|
Chollar Mansion
Photo by Bert Bedeau,
Comstock Historic District Commission |
The Chollar mansion was built between 1861 and 1863 as the head office
of the Chollar Mine and the residence of the mine superintendent. The
building was designed by N. J. Colman in an Italianate style, and constructed
by H. S. Hill. It was discovered in 1870 that the building was sinking
due to the settling of the terrain above the mine. At that time, the three-story
building was dismantled and rebuilt at its present location. It is anchored
to its foundation with steel tie rods and contains a three-story cantilevered
staircase.
The mansion was originally commissioned by Billy Chollar, the discoverer
of the Chollar Silver Lode in 1861. Shortly thereafter, he lost both
his mine and his home to the newly established Bank of California, and
left Virginia City in 1862. A special feature of the mansion is the
164-square-foot arched vault that once stored millions in gold and silver
bullion. Another is the paymaster's booth, where each month the miners
came to draw their pay. Prior to the construction of the highway bypass
there were formal gardens in front of this building which ran uphill
to C Street. The gardens featured two curved driveways leading down
to the building and a small fountain.
Rear view of the Chollar Mansion
Photo by Bert Bedeau,
Comstock Historic District Commission |
|
The Chollar Office building was only a small part of the total Chollar
(later Chollar-Potosi) mine works. The main mine complex was located to
the south east of the office building and featured large pumps and hoisting
machinery, massive water storage tanks, a machine shop, a carpentry shop,
a blacksmith shop, a buggy and wagon shop, livery, assay and other offices,
a changing room for the miners and storage. All of these facilities are
long since demolished. A spur of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad approached
from the south east and ran north between South D and South E streets.
This branch also served the Hale & Norcross and Savage mine works.
The Chollar Mine Office/Mansion is located at 565 South D St. in
Virginia City. The building is now a bed-and-breakfast,
call 775-847-9777 or visit www.chollarmansion.com for reservations.
|