Bruce Roter to present lecture on "The Museum of Political Corruption"
Thursday, May 20, 2021

The Carson City Historical Society (CCHS) presents its fifth free lecture of 2021. It's on "The Museum of Political Corruption" by Bruce Roter, Executive Director of The Museum of Political Corruption (MCP), on Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. The lecture is free and open to the public. For information about attending, send an email to Dcbugli@aol.com or contact David Bugli at 775-883-4154 and he will provide you with a meeting link (or a meeting ID with passcode).

Corruption has a long and colorful history, both nationally and in our own backyards. Bruce Roter's presentation will be somewhat like a tour describing how the subject will be presented at The Museum of Political Corruption in Albany, NY. The history of corruption will be discussed, both the villains and heroes (mostly the villains), but he will first explore the very notion of what corruption is. Is corruption always illegal, and what is the impact of corruption on society? At the conclusion of the evening's discussion, participants can look at ways we can all be involved in combating corruption.

Bruce Roter is an Albany, NY-based music professor and composer whose works have been performed by orchestras throughout the United States (including the Carson City Symphony). Roter's music is often inspired by themes of American history or social justice. In 2013, after a series of high-profile indictments of New York State political leaders, Roter found another creative outlet for civic engagement. He founded the Museum of Political Corruption, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. The Museum has received national and international attention. It is the host of the annual Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Reporting, and in the summer of 2021, the MPC along with its Center for Ethical Governance is set to open a virtual museum covering a wide range of topics addressing corruption and government reform. The website for the museum is at http://www.museumofpoliticalcorruption.org.

After a hiatus of several years, the CCHS resumed a monthly lecture series in January 2021. Most lectures are presented on Zoom on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. In addition to Mr. Roter's lecture, future lectures are scheduled, including those by historian and entertainer Chris Bayer on July 15 on "The Strychnine Banjo" and by Samantha Szesciorka on "Long Riding on September 16 (see https://www.nevadadiscoveryride.com. Some past lectures are also available on the Carson City Historical Society's YouTube.com page. Additional information about the CCHS is available on its webpage, CCHistorical.org.

Photo: Bruce Roter to present Museum of Political Corruption lecture on May 20.

April Newsletter is Available Online

The April CCHS Newsletter is available online. Perhaps you have already received it in your email inbox. If you are not on our email list, please email your request to be added to carsoncityhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

To download the March Newsletter, please CLICK HERE.

"Notable Women of Eagle Valley" exhibit featured Saturday at
Carson City Historical Society's Carriage House
Saturday, May 1, 2021

The Carson City Historical Society will open the doors for their newest exhibit, "Notable Women of Eagle Valley," Saturday, May 1, 2021, from 1 to 3 p.m. in their Carriage House, 1207 North Carson Street, Carson City.

The Carriage House is directly behind the Foreman-Roberts House. The Exhibit is free and open to the public. Please wear a mask. If you have questions please email us at Carsoncityhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

The exhibit contains information about eight remarkable women of the Eagle Valley (Carson City) area who made significant contributions to the Carson City area. Their stories are accompanied by portraits of them, created for the exhibit by five local artists.

Steven Saylor Presents Lecture: "The Donovan Mill and the Comstock Foundation"
(Video of the event is in production and will be posted on YouTube)
Original presentation - Thursday, April 15, 2021

The Carson City Historical Society presents its fourth free lecture of 2021. It's on "The Donovan Mill and the Comstock Foundation" by Steven Saylor, Executive Director of the Comstock Foundation, on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. The lecture is free and open to the public. For information about attending, contact David Bugli at 775-883-4154 or send an email to Dcbugli@aol.com and he will provide you with a meeting link (or a meeting ID with passcode).

The Donovan Mill in Silver City is a gold and silver stamp mill that was critical in the development of the cyanide method for processing ore. The Comstock Foundation acquired the mill in 2014 to save it from being sold, dismantled, and leveled. The mill is a significant landmark of Comstock history and is the largest historic stamp mill in the United States still standing. It represents an example of historical innovation and technology. Ultimately, the complex will serve as an interpretive center, with a fully operational blacksmith shop, operating stamp mill, and the restoration of two historic Merrill Crowe presses; only three Merrill Crowe milling machines are known to still exist in the nation. The interpretive center will provide the public access to these significant environs, and the demonstration of historic methods and practices, through visitation and educational programming, and through collaborations to maintain the informational link to past knowledge and practices. The restoration of the Donovan Mill will provide the Comstock Foundation with the first significant living historic environ and complete the preservation of one of the links in our historic landscape. The foundation has also engaged in restoration of the Upper Yellow Jacket Hoist, St. Mary's Art Center, Gold Hill Depot, the Fourth Ward School, the Dayton Consolidated Mine and Mill, Piper's Opera House, Comstock Fireman's Museum, the Crown Point Mill, and Sutro Tunnel Town site.

