Woodfords, California

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Native Stonework

Sometime in 2017, we were on a mission to buy lottery tickets.  So, off to the general store in Woodfords, California we headed.  After making our purchase, we noticed an overgrown, muddy road to the north of the store.  

We looked at one another and thought, “What the hey?  We have 4 wheel drive.” And off we went.  

At the end of this road, we were rewarded with a vision – a magnificent, pink stone building.  It was good sized. There was nobody around, no “No Trespassing” signs, so we were free to roam and explore.

The House – 2017


We had questions.  Wash this beauty built for a large family or for a commercial endeavor?  We don’t know.  However, it was apparent that the building hadn’t been occupied for a number of years – windows were broken, trash was strewn about the interior and it had a general air of being unloved.  

We asked around. Who owned this house? What was its history?  Nobody seemed to know.  Some people told us that it was home to a large, farming family.  Which lead us to ask “Where’s the farm?”  The house is in the middle of the forest, so unless commuting was a part of the equation, farming was not the answer,  Other people told us that the building was constructed during Prohibition and was a restaurant/bar. The remote location made the bar attractive during Prohibition. Now, that made sense as we saw what appeared to be a commerical-sized oven inside.

It was/is apparent to us that this building is the work of Nevada’s Native American stonemasons.  Think about it, Woodfords is only a mere 27 miles from the Stewart Indian School in Carson City.  The school trained the Native American stonemasons and many remained in the area after graduating, plying their trade. Master stonemasons all!

And the Native American stonemasons were used to traveling to work sites.  Think Thunderbird Lodge or the Moon Dune House at Lake Tahoe.  The stonemasons camped at these worksites, only going home on the weekends.  So, yes, we strongly believe this marvel to be the work of these artisans.

Cue to last week, we were on a drive and thought we’d check in on “our” house. So, off to Woodfords we went.  Imagine our surprise to discover that overgrown road had been cleared. The trash picked up. There was a fence surrounding the house, it was high security.  Yikes! Best of all, the house was being rehabbed – she was regaining her former glory!  Yay!  

The House – 2025

Unlike Nevada, the assessors of California do not post property information online.  Instead, 3rd party vendors provide this information (for a fee) only if the name of the property owner is used.  Sadly, we did not have that information.  

We were sharing the photographs with friends. These friends have been actively working construction in Northern Nevada for decades and had worked with many of the area’s Native American stonemasons.  Our friends instantly know that this gorgeous house to be the work of those geniuses.  

One of our friends thought that the house might be the work of Ernest Wungnema. It strongly resembles other houses he built (see Red Rock Dental in Carson City or the Griel Ranch in Washoe Valley) However, without access to the county’s property records, we have no clue as to when the house was built or who built it.  

Our friends also agreed with us that a 30 mile jaunt for work was not out of the ordinary for the Native American stonemasons.

Turns, that next to the general store, there’s a house with a chimney and a stone facade that we strongly suspect was built by the Native American stonemasons during the same time frame as the house.  We’re going to scout the area for more examples of Native American workmanship.

We’d love a tour of the house once the renovation and updating is complete.  And even if we aren’t invited to tour the house, we’re happy to know that this important part of both Nevada and California’s histories is being saved for future generations to enjoy.

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Elk Point at Lake Tahoe

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Native Stonework

It was a nice spring day, one of those special days we get early in April. One where you can feel summer coming. So, we thought we take advantage of the pre-tourist season at Lake Tahoe and take a drive around the lake.  During our explorations, we discovered Elk Point at Lake Tahoe.  And it’s home to a wonderful stone house called Little Stone House. Only, we didn’t know it at the time.  See, Elk Pointing a gate community – no access unless you are a resident, a guest or have “official” business in the community.  Well, we were none of the above, so we could not tour Elk Point.  Drat! 

We’d been Elk Point before on “official” business, so we knew that there were pink stone creations in the community.  Sadly, we would not be able to photograph them during our jaunt around the lake.

No fear!  We know how to use Google and, while there were no online photographs of any pink stone creations in Elk Point, we discovered the Little Stone House.  This house was built in 1927 and while it is not of the pink stone (Rhyolite) the Native American Stonemasons favored, this house has the distinct look of being a Native American Stonemason creation.

While Rhyolite is the stone most commonly used by the Native American Stonemasons, they were known to use any readily available stone. The stone used in this house was from the rubble created when the Cave Rock Tunnel was built.

