Virginia City in Storey County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Frank Bell

1840 – 1927

Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 9, 2009

1. Frank Bell Marker

Inscription. Early pioneer of both the telegraph and telephone. He was builder of the first telegraph lines across the Sierra’s from Placerville to Genoa then on to Virginia City. He also had the distinction of telegraphing Nevada’s Constitution to President Lincoln prior to Nevada becoming a state in 1864.

Frank Bell served as the sixth governor of Nevada from September – December 1890. Julia C. Bulette Chapter 1864
E Clampus Vitus
June 18, 1988

Erected 1988 by Julia C Bulette Chapter, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1942.

Location. 39° 18.418′ N, 119° 39.054′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Nevada, in Storey County. Marker is on C Street (Nevada Route 341), on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted on the front of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 372 C Street, Virginia City NV 89440, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John William Mackay (within shouting distance of this marker); First Presbyterian Church

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pelton Wheel (about 300 feet away); Solid Granite (about 300 feet away); Young America Engine Co. No. 2 (about 500 feet away); Savage Mansion (c. 1861) (about 600 feet away); Savage Mining Co. (about 600 feet away); Bonner Shaft of the Gould & Curry Mine (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Regarding Frank Bell. Born in Toronto, Canada on January 28, 1840, Frank Bell came to Nevada when he was supervising the construction of a transcontinental telegraph through Nevada in 1858 to 1860. He was one of the operators to telegraph Nevada's Constitution to Washington, D.C. in 1864. Bell served as Acting-Governor when Governor Stevenson signed a disability certificate on September 1, 1890 until the inauguration of Governor Colcord. He was the first foreign born governor of the state. Bell died in his daughter's home in Oakland on February 13, 1927.
Source: Nevada State Library and Archives -
http://nevadaculture.org/nsla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=905&Itemid=95

Also see . . .

Building Which Housed the Telephone Operators. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 9, 2009

2. Building Which Housed the Telephone Operators.

The marker can be seen between the window panels.

Frank J. Bell. Find-a-Grave post of Frank Bell burial site at the Masonic Cemetery in Reno, Nevada. Also includes a portrait photo from the Nevada State Archives. (Submitted on September 10, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

Additional commentary.
1. This Building
This small building was built in the 1930's. It housed the telephone operators until 1976 when they went from crank phones to dial phones. It was later sold by the County to the State for use as the office of the Comstock Historic District. When the State built a new office and museum further into town and down two blocks below the main street, they sold the building back to the County. Now it has been refurbished by the County and will be an office for the County Commissioners to have some private space to great people.

— Submitted September 10, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,730 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.