Lemmon-Anderson-Hixson Ranch, Blacksmith Shop, 11220 North Virginia Street, Reno

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS NEV,16-RENO,4C-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This building is significant as a contributing element of the Lemmon-Hixson-Anderson Ranch, a property that has been determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. This wood frame utility building contributes to the historical character of this property and offers visual links to its origins in the sheep ranching industry of the early century. Description: The buildings at the Lemmon-Anderson-Hixson Ranch exist in two distinct clusters: two homes on the north and two utility buildings at the south. The blacksmith shop and the summer kitchen form this latter cluster. The blacksmith shop is built of single wall construction, with vertical board siding nailed on studs. Its form is composed of a wide gable front with a shed extension at the south side.

Rafters are exposed under a pieced together corrugated metal roof. A large top hinged wooden sliding door exists on the east side. Small patched windows exist on the north, east, and south walls, with one per elevation, while three windows exist on the west (rear) wall of the building. A smokestack, originally from the roof, is contained inside of the building. Marks made by branding tools can be seen on the interior posts. The building is square in its footprint, measuring 24 feet by 24 feet. Historic Context: This building was built as part of the larger Peavine Ranch, which was operated as a cattle operation between the and the late and as a sheep operation from through the Unfortunately, little information exists as to the exact functions of

Lemmon-Anderson-Hixson Ranch

Blacksmith Shop HABS No. (Page 2) the four remammg historical buildings, although their general functions may be inferred from archival data and the character of the buildings. The four buildings are: two residences, a blacksmith shop (this building), and a summer kitchen. The two utility buildings are located some distance from the two residences; a distance of 95 feet separates the blacksmith shop from the closest residence. The presence of the blacksmith shop and cookhouse at this site tends to support the idea that the cluster of buildings served as a headquarters for the far-flung Peavine Ranch operations. It is known that there were two types of activities at Henry Anderson's sheep operations: summer range for the sheep, and irrigated fields.

The summer range grazing did not require permanent buildings; the sheepherders would have moved with the flock around Peavine Mountain. The irrigated fields, however, would have been tended on a regular basis. Both operations would have benefited from the presence of a blacksmith shop to repair equipment, fashion horseshoes, and the like. This building may have served as the general blacksmith shop for the larger ranching operations.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS NEV,16-RENO,4C-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This Historic American Buildings Survey documentation is being prepared to mitigate impacts of the Alturas Transmission Project. The Sierra Pacific Power Company of Reno, Nevada will construct a 345 kV transmission line and electric substations from a tap point on the Bonneville Power Administration lines near Alturas, California. It will extend to Reno, Nevada, crossing both private and public lands. This project will require installation of a power line along the west right of way of U.S. between North Virginia Street and the freeway. This line will pass across the street from the Lemmon-Anderson-Hixson Ranch property. It will also require installation of a power pole on the east side of North Virginia Street, across from the northeastern comer of the Lemmon-Anderson- Hixson property.

No part of the ranch parcel will be taken; impacts to it are strictly indirect, relating to the power line and power pole. A Memorandum of Agreement has been reached between the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) regarding mitigation for these indirect impacts. Among the provisions was one that the buildings, structures, and landscape elements of this property be recorded to Level II of the Historic American Buildings Survey.

Lemmon-Anderson-Hixson Ranch

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