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DISCOVER MINDEN 1. Minden Park Developed in 1906, the park became the town square for the fi rst residential section of Minden. The original bandstand was built in 1914. The present bandstand was built by the Minden Rotary Club in 1984 and dedicated to Wilton Neddenriep, a valley rancher and Rotarian who was killed in an accident on his ranch. 2. John Dangberg House (1600 Sixth Street): This house was designed for John Dangberg by Frederic J. DeLongchamps, an architect known throughout the West in his time. Construction of the building was completed in 1912. John was one of the Dangberg brothers who founded Minden in 1906. The H. F. Dangberg Land and Livestock Company established the town and laid out the town square, now known as Minden Park. Company employees built the fi rst houses around the square. (Private Home) 3. Maule House (1604 Sixth Street): William Maule, supervisor of the Mono National Forest and father of present owner Wynne Maule, had this house built in 1915. It is the only residence in Minden currently occupied by a family member of the original owner. (Private Home) 4. Nelson House (1611 Esmeralda Avenue): The house was built in 1919 for William Nelson, co-owner of the Wood-Nelson Store (later Nelson’s Hardware). The residence boasted Minden’s fi rst electric cook stove, brought to town by the V&T Railroad. (Private Home) 5. C. O. Dangberg House (1609 Esmeralda Avenue): Built in 1910 for Clarence Oliver Dangberg by Davies Brothers Construction, this cement block-style house was one of a kind in Minden. After selling his share of the family ranch to his brothers, Dangberg had the house built and in 1911 began construction of the C. O. D. Garage. He was a charter member of the Minden Rotary Club, organized in 1926. (Private Home) 6. A. F. Neidt House (fi rst of two) (1605 Esmeralda Avenue): This house was built in 1909 by A. F. Neidt, a cement contractor who also poured most of the early sidewalks in Minden. Annie Hickey Raycraft, who offered room and board to unmarried female schoolteachers, later owned the home. (Private Home) 7. Carson Valley Improvement Club (1602 Esmeralda Avenue): Constructed for the newly organized Carson Valley Improvement Club, the C.V.I.C. Hall was opened to the public on Oct. 11, 1912. For nearly nine decades, “The Hall” has served a variety of functions—from movie theater to basketball court to house of worship. Live theater entertained audiences here, and it has been the meeting place for the Minden Club as well as many local government and political events. The Hall has been the setting for weddings and funerals and it has been a polling place, a morgue, and a movie set. More recently, the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra has graced the hall with music concerts. (Open to public during Town of Minden offi ce hours) 8. Minden Mercantile (1600 Esmeralda Avenue): Built in 1926 by William Rood and William Heitman, the store carried groceries, hardware, and farm supplies. In 1931 C. B. Braden opened a drug store within the building. Under the new management of John Ellis, in 1939 the store expanded, selling toys, electrical appliances, and confections. Minden Mercantile allowed charge accounts and provided home delivery. (Open to Public) 9. Carson Valley Drug Store (1598 Esmeralda Avenue): This building was constructed by John Ellis in 1959 and then leased to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Rahnke, who operated the drug store located in the Mercantile. In 1963 the pharmacy was sold to Jim and Jane Stratton. The Strattons operated it until 1977 when they moved to a new location in Gardnerville. The building now houses Lone Tree Gallery, owned by Barry and Robin Jobe. (Open to Public) 10. Farmer’s Bank of Carson Valley (fi rst of two buildings) (1596 Esmeralda Avenue): The Farmer’s Bank of Carson Valley opened its doors on October 20, 1909 at this location. In 1918, with resources of more than $700,000, the bank moved to larger quarters across the street. From 1919–1974, the Minden Post Offi ce was located at this site. The building now houses the Bank Parlor and Pub. (Open to Public) 11. First National Bank of Nevada (1601 Esmeralda Avenue): Construction began in 1968 when the old Farmer’s Bank building, purchased in 1954 by First National Bank of Nevada, had once again been outgrown. The remodeled building now houses an engineering fi rm owned and operated by R. O. Anderson. (Open to Public) 12. Reed-Meneley Insurance (1599 Esmeralda Avenue): The original building was constructed in 1951 for the partnership of Warren Reed and Willard Meneley Insurance Company. In 1953 the offi ces also served as the temporary home for the Douglas County Public Library. Reed’s son Alan and his family currently operate a restaurant on the site. (Open to Public) 13. Farmer’s Bank of Carson Valley (second of two buildings) (1597 Esmeralda Avenue): The second Farmer’s Bank was constructed in 1918 and operated until 1968. The bank had sound fi nancial resources for its size, and in 1933 Farmer’s Bank was among the fi rst in the nation to reopen following a bank moratorium called by President Roosevelt. The building has been used in movies and as a forest fi re lookout station. Today it houses offi ces. (Open to Public) 14. Minden Dry Goods (1595 Esmeralda Avenue): Opened in 1910 by Chris Christoffersen, the store was the fi rst of its kind in Minden. Besides dry goods they sold clothing, shoes, and cameras. Later, Lin Blondin and Ken Watson operated the store. In time it became known as Town and Country and operated under the management of Tom Andrews. The C. O. D. Garage purchased the building in 1975 and created Pioneer Motor Parts at the Esmeralda Avenue location. (Under Reconstruction) 15. C. O. D. Garage (1593 Esmeralda Avenue): The initials C. O. D. stand for Clarence Oliver Dangberg, the owner. Ground was broken for the C. O. D. garage in 1911, with additions to the structure in 1917 and 1927. Later, under the ownership of the Fred “Brick” Hellwinkel family, the C. O. D. was the oldest continuously family-owned franchised dealership in Nevada. Over the years the company sold Chevrolet, Buick, Ford, Hupmobile, and Jeep