Mr. Saylor's lecture will include visuals of the Donovan Mill - both historical and before-and-after restoration work - and a nine-minute video tour of the Donovan Mill covering the process of ore processing from beginning to end. Information about the mill can be found at https://comstockfoundation.org/projects/donovan-mill.

Steven Saylor holds a B.F.A. & M.A. from Kent State University. He worked for advertising agencies in Akron, New York, and Reno, holding positions as Art Director and Television Director from 1968 to 1974. He has instructed illustration, design, oil painting, watercolor, and photography at Kent State University and for UNR at Western Nevada College (WNC). His work in academia includes the development of art and photography classes at WNC in 1974. In 1986, Steven was awarded instructor of the year at WNC (then called Western Nevada Community College). In 2017, Steven was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Kent State University. Currently he is an adjunct Professor teaching art at WNC.

Mr. Saylor has been Executive Director of the Comstock Foundation since January 2018, and has been successful in improving community outreach, membership, lecture series, special event production, volunteer engagement, donations, supporters, and more. Under his guidance the Comstock Foundation won the Northern Nevada Development Authority's Pioneer/Boundary Peak Award as best nonprofit in 2018. He is Second Vice President of the Nevada Museums Association, and was awarded Virginia City Businessperson of the Year 2020-2021 by national organization Alignable.

Upper photo: Historic photo of the Donovan Mill.
Lower photo: Steven Saylor to present Donovan Mill lecture April 15

Karen Dustman presents "Lessons From The Cemetery" Lecture
(Video of the event is in production and will be posted on YouTube)
Original Zoom Presentation - Thursday, March 18, 2021

There's something fascinating about old cemeteries. Who WERE these long-forgotten people? What were their lives like? What were their stories? And what clues can we find on these historic headstones? Author Karen Dustman shares tales and discoveries from her books on Genoa and Fredericksburg Cemeteries, for a fascinating look at the past! The lecture will be presented on Zoom on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 7:30 p.m.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For information about attending, contact David Bugli at 775-883-4154 or send an email to Dcbugli@aol.com and he will provide you with a meeting link (or a meeting ID with passcode).

Karen Dustman is a multi-book author, and has penned hundreds of magazine articles on topics ranging from pet care to natural health. But her very favorite topic is local history. Karen's books include a history of Silver Mountain City, a 3-volume set on Genoa Cemetery, and a walking tour guide to Fredericksburg Cemetery. She also publishes a free monthly e-newsletter featuring Sierra history and other fascinating tales. For more information about Karen's publications, go to https://www.clairitage.com/about-clairitage-press.

CCHS Presents Lecture: "The Cocktail and Alcohol Culture of Virginia City,"
Lecture by Garrett Barmore
Now available on YouTube
Posted: March 5, 2021

Garrett Barmore, curator of the W. M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum at the University of Nevada, Reno, presented an entertaining lecture, "The Cocktail and Alcohol Culture of Virginia City," on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. He discussed the history of several alcoholic beverages and how they relate to daily life in Virginia City during the mining boom. Barmore, who demonstrated the making of these drinks, is an entertaining lecturer.

The lecture included include 3 cocktail recipes and a bonus punch recipe, which can be downloaded by clicking HERE.

The video of this lecture is now available on the Carson City Historical Society's YouTube channel: Click HERE for the channel and click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewPEwcNVr5E to go directly to the video.

Photo: Garrett Barmore in the Keck Museum

More than a Ghost Town: Cultural Resource Management
in the Phantom City of Rhyolite, Nevada
Jonah Blustain Lecture on Rhyolite
Now available on YouTube
Posted: Feb. 4, 2021

On January 21, 2021, Jonah S. Blustain, BLM Assistant Field Manager, presented a lecture, "More than a Ghost Town: Cultural Resource Management in the Phantom City of Rhyolite, Nevada" on Thursday, January 21, 2021, via Zoom.

The ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada, is one of the more challenging public resources to manage. The town was originally the site of a large gold strike in 1904. By 1907, the early tent city had become a veritable metropolis.

Jonah Blustain currently serves in the U. S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, as the Assistant Field Manager for Non-Renewable Resources, Tonopah Field Office, in Tonopah, Nevada.

The video of this lecture is now available on the Carson City Historical Society's YouTube channel: Click HERE for the channel and click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc-P1L41ep4 to go directly to the video.