Historical Markers of Washoe County & Reno
Location: South Reno Directions: At the intersection of South Meadows Pkwy. and S. Virginia St.
Date Conquered: 8/1/07 Quick Description: A marker remembering Huffakers, the first community ever established in the Truckee Meadows. Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was never signed. NOTES: For such an important marker, #238 has one of the most difficult to spot in the entire marker system! According to the SHPO, the directions for this marker are, "0.5 miles south of Longley Lane". Not only is this very vague, but sort of rudimentary when you're trying to find markers within urban Reno! The truth is, this marker is well-hidden even alongside a road as large and well-traveled as South Virginia Street. Marker hunters will find it difficult to find #238 using those erroneous directions! Heather and I were actually heading into Reno to do some shopping when we happened to see it at a stoplight. I'm convinced if that stoplight hadn't turned red, we'd still be looking for it today. So, here's the problem... Heather was lucky enough to snap this shot as we left the intersection. Notice how well this marker blends in with the b.g. #238 is essentially, "now you see it, now you don't." This is especially true when this parking lot is full of rental cars. As you can see, #238 suffers from poor visibility syndrome. The marker is set back at least a hundred yards from Virginia Street. In addition, the marker's location is rather unexpected: a rental car lot across from a shopping center. To avoid further confusion, read the following very carefully. Whether you're traveling north or southbound on S. Virginia St, proceed until you reach the stoplight for "South Meadows Shopping Center" (WinCo Foods). At this stoplight, look directly west. The complex you're looking at is a GEICO rental car dealership and insurance office. #238 sits right in front of the building. Years ago, this location might've been a good spot. However, Reno's ever growing suburbia has caught up. What was then is now, as #238 technically sits on the grounds of a private establishment. What may look like only a GEICO rental establishment, is actually the old home of Granville Huffaker, founder of the Huffaker ranch and soon-to-be townsite. Nice to see that the old home is still in use. Notice the strange location of the state seal. Feels like this one was built in a hurry. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Before the arrival, 1858, of Granville W. Huffaker driving 500 head of cattle into the Truckee Meadows, the principal settlers were Mormons. The Comstock Lode and its mining needs focused attention on the valley. Huffaker established his ranch in 1859. Langton's Stage Line and the first Post Office were functioning by 1862. For ten years Huffaker's was a most active stage-stop and a center for a community. The school house was constructed in 1868. Bachelors of a jolly nature gathered here for dancing, horse-racing and "Land Squabbles." The Athenian Literary Society flourished for the more cultured. In 1875 the "Bonanza Kings" completed their Pacific Lumber and Flume operation from the Lake Tahoe Basin. For fifteen miles trestled logs were propelled "by waters rushing faster than any train." At the terminus of the flume, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad opened a depot and telegraph office and constructed a spur where workers transferred timbers. #238 joins my TOP TEN ENDANGERED MARKERS list, due to its location on private property. DID YOU KNOW?... ...The Huffakers cemetery represents the first community in the Truckee Meadows? Long before Byron Lake built his bridge over the Truckee River, the farming community of Huffakers was alive and thriving. Now, all that remains of this great paradise is a tiny and lonely graveyard, surrounded by modern suburbia and completely tucked away from the busy traffic on Virginia Street. Huffakers Today Very little remains of old Huffakers today. Enjoy some of my professional photography honoring this forgotten history of the Truckee Meadows ... "Huffakers," South Reno, NV. "Lyell's Plot," Washoe County, NV. "Catherine and Lizzie," Washoe County, NV. Thanks go to Kevin C. for correcting me on vital history information regarding the old Huffaker home. See you out there!
