Due to its proximity to the Stewart Indian School, Carson City has many fine examples of the masonry created by the Native American stonemasons teaching, working or studying at the school. These examples include homes, fireplaces and landscape features, some big, some little.
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden is an example of using Rhyolite for landscaping. We’re not telling you exactly where – we want you to find t! It is located somewhere on Curry Street (between Robinson and 2nd Streets), the SG is small, yet charming. The shrubs and flowers are surrounded by pieces of Rhyolite giving the garden a sense of serenity and peace. Find it and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done!
Let’s talk about the stones used locally by the Native American stonemasons in their many construction projects. The masons used a combination of quarried and found stones, the primary stone being Rhyolite. The quarried stones came from quarries in Carson City, Fallon and parts of California, while the found stones were just that – found. The found stones were generally found on site, though, there are instances where people went rock hunting for specific stones to be used on a project.
Quarries are a form of open pit mining. Quarried stone is just as important to Nevada’s economy as is the gold and silver produced by underground mining
Quarry (Dictionary.com)
noun, plural quarries.
1. an excavation or pit, usually open to the air, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.
2. an abundant source or supply.
Example of a truck used in the quarries almost 100 years ago Photo – https://www.northcountryatwork.org
The Wungnema Family owns an unspecified number of quarries along the Carson River, where they obtain their supplies of Rhyolite. Much of the Rhyolite used locally was obtained from one of these quarries.
Close up of Rhyolite
Only the Wungnema Family and their closest associates know the exact location of these quarries. Contrary to rumor, none of these quarries are – or have ever been – underwater.
The extensive use of Rhyolite by the Native American stonemasons in their masonry projects has become the trademark of these masons. Locally, this stone is known as the “pink” stone or “Indian” rock. Rhyolite is the primary stone used in building projects. The masons also used a number of other stones including Wonder stone, Turquoise and Onyx.
Wonder Stone, quarried in Fallon, Nevada
Found Turquoise
Wonder stone is a type of Rhyolite that grows with gorgeous patterns of creams, yellows, pinks and reds. As with all Rhyolite, it is an excellent meditation stone and creativity enhancer. It brings energies of tranquility and helps eliminate worries.
The use of Rhyolite in construction projects has declined as the above-ground supply of this stone in Northern Nevada is being depleted and, due to federal regulations, it is expensive to mine/dynamite the underground supply of the stone.
Rhyolite with dynamite plug (white arrow)
Fortunately, the Native American stonemasons created a number of masterpieces using Rhyolite obtained from the Wungnema quarries. This means, that as we drive through Carson City, the Stewart Indian School and other towns in Northern Nevada, we can appreciate the beauty of the stone!
An abandoned quarry somewhere in the Nevada Desert
Hey! Didcha know that Frederick Snyder, Superintendent, Stewart Indian School (SIS), had a summer cottage at Lake Tahoe? And did you know that this house was built by the master and apprentice stonemasons from the trade programs at SIS? Well, he did and it was! We came across that fact while researching the Field Matron’s Cottage at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.
Mr. Snyder pioneered the Stewart-Vernacular style of architecture that was used extensively at SIS. He was such a fan of this style of architecture that he had his summer house built in the style. Take a look at it and you will see the similarity between this summer cottage and the buildings on the campus of the SIS.
You might say that Mr. Snyder was one of the first influencers as other people followed his lead and had their houses constructed in the same style. As you drive around Lake Tahoe, you will see a number of homes and churches built in the Stewart-Vernacular style of architecture
According to the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH), the house was built in 1927 by master stonemasons, James and John Christopher, and the apprentice stonemasons learning their trade at SIS. We believe that the apprentices from the other trade programs such as plumbing, electrical and carpentry, also assisted with the construction. (See https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/NV-01-NW008.2 for additional information.)
Mr. Snyder was apparently a private man making it difficult to find a picture of the house. However, we did! And, we’re sharing!
Biographical information on Mr. Snyder is scarce, so scarce that there are no known photographs of him!
Frederick Snyder’s Lake Tahoe Summer Cottage
Plans for the Cottage Note: the T shape of the house in the plans was mentioned by the SAH
View from the back of the summer cottage This is why the road is called Lakeview
The SAH Web site stated that there were two additional houses built at Zephyr Cove in 1927 by the Christopher Brothers and the SIS apprentices. Those houses were located at 723 Cedar Street and 716 Lincoln Highway. We found pictures of the 716 Lincoln Highway house. We could not find a picture of the 723 Cedar Street house, however, we did find a picture of a stone house at 721 Cedar Street. This house was built in 1927, so, we’re thinking this house might have been built by the SIS craftsmen.
Cedar Street House Note the resemblance to the buildings on the campus of the Stewart Indian School
Lincoln Highway house Note: the dark mud between the stones used for the house. The SIS stonemasons used either coal dust or brick dust to color the mud.
Lincoln Highway house
BBQ, Lincoln Highway house. Note: there is a similar BBQ at a house in Carson City.
The Field Matron’s Cottage was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2003. In the application for the Field Matron’s Cottage to the NRHP, it noted that the SIS workman also built the “Harvey House” right next door to Frederick Snyder’s summer house. We discovered that 681 Lakeview Blvd is next to Mr. Snyder’s house and that it was built in 1927. So, it seems likely this property was built by the SIS craftsmen.
