Desert Wells Station, Nevada - Pony Express

scott 16 July 2013

DESERT WELLS STATION 

Loving and Carter identify Desert Wells as a station between Ragtown and Dayton.  Pierson locates Desert Wells after Reed's Station, between Nevada and Dayton.  Desert Wells existed sometime after July 1861, when it began to serve as a relay station for the Overland Mail Company line. During the last few months of its existence, the Pony Express also used the Desert Wells station facilities.  http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/poex/hrs/hrs8a.htm#161

Buckland’s Station - Pony Express

scott 16 July 2013

Buckland’s Station (N39 17 41.4 W119 15 01.5) 

Located across the Carson River from what was to be the future site of Fort Churchill, Buckland’s Station consisting of a log cabin and saloon was established by Samuel S. Buckland who had come to California in 1850 via the Isthmus of Panama. During the cold winter of 1859-60, Buckland constructed a toll bridge across the Carson River, and set the following fees for its use: $2.00 for heavy wagons, $1.50 for light wagons, $1.00 for buggies, and $.25 for pedestrians.  

Fort Churchill Station - Pony Express

scott 16 July 2013

Fort Churchill Station (N39 17 52.1 W119 15 45.8) 

Fort Churchill is a state park located ~8 miles south of Silver Springs on US 95 Alternate. Although Fort Churchill is now in ruins, a visitor center reconstructs its colorful history with interpretive exhibits. The headquarters building, which was a stopping point for the Pony Express, still stands. 

Reese River/Jacob’s Spring Station - Pony Express

scott 16 July 2013

Reese River/Jacob’s Spring Station (N39 30 06.9 W117 10 56.1)  

Stations were set up at Simpson Park, just east of the sub-basin, and Jacobs Springs, about 2 miles east of Reese River. The latter station was named after Washington Jacobs, district agent in charge there; Jacobsville, the first town in the sub-basin grew up at the station. After Jacobsville was abandoned as the Lander county seat in favor of Austin in 1863, the stage station there was moved 2 miles westward, to the east bank of Reese River. 

Simpson Park Station - Pony Express

scott 15 July 2013

Simpson Park Station (N39 30 00.0 W116 57 07.9) (P)  

Located on private land approximately 15 miles NE of Austin. This was one of the original Pony Express stations having been built in the spring of 1860. This area was named for Captain J.H. Simpson who first visited here on May 27, 1859 and spent the night in the vicinity. Simpson Park was probably used by the Overland Mail and Stage Line from July 1861 to 1862 or 1863, when the run was changed to go through Austin. 

Cold Springs/East Gate Station, Nevada - Pony Express

scott 16 July 2013

Cold Springs/East Gate Station (N39 24 56.1 W117 50 32.2) 

Located on US 50 65 miles west of Austin. An interpretive center near the highway explains the history of the site and marks the beginning of a 1-1/2-mile trail to the station. In March of 1860, the station was built by Superintendent Bolivar Roberts, J.G. Kelly and others. It was put to use by the Pony Express in early April. Jim McNaughton was the station keeper at Cold Springs until he became a rider. J. G. Kelly was assistant station keeper at Cold Springs for a while. 

Sand Springs Station - Pony Express

scott 16 July 2013

Sand Springs Station (N39 16 30.6 W118 24 48.5) 

About 20 miles east of Fallon on US 50 an unimproved road leads to Sand Mountain and Sand Springs Pony Express Station. The station has a number of interpretive signs. In March of’ 1860 Bolivar Roberts, J.G. Kelley and others built the station. James McNaughton was station keeper for a while before he became a rider.  

Boyd’s Station - Pony Express

scott 15 July 2013

Boyd’s Station (N39 50 37.7 W113 33 11.9) (M)

Location: SE1/4SE1/4 Section 20 Township 11 South, Range 15 West, Salt Lake Meridian, 14 miles from Fish Springs Station, via a road around the north end of the Fish Springs Range and 9 miles over the pass to the west of the station.

Although Boyd Station is not identified in the 1861 mail contract, it was named by Howard Egan as an Express Station. The structure was small, built of stone and contained gun-ports.

