1
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Feature Film Friday
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Film Reviews
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The Humanities Center at Great Basin College Presents Feature Film Friday : film reviews from GBC Faculty & members of the GBC Film Festival Committee.
Each Friday starting in February 2021, the Humanities Center will post a movie review on the HC@gbc social media pages and web page.
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Gail Rappa
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Humanities center at Great Basin College
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Started February 1, 2021
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Josh Webster, GBC English Faculty
Russ Minter, Chair of GBC Film Festival
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Film Review: True Grit
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Gail Rappa
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3/5/21
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�“Now saddle up with the things that I’ve told you,
Leave man’s little world far behind.
Find sanctuary out on the cow range.
Let the wind do its thing on your mind.
The Cowboy Poetry of Waddie Mitchell
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Design for the Human Spirit (Theme 2015-2017)
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What is design, and how does it impact humans? Over the next two years, the Virtual Humanities Center will explore the role of design at GBC, the communities it serves, and the larger world.
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GBC Virtual Humanities Center
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August 2015 - July 2017
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Scott A. Gavorsky [VHC]
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"A Passage through Time": Original Artwork for Elko Street-scape Project
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The original concept art for "A Passage through Time," the Elko Street-scape public art project undertaken by the Nevada Department of Transportation in Elko in the spring and summer of 2015. The artwork was produced by John L'Etoile, Senior Landscape Architect of Nevada DOT
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John L'Etoile
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Virtual Humanities Center at Great Basin College
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2015
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<a title="Video Interview with John L'Etoile" href="/omeka/items/show/115" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Elko Street-scaping Project: Interview with Nevada DOT Architect John L'Etoile" - http://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/items/show/115</a>
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Community
Crossroads
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NDOT
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Text
NORTHEASTERN NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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Tomasa Argoitia and Balbino Achabal in front of Elko General Merchandise Company, 416
Idaho Street, Elko in the 1950's. The store has remained at the same address for fifty years.
�105
4N4C4BE'S STORE
THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS
BY CAROL HENDERSHOT
May 15, 1987 will mark the 50th anniversary of Elko General Merchandise,
Anacabe's Store, at its Idaho Street location in Elko.1
Why did this store survive when so many others didn't. Owner Joe Anacabe said
it was his belief in three things: honesty, quality merchandise and a friendly
atmosphere.
Joe was born February 12, 1889 at Berriatua, Vizcaya, Spain in the Anacabe
farmhouse . The house stands on land that has belonged to the Anacabes for 2,000
years. The structure itself has burned and been rebuilt at least three times in the last
600 years. It is presently owned by another Joe Anacabe. On a clear day, it is possible
to see the coast of France from the house. The home overlooks the Bay of Biscay. 2
Joe was the sixth child in a family of nine children. He came to New York in 1901
with a neighbor boy named Jaca. Immigrating to the United States was considered a
great opportunity and Joe's family somehow got together the $350 fare for him to
make the trip. He came by ship to New York and then rode the train to Winnemucca,
Nevada. He spoke no English and was only eleven years old. 3
Contrary to popular belief, Basques were not shepherds in the Old Country. Some
of them had never seen a sheep until they came to America. They were, however,
good strong farm boys who was accustomed to hard work. They became excellent
herders in their new country.4
Joe was met in Winnemucca by a cousin with whom he had a contract to herd
sheep. He fulfilled his three-year contract and then went on to other pursuits. He
worked as a buckaroo on the Spanish Ranch, drove the Winnemucca-Boise Stage for
a time and then went into ranching on his own. 5
While ranching near Paradise, Nevada he met Fabiana Guenaga who came from
Ondarroa, Viscaya, Spain, only a few miles from where Joe was born. They had
never met until both were in Paradise.
Joe and Fabiana were married November 9, 1912 in Nampa, Idaho. Their only
child, Frank, was born in 1914 in the Martin Hotel at Winnemucca.6
From about 1917 through 1924, Joe and Fabiana had a ranch in the McDermitt
area. There is still a field there known as the Anacabe Field where he grazed his
stock. 7 Ranching, however, was not to be Joe's forte.
In 1924, Joe sold his cattle to Jack Swisher of Elko, telling him he never intended to
be broke again. He opened his first store in McDermitt with the money from the
cattle sale .8 When he closed the store in 1929, he stated that he had a key to every
building in McDermitt - he owned them all!9
He went to Spain with his wife and son, wanting Frank to go to school in the Old
Country. They stayed two years, then moved to Berkeley, California. After
graduation from the University of California, Frank studied aeronautical
engineering. Joe and Fabian opened a store in Berkeley and stayed for six years. 10
Joe's move to Elko was announced on page one of the Elko Independent on March
26, 1937:
"Joe Anacabe, former resident of McDermitt and Paradise says he will open a
general merchandise business on Idaho Street in the store formerly occupied by H.C.
Stevens Company. His wife and son will come to Elko from Berkeley, California, in
the near future. "
�106
In 1936, Joe, Fabiana and Frank Anacabe.
The building Joe selected for his store had, in the past, several tenants in it
including Warren Ford and the GaietyTheatre.11 Anna Tremewan of Mountain City
remembers playing in the downstairs part of the building when it still had clowns
painted on the walls from its theatre days. As an adult, she worked for H.C. Stevens
in the same building from 1931 to 1936.12
The grand opening of Joe's store was announced in a one-quarter page
advertisement in the Elko Independent, May 14, 1937:
"HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? It's Open House tomorrow, Saturday, May
15 at the General Merchandise Store. Complete Line of goods. Quality at a savings."
The interior of the store was plain and practical. There was a wooden floor and
most of the merchandise was easily accessible. Two silver mirrors, that are still in
used, were in the back of the store. The had been brought from the Berkeley store. A
sliding ladder was, and still is, used to reach the floor to ceiling stacks of goods.
Joe's early advertisements stated, "The finest Cowboy garments money can buy,
at prices you can afford to pay." He also had silk and gabardine cowboy shirts from
95 cents to $7.50. He sold "ten-gallon" hats and neckerchiefs and, for $1.75, a
customer could buy Levi Strauss overalls. 13 The first Levi 501's, so popular now,
probably were sold in Joe's store.
Joe and Fabiana worked together in the store. Fabian also did alterations for
customers. 14 Frank came to Elko in 1950 following a top security clearance career
during World War II with Lockheed Aircraft, owned by Howard Hughes. He joined
his parents in running the store.
Then, on April 16, 1952, Fabiana died following a stroke. She was 59. 15
Joe decided to return to Spain for awhile. He left his sister, Tomasa Argoitia, and
Frank in charge of the store. 16
While in Spain, Joe met Margaret Olabe and they were married there on April 7,
1953. She wore a black wedding dress, very much in style at the time.17
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Joe Anacabe and Margaret Olabe Anacabe on their wedding day, April 7, 1953.
�108
They returned to Elko in the fall of that year. Their only child, Anita Therese,
called Ann by friends and family, was born October 26, 1954. 18
Buying merchandise for a general store was always interesting. Up until the
1940's, the store stocked just about everything, including groceries. Salesmen
couldn't always make it into Elko. They would send suitcases full of material
swatches and Joe ordered yard goods and clothing from the samples by mail. During
World War II, soap was hard to get. A salesman came into town with a truckload of
soap and asked Joe how much he wanted. Joe took it all. 19
Joe had progressive ideas about what people wanted and needed. While in
McDermitt, he contracted with Indian leather workers to make gauntlet-type
gloves. At the time these were not generally known. They had a long cuff to cover
the cowboys' wrists and lower arms, protecting them much as chaps protect legs.
They were an instant success.20
Anita Anacabe Franzoia said, "My father always believed women should wear
pants when they rode. This store carried the first women's riding pants available in
Elko." 21
Trainloads of men came in and needed to be outfitted before going out on the
ranches. The Anacabes lived above the store and Joe opened for them, no matter
what time they arrived. Buckaroos came in from the range and stopped at Anacabe's
first to get outfitted from the skin out. They took their new duds over to Julio
Arostegui'_s barbershop and bath house. 22
Julio charged them one dollar for a shave and haircut and another fifty cents for a
shower; towels were free. The men spruced up and left their old clothes in a pile on
the shower room floor. Donning their new outfits, they went out on the town. 23
During the Depression, they came into town, put everything on their bill and even
borrowed a little cash against the bill so they'd have money to spend. The store
ELKO GENERAL MERCHANDISE CO.
JOE ANACABE, Pres.
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�109
Tomasa Argoitia, left, and Agnes Rockwell.
owners knew they'd pay up as soon as they could. 2•
Joe could size up a person and fit them without measuring. If the pants were a little
long, he 'd say, "You roll them up a little . They'll shrink a little when you wash them.
Looks okay."
With only a third or fourth grade education, he invented his own division system.
No one could beat him for speed and accuracy. 25
Statements were usually mailed out once a year to the big outfits and once a
month to cowboys and herders. Jess Goicoechea of Elko remembers that it didn't do
any good to ask about your bill. Joe got around to it when he could.
"I'd forget I had a bill there, it would be so long. Then it would come.
Handwritten. I never questioned any of the bills. I just knew he was honest and they
were right," Goicoechea explained.
"I took my new boys there because Joe knew what they needed, even if they
didn't," Goicoechea continued. "They could have whatever they wanted and he'd
bill them a month or so later. He knew they came to this country without any
money. He always gave tokens of appreciation, like a pocketknife or a pair of gloves
when they paid their bills. A couple of times, when I paid my bill, he gave me a
heavy winter coat."26
Elkoan Agnes Rockwell worked for Joe from October, 1952 until October, 1956.
"Joe Anacabe was the most honest person I ever met and the nicest person I ever
worked for. He liked it if his employees showed an interest in the business and I
liked to help him order. We'd vie for shirt sales. He ordered what he liked and I
ordered what I liked and we'd see which shirts sold first. He carried basic things -
�110
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Left to right, Blackie Arano, Marie Merkley, Joe Anacabe and Agnes Rockwell in 1953.
bedrolls, shoes, good sturdy clothing, but he liked fancy wool shirts," Mrs. Rockwell
said.
"Joe was thrifty, hard working and as honest as the day is long. He told me when I
left, if I wasn't happy with my new job I could come back anytime," she recalled. 27
Joe loved to talk about coming to America and the things he'd seen and done. He
was interested in everything. He was very health conscious and, for many years, ate
brown rice for breakfast, a steak for lunch, and more brown rice for dinner. No fast
foods were tolerated.
He kept a great deal of reading material in the store. One of his favorite magazines
was an issue of Life magazine that showed diagrams of the human body and how it
functioned . Joe showed this to his friends and customers, explaining it at length and
giving suggestions on how to stay health. Everyone always listened politely, even if
they'd already heard about the subject before from Joe. 28
Joe made a visit to the store fun . It had a friendly atmosphere and was a home
away from home for many homesick Basque boys who came to Elko. There was
always someone with whom to talk and the men sat around a big shortwave radio
and listened to Cuban radio stations which most of them could understand. 29
Pete Amestoy remembers a potbellied stove with a railing around it.
"The heat came to the railing and you could go in and sit with your feet on the
railing and talk, talk, talk. Whole families came in to shop or just visit. Children and
old-timers, too," Amestoy reminisced. 30
One oldster in his 90's, Charlie McNab, came in often, bringing ice cream for
Agnes Rockwell and co-worker Marie Merkley. Casimiro "Blackie" Arano, who
was Dr. Shaw's chauffeur, was another frequent visitor. Blackie also worked at the
Blue Jay Bar and for Pete Amestoy.31
Talk was important because many of Anacabe 's customers didn't speak English
and they needed a gathering place where they might meet someone who spoke the
same language they did. Finding another person who spoke your language wasn't
always easy. There are at least 26 difference Basque dialects.
�111
In 1953, left to right, Marie Merkley, Charlie McNab and Agnes Rockwell.
