The Belmont Courthouse, a Private Tour

The day we checked in at the B&B, we decided to walk around town but were unsure what we could actually do
since the whole town was privately owned.  We walked down main street, snapping photos as we went along
and stopped in one of the two stores and decided to ask.

The store owner was a retired teacher (amazing how many  we ran into along the way) from Reno and  she was
quite chatty.  She asked what we had seen so far and we asked what we could see, being a private town and all.

The owner asked if we would like to see the Belmont Courthouse and we said sure.  She called out to her husband,
who also happened to be a retired teacher and he offered to give us a tour of the court house.  He also was the
only one with the keys.



The Belmont Courthouse was built in 1876 at the peak of the mining boom and cost
around $20,000 to build.  There were over 2000 people working in the area and they
consisted of miners and supporting industries.  Belmont is in Nye County and at the
time it was the county seat.



We had to be careful not to step on the local lizard, who had been using the porch to sun bathe ever since
Terry had keys to the place.



And in we went.



The inside of the courthouse needed a lot of work.  There are several grant applications out to try to
obtain monies to assist in the overhaul.  



Been a long time since I'd seen lath and plaster.  



Some work has been done to stabilize the building, fix roof leaks, repair flooring and the like.
The goal is to keep deterioration from getting any worse and then proceed with the restoration.



Around back, there is where the jail cell used to be.  When the courthouse was closed for business
the jail cell was hauled off to Tonapah, where it was used for some years.  It was later returned to Belmont.

Brickwork on the jail's exterior.	The jail cell - 1/4"  plate and  3/8"  strap on the door itself.

Moving back inside,  I found an old sign.



The stairs going up to the second level were a bid crooked, but safe.  There were odd patterns painted on the
stairs  which remind one of........river rocks?



The roof had extensive new bracing and supports.  This is original.    The 45 degree support is pegged into the roof support.
Don't see that every day.

Terry looking over the reinforcements.  To date, they believe most of the roof leaks are fixed.  Still a lot of work to do.	I was invited to go up these stairs and look out the top windows.  Notice how the stairs are cut in the wrong direction.  I went up and had a look.

Looking out of the top of the courthouse facing south.  Haze from the California fires is in the background.



Some graffiti up here too.



A view of the stairs going down.



Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the building was the graffiti, which was not really graffiti.



As ranchers, surveyors, corps workers and the like passed through the left their mark on the walls of the old courthouse.



Some people also owe other people money.  In this instance, Herman Barnes owes a local Madame  $10.00 for three (?).

One of the most famous (or infamous) bits of graffiti can be viewed down at the end page but you need to read the story first.  

This is the story:  

As I said, the town of Belmont is privately owned.  In the 60's and 70's the town was run by one elderly matriarch who
greeted all comers  pleasantly enough, even though she was armed with a shot gun.

She would ask visitors the purpose of their visit and if they had any firearms, which they would have to surrender should
they decide to explore (with permission) or camp (with permission).  They were generally directed to one of several campsites
outside the area, invited to tour (not loot) and allowed to ride on established trails only.   People picked up their weapons when
they left.

One day in the late 60's,  a rather large group of desert rats showed up whereupon they were greeted by one very
suspicious old lady.  She asked the nature of their business and the leader of the pack while looking quite scraggly, was
very polite and said they only wished to camp and explore the area.  

The owner said they were free to use one of the campsites only if they surrendered their weapons, stayed on the paths and did not
loot any buildings.  The leader readily agreed.   The group ended up staying several days and spent their time walking through the
old buildings, examining mines and other debris.  They caused no trouble.

When the pack decided to leave, they thanked the old lady, retrieved their numerous weapons and presented the
owner with some artifacts they found, saying they really should be preserved inside for posterity instead of being left to
weather away outdoors.

After the group left, the lady made a tour, double checking for damage and thievery and found none.

She inspected the Belmont Courthouse last (which at that point was still open to anyone) and she noticed a new
engraving on the wall.  

This is what she found:



All in all we spent an hour and a half  or so on the tour.  I really should have had a recorder with me.  The
tour was fascinating.  I would  heartily recommend the tour.  Ask for Terry.

Make sure if you really like it to pay a visit to one of the two stores and provide a little local commerce.