Donation for C&C RR Depot and Dayton Historic Preservation Creates Happiness
Members of the Historical Society of Dayton Valley (HSDV) are counting their lucky stars thanks to Stan Paher who just donated $40,000 to help with the reconstruction of Dayton’s historic Carson and Colorado Railroad Depot that burned at the hands of an arsonist in 2020.
Stan is a native Nevadan (born and raised in Las Vegas), a Nevada historian, author, and book publisher. The donation he made to the HSDV is appreciated, possibly more than he will ever know. Stan explains why he decided to share his hard-earned money to help preserve another important piece of Nevada history:
“I have always been fond of the Carson & Colorado Railroad and have hiked the rail bed near Mt. Montgomery Summit, where the railbed twists and turns through a magnificent canyon for almost two miles before it straightens out and into California. The summit is 55 miles south of Hawthorne, a town founded by the C & C in 1882.
“In 1970 I had a Berkeley publisher, Howell-North, issue my first book, Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps, my all-time best seller with 67,800 copies sold as of last October. I decided when I saw my book on the press in March 1970, I wanted to be a publisher as well,” he said.
Stan also has another reason for cherishing the Dayton Depot. He noted that it was significant in his life because its longtime and last residents, Chester and Helen Barton, loaned him photographs for the ghost town book.
“They invited me to stay with them about four times." (The Bartons were long time, early day residents of Dayton who refurbished the old RR Depot and called it home for most of there lives.)
“Because of good memories, I decided to help with a significant contribution to restore the depot. Second, I appreciate that there are many in Dayton who are genuinely interested in the history of Dayton and the adjacent Gold Canyon area,” he added.
Stan owns Nevada Publications, which has published 104 books by 59 different authors in the past 56 years. Since his years at Las Vegas High School, he has explored desert areas throughout the Southwest through hiking, jeeping and camping. In 1982, Stan moved to Reno permanently in an effort to retire but admits he has not done a very good job of it.
Thanks again for the donation, Stan!
Stan Paher provided the donation check to HSDV representatives at the Annual Chili Showdown at Dayton Valley Golf Course on March 21.
