Directions: East from Fallon on US-50 for 221.3 miles; right on County Road 11, generally south for 17 miles; turn right on local road for 1.9 miles.

From Fallon: 240.2 miles

What Was

Shermantown (or sometimes Sherman Town) was a busy place. Originally called SIlver Springs, milling for area mines was done here, because of a good water supply and plenty of timber. Donna Frederick's White Pine website reports:

The town had eight mills with 69 stamps, four furnaces and two sawmills. Business structures were built of light sandstone. The town had two newspapers, one named the "White Pine Evening Telegram" edited by E. F. McElwain that lasted 11 weeks in 1869, and the "Shermantown Reporter" published for a few issues in May 1870 before its editor, G. A. Brier, dropped dead in the Wells Fargo office.

Liquor was readily available in the 12 restaurants, 11 saloons and 9 lodging houses.   Recreation consisted of 2 theaters, 2 ice-cream parlors, a nearby horse racing track, the Silver Springs Glee Club,  a German Social Club,  the Shermantown Guard of Mexican-American War Veterans.  A three-story building was used for Masonic and Odd Fellow meetings.

3,000 people lived here at one time. Lots were sold for todays eqquivelent of $11,000 to $27,000 each. Unfortunately, mills need something to mill, and there wasn't enough ore in the immediate vicinity to be worth the trouble. Buildings were scavenged to rebuild Hamilton after its fires, and by 1875 Shermantown was virtually abandoned.

Post Office: April 1869 - June 1871
Newspaper: White Pine Evening Telegram, Shermantown Reporter

What is

The road coming from the south is a bit rough, kids, so leave Mom's Omni at home. Coming from the north it's not so bad. Of course, road conditions can change in an instant. They say "inquire locally," but we all know no one really knows, so be prepared.

There are rock ruins here, but it's difficult to discern where things were, since there is so much growth. Very healthy sagebrush. Still, some foundations and buildings are in evidence.