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Surrounded by merchandise, Margaret Anacabe in the 1960's.
�112
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Anita Anacabe and Whitey in 1961.
�113
In Anacabe's store in 1986, left to right, Margaret Anacabe, Anna Hachquet and Dominica
Arostegui.
For instance, Pete Amestoy is French Basque. He spoke French and French Basque
when he came to America. He worked for time in New Mexico and learned some
Spanish. But, when he came to Elko, he did not speak Spanish Basque or English. He
went to Anacabe's to visit because he knew, sooner or later, somebody would come
in to whom he could talk.
He went there to shop because, "He had the best clothes for the working man,
country stuff, can't get it anywhere else. Western blankets, jeans, jackets."
"Besides," he grinned, "Us Basques stick together!"
Soon after he arrived in Elko, Amestoy bought a blanket and a gray metal cash box
with a lock, from Anacabe's. Thirty-five years later he used the blanket to cover
potatoes in his garden and the cash box is now a tackle box he keeps in his truck to
hold fishing gear. 32
Jess Goicoechea remembers that his "boys" liked to go into Anacabe's for the
atmosphere. Many of them had younger brothers and sisters in the Old Country.
"They got such a kick out of Anita," he said. "She was so little and she spoke such
good Basque. She was just a little thing, wandering around the store with her white
dog. Everyone like to see her and talk to her." 33
After spending many years in the family business, Frank Anacabe died on
September 19, 1976. 34
Joe had died September 30, 1971 at age 82, but his basic beliefs are still evident in
the store today. 35
"We don't have sales," Anita says . "Working cowboys and herders can't make
special trips to town for sales. They just know if they come here, the prices will be
fair. We try to give a good fit and top quality without unreasonable mark-ups and
mark-downs."
�114
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Three generations, left to
Anacabe.
Anita Anacabe Franzoia, Teresa Franzoia and Margaret
"We still get the working cowboy," she continued. "We get very few of the
drugstore type. Some people come in looking for lizard boots and things like that,
but we just don't carry them. We carry oil-tanned leathers, working clothes." 36
Jeff McCormick, T Lazy S buckaroo, is one of many contemporary working
cowboys who shops at Anacabe's.
"I needed a lightweight, warm jacket, reasonably priced. They carry Carhartt bush
jackets which are good quality. I find what I need here," he said. 37
To the old-timers of Elko it must seem like deja vu to go into Anacabe's. Talk, talk
and more talk still goes on. Margaret and her friends gather often to visit.
Once again there is a little girl wandering around, this time with a black dog. She
speaks good Basque and charms everyone. Her name is Teresa Franzoia, born
September 28, 1985 to Anita and her husband, Mike. 38
She and her mother and grandmother are doing business as usual at Elko General
Merchandise, Anacabe's Store, just as her grandfather would have expected the to honestly, selling quality merchandise in a friendly atmosphere.
FOOTNOTES:
1
Elko Independent: May 14, 1937, p.10
• Interview, Anita Franzoia and Margaret Anacabe, February 26, 1986
• Ibid.
• Interview, Jess Goicoechea, May 30, 1986
5
Franzoia and Anacabe, May 26, 1986
• Ibid.
• Ibid.
• Telephone interview, Roberta Munger, May 22, 1986
' Interview, Agnes Rockwell, May 29, 1986
1
° Franzoia and Anacabe, May 26, 1986
II
Elko Independent: December 3, 1937, p.3; telephone interview, Milo Taber, August 21, 1986
12
Interview, Anna Tremewan, May 23, 1986
13
Elko Independent: August 13, 1937, p.3
�115
-- I
Elko General Merchandise, Anacabe's Store, today.
�116
,. Interview, Pete Amestoy, May 22, 1986
Elko Independent: April 17, 1952, p.l
16
Rockwell
17
Franzoia and Anacabe, May 26, 1986
t i Ib,d.
19
Ibid.
20
Ibid.
" Ibid.
22
Ibid.
23
Interview, Julio Arostegue, May 20, 1986
,.. Goicoechea
25
Franzoia and Anacabe, Februry 26, 1986
26
Goicoechea
27
Rockwell
" Franzoia and Anacabe, February 26, 1986
29
Ibid.
30
Amestoy
31
Rockwell
32
Amestoy
33
Goicoechea
" Franzoia and Anacabe, February 26, 1986
" Ibid.
36
Ibid.
37
Interview, Jeff McCormick, February 26, 1986
.. Franzoia and Anacabe
15
SOURCES:
NEWSPAPERS
Elko Independent: selected issues
INTERVIEWS
Anacabe, Margaret and Franzoia, Anita; February 26, 1986, Elko residents
Anacabe, Margaret and Franzoia, Anita; May 26, 1986
Amestoy, Pete; May 22, 1986, Elko resident
Arostegui, Julio; May 20, 1986, Elko resident
Goicoechea, Jess; May 30, 1986, Elko resident
McCormick, Jeff; February 26, 1986, Battle Mountain resident
Munger, Roberta; telephone, May 22, 1986, Elko resident
Rockwell, Agnes; May 29, 1986, Elko resident
Taber, Milo; telephone, August 21, 1986, Elko resident
Tremewan, Anna; May 23, 1986, Mountain City resident
�117
Carol Hendershot
Carol Hendershot was born in Joliet, Illinois and raised in Denver, Colorado. She and her husband,
Jerry, moved to Carson City in 1971 and then to Elko in 1972. He is a land law examiner with the Bureau
of Land Management. She is a part-time telephone operator at CP National Telephone Company. The
couple has three children, a daughter, Marie, and two sons, Jerry and Kerry.
This is her third article published in the Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly. Her first, Bing
Crosby and Elko, A Mutual Admiration Society, was printed in the Summer 1984 issue. Hendershot's second
monograph, Dinner Station, was published in the Summer 1985 edition. She has also written several
newspaper articles.
Back issues of the Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly
always needed as donations.
�
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Title
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Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly
Subject
The topic of the resource
Collection of the Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly journal.
Description
An account of the resource
Quarterly journal of the Northeastern Nevada Museum, located in Elko, Nevada.
Creator
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Publisher
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
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1978-2015
Contributor
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Scott A. Gavorsky
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Format
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.pdf files
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English
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Title
A name given to the resource
"Anacabe's Store: The First Fifty Years"
Description
An account of the resource
<p>The Elko General Merchandise Company, known locally as Anacabe's Store, has been an Elko institution for almost 80 years. Operating out of the same location on Idaho Street, the store is a testament both to the Anacabe family and the Basque traditions of multi-generational community.</p>
<p><a title="Anacabe's Store article pdf" href="/omeka/files/original/6decf42d58226cd9e5b799b7786113f0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read "Anacabe's Store: The First Fifty Years" as pdf</a></p>
Creator
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Carol Hendershot
Source
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<em>Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly</em> 86.4 (Fall 1986): 104-117.
Publisher
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
Fall 1986
Contributor
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Gretchen Skivington [GBC]; Scott A. Gavorsky [VHC]
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VHC Deposit Agreement on file:
http://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/items/show/185
[administrator access only]
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pdf; 15 pages
Language
A language of the resource
English
Basques
Community
Crossroads
Elko
NNM
Story
-
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/415b15df188cd660640d611f0dcfa8dc.pdf
a6c828ec641d4076cd0847665cb3e607
PDF Text
Text
NORTHEASTERN NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
QUARTERLY
Basque Ranehing Cnl~e
- in the Great Basin
by Mi(ce Laughlin
Forests of Northeastern Nevada
by Thomas J. Straka
••The Most Extravagant Pieturesqneness''
of Northeastern Nevada
by Thomas J. Straka
The Pony Express
150-Year Anniversary
1860-1861
2010 - 3 &4
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https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/dc0f4b986bd462603f4d42184c81b2d6.jpg
b5003e7114f4dccaa2c43c664d06d140
Dublin Core
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Title
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Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly
Subject
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Collection of the Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly journal.
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Quarterly journal of the Northeastern Nevada Museum, located in Elko, Nevada.
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
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1978-2015
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Scott A. Gavorsky
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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.pdf files
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English
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"Basque Ranching Culture in the Great Basin"
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<p>Mike Laughlin traces the history of the Basque ranching culture in the Great Basin area, from early work on the first cattle ranches in the 1870s through the heyday of sheep-herding to the celebration of this ranching tradition in the modern National Basque Festivals.</p>
<p><a title="Basque Ranching Culture article" href="/omeka/files/original/415b15df188cd660640d611f0dcfa8dc.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View "Basque Ranching Culture" as pdf</a></p>
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Mike Laughlin
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<em>Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly</em> 2010, 3 & 4 (2010): 38-45
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2010
Contributor
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Gretchen Skivington [GBC]; Scott A. Gavorsky [VHC]
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VHC Deposit Agreement on file:
http://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/items/show/185
[administrator access only]
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pdf; 9 pages
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English
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1870 - 2010
arborglyphs
Basques
boarding houses
Community
Crossroads
Elko National Basque Festival
NNM
ranching
sheepherding
Spanish Ranch
Story
-
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/3430fad176d478b11bf46a817fcaa032.pdf
1e021109ea91d3888f7eef4fe83763c2
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Text
NORTHEASTERN NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
QUARTERLY
THE STORY OF MY LIFE
BY MRS. LEWIS SHARP, SR.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CPRR:
CHINESE L'ttMIGRAlVI' CONTRIBL"'llON
BY HOLLY LAKE
BASqUESIIEEPIIERDERS
BY ELVA AYLESWORTH
94-4
ELKO, NEVADA
�200
Basque tree carvings located high in the mountains of E lko County.
�201
BASQUE SHEEPHERDERS
BY ELVA AYLESWORTH
Over 100 years ago, the Basques began immigrating from Spain and France to
this country . Their determination. ability to work hard , desire to succeed, and
wi llingness to sacrifice in order to attain tomorrow's security , are the major strengths
that enabled the Basque people to immigrate to and succeed in America . They saw
this new land with its sparsely inhabited West and possible business opportunities as
the land of dreams , a place of future financial security. 1 For some, the hope of
financial security was fulfilled in the new land of America and some were able to
enjoy their success back in the old country. For many , the strong determination that
enabled them to endure the sacrifice and hardship of life in the American West was
accompanied by a pain that lingers today.
Land was scarce in the Basque countries : therefore. to stay meant living and
working in the cities. Basque culture taught that rural life was one of " personal
dignity and independence , .. a way of life to be treasured: whereas life for the city
worker was one of hard work under someone else·s direction . In Basque society, the
eagerness to do hard work is greatly respected . However, the Basques prefer to work
for themselves only, even to the exclusion of working for other Basque people. 2
Continually being under another person's authority was seen as a loss of identity and
independence. 3 America, a land where hard work and determination produced
security and freedom, became a dream for many of the Basque people.
Trad ing their berets for hats. they journeyed to the United States, 4 leaving family ,
friends , homes , and culture . They left as teens 5 and some went back as old men , but
almost all left parents, sisters, or brothers whom they would never see again. Close
association with others has always been very important to the Basque people as they
are a remarkably social society .6 Leaving this society to take up the life of a solitary
sheepherder often took more endurance than the average person has.
Due to a famine throughout the Basque country, political unrest, and lack of work
opportunities, the Basques began immigrating into California in the 1850s. 7 The gold
rush attracted them at first ,8 but the insecurity of the mining industry soon
discouraged them. At this time , the Industrial Revolution in Europe caused an
increase in the demand for wool , sheep tallow, and mutton , which required additional
numbers in sheep and sheepherders. 9 The promise of $25 to $50 a month was
attractive enough to entice many of the immigrant Basques to begin the solitary life
of the sheepherder. Some of the Basques had herded sheep in Argentina , 10 and
others had come from families which owned sheep. But for the most part, they
learned their herding skills in the United States.
