City of Rocks Historic Resources Study

Cultural resources associated with the settlement period include:

• Boundary demarcations (small-scale elements such as fences and corrals)

• Remains of residential clusters and irrigation improvements

• Historic and modern-era mines.

As stated previously, the number of extant resources remaining from the settlement period is small compared to the number of improvements that once were present within the reserve. The most common structures of the settlement period are the fences (and gates) that mark the boundaries of homestead withdrawals. Fence lines usually are built along section lines, and reflect the pattern of withdrawing land according to government land surveys. Although the fabric has been replaced, most fences erected on private lands are still made of juniper posts and barbed-wire (Figure 32). [301] Although the area is no longer used for dry-land farming, the fences continue to mark section lines and currently separate livestock pastures.

Figure 32. Overview of juniper post and barbed-wire fence.

Other small-scale elements include a limited number of isolated corrals (built with poles and dimensional lumber). These are found in isolated areas (away from residential building clusters) and reflect the use of the area for livestock grazing and management (Figure 33).

Figure 33. Pole stock corral located within Eugean Durfee homestead withdrawl - view to northeast.

The remains of the residential clusters associated with homestead withdrawals occur in a variety of configurations. Some have been reduced to simple artifact scatters and depressions. These include the Mikesell homesite (10CA594), the Charles Fairchild homesite (10CA593), the Thomas Fairchild homesite (Figure 34), and the Walter Mooso homesite. Others, such as the Moon homesite (10CA551) [302] and the John Hanson homesite, contain a richer array of resources, which includes artifact scatters, aboveground ruins of buildings or structures, and foundation remains (Figures 35 and 36). Although these sites would not be considered individually eligible, they function as contributing components of the landscape within which they function as placemarkers of past homestead activity.

Figure 34. Looking north to large limber pine that marks the location of the Thomas Fairchild homesite. Artifacts are distributed across the rocky outcrop at the base of the tree.

Figure 35. Building ruin at the Moon homesite.

Figure 36. Foundation remains at the John Hanson homesite.

Only one historical homestead property, the Circle Creek Ranch, retains the residential cluster (Figure 37), irrigation improvements and an intact hay meadow. This property is located in the Circle Creek basin, where George Lunsford withdrew 160 acres under the 1862 Homestead Act, receiving a patent to his land in 1888. Lunsford sold his land to William Tracy in 1901. This parcel, plus 160 adjacent acres patented by Mary Ann Tracy as a Desert Land entry, formed the nucleus of the Circle Creek Ranch. The Tracys established their homesite farther east than Lunsford's original improvements, nearer the California Trail. They spent years constructing a substantial stone house (now in ruins) to replace their log dwelling (possibly one of Lunsford's original buildings). The stone used in the construction of the home is from a quarry located about one mile southwest of the homesite, on a rocky knob that is locally known as "Mica Knoll." [303]

Figure 37. Looking north northeast to residential building cluster, ruins of Tracy's Circle Creek Ranch.

William Tracy built a series of dams on Circle Creek and irrigated a small hay meadow with a ditch extending from the ponds (Figure 38). The current property owner (Nickleson) continues to use this meadow for agricultural purposes. Although he no longer harvests hay, the meadow is leased to a local rancher, who turns cattle into the meadow to graze during the summer and fall. This use requires that the meadow be "dragged" in the spring, in order to break up and disperse the cow manure. This continuity of use has kept the meadow free from sagebrush. A Mormon hay derrick is located at the north margin of the meadow — testimony to previous, more intensive use of the hay field.

Figure 38. Overview of irrigated hay meadow on Circle Creek Ranch, the residential building cluster is located at the extreme right of photo - view to northeast.

Only two mines have been developed within the reserve, neither of which was formally withdrawn for mineral development. The mines are included under the general settlement theme, because they both appear to represent "moonlighting" activities of people whose primary livelihood was derived from agricultural pursuits.

The first mine is the feldspar/stone quarry located on Mica Knoll and discussed above in the context of the Tracy's Circle Creek Ranch. Local informants refer to the "Lloyd mica mine" also being located on the knoll. Indeed there is evidence of at least nine separate excavations that extend over the top and sides of the knoll (Figures 39 and 40). These excavations are small and it does not appear that the volume of material (mica and/or feldspar) removed from the area was very large.

Figure 39. Detail of excavations on Mica Knoll.

Figure 40. Detail of roofed excavation on Mica Knoll - view to north.

The second mine is referred to by local residents as the "Vern White mica mine," and appears to represents a late 1940s/1950s endeavor (Figure 41). Local informants indicate that the mica from this mine was used for insulation. [304] Local tradition regarding this mine explains that it was developed as part of a stock scam (i.e., shares were sold to investors when there was really no indication that the mine would be profitable), and that it was short-lived. The first tradition has not been confirmed; it is possible that the owner of the mine believed that he could produce a marketable quantity of mineral from the deposit, and that he did not intentionally mislead investors. [305]

Figure 41. Tipple and Ore Bin at Vern White Mesa mine. Main excavation is behind (southwest) this structure.