Stonehouse

Nye County

AKA: Smith's Station

A man from Tennessee named L.D. Smith built this house in the early 1860's. It operated as a stop on the Belmont to Austin stage line. Gambling seemed to be an issue for Smith. He was involved in run-ins with the law, as well as with residents of the area. In the fall of 1868, he was caught in the possession of 21 head of cattle that belonged to a man named J.F. Durgin. On New Year's Day in 1869, he was involved in a shooting with a man named Farley. Smith received a wound that was expected to be fatal. He lived and recovered. On March 2nd, 1869, he was shot and killed after drawing a gun on a former employee named E.L. Musick. Smith and Musick had money issues regarding a team of oxen. After Smith's death, his widow ran the place for many years. M.W. Corcoran bought the place in the 1880's. The Belmont to Austin Stage quit running through here in the 1890's. The place was later bought by the Hooper family. It was bought by the Pine Creek Ranch in the 1960's and it appears that they continued to own it up to modern times.

Post Office: None. Mail likely would have been received at Belmont.

Last Trip/ Road Conditions: The photographs are from June of 2017. It looked the same in the Fall of 2020. The Monitor Valley Road out of Belmont is dirt, but it is usually graded and pretty smooth. Remember, once you hit Belmont, you are 50 or 60 miles from Tonopah. As you continue north to places like Stonehouse, you will keep getting further and further from any convenience.

Sources: Belmont Nevada (By: Alan H. Patera); Preserving the Glory Days- Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Nye County, Nevada (By: Shawn Hall).