Blair, Nevada facts for kids
Blair, Nevada is a mining ghost town located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. It was once a busy town that grew quickly because of gold mining, but it didn't last for very long. Today, you can find a special historical marker for Blair on State Route 265, just north of a place called Silver Peak.
Quick facts for kids
Blair
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| Etymology: Named for John Insley Blair, Banker and Financier from New York and Blairstown, New Jersey | |
 Blair
Location in Nevada
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Esmeralda |
| Elevation | 4,616 ft (1,407 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
Contents
History of Blair
How Blair Started
During a big mining rush in Nevada, especially around a town called Tonopah, many old mining towns became active again. In nearby Silver Peak, people were selling land for very high prices. Because of this, a large gold processing mill that was planned for Silver Peak moved.
This mill was built about a mile and a half west of Silver Peak. This new location became the center of the town of Blair.
The Big Mill and Railroad
The Pittsburg-Silver Peak Gold Mining Company built the huge mill in 1907. At that time, it was the largest mill of its kind in Nevada. To help with the mining, the company also built the 17-and-a-half-mile-long Silver Peak Railroad in 1906. This railroad helped transport materials and gold.
Town Life and Newspapers
Blair had its own post office. It was open from November 1906 until December 1915. The town also had a newspaper called The Blair Press. It was published from November 1906 until June 1910, with a short break in between.
Another newspaper, The Silver Peak Post, moved from Silver Peak to Blair in January 1907. It changed its name to The Blair Booster in March 1907. However, The Blair Booster stopped publishing in June 1907. Its printing equipment was then moved to Millers, Nevada.
Blair Becomes a Ghost Town
By the year 1920, Blair had become a ghost town. This means most people had left, and the town was no longer active. Today, besides the historical marker, you can only see the remains of some stone buildings. You can also find the old foundation of the large mill.
Images for kids
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Silver Peak Mill, Blair, Nevada, 1909.
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Cinder cone on Pleistocene wash, northeast of Blair. Esmeralda County, Nevada. 1912.
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U.S. Geological Survey outfit enroute Blair to Silverpeak. Silver Peak quadrangle. Esmeralda County, Nevada. 1912.
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Paymaster Hills, eight miles east of Blair. Silver Peak quadrangle. Esmeralda County, Nevada. 1912.
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General view of the Pittsburgh-Silver Peak Mill, Blair, Nev. 1914
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The state historical marker off of Highway 265.
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The interior of the 100 stamp mill of the Pittsburg Silver Peak Gold Mining Co., Blair Nevada.
See also
In Spanish: Blair (Nevada) para niños
