This 1870's view of Cherry Creek,
Nevada, was published in Stan Paher's Nevada Ghost Towns &
Mining Camps on page 74. It was erroneously identified as
being the town of Sutro, Nevada. Photo courtesy of Stan Paher and
Jerry Bowen.
CHERRY
CREEK - (1859 - present)
Cherry
Creek is located 55 miles north of Ely just off Hwy 93 at the
end of S. R. 489. Named for the wild choke-cherry bushes that grow
nearby. It is a pioneer city of the Pony Express and the Overland
Telegraph days. Cherry Creek is about 5 miles north of
Egan Canyon which the Pony Express route passed through on
its way from Schellbourne to Fort Ruby near the Ruby
Marshes in the north western corner of White Pine County,
Nevada.
The Nevada Northern Railway tracks passed
Cherry Creek about 4 miles east of the town. These tracks
connected the copper mines to the Southern Pacific Railway lines for
the approximately 150 mile journey to ship their ore to
Cobre.
Silver discoveries in
October 1872 created a boom for Cherry Creek in 1873 to 1875 and
again in 1880 to 1883. A post office was established in
1873 and the town had a Wells Fargo station.
The 1880 census shows 639
residents, but because of more discoveries, the population rose to
1,500 or 1,800 by the end of 1880. Three mills served
the local mines. The leading producers were the Star, Exchequer,
Teacup and Grey Eagle mines. The White Pine
News moved to Cherry Creek from Hamilton on January 1,
1881. By the end of 1881, there were several businesses
established in Cherry Creek and the camp became the largest in White
Pine County.
Cherry Creek has had
several boom and bust times. The earliest discovery of gold and
silver were made in nearby Egan Canyon, about 5 miles south of the
town. Mining revived once more from 1905 to 1908 and again in 1935
to 1940. Some believe that production here may have been as high as
$20 million dollars. There is some mining activity on a small
scale here today.
Mines in the
area
Biscuit
Mine employees 1906 - 1908
The town has a handful of
year-round residents and a saloon / bar. Volunteer Firemen do their
best to protect the town and area. A museum is displayed in the old
school house and one can ask at the saloon whom to contact
to see inside the museum as it does not have regular
hours. Someone is usually around that has the key. The remains of the old horse race track can be
discerned. Pictures
Cherry
Creek has three cemeteries. One of which is in T24N R64E
NE1/4 SE1/4 Section 32 on public lands.
See Historical
markers
Jerry
Bowen's ©
Stories of Cherry Creek, White Pine County,
Nevada
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