The Place
For obvious reasons, I tend to steer clear of politics in my blog posts. My posts are all about travelling to interesting places of lost history and new adventures. However, if a location, born of a Socialist experiment, can provide that peculiar insight to a nearly forgotten historical incident, I just may stoop so low.
The United States has never been a Socialist country. But with that said, it has had a generous share of Socialist movements, politicians, and places where Socialist ideals were prominent. Utopias would be the chosen work of such founders.
For some 200 years, Socialist Communes like Brook Farm, New Harmony and The North American Phalanx have come and gone. There were scores of lesser known places as well. Even Nevada was not exempt from a socialist retreat. It happened in Churchill County, to be exact.
This county, in the northern portion of the state, has certainly seen its share of diversity. An influx of migrants from all over the world made it what it is today. Though it has been a hundred years since a Socialist Colony existed here, it has left a peculiar and colorful twist on the local history. What began as a curious and sometimes admirable approach to communal subsistence and goodwill, ended in disputes, corruption, and the murder of a Churchill County Sheriff.
Nevada City, which existed four miles east of Fallon, was created as a beacon for people around the country who desired a socialist platform amongst the capitalist ideals of the United States. The settlement produced hundreds of members of all trades including doctors, politicians, and ministers. It was called The Nevada Cooperative Colony.
The call
Remains at Nevada City
Headed by C.V. Eggleston, the heart of the colony was located on the J.S. Harmon Ranch. The cement-block Harmon farmhouse was rechristened the Nevada City Hotel and plans were drawn up for a very sophisticated and cosmopolitan paradise. Two long streets, parallel to The Lincoln Highway, containing two hundred frame and adobe houses were platted. A circular boulevard was to encompass the city with sunken gardens, tennis courts, parks, croquet grounds and walkways. Another road from the north, would provide access from the highway, where an elaborate arch would welcome people to the city. Construction began in mid-1917, but most of these grandiose plans would never be realized.
Eggleston and other leaders engaged in a nationwide campaign to draw people to the new utopia. Instead of economic competition, there would be equal opportunity and cooperative endeavors. Communal ideals and a retreat from world conflict were advertised. Also, the independence of the west and climate were a factor.
Socialist ideals were popular amongst many in the early 20th century. As the country evolved into a new industrial economy, calls for reasonable pay, better working conditions and a broader push for economic fairness became pressing issues.
The main newspaper: “The Co-operative Colonist,” used language such as, “Come to Nevada and see for yourselves…it is the only thing left for us to do—our LAST CHANCE!” Eggleston himself wrote, “Comrades, if I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it possible…it is truly wonderful.”
For a short time, Nevada City grew. Funded by a stockholder system, a fee of several hundred dollars or more was charged for membership; sometimes $1000 for a family. Stockholder/employees received free food and shelter. The colony also promised to support one in the event of sickness, injury, or old age.
Entertainment was provided by a couple of former Vaudeville actors, a literary society, garden club, a band, and a motion picture machine. For children there was “Kid Kolony” which was inside a 50×75 foot circus tent.
Aspirations were huge. Even though Nevada’s socialist candidate for U.S. Senate; A. Grant Miller, had lost the 1916 election, the plan was to turn Nevada into a socialist state and become the “Switzerland” of the United States. With America’s entry into World War One, the Socialists believed more Americans would embrace utopianism, co-operative ideals, and other theories of the socialist agenda.
By 1918 the population of Nevada City peaked at 200. By this point, however, many of the original leaders had been ousted and new leaders took on a more capitalistic approach. Entrance fees increased, hard work was stressed over socialistic ideals and eventually, the idea of carrying Nevada for socialism was abandoned. Constant infighting and bickering ensued.
The Fall
Conditions began deteriorating. Over half of the migrants were without adequate housing or proper sanitary facilities, and there was a severe shortage of food. After the winter of 1917-1918 many people were left sick and three children died. Women who had looked forward to some form of gender equality were forced to double down on their stereotypical roles of washing, cooking, and cleaning for the community.
Dissension from within was on the rise. As punishment, stockholders were expelled by the dozens. Others left at will. As workers and supporters departed, the day to day functions of the colony began to break down. Lawsuits mounted.
Prospective members, upon touring the so-called utopia, found filthy conditions, an inadequate commissary, and unhappy people, many living in tents. The aforementioned plans of a grand and sophisticated city had only produced a dozen or so frame and adobe houses. New memberships all but ceased.
Sheriff Mark Wildes
Colonist Paul Walters was wanted for draft evasion. When Churchill County Sheriff Mark Wildes confronted him, Walters shot and killed him. Walters escaped but was tracked down and killed. His family was too afraid to claim the body, as was anyone else in the colony.
Stock sales were discontinued in July 1918. Less than a year later the colony went into receivership and liquidation. Family after family packed up and left an idealistic city which had never really amounted to more than a village. However, it appears Nevada City did not fail as a town, as much as it did an idea.
For more information about Nevada City, or Churchill County, visit http://ccmuseum.org/ .
If you would like to learn more about ghost towns in Nevada, you can see my blog posts at https://outerrealmz.com/10-nevada-ghost-towns-worth-the-journey/ and https://outerrealmz.com/dixie-valley-a-very-different-kind-of-ghost-town/ .
October 6, 2020 at 5:02 pm
Who knew?! Right in my back yard, a socialist experiment. Thanks for telling the tale of this human striving and failure.