Sturtevant
Sturtevant was an important stage station owned by J. H.
Sturtevant, an old historic character of Washoe County. It
was located a few miles from Clark's, and was established at a very early
time when this part of the county was first settled.
this station was of importance, due to the fact that all the
travelers from Virginia City and the places adjacent came
here to catch the overland train in the early days. A great
deal of garden produce was raised at the ranch at this station,
and sent to Virginia City.
(footnote: Mr. Sturtevant has a son who is a judge in San
Francisco, Cal.)
Hunter's Crossing
Hunter's Crossing is the same place as since been called
Mayberry Crossing, for Mr. James Mayberry who now owns it.
A man by the name of John Hunter owned a toll bridge at this
crossing, selling out later to Mr. Mayberry.
Stone and Gate's Crossing
This was a trading post established in 1857 by Charles E.
Gates and John F. Stone. A great portion of the travel to
Virginia crossed the river at this point, and in 1860 Stone
and Gates built a toll bridge. This spot was later known
as Glendale.
(footnote: In 1862 the bridge was carried away by high
water, and the county built a free bridge.)
Lake's Bridge
Lake's Bridge was first known as Fuller's Crossing from
the fact that it was owned by two brothers named Fuller.
Mr. M. E. Lake traded his Honey Lake ranch for the property
at this bridge, over which so much of the traffic passed
during the early days. Lake's Bridge will always be
remembered as the original site of Reno.
Mackay and Fair
Mackay and Fair was a lumber camp, employing from five
hundred to eight hundred men, and was established in 1863
by James Mayberry for Mackay and Fair of the Comstock.
The place was also know as Mayberry Camp. There was a daily
mail but no postoffice.
Truckee River
The next name to be considered is that of the Truckee
River, a portion of which forms a part of the southern
boundary of Washoe County. Lieut. Fremont, who made the
first recorded visit through the division of Nevada, now
known as Washoe County, named the Truckee River on his
second exploring expedition, when he came down from Oregon
through Roop County in 1844. The name he gave it was
Salmon Trout River. "Overland travelers renamed the river
in 1848, giving it the designation it still bears in honor
of Truckee, an Indian guide.
Mt. Rose
Mt. Rose, which is situated southwest of Reno, is of
importance on accout of its height and because of the
location of an observatory there. In the ealy days frequent
excursions were made from Washoe City and other places to
this spot. On on excursion, Mr. H. S. Ham, who was editor
of the paper at Washoe City, and who was a member of the
party, fell to discussing the naming of the mountain.
The finally decided to call it Mt. Rose for a Miss Rose
Hichman, who was a friend of the members of the party.
On the return of the party to Washoe City, Mr. Ham wrote
an account of the trip for his paper wherein he called
the mountain, Mt. Rose.
(footnote: Mr. Robert Lewers says that he has been told
that Mt. Rose was named for Jacob Rose, the man who brought
in a grat many Chinamen to dig the big ditch at Dayton,
whence came the name Chinatown as applied to Dayton. He was
known as Old Man Rose, and so far as is known, there was
no special reason for naming the mountain for him.)