As I come on the Red House at Hole 2, I can't
help but remember the little city that became a refuge, an
oasis for the wagon trains destined for California, while at
the same time helped prosper our nation during the Gold Rush
days. Empire City was built on the Carson River. In its
earliest days it gave refuge to the courageous yet weary
emigrants who would stop to replenish their goods. They would
stay long enough to regain their strength and sprits for the
last leg of their journey. Knowing all so well the great
Sierra's stood between them and their destination.
Virginia City was growing and timber became
essential for timbering mines, construction, fuel and growth.
Soon Empire became the recovery depot for millions of feet of
timber which was cut from the Sierra Nevada forest, then
floated for miles down the Carson River to Empire City's
depot. The giant logs were then loaded onto wagons and hauled
to Virginia City by 8 to 10 mule teams, later on they were
transported by ore cars.
 Soon
after gold and silver were found on the Comstock the first
quartz mill, called the Mexican, was built in Empire City, on
the Carson River. The Morgan Mill came shortly after
that. Then over the next few years several others followed.
For many years the thunderous noise of the mills and the roar
of the train rang out day and night, keeping this important
yet small town and the people very busy.
The population of Empire reached a peak in
the early 1870's of 350 to 400 people. It had two general
stored, a dance hall, four saloons a school house that taught
40 to 50 children and in 1886 the Virginia and Truckee
railroad built a station there. When the Comstock declined and
the mills slowly started to close, Empire began to diminish
and eventually was taken back by the desert. The immense
mills, the homes, the stores, the businesses and then
eventually the school house were all gone. Yet the Red House
stands as a monument and reminder that their was an Empire
City full of industrious friendly folks who reached out to
others in need and added a large supply of gold and silver to
our economy, which helped prosper our great Nation.
The Red House was built to accommodate the
superintendent of the Mexican Mill and still stands as a
landmark of Empire City. It is now a very proud part of our
Empire Ranch Golf Course.
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