Virginia City in Storey County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Bonner Shaft of the Gould & Curry Mine
Comstock Historical Marker No. 13
— 100 Block, South D Street, Virginia City, NV —
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 23, 2011
1. Bonner Shaft of the Gould & Curry Mine Marker
Inscription.
Bonner Shaft of the Gould and Curry Mine. Comstock Historical Marker No. 13. The Bonner shaft was named in honor of mine superintendent, Charles S. Bonner and began operations in the mid-1860s to explore the lower levels of the Gould and Curry Mine. This four compartment shaft reached a depth of almost 700 feet and cost over $75,000 to build. Construction of the shafts consisted of 12 inch timbers installed every 5 ft. and supported by vertical posts the same size. The cribbing was then covered on the outside by 4 inch planks. Wooden or metal guides were then installed down each side to the compartments to hold, and keep, the platform cages in place as they rode up and down the shafts. Construction costs for the Bonner Shaft averaged $109.00 a foot, which included materials used in its operation. The Bonner’s housing works survived the great fire of 1875, but with the decline of mining its machinery was later sold, and the building was eventually scrapped. In October 1992, a sinkhole measuring 40 feet in width and 60 feet in depth opened up at the site caused by an underground flowing water leak and rotting timbers. The Bonner Shaft cave in was filled with a plug consisting of steel and concrete and a cost to Storey County of $250,000, and has been trouble free ever since.
The Bonner shaft was named in honor of mine superintendent, Charles S. Bonner and began operations in the mid-1860s to explore the lower levels of the Gould & Curry Mine. This four compartment shaft reached a depth of almost 700 feet and cost over $75,000 to build. Construction of the shafts consisted of 12 inch timbers installed every 5 ft. and supported by vertical posts the same size. The cribbing was then covered on the outside by 4 inch planks. Wooden or metal guides were then installed down each side to the compartments to hold, and keep, the platform cages in place as they rode up and down the shafts. Construction costs for the Bonner Shaft averaged $109.00 a foot, which included materials used in its operation. The Bonner’s housing works survived the great fire of 1875, but with the decline of mining its machinery was later sold, and the building was eventually scrapped. In October 1992, a sinkhole measuring 40 feet in width and 60 feet in depth opened up at the site caused by an underground flowing water leak and rotting timbers. The Bonner Shaft cave in was filled with a plug consisting of steel and concrete and a cost to Storey County of $250,000, and has been trouble free ever since.
Erected 2009 by Marshall Earth Resources, Hugh Marshall and the Comstock Historical Society. (Marker
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Number 13.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1992.
Location. 39° 18.514′ N, 119° 38.979′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Nevada, in Storey County. Marker is on South D Street near Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 South D Street, Virginia City NV 89440, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Looking South down D Street from Washington Street
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 23, 2011
4. Foundation of the Bonner Shaft Hoist Works.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,016 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 9, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
