In the 1970s and 1980s, one of the “It” places to eat was the Cabin in the Sky up on the Comstock. The Cabin was the place to see and be seen. This was the place for the view, the steaks and the drinks. And, occasionally, one might catch a glimpse of the owner, Joe Conforte (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Conforte).
Between the dining room, the bar and the dance floor, the Cabin was large enough to host any occasion – wedding receptions, wakes, holiday parties and the annual Fireman’s Dinner. The Cabin is located on the road into Virginia City and people from Reno, Carson City and beyond made their way to the Cabin.
Contributing to the ambiance of the Cabin was the stonework of Randall Wungnema. He was responsible for the brickwork around the fireplace and mirror. He was also responsible for the stonework in the bar.
The Cabin has not been operational since 2004 and has sat vacant since that time. The Comstock Mining Company now owns the Cabin. Officials at the mining company graciously allowed the Wungnema family and friends to tour the Cabin in 2017.
Once in the door, the first thing we noticed was the fireplace. One of the owners painted the bricks a dull brown and covered the paint with a gold, glittery finish. This was not the fireplace the family remembered. The Wungnemas were disappointed that one of their father’s creations had been mistreated so.
Our apologies for the photographs. The power was off at the Cabin and these are the best photographs that we were able to take with flash photographs. Think about this – if the stonework looks this good in subpar lighting, think how it looks in real life!
Close up of the paint on the fireplace
Mirror over the fireplace
Fireplace and mirror
However, all was not lost. The stonework in the bar had been left intact. We could see the precision and artistry with which the stones had been cut, polished and set. To us, this is a masterpiece of stone working. We consider it one of Randall’s finest creations.
Looking down at the bar step
Bar front
Behind the bar
Note the gold grout
The stonework within the stonework
Now, some people might take offense to the glitter and glitz among the stones. Kindly consider who commissioned the bar and remember that the bar is a reflection of Joe’s personality and taste. The glitter and glitz does not take away from the superb workmanship that went into the stonework.
On the cold winter nights, people would gather in front of the fireplace and visit with one another over serious adult beverages.
During the hot summer days on the high desert, people sought refuge from the heat at the bar, enjoying cool drinks. The Cabin and its interior brick and stonework contributed to the community. They have their place in Nevada history and deserve to be protected and enjoyed by the community once more.
The Comstock Mining Company assured us that it has no plans to demolish the Cabin. Indeed, there is talk of converting the Cabin into a tourist center. This is a fabulous idea! Naturally, we had our own thoughts on the restoration. We suggested that the paint be removed from the fireplace and that the bar be used to provide refreshments to the tourists and locals alike.
If you have a chance, drive by the Cabin, stop to take in the view and pray that the building and its remarkable stonework is preserved for future generations to enjoy.
What can we say about the Stewart Indian School (SIS) that hasn’t already been said? So much has been written about the school, that there’s really nothing for us to say.
Carson City’s Official Christmas Tree Ornament for 2019
We can start by reminding people that the school is the only Indian Boarding School that is not on a reservation. That the Nevada Legislature authorized its construction and funded that construction, then sold the school to the federal government – the only Indian Boarding School ever to be built in this manner.
We can tell you that the SIS is located on 109 acres south of Carson City and that the campus holds powerful memories (good and bad) for its alumni and their descendants.
We can tell you that the 2015 Nevada Legislature (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/) charged the Nevada Indian Commission with providing oversight for the use, preservation and protection of the SIS.
We can tell you that the many of the buildings on the campus are in dire need of restoration. These functional pieces of art tell the story of the students who attended the school, who created the buildings. If the buildings fall past the point of repair, then the stories of their creators are lost to time. We believe that history forgotten is history repeated.
Some of the photographs in this post show the decay and disrepair. Those photographs are not meant as disrespect. Rather, they are here to illustrate the immense amount of work required to restore SIS to her former glory and to honor the students who attended and built the school.