Fifty years prior to the Industrial Revolution , California's governor at the time, a
Basque man named Diego de Borica , promoted the sheep industry by buying and
distributing sheep on his own to various California ranches. During his term in office
from 1794 to 180 0 , sheep numbers quadrupled , and by 1822, there were more
than 200 ,000 head in the state. 11 By 1860 , investing in the sheep business was the
safest and most profitable venture possible , with a 100% profit per year. 12 This
�202
opened the door for the hard working, success-oriented Basque immigrants. The
large majority of native Californios were cattle ranchers who inherently had a very
low conception of sheep, shying from the task of herding them , so the early
sheepherders were of many different backgrounds, having been brought in from all
over by the gold mines. 13 However, in Los Angeles, City of Dreams, Harry Carr
wrote that by 1887, the Basques were in control of the sheep in California. He
remarked , " Possibly no race with less fighting qualities could have held their own
against the cattlemen .. . , the Basque herders and Mexican cattlemen shot on
sight... " 14
Cattlemen had been accustomed to uninhibited use of the public lands bordering
their deeded ranches , and the arrival of the roving sheep operators was a rude
awakening. Although the itinerant sheepmen were on public ground , cattle ranchers
and land-owning sheepmen openly resented them. 15 The opportunity for future
financial independence prompted many herders to take their wages in live sheep.
This further increased the number of roaming sheepmen with no land base, who
continued to crowd the land-owning ranchers. Friction between the landowners and
the landless continued. William A Douglass wrote, in Basque Sheepherders of the
American West , that the itinerant sheepherder usually moved on after a confrontation with a cowboy about trespassing. Sometimes "tempers flared and reason was
replaced by violence. More than one herder was roped and dragged behind a horse ,
just as more than one buckaroo fell to a herder's .30-30 rifle. " 16 However,
Amerikanuak , written by William A. Douglass and Jon Bilbao, states to the contrary:
"The resort to serious violence was both rare and limited to the particularly hottempered. " 17
Along with the growth in sheep numbers and in the number of sheepherders came
the expansion of crop farming, leaving little room for any of the ranchers or
sheepmen to expand . In addition to that was the increasing hostility of the rancher
and established sheepmen toward the " tramp" sheep operator. As a result of these
numerous hindrances, the itinerant sheepmen began the hunt for new country.
Nevada winters being what they are , cold and risky for raising livestock, these
traveling sheep outfits still preferred Nevada over the crush of the California ranges. 18
Beginning around 1870, sheep were trailed into Nevada until, by 1910, there were
1, 154, 795 sheep registered. Depending entirely on public ground , these early sheep
operators trailed their bands to the southern dry areas in the winter, then back to the
high mountain pasture for the summer. Some bands traveled up to 500 miles or
more making their way from summer to winter ranges , than back again. 19 Sometimes
as many as 10 bands in one outfit would travel together, grazing slowly along the
way . Ten bands of sheep could number between 15,000 and 20 ,000 head,
according to Sarah Bixby in Adobe Days. 20 Ten herders traveled with a herd this
size. but when they were settled on their separate ranges , one herder and a couple
of good sheepdogs could handle more than 1,000 head of sheep alone. Being of a
nervous nature and vulnerable to attack from predators, sheep required constant care,
to the point that sheepherders often slept on the ground with them. 21 The
conscientious herder left nothing to chance in caring for his charges, as his reputation
was on the line in the weight and number of the lambs at shipping time .22
Most herders slept on the ground , using sagebrush for a mattress. Immigrating
from France at age 24. Mrs. Anna Hachquet has resided in Elko , Nevada, for the
�203
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E
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ci,
c
e
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i L-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Winter sheep camp for Elko County sheep being driven to winter ran ge
near Hamilton , Nevada .
past 70 years . She is the widow of a successful sheepman and remembers from her
days of cooking for her husband at the sheep camp , " You had to look every day in
the bed for snakes, always you watch for snakes. Oh. yes, I remember that! .. The
snakes liked the cool familiarity of the sage, so even though it made a good mattress,
it had to be checked often fo r visitors . Sixty-five years ago , Jean-Baptiste Ardans
came to American to herd sheep. He recalls an experience of unknowingly sharing
his bed with a rattlesnake . He had just gotten into bed when he heard it slither past
his head . "Oh boy, I jumped' I was scared' I couldn't reach it the first time with my
shovel. .. When he did connect. you can believe he made short work of that
unwelcome guest.
All cooking was done in the open over a campfire, regardless of the weather.
Bread that would put many housewives to shame, was cooked in a dutch oven in the
ground . Frank Lespade , long-time employee of Elko Lumber Company and retired
superintendent of maintenance for the Elko County School District. began
sheepherding at 13 in the country around Currie , Nevada . He states that a fire was
built in a hole dug in the ground. When the fire had burned down and there were
plenty of coals, the Dutch oven containing the bread dough was placed down in the
coals and left for a time. This browned the bread and gave it a crust. Next, the oven
was completely covered with dirt for about an hour while the bread baked . Pete
Amestoy, a herder for 25 years and well known for his bread-making skill , says this
was much better than "town bread. "
Herders today live in sheep wagons which have modern day luxuries, such as a
bed, table , and cupboards. They do not. however, have electricity. plumbing, or
refrigeration . The early sheepherder used a tent or teepee and made do . Transportation for the early herder was a burro or horse . Camp was moved on the back of a
packhorse. 23 Pete Amestoy came to America when he was 17 to herd sheep. He has
�204
been out of the sheep business for about 40 years , but clearly remembers the
harshness of the sheep camp ... It was a terrible life , had tents and used jackasses. Ifs
good now , with cars and trailers. Live like a king. It used to be nothing. "
In the early days the camp tender would resupply the herders once or twice each
month with beans, dried fruit, coffee , and ingredients for bread. When bands
belonging to the same outfit were near each other, the herders would butcher one
sheep together and share the meat, one animal being too much for one man before
it spoiled. 24 In later years , camp tenders came every four to six days, bringing canned
meat, fresh vegetables, pop, and wine along with the usual fare. Frequency of visits
and extent of supplies varied from outfit to outfit. Frank Lespade tells of working with
his dad for Pete Itcaina and being sent to Wells to pick up cases of moonshine. · ·I
was pretty young , but I drove all the way over there by myself, then back to Pole
Canyon (Ruby Valley) where we were camped. " Jean Ardans , nephew of Pete ltcaina
and employed by him for 24 years , laughs as he recalls the five-gallon containers
they were supplied coffee in. He remarked, •·1t was good to haul water in after the
coffee was gone. "
Many sheepmen who employed the herders would hold back their wages for a
year at a time. Some would hold these earnings until the herder quit , even if it was
25 years after he was hired. Pete Amestoy tells of working for several outfits and
only staying a year or two at the longest at each. His answer as to why he moved
around so much was: " Can 't get paid' Shorter you stay, quicker you paid. " Some
herders , trusting years of wages to employer's keeping , lost all when the employer
went bankrupt. Pete Itcaina was one of the many sheepmen who operated on the
wages held back from the herders. He came to America some time before 1900 ,
homesteaded a place between Deeth and Charleston, and became a very successful
businessman by the time he sold out in 1951. Obviously, some of his success came
from being able to forego paying wages to many employees for many years. He
employed 15 herders , including two brothers and four nephews. Jean Ardans , one
of the nephews, drew his first and last paycheck on the same day when he quit after
24 years of employment with Itcaina.
Physical danger was an everyday companion to the herders in the form of
weather, predators, snakes, illness, and injury . The major probiem , though , was
psychological , living with the boredom and isolation from other humans. 25 Numerous
herders were unable to deal with this facet of their occupation. Many quit. Others
remember crying themselves to sleep. Some actually went crazy. The term " Crazy
Basco " was not uncommon or without meaning. In early 1900, an organization in
Boise was formed to supply the return fares for the mentally and physically ill
immigrants .26 Some of the Basque herders killed themselves if they felt they were
going crazy. Others didn 't " catch it" in time. 27 Archer B. Gilfillan, in his book.
Sheep , claims that some think no one can herd sheep even six months and not go
crazy, "while others maintain that a man must have been mentally unbalanced for at
least six months before he is in fit condition to entertain the thought of herding. " 28
There were many herders who toughed it out, "putting in their time" for the
monetary security they would realize after years of loneliness and danger. Unable to
speak fluent English, or for most , any at all , town was not a preferred alternative.
Conmen and prostitutes were only too ready to relieve the herder of his money. 29
There are as many stories as there were outfits. For the itinerant sheepman, traveling
�205
Early photograph of sheep shearing operation. Pete El ia is on the far
right in white shirt.
around with no home base , completely alone except for the short time he enjoyed
visiting with the camp tender, the loneliness could be, and in many cases was,
unbearable. Herders for some of the bigger outfits would pasture their band of sheep
close to other bands belonging to the same outfit during the summer. This relieved
some of the loneliness. For young Frank Lespade , who moved to a sheep camp at
Currie from a Catholic boarding school in California , there were many adjustments
to make. Living and working around 10 other herders, learning to herd sheep,
handle a team of horses , ride a mule, and drink moonshine. Lespade doesn 't recall
loneliness as being one of his problems. He only remembers. "There was work to
do and you did it. ,. Pete Amestoy recollects a much different experience . He was
alone most of the time and remembers the loneliness well . After 24 years of herding ,
Pete moved to town (Elko) and bought the Blue Jay , a bar he ran for 11 years. He
then sold the bar and bought apartments instead. Now, looking back, Pete excitedly
points out. " It was like being in jail! Can 't go fishing! "
Throughout the western rangelands, generations of Basque sheepherders have left
the mark of their passing by carving messages into plaques nailed to trees , the tree
bark or even the handle of a scrub brush. Each year the message is added to with the
date of their stay or just a short note : "This is a sad and bitter life. " Another one
notes, " No good camp. " In the barren , treeless country, a rockpile was built. These
were called harrimutilak, or "stone boys ." This evidence for future herders of
another's presence in this camp was one common way for these men to deal with
the boredom and loneliness. It gave them a feeling of connection , knowing that other
herders would some day see their message , and it was also encouraging to them to
read the words of another who had been there before them. 30 But with the Basques·
desire to work hard , live honestly , and be self-reliant, they eventually earned the
respect of Americans 3 1 and were soon believed to be the best and the most
dependable sheepherders. 32 Elko resident Loyd Sorensen owned and operated a
�206
Old sheep wagon at the Goicoechea Ranch at North Fork, 1970.
sheep business for over 50 years. He hired many Basque sheepherders and claims
they are " honest and efficient workers. Efficient workers, that says it all. ·· Another
testimony to their integrity comes from a commonly held belief by the bankers that
''The word of the Basque is as good as a written contract. ·· 33 Mrs . Anna Hachquet
recently discovered this is still considered true. Upon hearing that her favorite
restaurant was no longer accepting personal checks, Hachquet questioned her
waitress. She was asked: ··Are you Basque?" When hearing the answer: "Yes,· · the
waitress replied that she would take her check.
Of the various people who have herded sheep, the Basques were the most
successful , due to their value of hard work , endurance , and staying with one
occupation. 34 Other people tried herding for a short time , but only the Basque could
see this path to financial security many years in the future . For most people , to say
"sheepherder" is to say ··Basque.·· No other ethnic group has been related to any
occupation so completely as the Basque to the herding of sheep. 35
Beginning in 1862 and continuing until 1934. laws were continually being passed
that hurt the sheepmen, 36 culminating in the Taylor Grazing Act (1934). which
stopped the itinerant sheepmen from using public lands exclusively to produce their
livestock. This also ended the opportunities for herders to start their own business 37
and, with the European economy improving. the Basques no longer desired to
immigrate. The century-long period of the Basque sheepherder had ceased.
