Mazuma, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mazuma
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| Etymology: Derived from Yiddish slang word for money: m'zumon | |
 Mazuma
Location in Nevada
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Pershing |
| Elevation | 4,846 ft (1,477 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
Mazuma, Nevada was once a small mining town in Pershing County, Nevada. It is now known as a ghost town. A terrible flash flood hit Mazuma on July 11, 1912, and eight people lost their lives.
What's in a Name?
Mazuma was founded in 1907. A post office opened there on August 28, 1907. The town's name, "Mazuma," comes from a Yiddish slang word, m'zumon. This word means "money" or "the ready necessary." It was a fitting name for a mining town hoping to strike it rich!
The Big Flood of 1912
Just after 5 PM on July 12, 1912, a huge wall of water was seen heading towards Mazuma. This water, about 10 feet high, came from the Seven Troughs Canyon. A plant upstream was destroyed, releasing some dangerous chemicals into the floodwaters.
Someone tried to warn Mazuma by phone. But because of the stormy weather, the only word that came through was "water." The warning wasn't clear enough, and the town didn't have time to prepare.
The flash flood, which was about 20 feet high and 150 feet wide, crashed into Mazuma. It tragically killed almost a tenth of the town's population.
Helping After the Disaster
In the weeks after the flood, people from all over came to help. Doctors and nurses traveled from places like Reno to care for the injured. Funds were set up across the state to help the town recover. Even the San Francisco Examiner newspaper started a relief fund, with its owner, William Randolph Hearst, donating $100.
The postmistress, Maude Ruddell, died in the flood. The post office building collapsed while she was trying to save money inside. The post office officially moved to Seven Troughs on November 30, 1912.
Mining After the Flood
Thirteen days after the flood, the Mazuma Hills Mill, located upstream, burned down. However, another mill called the Darby Mill, southwest of Mazuma, kept working. It operated from 1909 until it was taken apart in 1918.
