Wheeler Sheep Camp

Wheeler Sheep Camp was one of the main sheep camps of the Wheeler Sheep Company based in Reno, Nevada. Sheep camps were the summer bases of operation for sheep grazing in the high Sierra meadows. This camp was built and managed by John Martin Gallues, an immigrant from the Basque homeland in Spain. Martin and his brother Felix built several of the camp's structures before 1921. , Today, the only remaining feature of the sheep camp is the brick oven. Built around 1927, it was used to bake bread and cook stews. Fresh bread was supplied to the herders every five days. Bread was considered one of the most important items delivered by the camptender. , The oven lasted until the early 1980s, when its shed collapsed exposing the oven to the elements. Eventually the oven also collapsed. During the summer of 1992, Dr. Jose Mallea of the University of Nevada - Reno and other volunteers reconstructed the oven in cooperation with the Tahoe National Forest. , The oven is fully operational and may be reserved for use by the public. If you wish to use the.oven, contact the Sierraville Ranger Station at (530) 994-3401. , Captions: , Bread day, Eugino Murillo , Albert Arellango, Albert Gallues, Hank Gallues, George Arellango , Ernest and Irene Giosi at the oven in 1943 , Trading hats for a photo , Wash day, Margarita Gallues with Albert Gallues , Irene (Gallues) Giosi holding Gloria Arellango on tent platform