NOTES: For such an important marker, #238 has one of the most difficult to spot in the entire marker system! According to the SHPO, the directions for this marker are, "0.5 miles south of Longley Lane". Not only is this very vague, but sort of rudimentary when you're trying to find markers within urban Reno! The truth is, this marker is well-hidden even alongside a road as large and well-traveled as South Virginia Street. Marker hunters will find it difficult to find #238 using those erroneous directions! Heather and I were actually heading into Reno to do some shopping when we happened to see it at a stoplight. I'm convinced if that stoplight hadn't turned red, we'd still be looking for it today. So, here's the problem... Heather was lucky enough to snap this shot as we left the intersection. Notice how well this marker blends in with the b.g. #238 is essentially, "now you see it, now you don't." This is especially true when this parking lot is full of rental cars. As you can see, #238 suffers from poor visibility syndrome. The marker is set back at least a hundred yards from Virginia Street. In addition, the marker's location is rather unexpected: a rental car lot across from a shopping center. To avoid further confusion, read the following very carefully. Whether you're traveling north or southbound on S. Virginia St, proceed until you reach the stoplight for "South Meadows Shopping Center" (WinCo Foods). At this stoplight, look directly west. The complex you're looking at is a GEICO rental car dealership and insurance office. #238 sits right in front of the building. Years ago, this location might've been a good spot. However, Reno's ever growing suburbia has caught up. What was then is now, as #238 technically sits on the grounds of a private establishment. What may look like only a GEICO rental establishment, is actually the old home of Granville Huffaker, founder of the Huffaker ranch and soon-to-be townsite. Nice to see that the old home is still in use. Notice the strange location of the state seal. Feels like this one was built in a hurry. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Before the arrival, 1858, of Granville W. Huffaker driving 500 head of cattle into the Truckee Meadows, the principal settlers were Mormons. The Comstock Lode and its mining needs focused attention on the valley. Huffaker established his ranch in 1859. Langton's Stage Line and the first Post Office were functioning by 1862. For ten years Huffaker's was a most active stage-stop and a center for a community. The school house was constructed in 1868. Bachelors of a jolly nature gathered here for dancing, horse-racing and "Land Squabbles." The Athenian Literary Society flourished for the more cultured. In 1875 the "Bonanza Kings" completed their Pacific Lumber and Flume operation from the Lake Tahoe Basin. For fifteen miles trestled logs were propelled "by waters rushing faster than any train." At the terminus of the flume, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad opened a depot and telegraph office and constructed a spur where workers transferred timbers. #238 joins my TOP TEN ENDANGERED MARKERS list, due to its location on private property. DID YOU KNOW?... ...The Huffakers cemetery represents the first community in the Truckee Meadows? Long before Byron Lake built his bridge over the Truckee River, the farming community of Huffakers was alive and thriving. Now, all that remains of this great paradise is a tiny and lonely graveyard, surrounded by modern suburbia and completely tucked away from the busy traffic on Virginia Street. Huffakers Today Very little remains of old Huffakers today. Enjoy some of my professional photography honoring this forgotten history of the Truckee Meadows ... "Huffakers," South Reno, NV. "Lyell's Plot," Washoe County, NV. "Catherine and Lizzie," Washoe County, NV. Thanks go to Kevin C. for correcting me on vital history information regarding the old Huffaker home. See you out there!
As you can see, #238 suffers from poor visibility syndrome. The marker is set back at least a hundred yards from Virginia Street. In addition, the marker's location is rather unexpected: a rental car lot across from a shopping center. To avoid further confusion, read the following very carefully. Whether you're traveling north or southbound on S. Virginia St, proceed until you reach the stoplight for "South Meadows Shopping Center" (WinCo Foods). At this stoplight, look directly west. The complex you're looking at is a GEICO rental car dealership and insurance office. #238 sits right in front of the building. Years ago, this location might've been a good spot. However, Reno's ever growing suburbia has caught up. What was then is now, as #238 technically sits on the grounds of a private establishment. What may look like only a GEICO rental establishment, is actually the old home of Granville Huffaker, founder of the Huffaker ranch and soon-to-be townsite. Nice to see that the old home is still in use. Notice the strange location of the state seal. Feels like this one was built in a hurry. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Before the arrival, 1858, of Granville W. Huffaker driving 500 head of cattle into the Truckee Meadows, the principal settlers were Mormons. The Comstock Lode and its mining needs focused attention on the valley. Huffaker established his ranch in 1859. Langton's Stage Line and the first Post Office were functioning by 1862. For ten years Huffaker's was a most active stage-stop and a center for a community. The school house was constructed in 1868. Bachelors of a jolly nature gathered here for dancing, horse-racing and "Land Squabbles." The Athenian Literary Society flourished for the more cultured. In 1875 the "Bonanza Kings" completed their Pacific Lumber and Flume operation from the Lake Tahoe Basin. For fifteen miles trestled logs were propelled "by waters rushing faster than any train." At the terminus of the flume, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad opened a depot and telegraph office and constructed a spur where workers transferred timbers. #238 joins my TOP TEN ENDANGERED MARKERS list, due to its location on private property. DID YOU KNOW?... ...The Huffakers cemetery represents the first community in the Truckee Meadows? Long before Byron Lake built his bridge over the Truckee River, the farming community of Huffakers was alive and thriving. Now, all that remains of this great paradise is a tiny and lonely graveyard, surrounded by modern suburbia and completely tucked away from the busy traffic on Virginia Street. Huffakers Today Very little remains of old Huffakers today. Enjoy some of my professional photography honoring this forgotten history of the Truckee Meadows ... "Huffakers," South Reno, NV. "Lyell's Plot," Washoe County, NV. "Catherine and Lizzie," Washoe County, NV. Thanks go to Kevin C. for correcting me on vital history information regarding the old Huffaker home. See you out there!
Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Before the arrival, 1858, of Granville W. Huffaker driving 500 head of cattle into the Truckee Meadows, the principal settlers were Mormons. The Comstock Lode and its mining needs focused attention on the valley. Huffaker established his ranch in 1859. Langton's Stage Line and the first Post Office were functioning by 1862. For ten years Huffaker's was a most active stage-stop and a center for a community. The school house was constructed in 1868. Bachelors of a jolly nature gathered here for dancing, horse-racing and "Land Squabbles." The Athenian Literary Society flourished for the more cultured. In 1875 the "Bonanza Kings" completed their Pacific Lumber and Flume operation from the Lake Tahoe Basin. For fifteen miles trestled logs were propelled "by waters rushing faster than any train." At the terminus of the flume, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad opened a depot and telegraph office and constructed a spur where workers transferred timbers. #238 joins my TOP TEN ENDANGERED MARKERS list, due to its location on private property. DID YOU KNOW?... ...The Huffakers cemetery represents the first community in the Truckee Meadows? Long before Byron Lake built his bridge over the Truckee River, the farming community of Huffakers was alive and thriving. Now, all that remains of this great paradise is a tiny and lonely graveyard, surrounded by modern suburbia and completely tucked away from the busy traffic on Virginia Street. Huffakers Today Very little remains of old Huffakers today. Enjoy some of my professional photography honoring this forgotten history of the Truckee Meadows ... "Huffakers," South Reno, NV. "Lyell's Plot," Washoe County, NV. "Catherine and Lizzie," Washoe County, NV. Thanks go to Kevin C. for correcting me on vital history information regarding the old Huffaker home. See you out there!
Before the arrival, 1858, of Granville W. Huffaker driving 500 head of cattle into the Truckee Meadows, the principal settlers were Mormons. The Comstock Lode and its mining needs focused attention on the valley. Huffaker established his ranch in 1859. Langton's Stage Line and the first Post Office were functioning by 1862. For ten years Huffaker's was a most active stage-stop and a center for a community. The school house was constructed in 1868. Bachelors of a jolly nature gathered here for dancing, horse-racing and "Land Squabbles." The Athenian Literary Society flourished for the more cultured. In 1875 the "Bonanza Kings" completed their Pacific Lumber and Flume operation from the Lake Tahoe Basin. For fifteen miles trestled logs were propelled "by waters rushing faster than any train." At the terminus of the flume, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad opened a depot and telegraph office and constructed a spur where workers transferred timbers. #238 joins my TOP TEN ENDANGERED MARKERS list, due to its location on private property. DID YOU KNOW?... ...The Huffakers cemetery represents the first community in the Truckee Meadows? Long before Byron Lake built his bridge over the Truckee River, the farming community of Huffakers was alive and thriving. Now, all that remains of this great paradise is a tiny and lonely graveyard, surrounded by modern suburbia and completely tucked away from the busy traffic on Virginia Street. Huffakers Today Very little remains of old Huffakers today. Enjoy some of my professional photography honoring this forgotten history of the Truckee Meadows ... "Huffakers," South Reno, NV. "Lyell's Plot," Washoe County, NV. "Catherine and Lizzie," Washoe County, NV. Thanks go to Kevin C. for correcting me on vital history information regarding the old Huffaker home. See you out there!
DID YOU KNOW?... ...The Huffakers cemetery represents the first community in the Truckee Meadows? Long before Byron Lake built his bridge over the Truckee River, the farming community of Huffakers was alive and thriving. Now, all that remains of this great paradise is a tiny and lonely graveyard, surrounded by modern suburbia and completely tucked away from the busy traffic on Virginia Street.
Huffakers Today Very little remains of old Huffakers today. Enjoy some of my professional photography honoring this forgotten history of the Truckee Meadows ... "Huffakers," South Reno, NV. "Lyell's Plot," Washoe County, NV. "Catherine and Lizzie," Washoe County, NV. Thanks go to Kevin C. for correcting me on vital history information regarding the old Huffaker home. See you out there!
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