From Utah to Carson

scott 15 July 2013

The final two chapters in Roughing It that concern the stagecoach ride from St. Joseph, Missouri to Carson City, the capitol of the Nevada Territory, are not specific about any of the stations. Chapter 19 is a racist diatribe against the Goshoot Indians, which he extends to all American Indians. Chapter 20 is devoted to a fictional encounter between Horace Greeley and the stagecoach driver Hank Monk. I am inserting this chapter as a means to include a map of the Overland/Pony Express Stations between Fish Springs Station and Carson City Station.  

Egan’s Canyon/Egan’s Station - Pony Express

scott 15 July 2013

Egan’s Canyon/Egan’s Station (N39 51 37.8 W114 56 09.5)

Located ~30 miles north of Ely west of US 93 on Eagan Canyon Road. White Pine County Road 18 west to CR 23 and Eagan Canyon Road junction, turn southwesterly ~ 2 miles. It is currently marked with a stainless steel stake and once you find it, you’ll likely find the foundations of the old station building.

Black Rock Station - Pony Express

scott 14 July 2013

Black Rock Station (N39 52 41.1 W113 16 17.5) (M) east

Location: NW1/4SE1/4 Section 12, Township 11 South, Range 12 West, Salt Lake Meridian, 13 ¾ miles from Dugway. 

Also known as Butte, or Desert Station, it was named for the black basalt outcropping just to the north of the road and the monument. Sharp says it was also known as Rock House. Initially called Butte or Desert Station, the rock structure was constructed as part of trail improvements undertaken by the Overland Mail Company after acquiring the Express in July 1861.

Fish/Smith/Fresh Springs Station - Pony Express

scott 14 July 2013

Fish/Smith/Fresh Springs Station (N39 50 52.9 W113 24 38.9) (M)

Location: NW1/4NE1/4 Section 23, Township 11 South, Range 14 West, Salt Lake Meridian, 10 miles from Blackrock Station. 

J.H. Simpson placed two mail stations in this area: the one at Fish Springs first used by Chorpenning and another about 3 ¼ miles north at Warm Springs. The station at Warm Springs was apparently abandoned because of bad water. 

Point Lookout/Lookout Pass Station - Pony Express

scott 14 July 2013

Point Lookout/Lookout Pass Station (N40 07 10.7 W112 34 35.2) (M) vandalized

Location: NW1/4SE1/4 Section 13, Township 8 South, Range 7 West, Salt Lake Meridian, about 8 ¼ miles from Rush Valley.

Also called Point Lookout, General Johnston’s Pass and Jackson’s, the station is on BLM land. Above a flat on the west side of Lookout Pass (General Johnston’s Pass in the days of the Pony Express) you find the marker for the location . A rock alignment and the trace of the old road can be seen between the stone monument and a dam built to catch water from a small spring.

Camp Floyd/Fairfield Station

scott 11 July 2013

Identified as Camp Floyd in the 1861 mail contract, this station had various other names including Fairfield, Fort Crittendon or Crittenden, Carson's Inn, and Cedar City.  The settlement of Fairfield began in Cedar Valley in 1858, when John Carson, John Williams, William Beardshall, John Clegg, and others built homes and a protective enclosure called Cedar City Fort. John Carson built an adobe inn that same year, which served as a station for both Pony Express riders and stage lines. In 1858, General A. S.

Dugout/Joe’s Dugout Station, Utah - Pony Express

scott 11 July 2013

Dugout/Joe’s Dugout Station (N40 21 19.0 W111 59 34.0)

Location: SW1/4NE1/4 Section 30, Township 5 South, Range 1 West, Salt Lake Meridian, 11 miles from Rockwell’s Station.

Joe’s Dugout (aka Dugout, Joe Butcher’s, Seven Mile). The site is on the pass between Utah Valley and Cedar Valley. Nothing remains. There is a monument (N40 21 23.0 W111 59 18.0) at the bottom of the pass on the east side. 

Trader’s Rest/Traveler’s Rest Station - Pony Express

scott 11 July 2013

Trader’s Rest/Traveler’s Rest Station (N40 37 59.9 W111 53 21.8)

Location: Lot 2, Township 2 South, Range 1 East, Salt Lake Meridian, 9 miles south of Salt Lake House.

Constructed of adobe, in later years, the structure was covered with wood siding and a false front and re-converted into a business (See Photo 14). More recently it served as a garage.

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