Reno Visitors Learn About Dayton History
Last week, with only one day’s notice, I coordinated a tour of the Dayton Museum for a group of around 22 visitors from Pub N' Sub in Reno, including business owner Steve Mathers. Fortunately, Historical Society of Dayton Valley docents Vicki Kinney and Katrina Hedlesky were available on short notice to assist with leading the afternoon tour.
Mathers treated the employees to the outing, and they appeared to enjoy the Museum’s wide range of artifacts used by pioneers who founded the town of Dayton. The visitors were especially interested to learn that the Museum building was originally constructed as a schoolhouse in 1865. As usual, a few visitors pulled the soft-cotton rope to ring the school bell and learned that the bell was manufactured in Sheffield, England, and shipped to Dayton in 1873. Ending their tour in good spirits, the group headed down the roadway to Compadres for dinner.
The experience left me feeling pride for the history displayed at the Museum and the downtown portion of Old Town Dayton that still exists, despite the fires that have ravaged the town repeatedly over the years – it remains Nevada’s Earliest Settlement!
Tours are free and with trained, volunteer docents who love sharing Dayton’s long pioneer history. Donations are gladly accepted with all donations used to preserve Dayton’s history. Call 775-246-3256 for more information.
