Reilly Townsite & Anthony Mill

Reilly Townsite and Anthony Mill. , The town of Reilly was established on a mining claim purchased by Edward Reilly of New York in September 1882. By October, Reilly had ordered a 10 stamp mill and began to organize his mining district. This rapidly growing "company town" soon supported a boarding house, general store, and a blacksmith shop. and in January of 1883 the Reilly Post Office began mail service. Over 32 buildings have been recorded at this site and it is estimated that over 60 people probably worked and lived in Reilly during its peak. , To supply water to operate the mill and support the town, a pipeline was constructed from Water Canyon over 5 miles away. In September of 1883 the stamp mill to process the ore finally arrived, was fired up and promptly broke down when a water pump failed. At this point the population at Reilly had shrunk to 16 workers, and the Post Office closed that following October. Investors poured over $200,000 into Reilly and produced only $21,500 in silver bullion during the mill's 18 months of operation. In March of 1885 the mill was closed and sold. , The mill is named after Charles Anthony, who later filed claims in Pleasant Canyon in the Panamint Mountains. Anthony may have overseen the construction and operation of the stamp mill that bears his name. , , The Reilly townsite provides a window into the life of a typical California desert "boom and bust" mining town. The site was first recorded in 1978 by Larry Vredenburgh, a BLM geologist. Research at Reilly continues. Archaeologists hope to answer questions such as: What was life like for the mill workers? How was it different for the mill supervisor or for Edward Reilly, the owner? Were Chinese laborers employed by Reilly? Was Charles Anthony actually the man who built the mill and ran it for Edward Reilly? , The Reilly townsite is managed by the Ridgecrest Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management through the generous support of volunteer site stewards who regularly monitor the site. If you have any information about Reilly, Anthony Mill Ruins, or the general area, please share it with the BLM or the site stewards. , , Initially recorded in 1978 by Larry Vredenburg, a BLM geologist. Later recordation, in more detail, by Rodger W. Robinson and K. Ross Way, Antelope Valley College, Department of Anthropology in 1998. Eventually, recorded completely by James J. Barnes, BLM archaeologist, in 2002 and responsible for its listing on the National Register of Historical Places in 2004.