Day 1 – 6 ~ NEVADA – Part 2

Day 3 & 6 – ELY, NEVADA

Dave’s family is from Ely.  His Mom was born here and lived with her family in a mining camp (tungsten) owned and run by her father, John D. Tilford.  The camp was about 60 miles outside of Ely. She lived in a log cabin with a dirt floor, along with 3 other siblings. 

Today the mining camp, and home are all part of Great Basin National Park.  One building still stands in the mining camp; a small cabin that was a goods store room (food and supplies).  The Park restored the cabin and dedicated that building to the Tilford family in 2016 during  the 100^th anniversary of the National Park system.  It was also Elinor’s (Daves Mom’s) 100^th birthday.

We stayed in Ely for four nights at the Ely KOA.  The best and just about the only RV park in the area.  This place is fairly nice with lots of trees.  The sites are back-in and pull through’s and spacious for a small trailer.  We added a day to our stay and had to stay at a different site the first night and them moved into our original site the next day.

First night

Moved to 2nd site for next 3 nights

Dave has a cousin and his wife still living here along with some 2^nd cousins.  Dave and Edith Tilford were our hosts during our stay and took us into the hills to visit the old family sites.  It was a full and very busy visit, and hot, hot and hot; but a dry heat.

The highlight of the trip was a short twilight train ride into the desert on the Nevada Northern Railway.  Out here in nowhere land with no city lights, you can see the stars and planets with two free glasses of champagne.  I saw the Milky Way for the first time ever!! Also saw Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury and many constellations. 

The downside of the trip was that the desert was full of blooming rabbit brush. And I turned out to be allergic to the stuff.  My nose ran wild during the visit and the drugs dulled my senses.  And the 6,400+ altitude was getting to me too.  Still had a good time. 

WARD CHARCOAL OVENS STATE HISTORICAL PARK

 

Edith & Dave Tilford and Dave

NEVADA NORTHERN RAILWAY

Edith needed some help getting into the train car

They turn on this red lighting so you can see your way around, but not affect your night vision of the stars and planets.

Tried to take pictures of the stars and planets, but it was just not working out. 

GREAT BASIN NATONAL PARK AND SNAKE CREEK CANYON

Pyramid Peak

Milk Thistle

Dave at the site of his grandparents (John and Sarah (Sadie) Tilford) cabin.

Sign at the Tilford Bonita mining camp.

Food and supply storage building that was renovated to it's original condition by Great Basin National Park.

On the last day of our visit, Dave and 2nd cousin Dave visited my Dave's grandfather's home (cabin) from 1930 - 1942 in nearby Osceola.

John Tilford's 2nd cabin; without Sarah and kids (including Dave's mom, Elinor).  Tired of mining life, Sarah and kids moved to San Francisco.  John sent money and visited now and then.

Side view of cabin.

Mt. Wheeler

To make things clearer, 2nd cousin Dave's father is my Dave's grandfather's brother. Did you get that? Was it clear? Here is some more; 2nd cousin Dave is 6 months old than my Dave. 2nd cousin Dave is 1st cousin to Dave's mother. 

Next stop is Twin Falls, Idaho.  Stay tuned.