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By Bunny Corkill as featured in Volume 14 of  In Focus

Located about fifteen miles east of Fallon, the hamlet known as Stillwater was established, blossomed and struggled for survival during portions of three centuries. From the arrival of its first settler in 1862 and on up through the decades in which it served as Churchill’s county seat, it transformed into a busy little community. The “oil boom” of 1920 brought momentary renewed vigor to the economy. And even today in its present state of “new life sprouting among the de-cay,” it continues to be a viable part of Lahontan Valley.
Stillwater was named for the large pools of tranquil water that were scattered over the landscape. Before Euro-American settlement, these sloughs were the primary focus of subsistence for the Cattail-eater branch of the Northern Paiutes. Later, the deep, fertile soil and available water source made the district a sought after agricultural locale. Thompson and West’s History of Nevada 1881 states:

The first settler at Stillwater was J.C. Scott, who located there in the fall of 1862. In the spring of 1863, W.H. Dowd and Moses Job [for whom Job’s Peak, the focal point of the Stillwater Mountains, was named] arrived, and soon afterward they were followed by William Page, J.G. Hughes, J.W. Richards, J.M. Sanford, A.W. Doolittle, and others. . . . A station of the Overland Stage Company was also established there in July, 1862. A town gradually grew up. . . . It became the county seat in December, 1868. Stillwater was most prosperous in 1867 and 1868, having then a population of 150. . . . A store, hotel, saloon, restaurant, post office and black-smith shop comprise the places of business. The buildings are constructed of wood.

Not only was Stillwater a center for business activities, it was the site of political activities as well. The first Democratic Convention in Churchill County was held there in 1864. The convention was held on a woodpile belonging to a stage driver known as “Big Ned” Caltron. The Churchill County Standard of October 22, 1904, states:

. . . attendance was not very large, there being but two men present. . . . It was called to order by Mr. James St. Clair, who was made permanent chairman. . . . Mr. William C. Grimes was chosen permanent secretary. . . . Each made an eloquent address of acceptance . . .

After a number of recesses taken from time to time to allow the delegates to wet their whistles, the convention called for the nomination of an Assemblyman. Amidst profound and breathless silence, Mr. Grimes arose to his feet and in a speech that is still ringing through the wilds near Stillwater, placed Hon. J. St. Clair in nomination. Mr. St. Clair . . . expressed himself as deeply moved by the honor conferred upon him. If elected, he would fill the office to the best of his ability. The business of the convention, having been concluded, the meeting adjourned with three rousing cheers for the success of the ticket. And thus ended the first Democratic Convention ever held in Churchill County.

Today, tourists and local residents inquire as to the sites where the buildings that they have seen photos of or have heard stories about were located. Although many wonderful photos of early day Stillwater exist and old newspapers abound with written accounts of special events and day-to-day life, maps of the area are few and far between. This article is an attempt to combine memories of local residents, fragments of written materials, and cherished photos in a manner that will help today’s visitor visualize the quaint town of the past.

Because very few of the original buildings remain, the Churchill County Museum staff, with its lack of professional survey skills, can only suggest the “approximate” sites, but we felt there was a need to record what we could before all of the early day residents have passed away. The task is especially difficult because of the high cost and scarcity of building materials here in Nevada’s high desert, the building materials from Stillwater were recycled many times. Neighboring mining communities grew and vanished within very short periods of time with Stillwater inheriting some of these structures. They were moved again into Fallon or were assimilated throughout Lahontan Valley. Fire also took its toll on many buildings.

Just before his death on May 31, 2000, Ira Hamlin “Hammie” Kent, a Stillwater native, sketched out a map of the main street and shared his recollections of the little town he called home for nearly nine decades. We will always be grateful to him for his cooperation, and many of his remembrances have been used in this article.