The Native American Stonemasons were the masters of re-purposing.  A prime example is a retaining wall in Virginia City built by the Wungnema and Crawford families.  They used the rubble created when the tunnels for the V & T Railroad were blasted into being.

The keystones around the windows strongly resemble those in the buildings at the Stewart Indian School. 

The fireplace keystone also resembles the work of the Stewart stonemasons. However, a portion of that keystone appears to have been replaced with a concrete block.  So, we have no way of telling.

We’d love to see this house up close and personal.  In the meantime, we’d like to see photographs of any other stone houses or chimneys in this development. If you have some and are willing to share, please email them to us.  We’d be your best friends!  Really!

Note: All photographs from the internet

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Red Rock Dental

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Native Stonework

Look at this beauty!  Built in 1939 by Ernest, Randall and Johnny Wunegnema, it was originally a residence.  However, it has been a commercial building for as long as we can remember.  It is now home to Red Rock Dental.  Imagine this house when it was first constructed – think how the people of Carson City must have oohed and aahed over it.

Red Rock Dental

This building is within the borders of Carson City’s West Side Historic District  (District) which means the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The District has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2011-2012.

Being listed on the National Register provides a number of benefits for the District, including the potential to increase the value of the properties in the District, access to preservation grants and tax credits, community recognition of the historical significance of the properties within the District, and the opportunity to contribute to heritage tourism by preserving pieces of local history; essentially, it signifies the cultural value of the properties within the District and may encourage responsible restoration efforts while potentially boosting marketability

South Side, Red Rock Dental

While the National Register of Historic Places generally aims to protect historic properties, there could be potential detriment as being on the National Register of Historic Places sometimes creates limitations on property modifications, particularly when federal funding or permits are involved, potentially impacting renovation plans and causing extra steps for the property owners within the District to navigate when making changes to their property, even if they ultimately intend to preserve its historic features. 

What we’re trying to say is that the Red Rock Dental Building – one of the Wungnemas’ masterpieces – is safe from exterior modifications or demolitions.  It will be a vital part of Carson CIty for years to come, providing a home for businesses while its beauty will be on display for all to enjoy. Look at the arched entryway – few stonemasons have mastered the art of curved stonework. 

Randall Wungnema was one of those talented stonemasons who could make stones bend in any direction and look good.  Look at the fireplace in the reception area.  The stonework in the surround, including the key stone placement, is that of Ernest Wungnema as is the placement of the vent work. He always included a metal vent cover in the fireplaces he created.  We hope, that on a cold snowy day,  the staff of Red Rock Dental enjoys a warm, cozy fire in the fireplace.

Red Rock’s Fireplace

There are other pink stone creations in the Historic District – the house on Caroline Street, the planter on Elizabeth Street and the wall that runs between houses on the corner of Robinson and Elizabeth Streets.  If you’d like to see these historic stone buildings, plus other historic buildings, walk the Kit Carson Trail (https://travelnevada.com/hiking/kit-carson-trail/)

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Pratt Street – Problem or Challenge?

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Native Stonework

Look at this cutie! Lots has happened since we last wrote about this east side beauty! The home is on a large lot in East Carson City and used to be surrounded by trees and vegetation.

Not no more! Why? Because this beauty sat vacant for so long, she became what’s known as an “attractive nuisance.” Did the owners give up on her? Don’t know. Was there some sort of family squabble that prevented the owners from giving the house the TLC she so desperately needed? Again, we don’t know. In fact, nobody seems to know!

In the fall off 2024, The neighbors discovered that squatters had moved into the house. Without utilities, the neighbors were afraid of what could happen, say, if the squatters attempted to light a fire for warmth/cooking. What if they used an open flame (candle) for lighting purposes? Or, god forbid, what if they used the yard for their personal business (and you know what we mean by that!)?

Understand, we have not verified any of the following information with city officials. We’re just going off what the neighbors have told us! Now, the neighbors, not knowing what to do, complained to the City of Carson. City officials stepped in, inspected the property – and as we understand the process – exercised eminent domain over the property.

Eminent domain is defined as the government’s power to take private property for public use, but only with just compensation to the property owner, as outlined in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 

So, the folks in the neighborhood now believe that the City of Carson owns this house. After all, the squatters are gone, the trash has been picked up and the vegetation cleared. Who else would have done that except the City? Who indeed!

