The history of this area goes way back, even before the Comstock was active. A short backgrounder:
As reported by Mr. Rink, a Mr. Blaisdell (an early Nevada Governor) located and operated the Cambridge mine in the 1850's; the Cambridge deposit was, apparently, on a narrow quartz vein in granite. Blaisdell sank the Cambridge shaft about 250 feet on structure, drifted about 250 feet along the vein, and stoped approximately 50% of this length to near surface. Ores were milled in a stamp mill, operated by water power, between the two branches on the river. Blaisdell sold his interest in the mid 1860's. After a series of changes in ownership, finally in 1940, an investment group, consisting of Visalia, California associates, purchased the property and formed Cambridge Mining Inc. The corporation constructed a mill at the diversion site on the Walker River to protect 1865 water rights. Mr. Rink told the writer that he was in charge of the mill when the WPS order of 1942 put an end to gold mining.
-AN APPRAISAL CONTACT GROUP PROSPECT CAMBRIDGE MINING DISTRICT 1966
It was later known as the Wilson District.
GENERAL BACKGROUND
The Cambridge Hills area includes the southern part of the range of hills which lie north and east of the Flying M Ranch and immediately west of the East Walker River. The area includes the old Cambridge mining district which has been included in recent literature in the Wilson mining district (Moore, 1969). Approximately 408,000 ounces of gold with some silver was produced from the Wilson district in the late 1800's. Just what proportion of this production is attributable to the Cambridge Hills area is not known. No other mineral production has been reported but other minerals known to occur in the Cambridge Hills area include iron, uranium, and tungsten.
-PROPERTY REPORT ON THE CAMBRIDGE HILLS, 1976
The governor spent quite a bit of time in the area.
THE CAMBRIDGE MINING AND MILLING COMPANY
Ex-Governor Blaisdell is on the Comstock once more and has purchased from the Union Iron Works on the Divide machinery for a new mill for the Cambridge Mill and Mining Company, Esmeralda county. The mine and works of this company are situated seven miles east of Pine Grove, and the mine was worked before the Comstock was discovered. The mill will be a water power structure with a turbine wheel of 100-horse power. At present only ten stamps will be set at work.
-Gold Hill Daily News, May 9, 1879
Finally, it was worthy of a post office, but not for very long.
PACIFIC COAST POST OFFICE CHANGES
Cambridge, Esmeralda County, Nev.; John H. Williams, Postmaster
-San Francisco Examiner, September 15, 1879
Even after it lost its post office, though, activity continued.
A STRIKE IN CAMBRIDGE
Lyon County Times: J. E. Gignoux last week brought in some very fine specimens of ore from his Cambridge mine on the East Walker River. Free gold could be seen all through the quartz and it will probably go several hundred dollars to the ton. The mine has been worked by Mr. Gignoux for some four years, and the recent rich strike was made at a depth of 340 feet last week. The property is the old Blaisdell property, and the ore is worked at a small mill on Mr. Gignoux's ranch. It is liable to prove a very valuable mine.
-Walker Lake Bulletin, September 9, 1891
High grade ore shipments are being made from Cambridge, Lyon county, to the Thompson mill on the west fork of the Walker River. The ore is from the old Blaisdell mine.
-The Silver State, May 31, 1899
J. W. Farrel has sold a one-half interest in his Cambridge mine in Lyon county to F. L. Winters. Mr. Winters intends on putting up a hoisting works and sinking to a depth of 500 feet.
-The Silver State, April 15, 1901
In 1920, there were still 75 people living in the Cambridge election precinct, although I'm unsure exactly where those boundaries were. That's down from 111 in 1910. By comparison, in 1920 the Wichman precinct had 93 and the Rawhide precinct had 53.
Eventually, though, there were hardly any voters left.
CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS TO VOTE AT BARRETT
All registered voters in Cambridge Precinct in Lyon County, Nevada, who wish to cast their votes in the forthcoming Primary Election on September 4th, may do so at the polling place designated for Plummer Precinct, ie. the building formerly known as the Barrett Schoolhouse on Highway 3 in south Mason Valley. There will be no polling place in Cambridge District due to an insufficient number of qualified electors residing in said precinct to properly conduct an election.
-Mason Valley News, August 24, 1956
Easy to get to, but not much here. Some scattered debris near the building and at the mine. One stone building.