Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
Genoa, Nevada was the first settlement in the Nevada territory in 1850. The population of Genoa as of 2005 is 248 [1]. It is situated in the Carson Valley and is about 60 miles south of Reno, Nevada.
Genoa was first settled by Mormons from Utah, creating a fort on the Carson Pass trail between Sacramento and Utah. The original Mormon traders sold their fort in 1854 to a rancher. The town was the home to Nevada's first hotel, newspaper and court. Nevada's first newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise was founded in Genoa in 1858, but moved to Virginia City, Nevada in 1860. Another first for the state, the Genoa Bar, billed "Nevada's oldest thirst parlor", was patronized by Mark Twain, Teddy Roosevelt and Johnny Cash and was used in John Wayne and Clint Eastwood films.[citation needed]
Much of Genoa, including the original fort, station and hotel was destroyed in a fire in 1910, but replica of the fort was built in 1947.
Legend has it that a Genoa Nevada paymaster,trying to outwit robbers decided to ship his coins in a plain nail keg by simple freight ,rather than the strongbox. The stage was stopped by two highwaymen who only took the nail keg.
Fast forward to 1860,when a dying miner confessed on his deathbed that he was one of the masked men who had robbed the stage. He told how when opening the keg, he and his partner found 20000.00 in $20 dollar gold coins. Only taking a thousand each,they then buried the keg under a tall pine along the road to Genoa.
This story produced a massive search for the gold and just about every tree in the vicinity was dug under. In 1882 an avalanche swept down the mountains changing the scenery of the area.
In 1916 a Genoa blacksmith and his son found a chest of coins while digging for the gold. It contained 2000.00 in gold coin. Then in 1948 while a basement was being dug in the same area an undetermined amount of gold coins were found. Finally in 1968 about 100 $20. dollar gold pieces were found in a nearby hillside .
Still missing.....18000.00 and a nail keg
Genoa was first settled by Mormons from Utah, creating a fort on the Carson Pass trail between Sacramento and Utah. The original Mormon traders sold their fort in 1854 to a rancher. The town was the home to Nevada's first hotel, newspaper and court. Nevada's first newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise was founded in Genoa in 1858, but moved to Virginia City, Nevada in 1860. Another first for the state, the Genoa Bar, billed "Nevada's oldest thirst parlor", was patronized by Mark Twain, Teddy Roosevelt and Johnny Cash and was used in John Wayne and Clint Eastwood films.[citation needed]
Much of Genoa, including the original fort, station and hotel was destroyed in a fire in 1910, but replica of the fort was built in 1947.
Legend has it that a Genoa Nevada paymaster,trying to outwit robbers decided to ship his coins in a plain nail keg by simple freight ,rather than the strongbox. The stage was stopped by two highwaymen who only took the nail keg.
Fast forward to 1860,when a dying miner confessed on his deathbed that he was one of the masked men who had robbed the stage. He told how when opening the keg, he and his partner found 20000.00 in $20 dollar gold coins. Only taking a thousand each,they then buried the keg under a tall pine along the road to Genoa.
This story produced a massive search for the gold and just about every tree in the vicinity was dug under. In 1882 an avalanche swept down the mountains changing the scenery of the area.
In 1916 a Genoa blacksmith and his son found a chest of coins while digging for the gold. It contained 2000.00 in gold coin. Then in 1948 while a basement was being dug in the same area an undetermined amount of gold coins were found. Finally in 1968 about 100 $20. dollar gold pieces were found in a nearby hillside .
Still missing.....18000.00 and a nail keg