If the City does own it, will it be sold at auction? Or can we place an offer? We’d love to have this house! We even have a couple of bucks we could use to purchase this stunning example of Native American stonework! Mayor Bagwell, are y0u listening?

True, the house needs lots of work, but we’re up for the challenge! Think about it! This stone house would be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Imagine sitting in front of a roaring fire an a snowy, wintery day! Sadly, though, we’d have to repair the fireplace before there’d be any roaring fires!

Originally, the fireplace was built of that beautiful pink stone. However, some barbarians took that fireplace out and replaced it with brick. The horror! Fortunately, we know a few excellent stonemasons who could make that bad boy as good as new!

Look at the front door – the top is curved! How cool is that?

Take a look at the photos – see the changes to the property. Let us know if you agree with us that this house has potential.

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Thunderbird Lodge, Lake Tahoe

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Native Stonework

The impact of Nevada’s Native American stonemasons reaches far beyond Nevada’s borders. We daresay it might be international! 

Look to the Thunderbird Lodge (the Lodge) on the east shore of Lake Tahoe  That is where we see the true scope of the Native American stonemasons’ creativity and workmanship.  George Whittel, jr., began construction  on the Lodge, his dream, in 1936.  The “Captain” as he was known, used only the finest craftsmen on the project, including the area’s Native American stonemasons.

The Stewart Indian School (SIS) was contracted to provide stonemasons for the project and sent all of its stonemasons (from apprentice to master) to work on the Lodge.  Other Native American stonemasons  in the area were also employed on the project.

The students working at the Lodge came from many tribes, including the Washoe, Paiute, Hopi, Apache, Pima, Mohave, Walapai, Ute, Pipage, Coropah, and Tewa tribes.  

Frederick Snyder, who served as the school superintendent from 1919 to 1934, established the stone masonry apprenticeship program at the school. Snyder began the practice of using colored native stones for both on- and off-campus buildings. He encouraged the trade students to ply their trades (masonry, plumbing, electrical and carpentry) for off-campus projects.   The students were paid for their work off-campus and the Lodge is one example of an off-campus project.

All of the stonemasons stayed onsite during the work week – they camped along the shores of the Lake and, generally, went home on the weekends.  Remember, in the 1930s, both the roads and vehicles would have made a daily commute long and tiresome.  

The masons were not closely supervised and had a great deal of latitude in their work. A story is told that when the masons began working in the morning, Whittell – a night owl – was often up when the masons began their day’s work. He would meet up with the stonemasons as he headed to bed. In these encounters, Whittell would tell the masons what he wanted done that day. Those mornings when the stonemasons did not see Whittell, they decided for themselves what project to work on for the day. Many of the 12 buildings and features at the Lodge are a result of their creativity. 

A brief mention of the Native American stonemasons and their contributions to the Thunderbird Lodge can be found in Masonry Magazine (see https://www.sfgate.com/renotahoe/article/thunderbird-tycoon-lake-tahoe-george-whittell-16585263.php).

The article mentions the contributions of the architect, Frederick DeLongshamps, the Italian metalworkers and the Cornish miners, yet only lightly references the creativeness of the stonemasons. We thought that a magazine with the “masonry” in the title would focus more on the stone working and quarrying than the other construction aspects associated with this massive project.

One of the tunnels dug by the Cornish miners

Local stone, including Rhyolite, was used in the building of the Lodge.  We believe that the majority of the Rhyolite was provided by the Wungnemas as the family owned (still owns) four Rhyolite quarries in Carson City and the stones from those quarries  were used in their many projects throughout Northern Nevada and California.

For more information on the Lodge and the Captain, see https://www.sfgate.com/renotahoe/article/thunderbird-tycoon-lake-tahoe-george-whittell-16585263.php

The Thunderbird Lodge is now an international, must-see vacation destination with visitors from all over the world admiring the work, the craftsmanship that went into the Lodge some 80-plus years ago. 

And, whether or not these visitors know it, they are admiring the workmanship of Nevada’s Native American stonemasons.

The Lighthouse at the Lodge – note the wall surrounding the light house is intact

The light house at the Lodge. Note the wall surrounding the light house has been destroyed by the waves. Plus, see how far out in the Lake the Lighthouse is located. Imagine the challenges in its construction!
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