Five saw mills in Nevada's Belmont area were extremely busy during the late 1800s mining boom as wood frame construction was the quickest and cheapest method of construction. Just as quickly as the frenzy started, rich veins dwindled and the miners moved on. During the early 1900s, there were several more attempts to jump start the area's mines. In 1921, a cyanide plant was opened to extract ore from old tailings. Soon, the operation lost its effectiveness.
This early edition fire truck is a reminder of the hazards associated with wood frame dwellings and mining structures. Belmont's Main Street features some quite interesting historic buildings. Some of the restored taverns can offer thirsty tourists cold beer, an unexpected luxury considering the town is far from the electrical grid.