�207
When the Basques left their homeland. the intent was to stay only long enough
to earn the capital required for the trip home and a business when they got there. 34
In the early days of the booming sheep industry and plentiful opportun ities. many
were able to go home within 10 years. Later on. the financial security they sought
took longer to find.
A large majority of these immigrants left their country never to return. Money. or.
for some , the willingness to spend it, is one reason. 38 For others, it is the emotional
expense of a return to a home where many loved ones have passed on , and where
" things are so different now.· · For many. the official arrangements necessary for such
a trip and the language barrier that is still there must seem too much to deal with.
Others still firmly state: "Next year , I'll go home next year . · · J G For many, "next year ..
never comes.
After 40 or 50 years , a Basque herder may return to his homeland only to find
that it is not the same place and that he is certainly not the same man. With a
saddened but firm step , he turns back to the America that has claimed him. 39
The percentage of success stories is small of the Basques returning to their
homeland within a few short years after immigrating , as prospective businessmen
happy to remain in the old country. However, as immigrants desiring to make
something of themselves and be recognized in their new country as the honorable
upright citizens that they are , the Basques have ultimately succeeded .
FOOTNOTES
'Douglass, Amerikanuak, Basques in the Ne w World, pg. 128.
" Basques in the West ,, . Sunset Magazine. June , 1976, pg. 64.
3
Douglass, Amerikanuak , pg. 128.
4
Laxalt, Sweet Promised Land , pg . 22.
5
Douglass, Amerikanuak , pg. 263.
6
" Basques in the West ,·, pg. 64.
7
Douglass, Amerikanuak , pg. 129.
8
" Basques in the West ," pg. 64.
9
Douglass, Amerikanuak , pg. 139.
10
" Basques in the West," pg . 64.
11
Douglass, Amerikanuak , pg. 218.
12
/bid.' pg . 223.
13
/bid.' pg. 222.
14
/bid. ' pg. 229.
15
" Basques in the West," pg. 64 .
16
Douglass, Basque Sheepherders of the American West , pg. 9.
17
Douglass, Amerikanuak , pg . 276.
18
/bid. ' pg . 248.
19
Douglass, Basque Sheepherders , pg. 6.
20
Douglass , Amerikanuak , pg. 229.
21
Frank Lespade interview.
22
Douglass, Basque Sheepherders, pg . 43.
23
/bid .' pg. 53.
2
�208
24
Lespade interview.
Douglass. Basque Sheepherders , pg . 59 .
26
/bid .. pg. 29.
27
Laxalt, Sweet. pg. 39.
28
Douglass. Amerikanuak. pg. 298.
29
Douglass. Basque Sheepherders , pg . 101.
30
/bid., pg . 7 .
31
Douglass. Amerikanuak. pg. 259.
32
/bid. , pg. 274.
33
Douglass. Basque Sheepherders , pg . 27.
34
/bid .. pg. 25.
35
Douglass, Amerikanuak. pg. 289.
36
"Basques in the West,'' pg. 64 .
37
Laxalt, Sweet, pg. 40.
38
/bid.' pg. 38.
39
/bid. ' pg. 176.
25
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Amestoy, Pete. Personal interview, March 12, 1993.
Ardans, Jean-Baptiste. Personal interview. March 28 , 1993.
" Basques in the West. " Sunset Magazine , Volume 156, June, 1976: 62-67.
Bradbury, Margaret. The Shepherd 's Guide. Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Publishing, 1977.
Douglass, William A. , and Bilbao, Jon. Amerikanuak, Basques in the New World.
Reno: University of Nevada Press, 1975 .
Douglas, William A. Basque Sheepherders of the American West. Reno: University
of Nevada Press, 1985 .
Hachquet, Anna . Personal interview, February 10, 1993.
lrigaray, Louis and Taylor, Theodore. A Shepherd Watches , A Shepherd Sings.
New
York: Doubleday and Company, 1977 .
Laxalt, Robert. Th e Basque Hotel. Reno: University of Nevada Press, 1989.
Laxalt, Robert. Sweet Promised Land. Reno: University of Nevada Press, 1986.
Lespade, Frank. Personal interview, March 28, 1993.
Ott, Sandra. The Circle of Mountains . New York: Oxford , 1981.
Sawyer, Byrd Wall. Nevada Nomad. San Jose: Harlan-Young , 1971 .
Sherlock, Patti. Alone on the Mountain. New York: Doubleday, 1979.
Sorenson , Loyd. Personal interview, April 5, 1993.
Editor 's note: This paper was written by Elva Aylesworth for Englis h 102 at
NNCC during the spring of 1993.
�
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly
Subject
The topic of the resource
Collection of the Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly journal.
Description
An account of the resource
Quarterly journal of the Northeastern Nevada Museum, located in Elko, Nevada.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Northeastern Nevada Museum
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1978-2015
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Scott A. Gavorsky
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Northeastern Nevada Museum
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
.pdf files
Language
A language of the resource
English
Document
Documents such as transcripts, pdf files, legal documents, letters, etc.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
"Basque Sheepherders"
Description
An account of the resource
<p>An history and analysis of the life of Basque sheepherders from the 1850s into the mid-20th century. Particular emphasis is placed on the experience of those in Elko County, Nevada, in the 20th century <span>as recounted in personal interviews with former Basque sheepherders in the Elko area. Interviewees included Jean-Baptiste Ardans, Anna Hachquet, Frank Lespade, and Loyd Sorenson.</span></p>
<p><a title="Basque Sheepherders article" href="/omeka/files/original/3430fad176d478b11bf46a817fcaa032.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View "Basque Sheepherders" as pdf</a></p>
Creator
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Elva Aylesworth
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<em>Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly</em> 94.4 (Winter 1994): 200-208.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
Winter 1994
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Gretchen Skivington [GBC]; Scott A. Gavorsky [VHC]
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
VHC Deposit Agreement on file:
http://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/items/show/185
[administrator access only]
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
pdf; 10 pages
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
1850 - 1950
Basques
Community
Crossroads
GBC50
ranching
sheepherding
Story
Students
-
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/8eca8cf80d54382b581f8fb7739d4f1e.pdf
d2389ed6dbb686ca7d1d758f77cca959
PDF Text
Text
NORTHEASTERN NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
QUARTERLY
Early Elko - Reminiscences of
George D. Banks
by Edna Patterson
Volume One
Summer 1970
Number One
Dirt Runways - A History of Elko Airpor~
1919-1926
by Howard ffiekson
Volume One
Fall 1970
Number Two
Basque Tree Carvings
by Riehard Lane
Volume One
Winter 1971
Number Three
· The Old Schoolhouses Are Disappearing
by Edith Landon Ba-khelder
Volume One
Spring 1971
Number Four
2001-2
ELKO, NEVADA
.
�64
Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly
Volume One, Number Three, Winter 1971
Basque Tree Carvings
by Richard Lane
Introduction:
During the past summer I examined numerous aspen groves on the western
slope of the Ruby Mountains between Lamoille Canyon and Mitchell Creek, in the Red
Rock area west of Jiggs, and on the Mountain City and Gold Creek districts of the
Humboldt National Forest. The carvings that were located were always interesting and
sometimes very beautiful. Many persons, including sheepherders, who frequent the
mountains give these carvings only a cursory glance and thereby miss the enjoyme nt
and confrontation by some small evidence of the lives of the strong men who followed
this solitary occupation in the past.
This is a loss to all concerned and especially to those interested in the range
history of the West, for neglecting to consider the actual roles of the sheepherder and
sheepmen distorts our understanding of how the present attitudes and situation came
to be. Aspen carvings are only a small part of the necessary evidence, but a very
enjoyable part.
Several persons have provided valuable assistance in the preparation of this
paper: William Douglass, Luis Garcia, Jess Goicoechea and Richard King.
Basque Tree Carvings
by Richard Lane
Scattered among the aspens in northeastern Nevada are clusters of carvings
etched by sheepherders and camptenders; a legacy for the anthropologist a nd
testimony that thoughts of other people (oftimes females) occupied a good deal of the
lonely herder's time.
The carvings - dating from the turn of the century - provide a glimpse into
those idle moments away from sheep husbandry and camp routines when a man took
knife in hand to leave his successors with evidence of his presence.
Most frequently he simply carved his name and the date. On a few occasions
an artist here and there expressed himself with drawings of women, houses or other
objects. More verbose carvers left complete quotations or cultural stateme nts, evidently
the direct results of frustrations of this often lonely occupation.
The earliest identifiable carvings date from a few years later than the influx of
Basque sheepherders into this area about 1895.
Since there is no tradition of tree carving in the Basque Country, it is likely that
the early herders learned the skill from persons in the United States. To my knowledge ,
no pre-Basque aspen carvings from the nineteenth century are still living. The Basques
and other Iberians were preceded in their occupation by northern Europeans,
predominantlv from the British Isles.
�65
q--oves on the western
ell Creek, in the Red
·eek districts of the
ays interesting and
who frequent the
~iss the enjoyment
---ien who followed
ted in the range
heepherder and
situation came
'lCe, but a very
paration of this
'·ng.
mpse into
man took
'J X
of
ues
Aspen grove with tree carvings.
Museum collection
�66
During the present century Basques and Spaniards have provided most of the
labor on Elko County summer ranges.
The medium which these men have used is a living material that changes in
size, color and texture over the years at the points where incisions were made.
Should the incisions be too wide or too deep, the resulting bark which grows
to heal the wounds will cover so large an area that the intended shape of the carving
may be obscured. There are numerous examples of this error that can be observed.
The appropriate technique for producing clean, narrow lines is a single very light
incision which barely penetrates the surface of the white bark. Though penetration with
the knife into the cambium will doubtless place a stress on the life support system of
the tree, densely carved living aspens exist which surpass seventy years of age. The
surface of a dead tree deteriorates and destroys the carvings.
An overwhelming majority of carvings consist of names and dates (Figure 2):
more rarely, direct statement of Basque ethnic identity and, in the cases of many of
the Spanish Basque herders, farmstead (very rare) or town, province, and country of
origin (Figure 3). The earliest of these which I have located was carved in June , 1903,
and it is just barely discernable (Figure 4). It was spared the depredations of the beaver
that many of its neighbors have suffered.
Jua n L
Muse,.
Jean Arosteguy, 1928 (Fig. 2).
Museum collection
�67
e provided most of the
aterial that changes in
ns were made.
•ing bark which grows
s hape of the carving
liat can be observed.
is a single very light
ugh penetration with
ife support system of
,ty years of age. The
and dates (Figure 2):
lie cases of many of
nee, and country of
rved in June, 1903,
ations of the beaver
Juan Lano, 1921, also shows a province in Spain (Fig. 3).
Museum collection
June, 1903 (Fig. 4).
Museum collection
�68
In a few places herders have made remarkable carvings of human figures
(Figures 5, 6 and 9), animals (Figures 8? And 9?), and buildings (Figure 11) and
geometric shapes (e.g., a star). Some of the women are identified as prostitutes in
either Spanish or Basque. No carvings of sheep have been located.
Occasionally a herder has left a few words of warning on appropriate herding
practices to his successors, exclaimed on the fine conditions of his lambs, or registered
a lament (Figure 12): in Spanish, "el que tiene que estar aqui es par que esta media
loco nose una puta"/ "the guy who has to be here must be half crazy because there
are no prostitutes to be seen." Or on at last preparing to return home to the Basque
country feelings are expressed (Figure 13): in Spanish, "Adios la sierra papa
siempre"/"Good-bye forever, mountain." There is also an instance of an untranslatable
Spanish expletive being directed toward a sheep foreman. The most surprising kind of
item missing from this category is anything referring to conflicts with cattlemen.
Statements occur in either Spanish or Basque, but none in French have been
found. Some Basque speakers inscribe their messages in Spanish.
There are some carvings which often produce a strong, discomforting
emotional reaction in me (Figures 14 and 15) because of odd staring eyes within
unidentifiable shapes.
