Remembering Pierce Powell

Pierce Powell, born June 27, 1938, in Alhambra, California, was the oldest of eight children in a lively Catholic family of six boys and two girls. From an early age, it was clear he was different. Teachers once noted he wasn’t “applying himself,” yet he earned straight A’s and scored one of the highest IQs in his grammar school. Intelligence came easily to Pierce — and so did strong opinions.

Pierce served in the U.S. Army and was stationed Stuttgart, Germany in 1960. When he returned home in 1962, he worked off and on for his father’s business, Dynamite Food Company, but also took to the open road on his Triumph motorcycle, chasing experience and adventure.

Music, however, was always central. Starting in the late 1950s, Pierce was immersed in the Southern California folk scene. He played banjo seriously, performed as part of a folk duo, and gave lessons — including to a young David Lindley, who would later become a renowned multi-instrumentalist. Pierce knew and admired musicians such as John Hartford and members of the New Lost City Ramblers. He not only played — he recorded sessions, gave struggling musicians rides, and absorbed the culture. Music wasn’t just sound to him; it was community.

By the mid-1960s, Pierce made his way to Nevada, first landing in Reno and attending the university for a time. Though he never pursued a formal degree, he was deeply influenced by professors and became an avid, lifelong reader. History was a particular passion. His knowledge was broad and detailed — so much so that he could turn a casual question into a 15-minute masterclass on what “really” happened.

In June 1967, Pierce moved to Sutro and ran the Sutro Saloon — a brief chapter that nonetheless defined him in many locals’ memories. He brought energy, music, and personality to the remote spot near the Sutro Tunnel. Though the stint lasted only until June 1968, it shaped his identity and connected him permanently to the Comstock.

“He was very proud of his time at Sutro,” said Powell’s brother Frank. “A lot of people think of him as the guy who ran the Sutro Saloon – but it was only for one year.”

“Yeah, but it changed his life,” added brother Barney.

He later worked for the Nevada Department of Highways from the early 1970s through until he retired in the early 1990s. This was a job that allowed him to travel around the state. While counting cars at remote intersections, he often lived simply out of his truck, playing fiddle as travelers rolled by. Ever the historian, he searched for old wagon roads and ghost towns, scanning the desert landscape for compressed earth where wagons once passed.

However, Virginia City became his true home. Pierce purchased the historic Freight Depot on E Street, with dreams of turning it into a music venue and cultural gathering space. Business logistics were not his strength — enthusiasm often outpaced paperwork — but his vision was genuine. He installed a stage, hosted films and live music, and filled the building with antiques collected during his travels.

Pierce was also known for his meticulous vintage clothing collection. He dressed authentically, down to the buttons and stitching, and was proud of “doing it right”. A founding member of the reformed Silver City Guard, he loved parades, history, and pageantry.

“He didn’t have normal clothes,” laughed Powell’s friend Ralph Arista, speaking about the racks of costumes Powell wore and cherished.

In later years, the Depot porch became his social headquarters. He would sit outside reading or playing banjo, and people would stop to visit.

“He loved it – people would come sit and chat, and that’s what he loved,” remembered Frank.

That daily connection meant everything to him. Even after selling the Depot in 2019 and moving to Gold Hill, he remained a fixture in Virginia City, coming to town for lunch, music, and conversation. Even when driving was no longer possible, friends would come visit and take him up to C Street for meals, entertainment, and social gatherings.

Pierce never married nor had children, but in many ways, the community was his family. Brilliant, opinionated, generous with his knowledge, and endlessly social; Pierce passed away Feb. 3, 2026, but he leaves behind a legacy woven into the fabric of the Comstock.