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Bellehelen Nevada

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Bellehelen Nevada

Bellehelen Nevada Overview

Bellehelen was a mining camp located in Nye County, Nevada.

The mining camp may also have been known as Bell Haven but I do not find any reference to this name in newspapers, only an old map reference. Another reference shows Longstreet as an alternative name.

Learn more about Ghost Town in Nevada and Ghost Towns in the Southwest.

Year Established/Founded

1904

Bellehelen Nevada History

From the publication, A History of Tonopah:

Shortly after the turn of the century, discoveries of precious metals were made at Bellehelen and Eden Creek. Bellehelen, located several miles south of Warm Springs near the crest of the Kawich Mountains, is said to have been named for two mules. Although it was never more than a tent city, at one time it had a population of 500. The Pacific States Mining and Milling Company produced $177,000 of ore between 1917 and 1921. In about 1922 the Tonopah Kawich Mining Company and Pacific States Mining and Milling Company formed the Bellehelen Merger mine and built a 50-ton cyanide mill, which operated for a few months in 1923. Ore valued at about $4000 was shipped from the old Peterson Mine in the district’s west end in 1935.

A mail line ran through the area for many years. It went from Warm Springs over the mountains to Bellehelen, from Bellehelen to Eden Creek, and then over the range through Golden Arrow and back to Warm Springs. It was a stage line and ran once a week. The mail was dropped off at Eden Creek, which was the gathering place for everyone in the area. The route was finally abolished in the 1930s when people started to leave the area.

Timeline

  • September 22, 1906 – Visitors to Bellehelen. O. Henry who has just returned from Bellehelen district accompanied by C. S. Booth and C. Berry, who are also interested in that locality, reports that the camp is booming. New strikes are being made everywhere in the district. He brought back some beautiful samples which are on exhibition in the Lothrop-Davis show window. An assay is to be made today. Arrangements have been made for surveying a townsite and a reservoir will be built which will afford an ample supply of water for the town. [Tonopah Bonanza – 22 Sep 1906 – Sat – page 1]
  • March 1908 – Eight active mining companies in Bellehelen
  • October 15, 1909 – The post office opened
  • 1910 – Bellehelen started to decline
  • November 15, 1911 – The post office closed

Mines

Copper, gold, and silver.

Railroads

Unknown at this time.

Post Office

  • April 27, 1907 – January 19, 1908 [Rescinded]
  • October 15, 1909 – November 15, 1911

View the list and history of Nevada Post Offices.

Newspaper

Unknown at this time.

The Population of Bellehelen Nevada

Reportedly 500 residents.

Elevation

6,496′

Location

GPS Coordinates

38° 4′ 5.77″ N, 116° 27′ 57.20″ W

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References Used

Bellehelen Nevada