Carving of human figures {Fig. 5).
M useum collection
�69
of human figures
ngs (Figure 11) and
-fied as prostitutes in
:ed.
a ppropriate herding
lambs, or registered
por que esta media
• crazy because there
home to the Basque
ios la sierra papa
of a n untranslatable
t s urprising kind of
ith cattlemen.
:rang, discomforting
staring eyes within
Carving of human figure (Fig. 6).
Museum collection
Carving of human figure (Fig. 7).
Museum collection
�70
Carving of animal (Fig. 8) .
Museum collection
Carving of an animal? (Fig. 9).
Museum collection
�71
Caroing of a man riding an animal (Fig. 10).
Museum collection
Caroing of a home complete with chimney {Fig. 11).
Museum collection
�72
Notice carved on aspen: "el que tiene que estar aqui es por que esta media
loco nose una puta"/"the guy who has to be here must be half crazy because
there are no prostitutes to be seen. "(Fig 12).
Museum oollection
Carving on tree in regards to returning to the Basque country: "Adios la sierra
para siempre"/"Good-bye forever, mountain" (Fig. 13).
Museum collection
�73
e esta media
Distorted figure (Fig 14).
Museum collection
W
erra
«·
;a
Distorted figure (Fig 15).
Museum collection
-+. --
I
�74
There is, of course, no assurance that all of the items illustrated here and
others upon which my statements are based were actually made by sheepherders or
camptenders. The human and animal figures are difficult to document with certainty
because so few include the apparent signature of the artist. Moreover, to provide but
one example, in one of the aspen groves near Red Rock there are patriotic carvings
in English and of our flag dating from World War I which are intermixed with those
definitely by sheepherders.
The photographs of humans, animals and the house in this article are from
areas which lack any evidence of non-Basque , non-French, and non-Spanish language
carvings. Howeve r, it is possible that there are carvings in Chinese, Japanese,
Portuguese, Italian, one of the Philippine languages, or, perhaps, others, since speakers
of each of these languages did some sheep herding.
The author:
Mr. Lane is a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology at Yale
University. He came to Elko in May, 1969, and has been conducting research o n
sheepherders and the development of the sheep industry in northeastern Nevada fro m
1870. The investigation is being done with the cooperation of the Basque Studies
Program , Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada, Reno. This work will result
in a Ph.D. thesis to be completed in 1971. Prior to coming to Elko he received his
Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University and the degree of Master of
Philosophy in anthropology at Yale.
Northeastern :\"c,
Volume One, :\"um
The Old Sc
by Edith Landon I
Introduction
The Quarter
difficult task of findir
a special interest i
publication.
The museursale as collector's ite
many sets as you wo
In the fo llov..
memories of EDITH
attended.
This is, in nc
northeastern Nevada
and those who would
The Old Sehool
by Edith Landon Bat
Tree caruing of a man's face
Museum co llechon
Ona Sunday.
School being torn dov..
and was probably the
Seeing it being
which have disappear
The ones I kr
attending usually num
Some of the sc.
shuttered windows and
and two rows of hooks.
for the shorter ones.
Several of the
others the stockade type
plank flooring and door<',
teacher's desk and chair .
had built-in inkwells. Th
room. A large woodbox
small bench with a water
nail above. There were
�
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/6835b5c25f598387894723f57bbc622e.jpg
225c8cb68a9c69ca021cd47b27b23e69
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Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly
Subject
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Description
An account of the resource
Quarterly journal of the Northeastern Nevada Museum, located in Elko, Nevada.
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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1978-2015
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Scott A. Gavorsky
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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.pdf files
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English
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Title
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"Basque Tree Carvings"
Description
An account of the resource
<p>A summary of Basque tree-carvings in the northeastern Nevada area, based on Richard Lane's investigations in 1969-1970 for his dissertation research. Lane was a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology at Yale University at the time. The article contains a number of photographs of typical types of Basque tree carvings.</p>
<p><a title="Basque Tree Carvings article" href="/omeka/files/original/8eca8cf80d54382b581f8fb7739d4f1e.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View article as pdf</a></p>
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Richard Lane
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<p>Original Publication: <em>Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly</em>, 1.2 (Winter 1971)</p>
<p>Reprint: <em>Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly</em>, 2001.2 (2001): 64-74.</p>
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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1971; 2001
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Gretchen Skivington [GBC]; Scott A. Gavorsky [VHC]
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http://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/items/show/185
[administrator access only]
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Richard Lane, "The Cultural Ecology of Sheep Nomadism: Northeastern Nevada 1870-1972" (Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Yale University, 1974)
Language
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English
arborglyphs
Basques
Community
Crossroads
Meaning
NNM
-
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8e04ffd6aee998cef50003ac1cc6fb80
PDF Text
Text
�16
Tents served as temporary housing for the CCC men until permanent wooden barracks were erected at the Lamoille Canyon camp.
CCC
Barracks at the Lamoille Canyon CCC camp. The installation was started in 1934 and
was closed in 1937. The CCC men built the road up the canyon.
program in Cong•ess.
members should ...
the regimentation o·
transportation, tra n
Despite the unfa _
introduced on Nia er
March 31. 4
The program haa and most states haa
1ocated in their sta e
Nevada, like other
Com mittee, in conJu~
d elegation to Congres_
camps."
Nevada Senators Ke--. :
prepared a proposa ·
unemployment. The prreforesting burned-Over
reforesting other parts c
extensive. 5
No specific locatior ·
Russell, Jr. suggested
Chamber of Commerce·
in the Ruby Mountains r
Mountains near Las Vega:.
�17
.,
.~
~
4.:t~~
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS
ELKO COUNTY: 1933-1942
BY DIANA L. NEEF
~
!
I
~
c 1n 1934 and
J
i
"'
~
~
Today's state of the economy is often compared with that of the Great Depression. There
is a constant search for a method to employ the millions looking for jobs. One method
being considered is to revive Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps of the
1930's and 1940's. The National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni is
dedicated to making the " CCC II" a reality. 1
In his New Deal plans the CCC was one of Roosevelt's many experiments to put the
country back to work and get it on its feet economically. Roosevelt's scheme to develop a
" tree army" w as not a unique idea. Many other countries had already employed such a
concept; by 1932 the governments of Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Austria and Germany had established conservation camps for their unemployed.
The German Labor Service w as to become the best known of these and the one most easily
compared to the CCC. 2
On March 9, 1933 Roosevelt called an emergency session of Congress to hear and
authorize his program. He asked the law makers to grant him emergency powers and in
return he w ould have 250,000 men in work camps by the end of July, 1933. 3
There w as much opposition to the president's proposal. The similarity to the German
Labor Service threatened the approach of socialism and delayed the passage of the
program in Congress. Also, organized labor felt the corps w ould take jobs that union
members should hold. But, above all, organized labor feared that the CCC would lead to
the regimentation of labor because Roosevelt wanted to enlist the aid of the U.S. Army for
transportation, training and administrative purposes.
Despite the unfavorable reaction to the project by the opposition, Senate Bill S598 was
introduced on March 27, 1933, passed both houses and was signed by the president on
March 31 .4
The program had great public support. Young men across the country flocked to enroll
and most states had delegatic.,, 1s in Washington to increase their chances of having a camp
located in their state.
Nevada, like other states, hoped to participate. On March 30, 1933, the State Relief
Committee, in conjunction with the Reno Chamber of Commerce, met with the Nevada
delegation to Congress about the possibility of securing one of the " labor concentration
camps."
Nevada Senators Key Pittman and Patrick McCarran, w ith Congressman James Scrugham,
prepared a proposal to present to Congress outlining Nevada's need for relief from
unemployment. The proposal outlined some of the work needed to be done in the state:
reforesting burned-over and cut-over areas on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and
reforesting other parts of the state where lumbering and forest fire destruction had been
extensive. 5
No specific location for the CCC camps had been discussed, so Elko's Mayor George
Russell, Jr. suggested that Elko County seek aid from the reforestation bill. He urged the Elko
Chamber of Commerce to convince representatives of the advantages of including a camp
in the Ruby Mountains in their proposal. This and other campsites, one in the Charleston
Mountains near Las Vegas and one in the Schell Creek Range near Ely, were added to the
�18
Lined up for inoculations at the CCC camp in Lamoille Canyon.
proposal. Later, camps at Dixie National Forest, Nevada National Forest and another Elko
County installation at Gold Creek were added.
Included with the Nevada proposal w as a letter by Scrugham recommending organization of a " prospecting army." This group would be sent over the hills of Nevada and other
mining states under the same terms of employment as the reforestation army except that the
recruits would be placed on a fifty .fifty grubstake basis. The federal government, the
grubstaker, was to receive fifty percent of the net returns from any paying prospects
developed and the locator would get the remaining half. 6
Congress approved Nevada 's request for its numerous camps but Scrugham 's proposition for a "prospecting army" was ignored. The lawmakers appointed Cecil W. Creel,
secretary of the Nevada Relief Committee, as director of the reforestation work in the state.
He would later be instrumental in establishing the many CCC camps in Elko County. Through
his appointment, Creel was to select men for the reforestation and flood control work
camps. Creel stated, on April 13, 1933, " .. .men, ages 18 to 25 will be enrolled starting April
24. The first men will come from Reno and Las Vegas and other points receiving relief." 1
Meanwhile, Elko Chamber of Commerce officials decided that funding to build a road
up Lamoille Canyon and another road through Owyhee Canyon leading to Mountain City
was worth going after. The Lamoille Canyon road was greatly desired by the people of Elko
County who hoped to make the canyon into a w eekend recreation area. Likewise, the
Mountain City road was pursued by people involved w ith a booming copper producer,
the Rio Tinto Mine, who hoped to gain an all-weather highway. The Mountain City project
was later abandoned because of rumors that a railroad was to be built on the same
proposed roadbed.
Harry Bartlett, president of the Elko Chamber of Commerce, telegraphed Creel affirming
that Elko County was indeed interested in getting a CCC camp. On April 17, the county
received confirmation that there would be camps located in the area. They were also told
that over four hundred men would be stationed at the camps. This meant, to the local
people, that over $220,000 would be spent in the coming months. It w as announced in the
Elko Daily Free Press that "the men will come from the crowded cities of the East; Elko
Lieutenants C
County will only b e a
these men will perf()IT""
road and trail building
workers had started a
Elko County had sever
Canyon, Gold Creek, A
Cherry Creek in White P
Jim Meeks of Elko _
graduated from high sc
entire summer for the •
managed to earn only •
didn't have enough mO<'
find a job in the lumre
Herecalled : "lwas wa ·
me why I wasn't in schoo.
O regon to try and earn
because his uncle, the 1oc
only had to stay six man
those days. I went up a
could even read or write
he told me that he cou 1c :
scared me off. But I deciae
later I found myself in E •
"First they sent me to a
There they taught us how •
our shoes and if they d id" •
through the pipeline to 0v·
camps - like the mi lita
"I arrived in Elko in Jan
�19
i
I
!"
I
another Elko
~ i ng organizaada and other
except that the
;1ernment, the
rig prospects
m's proposiecil W. Creel,
in the state.
rity. Through
control work
~ starting April
ing rel ief." 7
ouild a road
_~ewise, the
er producer,
City project
the same
eel affirmi ng
:he county
ealso told
,o the local
i
;
-
i
Q;
a:i
!
Lieutenants Charvez and Rycroft at the Lamoille Canyon CCC camp.
County will only be allowed to contribute ten percent of the men to be enrolled. The work
these men will perform under this plan in Nevada will not mean the planting of trees but of
road and trail building in the national forests. " 8 By May 19 the preparation of the camps for
workers had started and, within a month, actual work had begun.
Elko County had several CCC camps, included were encampments at Tuscarora, Lamoille
Canyon, Gold Creek, Angel Lake and the Hubbard Ranch. Another nearby camp was at
Cherry Creek in White Pine County.
