Lahontan spawned from the Bureau of Reclamation's Lahontan Dam project in 1911. Rather than commute from Fallon, workers stayed here, and in another camp to the south. Mostly tar-paper shacks and tents, the dam supervisor and the power house supervisor got the homes with the fireplaces. There was a bunkhouse and a mess hall; the large round structure is reported the mess hall bread-baking oven.
At the beginning of the century, they were already discussing irrigating the West, and the Truckee-Carson project was born.
STORING WATER OF TWO RIVERS
The last and most complex irrigation project thus far determined upon by the government is in Nevada, is known as the Truckee-Carson project, and has for its purpose the storing of the waters of the Truckee and Carson rivers.
-New York Tribune, March 24, 1903
"Lahontan" had a nice ring to it.
NAMESAKE OF ANCIENT SEA
The movement that has begun to change the name of the Truckee-Carson project to that of Lahontan has some excellent pints in its favor. Lahontan was the name of the vast inland sea which at one time covered the greater portion of Nevada and Utah. It is understood that the Southern Pacific Company, learning of this plan by the government, took initiative and has already named the station nearest the government dam Lahontan.
-Reno Evening Gazette, March 3, 1911
No more going to Fallon to mail letters and buy stamps!
Another new post office has been created at Lahontan, Churchill county. Representative Roberts, of Nevada, will recommend a pstmaster for that office.
-Mason Valley News, December 2, 1911
In researching Lahontan, I think all they did was dance, play baseball, and build dams. Easily 90% of the references to the camp were about baseball.
LAHONTAN IS PROGRESSING ALL THE TIME
Big Government Camp Now Assured of a Real, Live Brass Band
TRUE, MONEY SUBSCRIBED
Between Receptions to Newlyweds and Others They Form a Baseball Club
The big government camp has been for the past few days so busy that those who are not used to having a lot happen at once are beginning to get dizzy. A subscription for a brass band, which has for some time been up in the air, is now an assured fact as all the money necessary to defray all the expenses has been subscribed. Mr. Lew Moss, who is the chief promoter of the band is now in a position to prder the 14 instruments necessary to the introductory carnival of noise. There are now in camp sufficient talent to make a band a success, as there are a large number who played in bands in the army, navy, and marine corps here, in addition to the number with a certain amount of experience in civilian bands. Last Sunday afternoon the "Dam Gun Club" held its first shoot with a large number taking part or enjoying the discomfoture of many of their friends. The club, which now has over 30 members, had a fine day and a good time. Last evening there was an entertainmentfollowed by a dance given by the Crook Opera company at the Recreation hall with an audience of somewhat over 100 of the employees.
-Reno Evening Gazette, January 23, 1913
NOTES FROM LAHONTAN
Live Bits From Camp at the Big Dam
The Lahontan baseball club held a meeting in the Recreation hall Wednesday night. Much to the joy of the younger members of the community, the Lahontan public school closed for the summer last Tuesday. On Wednesday the annual school picnic was held near the Hyatt ranch on the Carson River. Miss Marion Hyatt, who for the last two years has conducted the Lahontan public school, left for Berkeley, Cal. Friday evening, where she will attend summer school. Later, she intends going to Honolulu. Dr. C. E. Whitesides of Hawthorne, Nev., arrived at Lahontan Thursday, where he will practice for some times.
-Reno Evening Gazette, May 21, 1913
Little train meets big train.
TRAIN WRECK AT BIG DAM
A full grown train wreck occurred at Lahontan tuesday of last week, when one of the dam's dirt trains drawn by a dinkey engine, collided with a loaded freight car on the Southern Pacific tracks, at the point of intersection. The enginer of the Government train sustained painful but not permanent injuries, while the engine was so badly damaged that it will require a couple of weeks to put it in shape for further use. As a result there will be some delay in the work at Lahontan.
-The Daily Appeal, October 16, 1913
I suppose that all the residents of the camp knew it was only going to be a temporary affair, once the dam was built and running, there really would be no reason for Lahontan to exist.
CAMP AT BIG DAM ENJOYS DAILY LIFE
The camp band gave a dance last Saturday that was well attended. L. Brady has fully recovered from the injury to his foot and has returned to work. James Dorant, who has been ill with typhoid, is out of danger. Messrs. Cook and Words have bought a new auto. This makes two cars in camp. Not bad, eh? There will be a masquerade by the "Fog Busters" Saturday evening, November 29.
-Reno Evening Gazette, November 18, 1913
But that didn't mean you could live a life of crime and get away with it.
ARRESTED FOR BOOTLEGGING
Chris Traykroff was arrested at Lahontan by Sheriff J. C. Coniff and charged with selling liquor within five miles of a government project. He evidently had been doing well, as $1,200 [$31,462 in 2020 dollars] was found on his person. Bail was fixed at $500.
-Reno Evening Gazette, January 5, 1914
The best place to bring your true love.
DIVORCED IN CALIFORNIA AND RECONCILED IN RENO
Kary H. Bruemm and Mrs. Lillian Bruemm, both of Yakima, Wash., were married at 2 o'clock today in the Congregational church parsonage by Rev. W. D. Trout. They will make their future home at Lahontan, where the groom has a government position. The two were divorced originally in North Yakima, but found they could not exist without the other.
-Reno Evening Gazette, March 19, 1914
They played baseball until the very end.
LAHONTAN BEATS FALLON
In a fast game Sunday between the Lahontan team and Fallon Lahontan won by a score of 3 to 2. The Lahontan pitcher allowed but four hits, and struck out 19 men, while 15 hits were made off the Fallon pitcher with 7 strikeouts to his credit. Several auto loads of Fallon fans accompanied the team,
-Reno Evening Gazette, April 14, 1914
All good things must come to an end.
GOVERNMENT WORK ENDED
The camp at Lahontan was abandoned on the last day of June, all government buildings being closed. The clerk is now preparing his final report and a few laborers are engaged in loading rails which have been sold for junk, after which only the gatekeepers and engineer will be left of the hundreds who have been employed there the past several years.
-Tonopah Daily Bonanza, July 10, 1915
This is another one of those places that I passed by all my life, never knowing it was there. I was struck by the number of cans that littered the site, and how close it was to the highway, which you can see from one of the pictures.