JUST LIKE AT&T….. MORE BARS IN MORE PLACES

Sam Clemens, in his book, “Roughing It”, chapter 29, offers a description of Virginia City in 1861/62.  In that chapter he states, . . .”hurdy gurdy houses, wide open gambling palaces . . . a whisky mill every fifteen steps . .. a dozen breweries.”  There was not much exaggeration in this description.  Probably the first bar, undocumented, would have been two barrels and a plank either in the open or under a tent set up by a pioneer that moved from one camp to another as they boomed and busted.  Virginia City was no different. 

 

In the 1862 Directory of Nevada are listed at least 20 saloons in Virginia City and another 7 in Gold Hill.  Add to that restaurants and hotels that also served alcohol and several wholesalers of liquors and Twain’s reference to every fifteen steps holds validity.  The Sierra, Old Corner, Union, Pastor’s, Magnolia, Fashion, Mitchell & Adams and the Virginia City Saloons are just a few listed.  And you can be sure the list was incomplete in the Directory.  Most were located on the B & C Street corridors with a few in more outlying areas of Mill St., Flowery Road and other parts of town.  In Gold Hill were the Bed Rock, Branch and the Harp & Erin Saloons on Main St. from upper Gold Hill almost to Devil’s Gate. 

 

As the Comstock grew in population so grew the whisky mills.  In the Sept. 25, 1874 issue of the “Daily Independent”, a newspaper owned by Adolph Sutro, (another story) carried adverts for more than 20 saloons and breweries.  An ad for the Lafayette Saloon at 15 No. C St. owned by LaPage and Filardo stated  “The Lafayette is one of the most inviting drinking saloons in the city, being large, airy and well lighted, and having a number of private rooms for card and conversation parties.  At the tables the best of wines and liquors and cigars can be had for One Bit”, the ad states.

 

The El Dorado Saloon and Club Rooms, owned by Buckner and Redding was next door to the International Hotel on C Street and boasted “one of the most elegantly furnished saloons in the state.”  The Boston Saloon was unique in that it was owned and operated by William Brown, an African American.  It was located on the SW corner of D St. at Union.  There were several German beer gardens in town as well.  One was located where St. Mary’s (Hospital) is now.

 

The saloons acquired much of their fare from VC’s own breweries.  There was the California Brewery, John Deininger, prop., on the NW corner of D at Smith (where the Middle School gym is).  The Nevada Brewery on Mill Street near L St.;  The Fredericksburg Brewery at C and Union that offered tasting rooms and the Philadelphia Brewery at #3 South C St..  Fine wines and liquors were brought in daily from all parts of the world via San Francisco.  So, you see, we are just like AT&T…More bars in more places.