On November 20, 1859, W. S. Bodey perished in a snow storm. He and his mining partner, “Black Taylor”, got caught in the severe storm and Bodey couldn’t make it back to their camp. Taylor continued on, so he could bring back supplies to his friend, but upon returning, couldn’t …
Mono County was founded on April 24, 1861, with the county seat at Bridgeport, CA.
October 15, 1862 – The first appearance of the (incorrect) spelling “Bodie” is noted. www.Bodie.com/history/stories/misspelling-of-bodie/
May 1, 1877 – Silas Smith opened his first store in Bodie near King & Main Streets. He moved the building from Aurora, and his store became Bodie’s first post office.
July 10, 1877 – The Standard Mill begins production.
September 2, 1877 – The first organized volunteer fire bucket brigade was formed.
October 10, 1877 – The Mono County Bank was incorporated.
December 1, 1877 marked the first non-stop stagecoach trip from Carson City, NV to Bodie.
December 4, 1877 – The Standard Co. declares a dividend of $1 per share… and the Bodie boom begins!
February 2, 1878 – Beginning of stage service 3 times a day between Bodie & Aurora, and once daily to Bridgeport, 1878.
June 1, 1878 – Bodie Mining Co. makes a rich strike and stocks soar from .50 cents to $50 a share almost overnight.
June 28, 1878 – Construction on the Bodie Miners’ Union Hall was completed.
August 5, 1878 – Bodie’s first daily mail service is instituted.
August 17, 1878 – Harvey Boone arrives in Bodie.
Today in Bodie history: August 19, 1878 – The South Bodie Gold Mining Company is incorporated. South Bodie Gold Mining Company Bodie, Mono County, California Office, Room 44, Nevada Block. Robert Barton, president; Henry Deas, secretary; H.C. Callahan, superintendent; B.B. Minor, E.C. Morton, Henry Deas, W.H. Brown, Robert Barton, …
December 6, 1878 – The Grass Valley Union newspaper reports population in Bodie at 5,000.
June 10, 1879 – The first load of Bodie ore weighs in at over 10,000 lbs. with “every piece showing gold.”
September 6, 1879 – H.Z. Osborne & Co. printed the first “Daily Free Press” newspaper in Bodie.
October 1, 1879, Pat Reddy, attorney at law, becomes Bodie’s newest citizen. www.Bodie.com/history/people/pat-reddy/
January 24, 1880 – The fire hydrant system in Bodie is completed.