The State of Nevada owns SIS and with ownership comes responsibility. No doubt money – and lots of it – is required to undertake the Herculean task of repairing/restoring the buildings on the campus. We can start with asking the 2023 Nevada Legislature for funds. Then, understanding that funding from the legislature is iffy, we can look elsewhere for the money or other means of restoring the buildings.
First, SIS is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This means that there are tax breaks, grants and other endowments available to the State of Nevada as the owner of the property. These financial opportunities are only available to properties listed on the NRHP. We believe that this is something the State’s financial experts should consider and explore.
Second, there is a housing crisis in Carson City. There are homes at SIS that could be used to offset the crisis if they were restored. The State could partner with a non-profit – such a Habitat for Humanity – and working with the families on a wait list, restore the homes one by one. Perhaps, Lowe’s or Home Depot could be approached for donations of building materials. Once restored, the homes could be rented out for a reasonable rate. We believe that the SIS alumni and their descendants should be first on the wait list, then Native Americans, then all others.
And lastly, we like to reiterate that we have heard whispers that the State of Nevada wants to renovate the dormitories and the cafeteria. Once renovated, the rooms could be rented to over-night visitors who would be able to take their meals in the cafeteria, which still has all of its original kitchen/baking equipment.
Perhaps, the cafeteria could focus on Native American cuisine. People in Carson City and the surrounding communities are always looking for new eating experiences and they are faithful to the ones that provide good food along with a sense of community. We think an operational cafeteria at Stewart would fill both those requirements.
The kitchen and bakery has the capacity to feed 500 students and staff three times a day. So, it seems that between the kitchen, bakery, dining room and dorms, at least that many guests could be accommodated daily.
Plus, consider this – mail order baked goods. We believe that providing baked goods from the bakery at Stewart is a viable and profitable option. The goodies could be sent via UPS, Fed Ex or the USPS. And get this, if the cafeteria also feeds the state employees working on the campus, there are tax breaks associated with the operation of the cafeteria.
Dining Hall, Kitchen, Bakery
The money generated from the house and room rental plus the revenue from the food/baked good sales would be deposited into a special budget category dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of Stewart. Those funds would not be deposited into the State’s General Fund. The financial wizards at the State should have no problem setting up this special budget category. After all, they’re wizards!
With all that being said, we’d like to share with you some of the many photographs we’ve taken of Stewart over the past five years. Note that not all of the photographs are captioned.
Please enjoy and if you have memories or photographs, you like to share, we’d love to see them!
Stewart –
A 6-car garage
The Student Store (we think!)
One of the residences still in use
Fountain or planter?
Mail Call! The USPS on campus. Yep, we used to get our mail here
This is one great walkway!
Law enforcement agencies across Nevada train at Stewart
The steam generating plant. Steam was once used to heat the buildings and ran through a series of underground steam tunnels.
The interior of the steam generating plant
Another view of the steam generating plant
Pump house for the water tower & steam generating plant plus the buildings?
The Water Tower
Interior of one of the unused residences
Door’s open – Old Gym
One of the entrances to the underground steam tunnels. How cool would it be to explore those tunnels?
Massive Cottonwood
Ancient Apple Tree
Exhibit Grand Opening of the Stewart Cultural Center & Museum
Exhibit Grand Opening of the Stewart Cultural Center & Museum
A room in the Cultural Center
Another room in the Cultural Center
Blue prints for what building?
This is now the gift shop where you can purchase all sorts of merch!C I S = Carson Indian School
The Old Gym – Before the new roof was installed
Seems the State of Nevada uses Stewart to store micro-wave relay equipment
Storage shed
Interior of the storage shed
Night Moves –
The Cultural Center
Street light
Street light with dust
The Water Tower
Reservation Principal’s House –
We believe this is the Reservation Principal’s House. What’s does a Reservation Principal do? Good question! Don’t have a clue! We’ve looked and other than being identified as an employee at SIS, we could not find a job description for Reservation Principal.
