with snowballs in 1861. The constant threat of a major fire, emphasized by the occasional small blaze, was the catalyst for the formation of the volunteer fire company. By 1866 more than a dozen volunteer fire companies were formed on the Comstock. These included engine companies, hook and ladder and hose companies. The fire fighting volunteers included miners, teamsters, saloon keepers, store owners, newspaper reporters, railroad officials and bankers. Side by side they faced the constant danger in trying to defeat the Fire Fiend.
The fate so long dreaded by the people of Virginia (City) has come at last. Two-thirds of this city of 25,000 is now a mass of smoldering ruins, the principal business part of the city, containing nearly all the valuable buildings, was in a span of a few short hours, razed to the ground.
Gold Hill News, October, 1875.
Quotable Excerpts
The fight against the fire was as vigorous as could be made, no effort being spared to stay its progress. The aid of powder was called in, and buildings blown up at different points toward the north and east of the city, but the flames leaped over the obstacles, and places which one minute were hundreds of feet from the fire were the next sheet of flames. It appeared for a long time as if the new C&C hoisting works, down in Chinatown, were doomed, but a desperate and successful effort was made to save them.Gold Hill News, October 1875.
We have seen our brave little salamander, Riff, in just such positions before, on several trying occasions at Virginia (City), when even the coat was burned from his back but he never flinched as long as he could see Tom Peasley, Dick Paddock, Ben Ballou or any of the other boys about. Riff is as much in his element at a fire as a Scotch Terrier in a rat pit. Gold Hill News, 1868, blacksmith shop fire, Yellow Jacket Mine.
A fireman named Charles Stafford was thrown from the tongue of the "truck" on the corner of C street and Sutton avenue, and striking the side of a building suffered a fracture of the leg. He was taken to rooms where a physician attended to the injury, who pronounced it very painful though not of a dangerous character. Ibid, December 1864.
Water thrown into the midst of the flames produced no effect unless, as many thought, it added to their fury and fierceness. Although the firemen were at work with both hand engines and steamers, while yet but few buildings were involved, the water they threw upon the burning buildings might as well have been as much oil for any effect it had in checking the flames. The firemen were driven back from every pint where they attempted to make a stand, and it soon became evident that no efforts of theirs could check the progress of the fire. It was such a fire as those which swept Chicago and Boston--a fire as fierce and uncontrollable as though belched up from the bottomless pits of the lower regions. Dan de Quille, The Big Bonanza.
Background
Comstock Historic Preservation Weekend began in 1986 with one event, the Silver Tea. It was held in conjunction with the reopening of the Fourth Ward School as a museum after 50 years of empty desks and silence in its halls. In the last decade, the school has undergone extensive and continued restoration under the guidance of the Fourth Ward School Board of Trustees and its mission to "...preserve, protect and maintain the Fourth Ward School as a community cultural center...."
The dedication of the North Tower Elevator Project in May 1997, allowed full public access to the first, second and third floors of the 121 year-old building for the first time. With continued public and private support, the facility will house a future archives and resource center, workshop, exhibit and conference spaces and a small assembly/lecture hall.
THE 12TH ANNUAL
COMSTOCK HISTORIC PRESERVATION WEEKEND
featuring
FIRE ON THE COMSTOCK!
MAY 12-17, 1998
Virginia City, Nevada
Held in conjunction with National Historic Preservation Week
and the opening of the Fourth Ward School Museum for the 1998 season
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Back to the top.
TUESDAY, MAY 12
"How the West Was Really Won"
A musical play about the western expansion told in story and song, by the Comstock Children's Chorus and the Virginia City High School Theatre Muckers. Directed by Bill Beeson, musical direction, Squeek LaVake.
Place Fourth Ward School
Time 7:00 p.m.
Tickets Donations Suggested
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
"The Adventures of Thomas Peasley, Fire Fighter Extraordinaire"
A theatrical presentation featuring the life and times of legendary leader and town tough Thomas Peasley, the first chief engineer of the Virginia City Fire Department in 1861, by the Virginia City Middle School Drama Class
Place The Middle School Auditorium, Virginia City
Time 7:00 p.m.