However. we were unable to locate a clear photograph of the property. We found a photograph online, which purported to be 681. Unfortunately, this property did not appear to be constructed of stone. However, almost a 100 years have passed since the house was built and it is possible that the house has undergone a major renovation over the the years. We then went to Google Earth hoping for a photograph of the property. Sadly, there are too many trees around the property, so there was not a Google Earth photo of the property.
Seems like a road trip may be in order! Yes, a road trip as we have heard that there are a number of homes at Lake Tahoe built by the Native American stonemasons at SIS. So, we could play tourist and explore the lake looking for these pink stoned beauties.
This is the Field Matron’s Cottage, also known as the Stone Building, and which was built circa 1925 in the locally-unique Stewart Vernacular style of stonemasonry. The construction followed the protocol established at the Stewart Indian School (SIS) in Carson City, Nevada.
Field Matron’s Cottage (photo from the NRHP’s application)
According to Wikipedia: “The Field Matron’s Cottage, also known as the Stone Building, was built circa 1925 on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Sparks, Nevada. The cottage was built to support a Bureau of Indian Affairs program to instruct the 20 acres (8.1 ha) colony’s Paiute and Washoe girls in sanitation and housekeeping skills.
A “field matron” was provided by the Bureau from 1919 to as late as 1938. At first, the matron lived in Reno, at some distance from the colony, but in 1926 funding was made available to build a dwelling on colony lands, allowing a closer relationship between the matron and the colony’s inhabitants. The cottage included a library and an infirmary, and served as a community meeting place.”
And didcha know that The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony was established in 1916 by an Act of Congress? And that the term “colony” for a type of Indian territory is unique to Nevada?
We believe that either the apprentices Native American stonemasons at SIS or those stonemasons at SIS created this cottage. We are basing this belief on the similarity between this building and the buildings found on the SIS campus. SIS superintendent Frederick Snyder began his stone building program in 1919 and expanded it to the neighboring communities. For a fee, the trade apprentices at SIS would build stone houses for governmental or residential use. The plumbing, electrical and carpentry apprentices also worked on these buildings.
The Matron’s Cottage is one of the earliest known examples of the Stewart Vernacular style of architecture that is not on the campus of the Stewart Indian School. The vernacular style of architecture is concerned with domestic and functional buildings rather than public or monumental buildings.
We have found some Web sites claiming that this is the only example of Native American workmanship in the Stewart Vernacular style found in the Reno area. We dispute that claim as we have found other examples this style in the Reno area, specifically on Wedekind Road in Sparks and on Plumb Lane in Reno.
In May of 2003, the Field Matron’s Cottage was listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and was the first Bureau of Indian Affairs property in Nevada recognized and honored in this manner. The Cottage was accorded this status on the NRHP due to its long history with the native community and its unique style of architecture (Stewart Vernacular).
Field Matron’s Cottage (photo: Reno Historical Society)
For additional information on the field matron program, please visit http://cantonasylumforinsaneindians.com/history_blog/the-bia-field-matron-program/.
For additional information on the cottage, please visit the following: https://www.theclio.com/entry/85048
Chimney, Field Matron’s Cottage. The NRHP application noted the similarity between this chimney and the chimneys found at SIS (photo from the NRHP’s application)
The last Web site is the application for inclusion in the NRHP. Photographs of the cottage are included in the application and appear to have been taken by Mella Rothwell Harmon, who authored the application. We recommend that, if nothing else, this document be read as it contains much information regarding the Native American stonemasons from SIS, where they acquired the stones they used in their projects and their projects.
The application also notes the similarities between the cottages and those buildings found on the SIS campus.
Should you find yourself in the Reno-Sparks area, we urge you to drive by the Field Matron’s Cottage and take a moment to appreciate this building that’s almost 100 years old. Think of the time and effort it took to create this stone building when the equipment and roads were not as sophisticated as they are today.
Look at this house on Adams Street in Carson City. She was built in 1939 by staff and students participating in the programs offered at the Stewart Indian School (SIS). The trade programs include masonry, carpentry, electrical and plumbing.
The Native American stonemasons from the school used the locally-unique Stewart Vernacular style of stone masonry in the construction of the house. They followed the protocol established at the SIS. As such, this house resembles those on the SIS campus. Note the details in the stonework, especially the vents in the fireplace and the keystones over the door and windows.
East Adams Street House
Note the vents in the fireplace (internet photo)
Imagine – it’s a cold, wintry day and you – yes, you! – are in front of this terrific fireplace with a roaring fire, good book in one hand and a cup of hot coco in the other. Can you think of a better way to spend a snowy day? Us neither.
In 1948, a motel was built to the west of this house. The motel blocked the west side of the house until May of 2022.
Before demolition was completed – note the building on the right side of the photograph (internet photo)
Demolition debris
The motel and surrounding houses have been demolished in order to construct an apartment complex. Once demolition was completed, the west side of the house was visible from Carson Street for the first time in almost 75 years. Plus, a portion of the south side of the house also became visible as well.
West side of house without motel blocking view
South Side of house from Corbett Street
We were worried that this cutie might be demolished along with the other houses. If so, an integral part of Nevada’s history would be destroyed in the name of progress.
However, a review of the plans submitted to the city showed that two houses at this location would be spared. Fortunately, this house was not on the chopping block. Whew!
The house is outlined in yellow – the buildings outlined in blue were demolished
Google Earth photo Prior to demolition – all buildings outlined in blue were demolished
This house, this tribute to the hard and creative work of the SIS students and staff, remains standing for future generations to enjoy.
