An excerpt from the article published in the Nevada State Journal 7 March 1951
Imagine my surprise when I found this gem of an article in the Nevada State Journal! As I did more research, I learned that more than 500 families have donated period furnishings that are now housed in Bowers Mansion. Within this story is a mention of the famous Steinway that was moved from the Meacham house to the Piper Opera House the night Emma Nevada gave her concert in Virginia City (3 December, 1885). The Hurd and Powers families were very proud of that piano.
Bowers Mansion was built by Sandy and Eilley Bowers who made their fortune in silver mining on the Comstock. They chose to build their grand home at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains overlooking Washoe Lake in 1862. By 1868 the silver mines had played out and before Sandy could sell his mine he died of a lung condition. Eilley turned the mansion into a public resort to help pay the bills. She advertised the mansion as having fine baths, a piano, an extensive library, a billiard table and all the comforts of home. Two manmade ponds were available for use and there were landscaped grounds to enjoy. By 1873 the Mansion had become a premier destination with picnickers and "Pioneers" who came every year to reminisce about the early days on the Comstock. Sadly, by 1876 Eilley lost everything at a public auction, but for the next quarter century owners and managers opened the mansion to the public. The V &T Railroad offered affordable excursion tickets allowing locals to swim, dance and picnic as they did in the past. (Nevada Magazine July-August 2014).
The Historic Bowers Mansion continues to be a summer respite for locals, as it is now located within Bowers Mansion Regional Park (Washoe County, Nevada). You are able to take tours of the home, picnic, swim, play and enjoy the grounds May through October. School tours are very popular, also.
Here is the article as it appeared in the paper.....
Original Bedstead, Other Valuables Given To Bowers By Hurd Family
"Last week, Mrs. B.R Addenbrooke, curator of the Bowers Mansion, received some precious heirlooms that were part of the mansion's original furniture."
"They were gifts of the 'three Hurd girls', two of whom are living today in Reno. Mrs. Annie Hurd Smith and Miss Edith Hurd, two of the well known 'three Hurd girls' in Virginia City in the heyday of the Comstock, live at 120 Stevenson St. in Reno. Unfortunately many of the pictures of those historic days which the sisters had were destroyed in the flood last winter." (The Thanksgiving Flood of 1950)
Piano Cover
"Now, on the piano in the Bowers Mansion is the piano cover that covered the Steinway piano sent around Cape Horn to James Fair, one of the 'Big Four' of those early days. This is a gift of Alta Powers, of Oakland."
"It is a large cover, 6x7 feet, of beautiful tapestry. Its colors are blue and tan, and completely around the cover is a deep fringe. The piano was purchased by Robert Meacham, the only coal and wood dealer in Virginia City at that time, and by him given to Alta Powers, his granddaughter, a daughter of Mrs. Ina Powers Sample, of Pasadena, California. (Correction: Ina was Alta's older sister, not her mother). Mrs. Sample died a few years ago, and the piano was disposed of, but Alta Powers kept the piano cover, which is now the property of Bowers Mansion."
Other Gifts
"But probably the most valued gift received from the members of the Hurd family was one of the original bedsteads that was purchased for the mansion by Eilley and Sandy Bowers, bought from them by Robert Meacham and in turn turned over to the Hurd family. The chair, table and bureau of the early days that were part of the bedroom suite are in Pasadena, but the original bed has never left Nevada, and in the spring will be placed in a suitable room in Bowers Mansion."
Former Teacher
"Edith Hurd, who came from Pennsylvania to Virginia City when she was six months old, knew the 'Big Four' of that era very well. She taught school later in Virginia City. Her father, William Hurd, was a mining engineer in Virginia City and her brother, John H. Hurd, ran a hoist in the old C and C Mine."
"The 'Three Hurd Girls' are the survivors of a family of 11. Their father, William Hurd was killed in an accident in Virginia City. Mrs. Hattie Hurd Powers was one of the three sisters and Alta Powers is her daughter."
"Both Miss Gloria Mapes, president of the furnishing committee, and Mrs. Addenbrooke, curator of Bowers Mansion, were very happy yesterday when they got the history of the old bedstead, one of the original pieces of furniture in the mansion. The response of the 'old timers' who wish to see the mansion restored to its original splendor has been remarkable, and the work of completing the job has been speeded up through the cooperation of many to whom the early day history of Nevada has become highly important."
All genealogists have to do lists. Making a phone call to the curator of Bowers Mansion in May (they are currently closed) is now on my list of things to do. I would love to see if they have any of these items still in their possession, and determine exactly which bedstead belonged in our family. With COVID restrictions being lifted, I may even get to take a tour! I have to admit; I have lived in this area for almost 40 years and I have not yet been inside Bowers Mansion. Now, I have an extra special reason to do some exploring. Field trip!!
There are several interesting articles and videos on the Bowers Mansion website through Washoe County. I especially recommend the article from Travel Nevada entitled Legendary Nevadans: Eilley Bowers of Washoe Valley and the video from Wild Nevada (Episode 509) where you can see the furnishings and accessories inside the mansion. The clip is about 8 minutes into the video. The site can be reached at:
https://www.washoecounty.us/parks/specialty_facilities/bowers_mansion.php
These are just more tidbits of information I have found from my research that remind me everyday of what a unique connection my family has to this area I have called home and have loved for 36 years. I hope my grandchildren down the line will appreciate this also. I bet my Great Grandmother Hansen never once thought about having a great granddaughter of the future who would be so interested in learning about where she came from and the people that helped get her there!
Relationship Reference: Me->Margaret Hansen Boothby->Harold Hansen->Vere Burrows Hansen->Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows.
The "Three Hurd Girls" were Elizabeth Jane's younger sisters. Her sister Hattie Hurd Powers was the mother of Ina and Alta Powers.
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