VIRGINIA CITY NUGGET
3RD ANNUAL BREWERY - TO - BREWERY Auto Tour
The Virginia City Preservation Alliance is excited to announce the 3rd annual Brewery-to-Brewery Auto Tour on September 8, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. This is a unique and historic journey through some of Montana’s most storied locations. The event promises an unforgettable day filled with historical insights and community spirit.
Participants will drive their own vehicles from one historic site to the next, experiencing firsthand the rich history of the region. Due to parking restrictions, registration is limited to the first 25 vehicles, so we encourage you to preregister to secure your spot (details below).
Tour Schedule:
12:30 pm: Brewery Follies, Virginia City
Gather in the parking area for the start of the tour.
1:00 pm: H.S. Gilbert Brewery, Virginia City
Discover Montana Territory’s oldest brewery, founded in 1863, and explore a rare example of small-town breweries from that era.
2:00 pm: Ruby Town, Alder
Explore the history of the largest mining operation in Alder Gulch and the former Ruby Town. The Gilman Family will open the historic gold refining building to the public.
3:30 pm: The Old Silver Spring Mill, Sheridan
Hear Neil Barnosky discuss the unique history of the Silver Spring Flour Mill, established by George Ramsey and Oliver French in the early 1870s and operated until 1917.
5
:00 pm: Ruby Valley Brew & Jensen Market, Sheridan
Enjoy a locally brewed beer and learn about Sheridan’s history.
The registration fee is $25.00 per person and includes a token for a glass of locally brewed beer at Ruby Valley Brew (must be 21 or older). As we are limited to 25 vehicles, we encourage multiple attendees per vehicle.
Tickets are available online at www. virginiacitypreservationalliance.com or at Ruby Valley Brew.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to delve into the past while enjoying the present! Please see page 5 for the schedule of events and additional information!
About the Virginia City Preservation Alliance.
VCPA Organization. The Virginia City Preservation Alliance is organized and operated in accordance with the Montana Nonprofit Corporation Act and the tax exemption requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(0(3). The VCPA maintains the following website:
VCPA Board meetings are held on the second Monday of each month in the undercroft of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 102 E. Idaho Street, Virginia City, at 7:00 PM (except that meetings for December-March are held at 12:00 Noon).
Virginia City Nugget.
The Virginia City Nugget is published by the Virginia City Preservation Alliance to communicate with Members about VCPA activities and events, as well as to provide Members with historical information on relevant topics involving Virginia City, Alder Gulch and the western mining frontier.
Mission Statement
The princial purpose of the Virginia City Preservation Alliance is to preserve, restore and put on public display structures and artifacts relating to the history of the town of Virginia City, Montana; to tell the story of the western mining frontier; and to protect the integrity of the local community
Led by simplicity:
VICTORIAN BALL GOWNS
Hoop skirt ball gowns – 1850s-1860s
Fewthings are more fun to simply look at than Victorian ball gowns. They are truly a feast for the eyes, made with rich colors, exquisite trimmings, artificial flowers, and yards of the finest fabrics. The women who wore them went to great effort to make sure that each detail was just right for each occasion a gown was worn. And just like with the rest of Victorian fashion, the requirements of these details changed quickly with each decade. Here are some of the main trends in ball gowns and evening wear from the Victorian and things to keep in mind if you are planning for a formal Victorian event.
The silhouette of ball gowns changed drastically from the beginning to the end of the 19th century. The Regency era saw long, straight lines with empire waists, something I will cover in another post. Long, straight skirts would then completely disappear until the 1910s, with enormous emphasis on various areas of the skirt rotating through the rest of the century. The first of these trends would be the large hoop skirts that are commonly associated with the Civil War era.
The basic style of the dresses was exposed shoulders surrounded by some sort of trim, a bustline as low as could be allowed, a tightly fitted bodice, and a wide hoop skirt shaped by a crinoline or multiple petticoats (depending on the year).
While we look at this style of gown today and interpret it as elaborate and even Victorian Ball Gowns cont. on page 3
extreme, women were encouraged to err on the side of feminine simplicity, despite the size of the skirt. Beadle’s Dime Book of Practical Etiquette for Ladies and Gentlemen, published in 1859 reads:
“What has elsewhere been said in
regard to dress and ornament will apply fully to the occasion of the dance. Let simplicity be the guide, and not display. The lady tricked out of many jewels and ribbons looks too much like a moving advertisement to command respect for it. If ladies generally knew
how deep an impression a pure style of dress makes upon the other sex, and realized how trifling a gaudy dress seems to the person of true taste, we surmise their vanity alone would impel to simpler attire, rather than to elaborate and costly display.”
Top Left: 1860. Image courtesy MetMuseum. Right/Above: Les Modes Parisiennes 1860. Image courtesy V&A Museum. Bottom Left : 1869. Image courtesy MetMuseum.
