A True Ghost Town
Bodie California
Bodie California is one place anyone traveling should add to their itinerary.
An authentic Old west ghost town permanently maintained by California state parks association in an arrested state of decay. There are several reasons this is a must see destination and a thrilling look into days gone by. Legend has it, that it was a town everyone abandoned and left their belongings behind but the truth is far more exciting and humorous. Founded in 1859 by four adventurous men hunting for gold, it became a city of more than 10,000. One of the most interesting facts is Bodie existed in the middle of nowhere at an elevation of more than eight thousand feet. Everything needed to live had to be hauled in. This included wood, food, water, booze, tools, and clothes. It boasted a large China town complete with opium dens and substantial red-light district. There were over 100 saloons and no church with all the glory of the Wild West, Hollywood portrays in film entertainment.
The focus was on mining and the amount of gold and ore mined with the technology available was staggering. Miners in Bodie were paid an unheard of sum of $4.00 a day. It’s also interesting to note Chinese laborers were not allowed to be miners or part of the miners union. The restaurants served top of the line cuisine including raw oyster as evidenced by the piles of shells left behind. There were Champagnes, French and California wines, whiskey all top shelf, as was the entertainment.
With its wild west reputation intact it’s interesting there was only one lynching. The man hung had shot another man in the head during a dance at the Miners union Hall. What makes it interesting was the fact he was having an affair with the man’s wife. The murdered man had been injured in a mining accident leaving him mentally challenged, thus the outrage of the 601 committee. Rumor has it she wanted him dead for the insurance money and was given twenty fours to leave town, which she did. By the way 601 stands’ for 6 feet under, 0 jury, 1 rope.
Eventually the mines played out and people began to leave in the 1930’s and 40’s. When the war effort stopped gold mining as an unnecessary labor that did not contribute to the war, Bodies’ fate was sealed. People had to leave to find work. The automobile was becoming a part of everyday life; roads improved and along came the birth of the tourist. People who left Bodie for work and the harsh winters, maintained their residents as summer cottages. This worked out well until an overzealous radio announcer declared Bodie as an abandoned ghost town. People who resided there began noticing strangers coming to town and just walking in to homes taking souvenirs and sightseeing. There had never been a need for locks on the doors as everyone knew everyone and watched out for everyone. Finally longtime residents appealed to the California State Parks Commission for preservation and Bodie became a state park in 1962.
So there you have gold, saloons, prostitution, lynching, and gunfights; all the ingredients for a dime novel or a grand afternoon of sightseeing. Remember just as in the old days bring your own snacks, and water, the town stands empty as a grand monument to times gone by.
More Information: http://www.bodie.com/
by J.C. Wallick
Read about J.C. Wallick
*
*