Reservation Principal’s House
Reservation Principal’s House – side view
What we find interesting is that the house is not on the Stewart Campus. It’s located off-campus on the west end of Gibson Avenue. And, when the federal government signed Stewart over to the State of Nevada, this property was not included in the transfer. The house, and the property it sits on, belongs to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
Road leading to the Reservation Principal’s House
This is a gorgeous home, just in need of a little TLC. We have vague memories of playing here with child hood friends. As such, it makes us sad to see it ignored for so long. Perhaps, the BIA would consider selling it to someone who would restore and live in it (hint, we would!).
V&T Depot –
The V&T Depot, Stewart Campus – now being used by a state agency for storage and office space. Note the loading doors on the right side of the photograph
Did you know that there is a railroad depot on the grounds of SIS? Yes, there is! The V&T Railroad operated trains to and through the campus from 1906 through 1946. Passenger and freight service was provided to the School once a day for 40 years. The V&T ceased operation in 1950 and all the rails were removed by 1953. So, sadly, there’s no chance of incorporating the School into the route of the V&T Railway (a modern day version of the V&T Railroad).
V&T Schedule showing Stewart as one of the stops
Train #2 arrived at SIS every day at approximately 9:35 a.m., dropping goods, supplies and passengers at the Stewart Indian School train station, then it headed south to Douglas County.
Before the Depot – waiting for the train at Stewart (internet photo)
There are only two V&T depots in Carson City – one is located in Carson City at the corner of Carson and Washington Streets and the other depot is this one on the Stewart Campus. The depot in Carson City is constructed of wood while this depot is a fine example of the stonework executed by the masonry instructors and students at SIS.
Note: Over the 4th of July Weekend 2022, the Nevada State Railroad Museum will be hosting the Great Western Steam up, celebrating all things V&T, including celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the completion of Nevada’s famous Virginia & Truckee Railroad Other railroad museums and railroads are graciously sharing their locomotives for this occasion,
For event information and to purchase tickets, see https://greatwesternsteamup.com/. Also, the State of Nevada and the State of California are trading historic locomotives for two years (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9v-0mT9pK4).
S Hill –
Did you know that there is a school tradition, found primarily in the west, of painting the hills or mountains near a high school or university with the school’s initials? Stones are placed in the shape of a school’s initials and then painted white. For some reason, these stone initials are known as “Mountain Monograms.”
These monograms are generally seen only on the West Coast due to the rugged terrain (i.e., steep hills and mountains) found west of the Mississippi. Generally speaking, the initials are located on a steep hill or mountain near the school. The locations are generally accessible only by foot or 4 wheel drive.
This tradition began in the early 1900s. The initials were used as an identifier for a school. A school’s initial was/is a matter of pride and painting the hills with initials is a practice that continues to this day for many schools.
“S” Hill
The students at Stewart participated in this tradition and painted a “S” on the hills north of the school. They maintained the “S” until the school closed in 1980. The “S” is still visible today and even though it hasn’t officially been maintained since that time, it still looks vibrant. We remember back in the day when it came time for the “S” to be repainted – there would be a flurry of activity on the hill, people climbing while the trucks carrying the paint and equipment made a slow climb up the hill.
You know what? We could organize a group of people to climb/4 wheel to the “S” and repaint it. Wouldn’t that be fun? It’d take some doing to organize, however, it could be done! What do you think?
During the shutdown, we did what millions of other Americans did – we snacked (alot!), binged on NetFlix and surfed the Web. Our surfing paid off as we found a couple of sites in Nevada that are home to prime examples of Nevada American stonework. We intend to make a trip to these locations; however, until we do, we are going to share the Web sites with you.
The first is the Thunder Mountain Monument. This beauty is in the middle of B.F.E. Nevada (Imlay, 130 miles to the north east of Reno).
