"Borax" Smith, Wild Burros and Spirits of the Old West
What can be more intriguing than wandering amongst the spirits of a by-gone era
of the old west and maybe catch a glimpse of wild burros and horses along the
route?
Such was my day at the historic mining town of Marietta, located within
the 68,000 acre Marietta Wild Burro Range that is on BLM public land.
During the late 1800's gold and silver prospecting brought miners to
the hills around Marietta. However, salt became a more lucrative resource which
was mined on Teel's Marsh and transported by camel trains to the mills in
Virginia City.
The discovery of borate in 1872 by "Borax" Smith drew more people to the area and in 1877 Marietta had become a town of 150 residents with a post office, general store, stage station and many saloons.
During its heyday, life in Marietta must have been pretty lucrative. The horse stage was robbed 4 times in one week and 30 times in 1880.
As I wander through abandoned, ramshackle houses I can only guess how their lives must have been. Were they happy living out in such a remote place? How did the children play and with what? When I was a small girl, I would spend countless hours in my grandparent's yard exploring nature or watching the pecan leaves waving in the breeze.
Here today, there are no trees with leaves
swaying in the breeze, only boards askew with abstract patterns in the deep blue
Nevada sky.
The walls of "Borax" Smith's general store stand out
in the desert landscape. Two long rectangular side walls and the end wall are
all that stand the winds of change.
As I gaze over the workmanship of
laying each stone by hand, I can just image people gathering to shop and
socialize in such a well made store.
Once noble dwellings abandoned
to nature's whim stand as testament to a bygone era.
A portal leads the view back to a wall and beyond the wall are clouds with open space. I watch intrigued and my imagination wanders with this preview of times past.
On this
transitional autumn day, I was lucky to only encounter a western fence lizard
crossing my path and no rattlesnakes. One never knows what might be hiding in
the shadows!
A cistern is left to oxidize, a reminder of the element
water, more precious than gold for those who make the desert their home.
Around the 1890's, more abundant borax sites were discovered in Death Valley and Marietta began its decline.
In the near distance,
the cemetery overlooks Teel's Marsh and the town of Marietta. I am pleased that
this grave yard lies as a respectful resting place with no sign of vandalism,
unlike so many others that I have visited.
Even ole Chet gets to be
remembered with his boots and whiskey bottle.
Wonder if he would like some
company when my time has come? With my hiking boots and wine bottle, we might
share stories and bay with the burros at the rising moon.
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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