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BODIE, CA
THIS IS BODIE, OR RATHER THE REMAINS OF BODIE. ONLY
ABOUT 5 PERCENT OF THE BUILDINGS IT CONTAINED DURING ITS 1880 HEYDAY
STILL REMAIN.
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall Publishing) |
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TODAY,
IT STANDS JUST AS TIME, FIRE AND THE ELEMENTS HAVE LEFT IT-A GENUINE
CALIFORNIA GOLD-MINING GHOST TOWN.
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall Publishing) |
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DESIGNATED A STATE HISTORIC PARK IN 1962 IT IS NOW MAINTAINED IN A STATE
OF "ARRESTED DECAY!"
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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By 1879, Bodie boasted a
population of about 10,000 and was second to none for wickedness, badmen
and "the worst climate out of doors."
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Killing occurred with monotonous regularity,
sometimes becoming almost a daily event.
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Boone Store and
Warehouse
Chock full of hundreds of interesting artifacts
from the years gone by, this 1879 building was owned by Harvey Boone
(incidentally a direct descendent from Daniel Boone!). In July of 1884,
this building was almost swallowed by a fire that gobbled up the
buildings from Boone's store to Kingsley's stables - almost the entire
block of Green Street.. Of the many items still shelved herein, are
several original Edison light bulbs that are and have been continuously
burning for several years. Displayed in one window, you can see familiar
name brands from today, such as 'Kellogg's Tasteless Castor Oil', 'St.
Joseph's Aspirin', 'Trojan condoms' and 'Colgate medicated powder'.
Boone Store and
Warehouse - Interior
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Harvey also owned the livery business and Boone
Stable in town. He was a principle business owner and had many other
interests. Besides this store, he purchased Gilson and Barber's store
and operated it, as well as this store. He had many interests in town,
including being one of the five men who, in October of 1879, formed the
Bodie Water Company. This was for the purpose of supplying the town with
water to fight fires.
It is said that Boone was probably in business in Bodie longer than any
other single business owner. In 1879 Boone took on a partner, J. W.
Wright. In 1881, as real estate taxes were collected, Boone and Wright
had paid on $25,313!
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Standard Mill
Here the Standard mill, which processed ore
from the Standard Mine (originally named the Bunker Hill mine in 1861
when it was first registered.) Most of the inner workings are still in
tact, some of which the public can see during a guided mill tour.
Rangers and Park Aides conduct a history talk and tour during the summer
months. The tour is $5 per person, with a maximum of 20 people, and is
about 30 minutes long. You can also book private group tours (there is a
$50 minimum for private groups.)
In it's heyday, the mill processed more than $14 million worth of gold
and silver in 25 years. In 1898 the original mill burned down (it was
built of mostly wood, while this one is framed in wood, but mostly
covered with sheets of corrugated steel,) but was rebuilt by the
following year.
In the enlarged 2001 picture of the mill you can
barely see a pole at the top of the hill. It is from that point on the
hill, that Andrew Halliday designed and built an ingenious gondola
system was used to carry ore from the mine to the mill. This saved
dozens of horses and men literally hours worth of work for each load of
ore that was to be delivered to the mill for processing. Gondolas would
be loaded at the top of the hill, and run down a "never ending cable" to
the mill, where the bottom would automatically opened to drop the ore
out.
Another interesting note - according to state experts, this mill is the
"most in tact" mill in California!
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Robberies, stage holdups and street fights provided variety, and the
town's 65 saloons offered many opportunities for relaxation after hard
days of work in the mines.
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Bodie State Historic
Park is best visited during the summer. At other times, the weather is
unpredictable.
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Bodie School House
The schoolhouse is one of the better looking
buildings in town. It was originally the Bon Ton Lodging House in 1879,
but was later converted to the school house, after the first one was
burned down.
The first school house was burned down by a small boy who had gotten in
trouble, and was sent home. He went to the backside of the school and
began setting fire to the dry brush for fun. It spread to the building
and burnt it to the ground. I guess the teacher learned a lesson that
time...
Inside the Bodie Schoolhouse
A view from inside the schoolhouse, gives you the feeling that the
children are just out at play during a break. The town was abandoned so
abruptly, that thousands and thousands of artifacts were simply left
behind because they were too heavy, or too much to haul from one place
to another.
Of the many books, desks and toys left behind, only a portion are seen
here. Hundreds more are in a back room of the school being used as an
archive of sorts.
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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Dechambeau Hotel
and I.O.O.F. Building
Here stands the Dechambeau Hotel and I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd
Fellows) Buildings. Once a bustling meeting hall, and at some point a
"health club" of the times, where members would come to use the barbells
and primitive workout machines. This building is located at the south
end of Main St.
(Copyright © 2003-2011 by American Ghost Towns/Paschall
Publishing) |
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BODIE,
PAGE 2
Don't
Touch Anything! Take Only Pictures! Leave on FOOTPRINTS!
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Copyright © 2005, 2006, 2007 American Ghost Towns ® American Ghost
Towns, Redlands, CA 92375
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