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Johnnie Nevada

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Ghost Towns in Nevada » Johnnie Nevada

Johnnie Nevada

Johnnie Nevada Overview

Johnnie was a mining district in Nye County, Nevada.

The district was also known as Montgomery, Mount Sterling, and Timber Mountain.

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

Year Established/Founded

1905

Johnnie Nevada History

This mining district is going to take us a while to research because of the fun “legend” that goes with it… the Lost Breyfogle Mine. The Breyfogle family came to the West in search of gold and supposedly Charles found the mother of all lodes but couldn’t recall where he found it. Some say that Johnnie is that mine.

From NBMG document:

The earliest recorded discovery in the district is thought to have been made around 1890 by the Montgomery party from Indian Springs, and additional load discoveries were made about 1903. The prominently outcropping quartz veins in the district were alleged to have been noted as early as 1860 by Mormon pioneers, but the inaccessibility of the area made prospecting difficult if not impossible. The district was originally named Montgomery, but between 1900-1910, gradually it became known as the Johnnie district, possibly alluding to the Indian known as Indian Johnnie who led the first recorded prospecting party to the area. The town of Johnnie was inhabited from 1905 to the 1930’s with its heyday around 1907, after which the population shifted to the Johnnie Mine. The district was reported active in 1905, with several mines and stamp mills in operation until the 1920’s. The district’s greatest period of recorded production was prior to 1920 with the district yielding up to that time well over a million dollars in both lode and placer gold.

While much lode ore was produced, the area is also known for its placer gold. Placer gold was discovered in 1921 by Walter Dryer and resulted in a second short boom for the district. Placer operations were again in effect in 1935 below the Johnnie and Congress Mines and in 1949 and the early 1960’s, below the Johnnie and Overfield Mines.

Timeline

  • 1890 – Possible discovery made by Montgomery party
  • 1898 – New investors bought the two largest mines in the district, the Johnnie and the Congress mines, and the district was revived 
  • 1903 – Additional lode discoveries
  • May 1905 – The Johnnie post office opened
  • December 1914 – The Johnnie post office closed
  • April 1916 – The Johnnie post office opened
  • November 1935 – The Johnnie post office closed
  • 1935  – About 20 men worked the placers in the District. Most of these were itinerant placer miners who worked only a few weeks or at most several months.
  • November 1935 – Six dry washers were working in the gulches below the Congress mine.
  • September 1937 – The Johnnie Mine post office
  • June 1942 – The Johnnie Mine post office closed

Mines

Gold, silver, and lead.

The amount of placer gold probably did not exceed $20,000.

Railroads

Unknown at this time.

Click here to view the railroads in Nevada.

Post Office

  • Johnnie May 1905 – December 1914
  • Johnnie April April 1916 – November 1935
  • Johnnie Mine September 1937 – June 1942

View the list and history of Nevada Post Offices and Nye County, Nevada Postmasters.

Newspaper

None

Learn more about Nevada Newspapers

The Population of Johnnie Nevada

  • 1907 – The town had a population of 300
  • The 1930s – Less than 10 residents

Elevation

3,000′ – 4,000′

Location

From Tingley:

The Johnnie district extends from the north flank of Mount Sterling, on the northwest end of the Spring Mountains, southwest to the southwestern tip of Mount Montgomery. It includes Mt. Schader, the town of Johnnie, and a small area on the northeast side of Mount Sterling sometimes considered to be the separate Mount Sterling district. Wheeler (1872) included the Johnnie area in his large Timber Mountain district which also included the Charleston district.

Johnnie Nevada

GPS Coordinates

Click here to view our recommended mobile apps for the outdoor explorer and what to take on your next road trip.

Speaking of mobile apps, two of my favorite mobile apps for exploring the southwest are two different mapping apps one that builds your schedule and the other helps me look to see if my rural destination is taking me to private or public lands. Highly recommend both!

  1. Roadtrippers Plus is $29.99 per year paid version that allows you to build longer itineraries, share your plans with friends, and use the app without ads. Click here to save $5 on your subscription to Roadtrippers.
  2. onX – click here to learn more about onX GPS Map App for Backcountry, Offroad, and Hunting.

Photos and Videos

The photos below are screenshots are poor quality but they are examples of dry washing.

Johnnie Nevada

 

Johnnie Nevada

References Used

Click here to view our list of History of the Southwest – Books and Online Resources to learn more about our amazing area!

Johnnie Nevada