Boomtown Saloons: Archaeology And History In Virginia City

Introduction

Barbara Arnold, Alex Atreides, Karen Birk, Lee Brockmeier, Elizabeth Bugg, Jennifer Callahan, Ellie Curtis, Joe Curtis, Kenny Dalton, Susan Damask, Connie Davis, Jeri DeJonge, Ruby DeVos, Alexis Dillon, Cal “myfavorite -guy-on-the-Comstock” Dillon, Erin Elsinger, Al Ferrand, Oyvind Frock, Katie Harris, Heidi Hoff, Karen Hopple, Ken Hopple, Don Ivey, Reed James, Susan James, Matt Jared, Suzy Johanson, Elyse Jolly, Jake Kenneston, Blythe Kladney, Martha Kraemer, Kaley Kruse, Kelly Lang, Nancee Langley, Janice Leavitt, Lynn Leavitt, Catherine Litz, Christian Malone, Jennifer Manha, Terri McBride, Tim McCarthy, Sherry McGee, Valorie Morgan, Christopher Nelson, Matt Potts, Barb Prudic, Shawn Rowles, Elmer Rusco, Sheryl Sanders, Ed Smith, Emily Sparks, Robin Sparks, Shane Sparks, Lance Taylor-Warren, Lori Taylor-Warren, Zack Taylor -Warren, Alexandra Toll, Nicole Tyler, Ryan Tyler, Michael Weidemann, Alex White, Chris White, Robert Wolfe, Josephine Wong, and Andy Zogg. Two people deserve extraordinary recognition as volunteers. Dan Urriola volunteered 2,100 hours sorting and mending hundreds of shattered ceramics and glass from the Boston Saloon. His dedication to this project inspired me to be positive during moments of frustration. He is the lifeblood of the project and the reason the lab work was completed so quickly. Christine Urriola also warrants admiration for the long-term loan of her husband to Virginia City archaeological projects, for tolerating the transformation of her home into a ceramic-mending facility, for taking numerous artifact photos, and for figuring out how to feed me. The students enrolled in the unr archaeological field school at the Boston Saloon worked as competently as professionals to recover and record saloon artifacts mentioned in this book: Brian Alcorn, Len Balutis, Shari Davis, Amber Devos, Gene Dimitri, Leilani Espinda, Trish Fernandez, Troy Garlock, Chris Knutson, Robert Leavitt, Tina Pitsenberger, Lorraine Plympton , Kelly Seaton, Kathy Sharkey, Maie Tsukuda, and Diane Willis. Thanks to Ahern Rentals and to Sierra Springs for making the field school students’ jobs a little easier with heavy equipment and drinking water donations. xx x Acknowledgments Other people provided comments, ideas, inspirations, and general academic support while I worked on the research that led to this book; their assistance and encouragement are not forgotten: Scott Baxter, Morgan Blanchard , Cris Borgnine, Marie Boutte, Alyce Branigan, Larry Buhr, James Davidson, Barbara Erickson, Ken Fliess, Darla Garey-Sage, Ann Harvey, Dave Harvey, Greg Haynes, Erika Johnson, Dean P. McGovern, Robert Leavitt, Tim A. Kartdatzke, Robert Kopperl, Robert W. McQueen, Margo Memmott, A. Millard, Paul Mullins, Adrian Praetzellis, Mary Praetzellis, Elmer Rusco, Jessica Smith, Cathy Spude, Laurie Walsh, and Robert Winzeler . I am especially grateful to Stephanie Livingston, a professional who volunteered so much of her time to assist with faunal analysis on the Boston Saloon and Piper’s Old Corner Bar. G. Richard Scott inspired me to keep pressing on, and he continues to do so. Archaeologists and employees from numerous government agencies assisted on many levels during my time digging saloons in Virginia City. Maggie Brown, Gene Hattori, Larry Tanner, Alanah Woody, and Roz Works of the Nevada State Museum provided exhibit ideas, temporary storage, and access to faunal remains. Special thanks to Jan Loverin of the Marjorie Kemp Textile Museum, Carson City, Nevada. Saloon archaeology began in Virginia City several years before I arrived there. That means there are countless people whom I have not met, including University of Nevada, Reno field school students, who participated in some projects mentioned in this book. I extend thanks to them for recovering portions of the saloon history. Julie Schablitsky provided references, brainstorms, and friendship throughout the duration of this research; additionally, the forensic chapter is the direct result of her influence and ideas. Stacy Schneyder-Case has always been inspiring, and I can only hope that some portions of this book exude her excitement for the discipline of archaeology and archaeologists. Richard Paul “Benny” Benjamin provided crucial comments on various drafts and reminded me how to live. While I was writing this book on a Acknowledgments x xxi “mini-sabbatical” in Amsterdam, an unforgettable circle of experts demonstrated the finer points of leisure, a topic with which I have long struggled: Richard P. Benjamin, Elizabeth Anne Knight, Malcolm Plaister, Vicki Rudd, Maud van Waardhuizen, Jason Walsh, Simon Whitehall, and Mat Wilson. After bidding farewell to a second family, friends, and colleagues in northern Nevada, I soon found a new home at the University of Montana. My colleagues at the Department of Anthropology there impressed me with a professional...