Virginia City Preservation Alliance Hosts 28th Annual Grand Victorian Ball
By Virginia City Preservation Alliance
The Virginia City Preservation Alliance (VCPA) is delighted to announce the 28th Annual Grand Victorian Ball, set to take place on Saturday, August 10 at the historic Virginia City Community Hall. This enchanting evening promises music, dancing, and timeless elegance in the heart of Virginia City.
Tickets are priced at $55.00 for singles, $100.00 per couple, and $20.00 for youth aged 12 and under.
In preparation for the event, Ball Dance Lessons will be offered at the Virginia City Community Hall on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets for the lessons are $10 per person in advance (online) or $15 at the door.
Music will be provided by Professor R. Alexander James and his Distinguished Dance Music Ensemble, with Dance Mistress Mme. TJ Wald presiding over the evening’s dance program.
Join us for a memorable evening celebrating the charm and elegance of the Victorian era.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.virginiacitypreservationalliance.com.
Contact Virginia City Preservation Alliance at (317) 4186933.
Please see page 5 for the schedule of events and additional information!
Bozeman Trail Event Report
In recognition of the 160th anniversary of the first wagon train’s arrival into Virginia City, the VCPA hosted “Bozeman Trail Day” on July 20th. The day began with a guided hike, led by trail meisters Larry Leonard and Bob Bayley, covering the last mile of the Bozeman Trail. This hike commemorated the arrival of 150 wagons led by John Bozeman. Despite temperatures reaching the mid-90s, a group of enthusiastic hikers set off from the trailhead near the Virginia City ball field.
Two out-of-town hikers were so impressed by the experience that they made a meaningful donation to the VCPA at a magnificent overlook, the planned turnaround point. Thank you, hikers!
The second event of the day featured two presentations at the Bovey Memorial Plaza. Gary Forney shared the story of John Jacobs and his daughter Emma, who played a vital role in establishing the Bozeman Trail. Mary Stassi and Lance Otto, dressed in period attire, presented quotes from those who journeyed to Virginia City via the Bozeman Trail, capturing their courage and resilience.
The day concluded with a performance by the Dillon
Junior Fiddlers, led by former VCPA Board member Sandy James and his wife, Jeannie. The young musicians, also in period attire, performed several pieces reminiscent of those played on the Bozeman Trail.
Special thanks to Board member Sheri Jarvis for organizing the day’s events.
The Dillon Junior Fiddlers. Photo courtesy Bob Bayley.
What Is this ????
Do you know what is in this picture?
A member of the VCPA found it among assay equipment and is hoping one of our readers can identify it. If you know or want to take a guess, please send your answer (or guess) to vcpamt@gmail.com!
Pat Jacobs - President
Answers will be published in the next issue of the Nugget. The first to identify the item correctly will receive a copy of the VCPA publication, “Nuggets in Time” .
Current Board Members
Gary Forney - Vice President
Chris Leonard - Treasurer
Bill Lev - Secretary
Mary Stassi
Marge Antolik
Sheri Jarvis
Ashley Polk-Sutherlin
Rebecca Miller
Hannah Brook
Lori Cain
ADVISORY BOARD
Bob Bayley
Barbi & Tom Donnelley
Mark Weber
Lyman Bennett
Recipe Corner
The recipe was given to Hope Sawyer (born 1901), from her grandfather. Hope was great aunt of VCPA President Pat (Case) Jacobs. Pat shares that the recipe came from the “old farm” outside the small, rural town where she was raised in Blissfield, Michigan.
(Photo of Great Aunt Hope - 1975)
GRANDPA CASE’S SOUR MILK CAKE
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup lard (generous)
1 cup sour milk
1 teaspoon (baking) soda dissolved in sour milk
Beat all together. Add two cups flour, and stir all together well. Put in greased) loaf pan. To make spice cake add 1 teaspoon cinnaman, 1/2 teaspoon clove and nutmeg each to the above mixture. Bake in 350 degree oven (probably, as the old wood range didn’t tell me.)
Bake until a toothpick comes out clean!
Virginia City as a National Historic Landmark
By Pat Jacobs, with assistance from www.nps.gov
Virginia City was listed as a National Historic Landmark (NHL) by the National Park Service (NPS) in 1961. This prestigious distinction makes Virginia City one of only approximately 2,500 other Landmarks across the county. Virginia City shares this recognition with the likes of the White House, Hoover Dam, Alcatraz Island, the Lincoln Boyhood Home, and Colonial Williamsburg. Its significance is recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as “possessing national significance” as well as
being “of exceptional value in representing or illustrating an important theme in the history of the nation.”
So what is it that distinguishes a National Historic Landmark from other historic properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)? A property or district listed in the NRHP is generally more of state or local importance. The criteria for listing on the NRHP is different than the criteria for listing as a NHL, and the process for listing on the NRHP is less arduous. The National Park Service provides this additional distinction:
Some properties are recommended as nationally significant when they are nominated to the National Register, but before they can be designated as National Historic Landmarks, they must be evaluated by the National Park Service’s National Historic Landmark Survey, reviewed by the National Park System Advisory Board, and recommended to the Secretary of the Interior. Some properties listed in the National Register are subsequently identified by the Survey as nationally significant; others are identified through theme studies or special studies. Both the National Historic Landmark and the National Register Programs are administered by the National Park Service under the Secretary of the Interior.
