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1005 Holcomb Ave, Reno, NV 89502
Holcomb Historic Site
Park Description:
Holcomb Historic Site is a 0.7-acre Reno park without restrooms.
Park Amenities:
Grassy area and historic marker.
Park Contact Information:
City of Reno - Parks & Facilities (775) 334-2417
Park Highlights
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Park History
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The Park
Sitting on a sliver of land between Holcomb Avenue and Center Street in Midtown, Holcomb Historic Site at first seems like nothing special with a few trees and a pretty flower bed. However, when you do some digging the park has a rich history that takes one back to the days of the Old West when ranches spanned across the Truckee Meadows and the V&T Railroad stretched from Reno to Virginia City via Carson City.
Rise of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad
The story of the V&T Railroad starts in 1869 when the line first connected Virginia City to Carson City, but work to run the railroad northward moved quickly after. A number of Chinese laborers graded this northward section during the summer of 1871. Track gangs commenced, laying rail south, reaching Steamboat Springs by late October. Nine months later, Superintendent Henry M. Yerington drove the last spike a mile west of Carson City on August 24, 1872, connecting Virginia City with Reno by rail. Although regularly scheduled passenger service didn’t begin until October 1, the first through train traversed the 52 mile route on September 1, 1872 with the last trains coming in on May 31, 1950.
The reason for the railroad to run from Virginia city to Reno started in 1868, when the Central Pacific portion of the transcontinental railroad went from the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Truckee Meadows at Lake's Crossing, the future site of Reno (specifically the location of the Virginia Street Bridge). An additional rail connection from Virginia City to the Central Pacific, many thought would drastically cut the cost of hauling freight to the booming mining town. Thus, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Company was incorporated, with a route running from Virginia City, north along Lousetown road to the present site of Lockwood, 10 miles east of Reno, where it would connect with the Central Pacific.
Factions in Storey and Ormsby (known today as Carson City) counties paid $500,000 to run the railroad through Carson City and Washoe Valley to connect to the Central Pacific at Lake's Crossing. Henry M. Yerington was appointed superintendent of the V & T. The timing of this route change couldn’t be more perfect. In May of 1868 the Central Pacific laid the transcontinental track into Lakes Crossing, just 30 miles north of Carson City. For the next 78 years the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company serviced Reno and Virginia City as well as the communities in between.
The reason for the railroad to run from Virginia city to Reno started in 1868, when the Central Pacific portion of the transcontinental railroad went from the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Truckee Meadows at Lake's Crossing, the future site of Reno (specifically the location of the Virginia Street Bridge). An additional rail connection from Virginia City to the Central Pacific, many thought would drastically cut the cost of hauling freight to the booming mining town. Thus, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Company was incorporated, with a route running from Virginia City, north along Lousetown road to the present site of Lockwood, 10 miles east of Reno, where it would connect with the Central Pacific.
Factions in Storey and Ormsby (known today as Carson City) counties paid $500,000 to run the railroad through Carson City and Washoe Valley to connect to the Central Pacific at Lake's Crossing. Henry M. Yerington was appointed superintendent of the V & T. The timing of this route change couldn’t be more perfect. In May of 1868 the Central Pacific laid the transcontinental track into Lakes Crossing, just 30 miles north of Carson City. For the next 78 years the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company serviced Reno and Virginia City as well as the communities in between.
Janet Holcomb Hunter
Janet Holcomb Hunter left her mark on the Truckee Meadows in a range of ways. Janet, a descendent of the well-known pioneer Nevada family of Grove R. and Sarah Lyell Holcomb, was born in Reno on May 14, 1918, to Thad and Frances Judd Holcomb. She was raised at the Holcomb Ranch located west of Huffaker’s Station. Her father, Thad Holcomb, managed the Holcomb estate, which grew to over 31,000 acres and included land in Nevada and California. She had a pretty good childhood until things made a turn in early 1928.
A tragic incident altered Janet’s life forever when she was the lone witness of her father’s death, which occurred a week before her tenth birthday. On that day she had joined her father to deal with a problem at the ranch that needed immediate attention. As she and her father rode their horses along the family’s ranch, her father’s horse suddenly bolted and he was thrown from his horse, sustaining head injuries causing his sudden death. Unable to assist her father and with no one in sight, Janet managed to get on her horse and rode out to seek help for her father.
Her father’s passing had a profound effect on Janet, a tragic memory she carried until her passing. His death also brought many changes to how the ranch was being managed and operated by the surviving family members. The combined circumstances of Thad Holcomb's death and the Great Depression caused many changes on the ranch and in Janet’s life. The operation fell apart and with no other choice the Holcomb estate sold off the ranch and divided the money among the heirs. As a result, Janet’s mother, Frances Judd Holcomb, moved her family to Reno where she purchased three houses. One house served as a home for her young family and the remaining two were established as rentals.
During the Great Depression, Mrs. Holcomb was approached by a judge to consider setting up a boarding home for women seeking a divorce. The city of Reno had proclaimed itself as the “divorce capital of the world.” In a matter of a mere six weeks, women could establish residency in Reno, thus avoiding a lengthy process and uncertain outcome for a quick degree. Establishing a boarding home in the large house situated at 770 California Street provided Mrs. Holcomb additional income for the family.
Following her college stu
A tragic incident altered Janet’s life forever when she was the lone witness of her father’s death, which occurred a week before her tenth birthday. On that day she had joined her father to deal with a problem at the ranch that needed immediate attention. As she and her father rode their horses along the family’s ranch, her father’s horse suddenly bolted and he was thrown from his horse, sustaining head injuries causing his sudden death. Unable to assist her father and with no one in sight, Janet managed to get on her horse and rode out to seek help for her father.
Her father’s passing had a profound effect on Janet, a tragic memory she carried until her passing. His death also brought many changes to how the ranch was being managed and operated by the surviving family members. The combined circumstances of Thad Holcomb's death and the Great Depression caused many changes on the ranch and in Janet’s life. The operation fell apart and with no other choice the Holcomb estate sold off the ranch and divided the money among the heirs. As a result, Janet’s mother, Frances Judd Holcomb, moved her family to Reno where she purchased three houses. One house served as a home for her young family and the remaining two were established as rentals.
During the Great Depression, Mrs. Holcomb was approached by a judge to consider setting up a boarding home for women seeking a divorce. The city of Reno had proclaimed itself as the “divorce capital of the world.” In a matter of a mere six weeks, women could establish residency in Reno, thus avoiding a lengthy process and uncertain outcome for a quick degree. Establishing a boarding home in the large house situated at 770 California Street provided Mrs. Holcomb additional income for the family.
Following her college stu