Frank Van Zant (photo: Thundermountainmonument.com)
It’s a five acre art show, complete with buildings and art work. The creative force behind the monument was Frank Van Zant, a Creek Indian. Mr. Van Zant (later known as Chief Rolling Thunder Mountain) created the entire project on his own, using found materials from the surrounding desert.
Chief Rolling Thunder Mountain was not a Stewart-trained. In fact, we can’t find where he received his training – was he self-taught or did he learn the art of stonemasonry while serving in the Civilian Conservation Corp?
Really, where the man learned his craft is not important. What’s important is the fact that the Monument was created and built in Nevada by a Native American Stonemason and, as such, deserves to be recognized and protected. Fortunately, the Chief’s family is working with the State of Nevada to ensure that the Monument receives the respect and protection it deserves.
Visit the Web site ((http://www.thundermountainmonument.com), to learn about Chief Rolling Thunder Mountain and check out the beautiful photos of his Monument and his art.
We plan on making a trip of our own to the Monument – it’s on our “Places to See” list. We will share our photographs and thoughts once we make the trek. If you make the trek before we do, please share your photos!
Then, bonus, we found another item for our “Places to See” List on the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada, which is on the Idaho-Nevada border.
Look at these buildings! Aren’t they gorgeous? And, they remind us of the buildings on the Stewart Campus. It appears that the stone buildings at Owyhee were constructed in the 1930s, probably 1936 – 1937.
Owyhee home – note how the stone has been faced. It mirrors the treatment of the stonework found on the campus of the Stewart Indian School. (Photo: https://www.nvexpeditions.com/index.php)
We believe that some of the stonemasons who created these beautiful buildings were trained at the Stewart Indian School (SIS). We feel this way as there is a remarkable similarity between the buildings created by the Stewart-trained stonemasons and (big AND), the fact that two of the tribe’s members, Charlie and Frank Paradise, attended SIS and we know that they built at least one stone house in Elko, Nevada (yep, we’re going there too!)
There are records of the SIS students and the trades they learned at the school. Having access to those records would make it easier to determine the buildings in Nevada and California that were created by the SIS alumni.
However, those records are either in national archives/federal records centers in California or the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office (BIA) in Carson City. (Note to BIA, we’re available to help sort, organize and file those records. Just saying!)
If you make the trip and would like to share your photographs and thoughts about the stone buildings in Owyhee, we’d be honored to post them on this site.
The Frontier Motel was built in 1949 and quickly became an early day destination resort. People from both this county and Canada would plan their vacations around a stay at the motel.
During the early days, the motel has a wall comprised of the pink stonework found at the Stewart Indian School. We think that the stonemasons from the school were responsible for this wall. Later, the wall was demolished and replaced with a brick wall. We think this happened when the second story was added to the motel.
Here are pictures of the two wall types. We think the stone wall was better, but then, we’re just a bit biased! In the first photo, note how the tree trunks were painted white – painting trees white was the rage in Carson City during the 1950s and 1960s. Go figure!
Frontier Motel – late 1940s – early 1950s (internet photo)
Yet another creation integral to Nevada’s history has fallen prey to the evergrowing development in our area.
Once again, progress marched forward, kicking Nevada history to the curb in the process! Over the last 3 – 4 years, we’ve noticed that this deliberation destruction of our historic treasures appears to be a common theme in our area (See the post on the Stone House on the Mt. Rose Highway). The motel was razed approximately 18 months ago and Cruz Construction took all that gorgeous Rhyolite to the Carson City landfill. To date, nothing has been built on the site of the former motel.
This motel is on Highway 50, one block to the east of Carson Street. It is believed that Randall Wungnema was the master stonemason who built the motel in 1959. Over the years, the motel morphed into a strip mall, the trees were cut down and the stonework covered in paint, hiding the beauty of the stones. Compare the motel as it was in the late 1950s – early 1960s to how it appears today.