Jim Meeks of Elko was 19 at the time he joined the CCC. He recalled that he had just
graduated from high school and was hoping to continue on to college. After working the
entire summer for the Tennessee Valley Authority on a rural electrification program he
managed to earn only $152. Summer was over and so was his job with the TVA and he
didn't have enough money to start college. He decided to buy a bus ticket to Oregon and
find a job in the lumber mills. 9
He recalled : "I was waiting to get on the bus and a school friend happened by and asked
me why I wasn't in school and I told him I didn't have enough money. But that I was going to
Oregon to try and earn some. He told me that I didn't need to waste money on a ticket
because his uncle, the local CCC registration officer, could get me out west free. He said I
only had to stay six months and I could get out. Six months didn't mean anything to me in
those days. I went up and visited this old wart-healer, was about all he was, I doubt if he
could even read or write. Well, I asked this boy's uncle if he could send me to Portland and
he told me that he could send me anywhere in the world I wanted to go. That just about
scared me off. But I decided that joining the 'Cs' was a smart thing to do and three months
later I found myself in Elko, of all places. 10
" First they sent me to a Louisiana army camp, what they called a conditioning camp.
There they taught us how to make our beds and line up for inspection and told us to shine
our shoes and if they didn't like it we had to do it again. After two weeks there they sent us
through the pipeline to our station. They had asked me to give them my three choices of
camps - like the military they sent me somewhere else. 11
" I arrived in Elko in January, 1940 and the next day they sent me to a place 26 miles south
�· .....--
4429th Company, Civilian Conservation Corps, at Tuscarora on June 12, 1938. First
Lieutenant Robert J. Moore commanded with Robert F. Jameson as project superintendent, Dr. Everill W. Fowlks, camp surgeon, and Aland Forgeon was the camp's
educational adviser.
Tents of the 4429th Company, Civilian Conservation Corps, Camp DG-83 at Tuscarora
in June, 1939.
�22
'
IDAHO
-lr-·-·-·-·-+·-· . ·-·-·-·tmi·-·-·-·-·r-·-·-·~-··u
iT
!
I
Owyhee
Columbial;\-
•Rowland
t.City
fj Jarbidge
eTennessee Gulch
Patsv~ie
Gold.Creek
Wild Horse
•Charleston
; Jackpot
I
Contact
Delano•
1
•
Edgemont•
Cornucopia•
IA
•
Cherry Creek
WHITE PINE
i
•
•
I
CCC CAMPS IN NORTHEASTERN NEVADA
NORTHEASTERN
oe1ng scarec ~
Meeks to1
c
'e5UNey the a·
" In past days
they counted •
corners. It was c
hard as in the s
NEVADA
only three out o
promotions. His
pay added up·::
lived on a farm a
was a first sergea
He recalled,
and learning to '_
standpoint. 15
After discharge
laundry. Eventua
Meeks said, "T"
around; there are s_
there are a lot o When World
He said, "You c
make beds, shines~
CCC and the army
The CCC decl ine:::
agencies, the CCC 'e
then, ironically, Pres to balance the budg
Pearl Harbor was bcr
com pete w ith the rr
months .
Many people wi ~
nation and its young
FOOTNOTES:
1 John A. Salmond, The C .
Press, 1967), p.5
2 Fred E. Leake, R
oosevelt's •
National Association OI' :=
3 Leake, p.1
4 Ibid.
s Nevada Labor Camp 1 S.
s
• Reforestation Aid for ~
1 ·creel in Charge of Refores
• Elko County Allotted 40C
• Jim Meeks, owner of Vog •
�23
; w'ells. It was cold. Being a southern boy I had never seen 13 degrees above zero, much
ess the 13 below temperature on the day I got to the Warm Springs CCC camp. Other than
·-·-·-·-,.-·!U
Jackpot
Contact
Delano•
I
iJ
iA
•
.
I
DA
oe1ng scared half to death, I managed to survive. 12
Meeks told of his experiences at Warm Springs. His major field work was helping
•esurvey the area.
In past days they just tied something around a wagon wheel and each time it went over
ey counted it. The CCC actually chained and measured exact distances and tried to find
corners. It was quite a chore but they sti II use that survey today. Out west the work wasn't as
ard as in the southern camps. Nevada had a lot of camps but many were summer camps.
In some places they would set up a few tents and a kitchen and go to work." 13
After a short time in field work, Meeks was promoted into office work. He was one of
only three out of 300 men who had finished high school so they were the first to receive
promotions. His job included holding inspections and handing out pay every month pay added up to $30 a month and $25 of that was sent home. Meeks said his parents, who
lived on a farm, always sent his $25 back to him. During his last eight months in the CCC he
w as a first sergeant. 14
He recalled, " You were really in the army, the only thing was that instead of out marching
and learning to fight wars, you were trying to improve the country from a conservation
standpoint. 1 s
After discharge from the CCC, Meeks moved to Wells to marry a local girl and start a
laundry. Eventually he moved his business to Elko where it is still thriving today.
Meeks said, " Thirty of us CCC boys married girls from Wells. Many of the CCC guys are still
around; there are some in Elko and Wells today, there's a casino owner in Carson City and
there are a lot of the old boys at Hawthorne." 16
When World War II started Meeks went into the U.S. Army.
He said, "You could always tell who had been in the CCC - they already knew how to
make beds, shine shoes and stand inspection. There wasn't a lot of difference being in the
CCC and the army." 17
The CCC declined in the years of 1940 to 1942. Like so many worthwhile government
agencies, the CCC fell victim to Capitol Hill power struggles. First, Congress cut the funding,
then, ironically, President Roosevelt pared down the number of men and camps in an effort
to balance the budget and gain votes in the upcoming election. The final blow came when
Pearl Harbor was bombed and the nati on was plunged into war. The CCC simply could not
compete with the military for manpower and all the camps were gone within a period of six
months .
Many people will never forget what the Civilian Conservation Corps did for a troubled
nation and its young men and that is all the justification the CCC needs.
FOOTNOTES :
1 John A. Salmond, The Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942. (Durham, North Carolina: Duke University
Press, 1967), p.5
2 Fred E. Leake, Roosevelt's Tree Army: A Brief History of the Civilian Conservation Corps. (Manassa, Virginia:
National Association on Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni, 1980), p.1
3 Leake, p.1
4
Ibid.
s "Nevada Labor Camp is Sought Under New Sill," Elko Daily Free Press, March 30, 1933, p.1
a "Reforestation Aid for Nevada Sought by Representatives," Elko Daily Free Press, April 6, 1933, p.1
"Creel in Charge of Reforestation," Elko Daily Free Press, April 14, 1933, p.1
• " Elko County Allotted 400 Men Under Reforestation Aid Plan," Elko Daily Free Press, April 17, 1933, p.1
s Jim Meeks, owner of Vogue Laundry, Elko, Nevada; interview on April 14, 1983
1
�24
Ibid.
Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
1s Ibid.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid.
10
11
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Elko Daily Free Press: "Creel in Charge of Reforestation," April 14, 1933; " Elko County Allotted 400 Men Under
Reforestation Aid Plan," April 17, 1933; " Nevada Labor Camp is Sought Under New Bil l," March 30, 1933;
"Reforestation Aid for Nevada Sought by Representatives," April 6, 1933
Leake, Fred E., Roosevelt's Tree Army: A Brief History of the Civilian Conservation Corps. (Manassa, Virginia:
National Association on Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni, 1980)
Meeks, Jim. Owner of Vogue Laundry, Elko, Nevada. Interview on April 14, 1983.
McClusky, Jack. Editor, publisher, Mineral County Independent News, Hawthorne, Nevada. Interview.
Salmond, John A., The Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942, ( Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press,
1967)
This index of suo
terly in 1983 was co
where mention w as
pages 45-76 are ir :are in the Su mmer s
Eager, Sheepman; 8-
After publi catior
indexed w ith the rras·
the present. The mas
A
airmail station (Elko): • 2 •
Amador County (Ca ,,fcr>
America, 91, 95
American Association cl
American Associati on '-:,
American Legion , 121, • 3·
Antioch (California): 1 4 V
Apache (Indian): 54
Arana Saddle Shop, 79
Arctic Circle: 87
Argentina: 79
iii
j
~
Arizona: 54
Arabian (horse·s name) 6C
Army: 91
Arrascada, Benny, 95
Ashby (family), 56
Katy, 57
_§
§
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DIANA L. NEEF
Diana L. Neef's article about the Civilian Conservation Corps was an assignment in her
English Composition class at Northern Nevada Community College in Elko. It is her first
published work.
She was born March 5, 1965 in Las Vegas but was raised in Elko. She is a 1983 graduate of
Elko High School. Her parents are Nancy and Jerry Neef. Diana is a freshman at Utah State
University, Logan, where she is majoring in landscape architecture. While in school she
earned a band scholarship and the Knapp Scholarship. She likes sewing, band, traveling,
photography and golf.
The staff of the quarterly and the society board of directors thank the author for the
opportunity to publish and showcase work performed in the field of original research at the
local college.
Lulu: 57
Viola, 57
Virginia: 57
AuAg Company (TuscarO'a
audrtorism (Elko High Scro
Austrn ( Nevada), 3
Australia: 79
B
Da 'Tlril tank: 12
3a zar, Fred: 122
Banks, /ws . George, 149
:ia<mocks (Indian): 54
3.Ynard , Louis, 6 7
5.Ynard , LR. : 7
::d'en, Fred, 51
t>Ys (gold): 11
=oall: 151-155
oasoue, 91 , 93, 95, 103
3.!::e R
ube: 62
'3'"S 103
6t:.Y" 'arnily
Alir e, 87
Beny, 85, 87
�
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/55ef50f2d7e7ec9c66adb8d6dfe43962.jpg
66d21f2f11840be4671af7f6e7b09436
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Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly
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Collection of the Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly journal.
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Quarterly journal of the Northeastern Nevada Museum, located in Elko, Nevada.