All National Historic Landmarks are included in the National Register of Historic Places. However, according to the NPS, only about 2.5 % of all entries in the NRHP are of such significance to be “worthy” of the status of “Landmark.” Virginia City shares this distinction with 27 other properties in Montana.
This designation identifies Virginia City as not just another cool old town with neat old buildings, but instead a place of “exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States in history, architecture, archeology, technology, and culture.” The NPS goes on to state that,
“National Historic Landmarks possess a high degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.” Additionally, there must be sufficient integrity to meet one of more of the following criteria:
N.H. Landmark cont. on page 10
1. That is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to, and are identified with, or that outstandingly represents, the broad national patterns of United States history and from which an understanding and appreciation of those patterns may be gained; or
2. That are associated importantly with the lives of persons nationally significant in the history of the United States; or
3. That represent some great idea or ideal of the American people; or
4. That embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen exceptionally valuable for the study of a period, style or method of construction, or that represent a significant, distinctive and exceptional entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
5. That are composed of integral parts of the environment not sufficiently significant by reason of historical association or artistic merit to warrant individual recognition but collectively compose an entity of exceptional historical or artistic significance, or outstandingly commemorate or illustrate a way of life or culture; or
6. That have yielded or may be likely to yield information of major scientific importance by revealing new cultures, or by shedding light upon periods of occupation over large areas of the United States. Such sites are those which have yielded, or which may reasonably be expected to yield, data affecting theories, concepts, and ideas to a major degree.
Other than the national recognition and honor, NHL status signifies, there are other benefits available to Landmark owners. For instance, a bronze plaque is available to any Landmark owner at no cost. Virginia City’s is presently located in the Bovey Memorial park adjacent to the Hangman’s Building. Opportunities for Federal grants through the Historic Preservation Fund or a higher priority than a NRHP designation for other various funding, and for income producing properties the ability to take advantage of Federal income tax incentives. More information on these types of programs and eligibility requirements can be obtained through the Montana State Historic Preservation office (https://mhs.mt.gov/shpo/) or the National Historic Landmarks Program – Intermountain Regional Office (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/contactthe-national-historic-landmarks-program-intermountain-region. htm).
Virginia City also has various resources available as a NHL provided by the National Park Service. Technical preservation advice and answers to questions regarding preservation issues are addressed by NPS staff, access to information and publications on a variety of preservation subjects (https:// www.nps.gov/orgs/1345/cr-publications.htm), and as available funding permits, the NPS selects a limited number of Landmark buildings to receive in-depth site visits funded and coordinated by the NPS regional offices. The value of this is a comprehensive assessment of building/s conditions, identified and prioritized recommended treatments, and potential costs for completing the work. Often a compiled document as a result of the assessment can then be utilized to seek funding. Another significant advantage, these types of preservation support services are not necessarily available
to NRHP designated properties or districts. Keep in mind, it is the responsibility of the National Park Service by law for monitoring the condition of a NHL. The Virginia City Preservation Alliance has as part of its mission to “preserve, restore and display structures and artifacts related to the history of Virginia City.” We all have a responsibility to protect and maintain the significant but fragile historic buildings, artifacts and cultural aspects that define Virginia City as a National Historic Landmark. Preservation efforts can be challenging, costly, tricky, and often sensitive, but worth every penny and ounce of energy. Marginalizing Virginia City’s importance is risky business. We are reminded every day with each visit or casual walk to the Post Office, that we are the stewards of this nationally significant place of history.
N.H. Landmark cont. on page 11
Virginia City has been designated a Registered National Historic Landmark under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States, U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service 1962.
Courtesy www.nps.gov
Linderman Cabin Series - August
The VCPA continued it’s Linderman Cabin Series, titled “Pete Daly and his Infamous Inn”, on Sunday, August 4. The program profiled Peter Daly, the man who built the iconic Robber’s Roost, and his family. The event discussed some of the myths surrounding the Roost and the tragic death of Pete Daly, as well as the building’s lively history.
Gary Forney presented “Pete Daly and His Infamous Inn” on August 4 at the Linderman Cabin.
Courtesy
Bob Bayley
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Email Address: You can also join online by visiting our website: www.virginiacitypreservationalliance.org.
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Orientation of Plat map of Virginia City.
Own a piece of history! With an initial donation of $50 or more, you will receive a square foot of real estate located within Block 97-Lot 10 in Virginia City, with a Certificate of Deed and copy of an 1868
Virginia City, MT 59755
P.O. Box 55
Virginia City Preservation Alliance
We invite you to join the VCPA to help us restore, preserve, interpret and celebrate historic Virginia City. To join, please complete the form below and return it with your tax-deductible contribution to:
Virginia City Preservation Alliance P.O. Box 55
Virginia City, MT 59755