Tickets Donations Suggested
THURSDAY, MAY 14
"Fire on the Comstock: From Snowballs to Hand Pumpers"
Presented by Steve Frady, Nevada Division of Forestry Fire Suppression Enforcement Specialist, author of "Red Shirts and Leather Helmets: Volunteer Fire Fighting on the Comstock Lode," and Virginia City Volunteer Fire Chief, Joe Curtis.For dinner reservations, call the Crown Point Restaurant at 702/847-0111
Place Gold Hill Hotel (1859), Gold Hill, Nevada
Time 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $5.00
"Fire and Ice: Saloon Architecture and Archeology on the Comstock"
A walking tour of saloons and saloon sites on the Comstock as led by Ron James, director, Nevada State Historic Preservation Office and Kelly Dixon, Comstock Historic District Commission (This event is limited to 20 people)Place Fourth Ward School and Beyond
Time 11:00 a.m. (Thursday and Friday)
Tickets $5.00"Death Comes to the Comstock"
Follow the flames of history on this walking tour of the Exempt Firemen's Cemetery in Virginia City with local fire historians. (This tour is limited to 20 people)Place Virginia City Cemetery
Time 11:00 a.m. (Thursday and Friday)
Tickets $5.00
FRIDAY, MAY 15
Victorian Fashion and High Tea on the Comstock An afternoon of Victorian Fashion, inside and out, as presented in full color and costume by textiles expert Carolyn Loftis and her friends. High Tea will also be served.
Place Fourth Ward School Textiles Room
Time 2:00 p.m.
Tickets $10.00"Comstock Revisited" An evening with historic Comstock characters including the author of the "Big Bonanza," Dan De Quille, honorary member of Virginia Engine Company No. 1 and famous prostitute in the 1860s, Julia Bulette and many more, in a Chautauqua-inspired presentation.
Place Fourth Ward School
Time 7:00 p.m.
Tickets $5.00
SATURDAY, MAY 16
Victorian House and Architecture Tour
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12.00 at the doors
Place: Visit private residences and learn about public places in this guided tour of the Comstock as led by the Nevada Civil War Volunteers and the citizens of the Comstock." Fourth Ward School, 1876
" C.J. Prescott House, 1864
" First Presbyterian Church, 1867
" Geary House, 1876
" Storey County Courthouse, 1876
" Piper's Opera House, 1885
" St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1876
" St. Mary' in the Mountains Catholic Church, 1877
" Walter Van Tilburg Clark House, 1870Letter-Press Workshop/Demonstrations
Letter-press printing returns to the Fourth Ward School with this hands-on workshop. "Apprentice" printers will operate press and produce a limited edition print. Work will be done on the original Fourth Ward School clam-shell letter-press used by students during the late 1800's-1920s for the "Senior Dynamo." Local printers Chic DiFrancia and Carol Clifford will lead the workshop.Place Fourth Ward School
Time Saturday and Sunday 10 - 4
Tickets Workshop is freeFiremen's Antique Apparatus Demonstration
Featuring antique fire fighting equipment and the early techniques used to fight the always present "Fire Fiend."Place Downtown Virginia City
Time High Noon
Tickets Free to the PublicVictorian and Honorary Firemen's Grand Ball
The Butterfield Trio performs music of the period with Dance Master Kent "Gus" GustafsonTime: 7:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Place: Middle School Auditorium, Virginia City
Tickets: $15.00 per person includes appetizers and dance card.Period dress from 1860 - 1917, evening attire or formal fire fighter uniform or dress appropriate with your apparatus
SUNDAY, MAY 17
Grand Peacock Promenade Featuring historic fire fighting equipment and period uniforms from the Comstock and the western region
Place: "C" Street, Virginia City
Time: 12:00 NoonSilver Tea and Musicale
The Comstock Children's Chorus, under the direction of Squeek LaVake will perform as part of the festivities.Place: Fourth Ward School
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: Donations suggestedFourth Ward School Phase II Restoration Ground-Breaking and Preservation Awards
Place: Fourth Ward School
Time: 2:00 p.m.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
" Virginia City Cemetery Tour guided by "Widder in her Weeds"
Meet at cemetery gates north of town
Time: 11:00 a.m., Saturday and Sunday
Tickets: Free and open to the public
" Crown Point Mill Tour, Gold Hill (Meet at mill entrance)
Time: 2:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday (Free and open to the public)