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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1978-2015
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Scott A. Gavorsky
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
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.pdf files
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English
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"Civilian Conservation Corps, Elko County: 1933-1942"
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<p>An history of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) operations in Elko County during the Great Depression. Diana L. Neff, a Northeastern Nevada Community College student at the time, tracked the development of CCC camps from the original reforestation camp at Lamoille in the Ruby Mountains to the later camps at Tuscarora, Gold Creek, Angel Lake, and the Hubbard Ranch, and the related camp at Cherry Creek in White Pine County.</p>
<p><a title="Elko County CCC article" href="/omeka/files/original/e86d1991a745914887a0fc04c8182284.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View article as pdf</a></p>
Creator
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Diana L. Neff
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<em>Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly</em>, 84.1 (Winter 1984): 16-24
Publisher
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
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Winter 1984
Contributor
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Scott A. Gavorsky [VHC]
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VHC Deposit Agreement on file:
http://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/items/show/185
[administrator access only]
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pdf/a1-b; 9 pages
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1933-1942
CCC
Community
Crossroads
Elko County
GBC50
Lamoille
NNM
Story
Student
Tuscarora
-
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/1dfce2a5b634fdbf5d8bf80f4a4c4853.pdf
e550451b110dd6976155450934b59e57
PDF Text
Text
Spring 2016 VHC In-Service: Discussions for Critical Thinking Long a staple of the live classroom, discussions have also found a central place in online classes. While asynchronous and synchronous software allows a variety of interactions, the fundamental questions of organizing good discussions remain. 1) What do I want out of discussions—content mastery, skill development, or some combination? 2) How can students be encouraged to engage in critical thinking in responding to discussions? On the next page is a selection of discussions being used by GBC faculty. As the faculty present their approaches, please consider how these discussions might parallel your answers to the questions above. VHC In-Service: “Discussions for Critical Thinking” (Spring 2016) Page 1 �HIST-105: European Civilization to 1648 (Scott A. Gavorsky) Discussion # 8: The Later Middle Ages A key theme in the emergence of medieval societies in the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) and the Late Middle Ages (1300-1500) was the quest for stability, which structured a number of the conflicts of the period. Discuss how medieval society sought to achieve a stable society, considering the following issues: 1) What elements contributed to the stability of medieval society? 2) What elements contributed to instability? 3) What issues did the medieval world find increasingly difficult to deal with? For the discussion, you should draw on Lectures for Week # 11: The Medieval World and Lectures for Week # 12: The Later Medieval World and the associated readings. Remember to follow the Discussion Requirements. GRC 101: Principles of Design (Kathy Schwandt) Discussion #2: Principles of Design Assignment #1 was about principles of design, and you analyzed a book cover to identify some design principles. Examine the following movie poster image. Choose one principle of design and explain how it seems to be applied in this image. Your response may be written or you may record a video using the Record/Upload Media button in the toolbar above. (Refer to the Discussions Rubric in the Week 1 Module to see how your discussion posts are graded.) Make your first post by 8:00 p.m. (PST), Sunday, September 8. Respond by 1:00 p.m. (PST), Wednesday, September 11 to at least two other students’ postings for this topic. INT 339: Capes and Cultures (Joshua Webster) Discussion: Batgirl Cover Controversy This week's Discussion Assignment asks you to do a bit out of outside research on the dispute over the Batgirl variant cover. Start by reading the article posted in the module and, from there, research the issue in greater detail and find at least three other articles, blogs or discussions of the cover and the larger issues it connects to. You should look for sources that are taking a stance on the cover, and try to look at articles covering each side of the issue. Once you have done your research, write a brief argumentative post that analyzes the different viewpoints and also provides your stance on the issue, making sure you justify your own stance with logical arguments and support from your research. Your argument should be thesis-driven and you absolutely, 100% need to cite your sources in MLA style, so make sure you do so. The length of your post should be 300 to 500 words. Additionally, you are required to respond to the posts of two fellow classmates, preferably ones who take a view that opposes your own. VHC In-Service: “Discussions for Critical Thinking” (Spring 2016) Page 2 �3) How can discussions be assessed for both content and/or skills development? GENERAL NOTES: Note: The VHC’s Core Humanities Skills flyer is on the reverse of this sheet. Thank you for attending this VHC In-Service. Please take a few minutes and fill out our event survey at: https://docs.google.com/a/gbcnv.edu/forms/d/1f3cfD2hNpzNUu6r4imno1ymEAYyTg3HanxNCJRYZHuw VHC In-Service: “Discussions for Critical Thinking” (Spring 2016) Page 3 �At the heart of GBC’s Virtual Humanities Center (VHC) is this list of core skills and habits of mind that the humanities encourage and promote. Every aspect of the VHC is centered on these skills. They are not only college learning skills, but life skills, and they are aligned with GBC’s General Education Objectives. Humanities Core Skills/ Habits of Mind ÐÐ the capacity to write intelligently, lucidly, and fluently ÐÐ the capacity to speak intelligently, lucidly, and fluently ÐÐ the capacity to communicate through a variety of media: visual, performance, design & composition ÐÐ the ability to participate effectively in deliberative conversation ÐÐ the ability to analyze and interpret visual communication General Education Objective: Communication Skills ÐÐ the ability to use facts: working from evidence to a conclusion (induction) ÐÐ gathering enough facts to warrant the conclusion ÐÐ making valid inferences based on facts ÐÐ using accurate observation to form a hypothesis and then test it (the scientific method) ÐÐ the ability to use principles: working from principle(s) to a conclusion (deduction) ÐÐ avoiding prejudices, pressure from authority or peers ÐÐ avoiding flaws in thinking: personal attack, overgeneralization ÐÐ the ability to absorb, analyze and interpret complex artifacts or texts ÐÐ the ability to assess the reliability and validity of information, especially on the web ÐÐ the ability to synthesize information from diverse sources ÐÐ the ability to place data into a larger context ÐÐ the ability to make decisions based on evidence ÐÐ the ability to analyze and interpret abstract ideas ÐÐ the ability to recognize and compensate for ambiguity ÐÐ the ability to prioritize ÐÐ the ability to innovate ÐÐ the capacity for curiosity General Education Objective: Critical [and Creative] Thinking Visit our website at humanities.gbcnv.edu ÐÐ the ability to understand the historical and cultural foundations of ethical behavior, and develop and apply a personal code of ethics based on that understanding ÐÐ the maturity to take responsibility for one’s thinking and actions ÐÐ the capacity to express an opinion that diverges from that of the majority [OR the ability to hold and defend a divergent point of view and to allow others the same right] ÐÐ the capacity to recognize the validity of alternate viewpoints or opinions ÐÐ the capacity to recognize multiple perspectives, from local to global ÐÐ the capacity to accept diversity of people and ideas ÐÐ the capacity for a critical understanding of fine arts expressions ÐÐ an awareness of the past and its application to the present ÐÐ the application of knowledge to real-world problems General Education Objective: Personal/Cultural Awareness ÐÐ the ability to utilize new technologies as they are developed ÐÐ the ability to understand the ethical implications of technological advances ÐÐ the ability to use technology to benefit humanistic inquiry, not to replace it ÐÐ the ability to capitalize on technology as a tool to enhance the experience of the humanities ÐÐ the ability to use technological tools to expand and extend our understanding of what it means to be human General Education Objective: Technological Understanding
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Toolkit - Discussions
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Items related to the use of discussions as a pedagogical tool.
Description
An account of the resource
This collections features various items related to the use of discussions in live and online classrooms as a pedagogical tool.
Many of these items were taken from the VHC In-Service Workshop on "Discussions for Critical Thinking" on 21 January 2016.
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Scott A. Gavorsky
Publisher
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GBC Virtual Humanities Center
Date
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January 2016
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Kathy Schwandt; Joshua Webster;
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All rights reserved. Use of any content only by express permission of Great Basin College © 2016.
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"Discussions for Critical Thinking" - In-Service Handout
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The handout distributed to participants at the VHC In-Service "Discussions for Critical Thinking," 21 January 2016.
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The handout distributed to participants at the VHC In-Service "Discussions for Critical Thinking," 21 January 2016. The handout was intended to be a guide for the workshop discussions and includes three sample discussions from GBC faculty presenters.
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Scott A. Gavorsky
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GBC Virtual Humanities Center
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21 January 2016
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Joshua Webster; Kathy Schwandt;
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All rights reserved. Use of any content only by express permission of Great Basin College © 2016.
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pdf file
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English
Design
Design 2015-2017
Discussions
Faculty
humanities education
In-Service
Toolkit
-
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Toolkit - Discussions
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Items related to the use of discussions as a pedagogical tool.
Description
An account of the resource
This collections features various items related to the use of discussions in live and online classrooms as a pedagogical tool.
Many of these items were taken from the VHC In-Service Workshop on "Discussions for Critical Thinking" on 21 January 2016.
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Scott A. Gavorsky
Publisher
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GBC Virtual Humanities Center
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January 2016
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Kathy Schwandt; Joshua Webster;
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"Discussions for Critical Thinking" - Spring 2016 Faculty In-Service
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Spring 2016 Faculty In-Service on using discussions to promote critical thinking skills, particularly for online classes.
Description
An account of the resource
<p>On 21 January 2016, the VHC hosted a faculty in-service on strategies to use discussions to promote critical thinking, particularly in online classes. The workshop was presented by GBC faculty members Scott A. Gavorsky, Kathy Schwandt, and Joshua Webster.</p>
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<p><a title="Discussions for Critical Thinking Video" href="http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/9ebi6" target="_blank;">Click here for direct access to video (if embed above is not functioning).</a></p>
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GBC Virtual Humanities Center
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<a title="Humanities Toolkit exhibit on Discussions" href="/omeka/exhibits/show/humanities-toolkit/discussions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Humanities Toolkit - Discussions</a>
Publisher
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GBC Virtual Humanities Center
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21 January 2016
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Scott A. Gavorsky, Kathy Schwandt, Joshua Webster [VHC presenters]; Brenda Wilkie [GBC IAV facilitator]
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All rights reserved. Use of any content only by express permission of Great Basin College © 2015-2016
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streaming video [mp4]
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English
Critical Thinking
Design
Design 2015-2017
Discussions
Faculty
In-Service
rubric
Toolkit
-
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/cb3be7c3bae97957c68f710ebe5e7699.pdf
0440f96c1b962e8fd108e5792b44dd1c
PDF Text
Text
�12
Elko's Overland Hotel, on Fourth Street, long-time Basque social center. Holbert Family
photograph.
�13
ELKO'S OVERLAND HOTEL
A family, a culture ... and a memory
by Gretchen Holbert
April 3, 1899. Domingo Sabala, a young Basque, only 19-years-old
from Guizaburuaga , Vizcaya, in the Pyrenees mountains of Spain, set
foot on the soil of a foreign land which would eventually become his. He
could barely pronounce the country's name - United States of
America. 1
He did not know, at the time, he would never again see the land of his
birth or the many loved ones he left behind - his mind was filled with
youthful dreams of his new home and a bright, new future.
Continuing his seemingly endless journey , he boarded a massive
"iron-horse" to the West-a country with still rough land and characters.
He was in the company of other young Basque immigrants, part of a vast
influx of an "old country" stripling generation who ventured forth at the
turn of the century to seek their fortunes. Initially, they came in search of
gold and silver but soon found themselves inextr icably involved in cattle
and sheep industries.2
Domingo, who Americanized his first name to Dan, found both ventures in Winnemucca, Nevada, where mining was booming and livestock
flourished. 3
September, 1904. Gregoria Ga rte is from Natcaitua, Vizcaya, made the
burdensome journey across the ocean to join her sister in Winnemucca.
She found a job, learned English and fell in love .4
October 23 , 1907. Domingo and Gregoria were married and journeyed
to Elko to make their new home. 5
In their first years in northeastern Nevada, the Sabalas were involved
in various catt le and sheep operations. They started their family, which
would become a large one.
�14
In 1908, Dan, in partnership with Eulalie Onandia, built a part of his
dream - the Overland Hotel. 6 It would become the second largest Basque hotel in Elko. 7 After a few years, Onandia left the partnership and
Dan's brother, Antonio, took his place. 8
Accommodating a steady clientele, the Overland did an admirable job
within its limited confines. It was a simple edifice of three stories located
on Fourth Street and catered almost exclusively to herders, ranchers and
travelers. 9 The first floor was filled with a cigar counter, bar, lobby, dining
room, kitchen, pantries and maintenance rooms.
Upstairs were 24 rooms-to-let, inclusive of the Sabala family quarters.
The ground floor was originally used as a handball court - a favorite
pastime of the Sabalas and their boarders. 1 0
During the prime of the hotel's operation, many sheep outfits were in
the Elko area . Many Basque boys came to the U.S. to care for these
bands. Nevada's topography and climate were much like their own homeland and the sheep industry flourished, creating a large Basque concentration in the region and promoted Basque hotels to accommodate the
herders. 11 The Basque hotel became the social and business center of
the Basque community, a tradition typified by the Overland Hotel.
Sheep herds were sold in the winter so the young herders boarded at
the hotel in the winter, waiting for spring and a new band of sheep. Some
had no money but remained with the understanding that they would
settle their bill when they went to work. Invariably they did.12
The Overland employed young women from the Pyrenees who came to
the United States sponsored by businessmen, like Sabala, and worked
out their fare. They spoke no English and often arrived in Elko tagged like
packages to insure their safe arrival. 1 3
Basque women, in the early days of the Overland, were paid $25 a
month, plus room and board. Eventually their pay was raised to $30. 1 4
Working as maids and cooks, their days were long and labor-filled . The
cook prepared three meals, washed dishes and maintained the kitchen.
The maids' chores included waiting on tables and making beds. 1 5 Many of
the girls married young Basque men they met at the hotels , so maids were
frequently replaced with new arrivals. 1 6
Linen was painstakingly washed, once a week, in the hotel bathtub
using washboards . All the stoves, used to prepare dining room meals,
burned coal and wood. The stoves also heated hot water. At first, the
Overland was steam-heated by a coal furnace; lighting was by kerosene
lamps, candles and whale oil lanterns. Chamber pots were included with
each room . 1 7
Food was preserved in an icebox, cool box and pantry. Ice was supplied
by the ice house in Carlin, brought in by the" ice-man. " 1 8 The kitchen was
a large, functional assortment of butcher blocks, utensils, sinks and
large storage bins. Milk came from the dairy in Lamoille and for many
years was delivered by wagon by a character named Mary Larson during Prohibition she often delivered liquid of a stronger sort in her milk
cans. 19 Two grocery stores supplemented items family resources did not
provide. The Sabalas had their own milk cows, lamb and beef herds, and
a vegetable garden. 20
Eventually, the "thunder mugs" were replaced with pull-chain type
water closets, the old copper washer with an electric appliance, and the
�15
Gregoria and Domingo Sabala built the Overland Hotel in 1908, operating the hostelry
until the Depression forced them into financial ruin. Holbert Family photograph.
lamps with electricity. 21
During the first few years of operation, the hotel had a running advertisement quoting rates at 25c to 50c for "new rooms." 22 Board and room
were generally one to two dollars during the late Twenties and Thirties.
Drinks at the bar sold at eight to ten for a dollar. 23
In an era of male chauvinism, women were not welcome in the barroom.
However, they were treated to lemonade, grenadine and soda, or, for the
more daring, sherry or panash (half beer and half soda). These concoctions were served to the "fairer sex" in the dining room on special
occasions. 24
Traditional holidays and special festivities were highlights of an otherwise work-oriented year. New Year's Eve was always celebrated at the
Star Hotel and Three Kings ' Feast at the Overland. The proprietors'
birthdays were gala events. Weddings and wakes were both common
celebrations. 25
On these days, everyone was invited to a sumptuous feast-the food was
free, the drinks were not. 26 Dancing was enjoyed after dinner, usually to
live accordion music . Card games and dancing contests were popular.
The Overland also catered to private parties. Dances were organized and
alternated each week at the different hotels. 2 7
In the Twenties and Thirties when there was no Catholic Church to
speak of in Elko, weddings, confirmations and baptisms were often
performed in the lobby of the hotel. Until the establishment of the Arnold
Mortuary, rosaries were said and bodies sometime lay in state there . 20
During Prohibition, Sabala maintained a speak-easy , complete with a
discreet entrance through the alley . The bar was part of a vast underground of illegal drinking places - when the "prohibes" were on their
�16
way to the raid the Overland word was relayed in time to hide the
evidence. 29
Gregoria, through necessity and because of Elka's poor hospital situation, became a practicing midwife. She would bring life into the world by,
using her own words, "rural free delivery." Many contemporary Elkoans
were born in the upper chambers of the Overland. 30
Since the sheepherders were young and foreign to the "odd" American
ways, Gregoria took them under her wing, acting as mother, counselor
and nurse, all wrapped in one compassionate package. They would often
query her at dinner as to the meaning of some English words. Sometimes
she would not know the word from her adopted language, but, always
wanting to please, would make up one to tell the credulous herders. All
around the hotel and later through the Basque community, one of these
contrivances became gospel. This word was "bufalari," which was supposed to mean to expel flatus in English - the young herders readily
accepted her invented word. 31
Church, mortuary and hospital -the Overland owners dealt with major
and minor crises. Such was the case when the nationwide influenza
epidemic hit Elko during World War I. The Overland's halls and rooms
were f illed to overflowing with fifty to sixty stricken people. Gregoria
Sabala Family (left to right) - Ray , Pete, Domingo, Frank, Mary Ann, Gregoria, Sarah,
Augustine and Ann. Holbert Family photograph.
�17
.)t.
Youngest daughter, Lenore, with Gregoria Sabala. Holbert Family photograph.
manned the task force that worked day and night to nurse them back to
health - their efforts paid off, no one was lost. 32
This was a typical gesture of the Sabala family. Dan was one of the
financial , religious and cultural leaders in the Basque community. He
was always concerned about others and was immensely proud of his
Basque heritage. 33
An anthology of Basque families in the western United States published early in the century says of him: "Domingo Sabala has established
himself in a prominent position and is directly identified with the industry
and upgrading of the community (Elko)." 34
From his arrival in America with nothing but the clothes on his back and
a dream he had become one of the most respected and successful of
Elka's large Basque population. He was self-made and had earned his
fortune with hard work. After he succeeded in sending his two oldest
sons to college, Frank to Notre Dame and Ray to Santa Clara University, it
appeared his success in the new land was insured. 35 But, by now, the
nation was in the throes of the Depression - a grim, crucial time.
When the banks closed and the stock market crashed, Domingo lost
everything, right along with most others. __matter of weeks more than
a
thirty years' work was erased from the ledger- he lost his hotel, theatre,
various properties, cattle, sheep, stock and mining claims-and became
In
�18
a mainte nance man at t he Elko County Cou rthou se to support the
family. 36 At age 57 he started all over again, working at assorted jobs ,
including bartender, railroad worker and laborer. 37
His faded dream, the Overland Hotel, was bought in 1938 by Jack
Hunter, who, in turn, leased it to Kenneth Scott. Scott renovated it,
installing a new steam heat system and new furniture. He opened for
business on March 28, 1938, renting rooms and managing the Overland
Bar in a partnership. 38
When Scott gained ownership of the Overl an d, he discovered a large
safe . It contained a col lection of locked compartments whi ch had once
se rve d as safety deposit boxes for patrons during Saba la's management.
The keys had long since been lost so the safe was "cracked," under the
supervision of two bank officials . Since that time Scott has been attempting to locate the owners of long-forgotten doc ume nts, money,
jewels and bonds. At this writing, some of the people still have not been
found. If a Sabero Govia is still alive, and reads this, he may st ill co llect
his deeds, contracts, personal letters and effects from Scott, who is st ill
holding the belong ings .39
After 20 years of operation, Scott sold t he hotel to Red Ellis, Dick
Warren and Sid Winne r in 1957.40 Today, it is an annex of the Commercial
Hotel, part of the Anacabe Building. 41
Domingo and Gregoria gave life to eight children. Two of them, Frank
and Ray, have died and are buried in Elko. Mary Ann Brown , Sarah
Oregon, Anna Tremewan , Pete Sabala, Au gustine Shope and Lenore
Holbert survive.
Domingo and Gregoria began a new life when they came to their new,
strange country and lived to see the realization, and destruction, of their
dreams. They have since died , within two years of one another, but are
still together, side by side, resting in the Elko Cemetery-within a block
of where four of their grandchildren go to school.
Domingo and Gregoria are gone, the Overland Hotel is gone, two of
their children are dead, but memories remain - those whose lives were
touched by the Sabalas remember.
FOOTNOTES:
1
Sol Silen, La Historia de Los Vascongado en el Oeste. Las Novedades, New York , 19 17. p.
319.
2
Adrien Gachiteguy, Les Basques dans L'Quest Amercain. Ezkila, Bordeaux, 1955. p. 85.
3
Lenore Holbert, interview with autho r April 23, 1974.
4
ibid.
5
Silen , La Historia .
6
Pete and Mathilde Jauregui, interview with author April 29, 1974.
7
ibid .
8
ibid.
9
ibid.
lO ibid.
11
Gachiteguy, Les Basques.
�19
Jauregui.
ibid.
14
ibid.
15
ibid.
16
ibid.
17
Holbert.
18
ibid.
19
ibid.
20
ibid .
21
ibid .
22
Elko Daily Free Press: January-June, 1909.
23
Jauregui.
24
ibid.
25
ibid.
26
ibid.
27
An na Hachquet, interview with author May 19, 1974.
28
Holbert.
29
ibid .
30
ibid .
31
ibid.
32
Ha chquet.
33
ibid.
34
Silen , La Historia.
35 Anna Tremewan, interview with author May 20, 1974.
36
ibid.
37
ibid.
37
Kenneth Scott, interview with author May 18, 1974.
39
ibid.
40
ibid.
41
Holbert.
12
13
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Elko Daily Free Press: January-June, 1909.
Gachiteguy, Adrien. Les Basques dans L'quest American. Ezkila, Bordeaux, 1955.
Anna Hachquet, a family friend in an interview with the author on May 19,
1974.
Lenore Holbert, Sabala daughter in an interview with the author on April
23, 1974.
Pete and Mathilde Jauregui, former owners of the Star Hotel , Elko, in an
interview with the author on April 29, 1974.
Kenneth Scott , former owner of the Overland Hotel and Bar, in an interview with the author on May 18, 1974.
Silen, Sol. La Historia de Los Vascongados en el Oeste. Las Novedades,
New York, 1917.
Anna Tremewan, Sabala daughter in an interview with the author on May
20, 1974.
�20
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ... GRETCHEN HOLBERT
Gretchen Holbert, reignin g Miss Elko County and pre-law student at
the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, wrote this monograph about
her grandparents for an English and Rhetoric course at Northern
Nevada Community College. She was one of several local high school
students allowed to take the class.
She was born in Cedar City, Utah, May 7, 1956, and attended
schools in Elko and several communities in Southern California. She
graduated from Elko High School in 1974. The author is the daughter
of Lenore Holbert of Elko and Dr. Robert Holbert of San Diego.
Editor's comments: Family histories are vital facets of total history
offering more personal views and emotions of personalities - those
who make history. The Sabala story relates directly to Elka's Basque
community, an important part of the social and economic structure of
the community.
Gretchen's paper was one of several read at the college and museum
sponsored symposium in 1974- an important and needed source of
Quarterly articles. English and rhetoric students and instructors at the
community college are supplied with a list of subjects from the
museum, most suggested by Northeastern Nevada's resi dent historian, Edna Pat terson. Many of the undergraduates use the
museum's growing research and newspaper files and library while
compiling and writing their papers.
The staff and board of the museum and historical society thank
Gretchen for allowing us to publish her paper.
�
https://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/files/original/2f9e6a4ab977f35f6c87c31acad01202.jpg
2db8774561dcdc67cdf124fa55e4590d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly
Subject
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Collection of the Northeastern Nevada Museum Quarterly journal.
Description
An account of the resource
Quarterly journal of the Northeastern Nevada Museum, located in Elko, Nevada.
Creator
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Publisher
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
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1978-2015
Contributor
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Scott A. Gavorsky
Rights
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Format
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.pdf files
Language
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English
Document
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
"Elko's Overland Hotel: A Family, a Culture . . . and a Memory"
Description
An account of the resource
<p>A history of the Overland Hotel in Elko, Nevada, USA, under original owners Domingo (Dan) and Gregoria Sabala from 1908 until 1938. The second largest of the Basque-owned hotels in town, the Overland served as a hostel for new Basque immigrants and one of the centers of the Elko Basque community.</p>
<p><a title="Elko's Overland Hotel article" href="/omeka/files/original/cb3be7c3bae97957c68f710ebe5e7699.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View "Elko's Overland Hotel" as pdf</a></p>
Creator
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Gretchen Holbert [Skivington]
Source
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<em>Northeastern Nevada Historical Society Quarterly</em> 5.3 (Winter 1975): 13-20.
Publisher
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
Date
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Winter 1975
Contributor
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Scott A. Gavorsky [VHC]
Rights
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VHC Deposit Agreement on file:
http://humanities.gbcnv.edu/omeka/items/show/185
[administrator access only]
Format
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pdf; 10 pages
Language
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English
Coverage
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1907-1957
Basques
Community
Crossroads
Elko
GBC50
NNM
Story
Student