vehicles, Lauson tractors, and Goodyear tires. The garage also offered AAA towing services and sold gas under Union Oil and Shell canopies. (Under Reconstruction) 16. The Heidelberg (1588 US Highway 395 North): Few buildings in Minden have experienced a more diverse life than this one, built in 1910. Its many uses have included a saloon/ bar, card parlor, soda fountain, grocery store, and several restaurants. The building was the site of the Pony Express Restaurant for many years and now houses Francisco’s Mexican Restaurant. (Open to Public) 17. Minden Inn (1594 Esmeralda Avenue): The Minden Inn, designed by Frederic J. DeLongchamps, was completed in 1916 and was considered one of the fi nest small hotels on the West Coast. The elegant 44-room hotel was a favorite rest stop for countless Hollywood stars and celebrities who journeyed to Minden via the V&T Railroad in the 1930s and ’40s. It was also the central spot for social functions and served as a local watering hole with gaming operations until 1987. It was eventually purchased by Douglas County and remodeled to house county offi ces. (Open to Public) 18. Minden’s First Homesite (1595 US Highway 395 North): This site marks the end of the V&T rail extension from Carson City that was completed in June 1906. A depot was constructed at the site along with the fi rst home built in Minden. The new home was built for station manager Herb Coffi n, who had been living in a converted boxcar. The rail extension into Minden initiated the growth of the town, and the V&T thrived until the late 1930s when its continued operation became doubtful; the town was growing but the railroad’s profi tability was lagging. The last train to Minden made its run on May 31, 1950. The depot and the house were moved to Gardnerville with the closing of the railway. Jimmy G’s Restaurant is now located at this site. (Open to Public) 19. Minden Blacksmith Shop (1578 US Highway 395 North): C. E. Cole constructed a blacksmith shop on this site in 1909, next to the town livery stable. Some early blacksmith equipment is still located on the premises where a long tradition of ironworks and blacksmithing continues as Douglas Fabrication, Inc. (Open to Public) 20. LeClaire House (1550 First Street): This house was built in 1909 for Ed LeClaire, who had opened a lumberyard across the street in 1908. The lumberyard was one of Minden’s fi rst businesses. (Private Home) 21. Krummes House (1558 First Street): Peter Krummes had this home built in 1911. Krummes was connected with many of the early developments in Minden including the lumberyard, the Confectionary, an ice house, and the Carson Valley Improvement Club, which opened in 1912. (Private Home) 22. Schrengohst House (1578 Mono Avenue): Blacksmith John Schrengohst built this home in 1918. Schrengohst and his son Bill ran the Minden Blacksmith Shop across the street until 1946. (Private Home) 23. Christoffersen House (1598 Mono Avenue): This residence was built in 1937 for Chris Christoffersen, who opened the Minden Dry Goods store in 1910. That store was the fi rst of its kind in Minden. Christoffersen’s heirs are the home’s present owners. (Private Home) 24. A. F. Neidt House (second of two) (1566 Fourth Street): This mostly cement house was built in 1911 by cement contractor A. F. Neidt on a lot on Mono Avenue. It was moved to its present location in the 1930s. Neidt built most of the early sidewalks in Minden. (Private Home) 25. Bassman House (1600 Mono Avenue): This residence was built in 1919 by Henry Bassman, whose family owned a ranch nearby in Alpine County, California. (Private Home) 40. Coventry Cross Episcopal Church (1631 Esmeralda Place): Construction of Coventry Cross Episcopal Church began in 1936 at the building’s original site in Smith Valley. The church was named for the large stone cross that stands on the church’s rood beam (a beam in a medieval church across the entrance to the choir; it supports the rood, a large crucifi The Dean of Coventry Cathedral gave the cross, originally a part of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Coventry, England, to Bishop Thomas Jenkins in 1930. The church was moved to its present site in October 1954 and has been serving Carson Valley continually since then. 41. Wennhold House (1639 US Highway 395 North): Minden banker William H. Wennhold built this structure as a house for his family in 1926, on the site of a chicken ranch known as the Valley Farm. Much of the original home is preserved, including the hardwood fl oors, kitchen cabinets, and fi replace. The building now houses the registration offi ce for the CVI Motor Lodge. (Open to Public) 42. Graunke’s Warehouse (1627 US Highway 395 North): Built in 1919 near the V&T Railway tracks, the original warehouse was used to store grain and hay. In 1950, the Carson Valley Ice Company purchased the building to use as an ice distributorship. Lawrence Jacobsen renamed the company Jacobsen Distributing Company after buying out his partner in the company in 1952. The fi rst of several remodels was made in 1982 to convert the facility to a unique restaurant, the Atrium. The building now houses Saletti’s Restaurant. (Open to Public) 43. Minden Wool Warehouse (1615 US Highway 395 North): The Ward brothers constructed this building in 1916 for a group of stockholders to use for housing wool from the Carson and Antelope valleys. Wool was stored in the upper level and potatoes, below. Carson Valley farmers and ranchers stored their products in the warehouse and then shipped them from Minden by either wagon or rail. The building was leased to the Minden Flour Company in 1925 and a local creamery in 1956. The Dangberg Land and Livestock Company moved its offi ces to the site in 1964. In 1970 Bently Nevada Corporation purchased the building and converted it to offi ce space. Although the building has been extensively remodeled inside, its exterior remains virtually unchanged. (Open to Public) 44. Minden Creamery (1617 US Highway 395 North): Built in 1908, the original Minden Butter Manufacturing Company building was made of wood. Cream from the local farms was brought here and placed in one of two 600-gallon vats, then processed into butter. By 1915 the facility was producing 3,000 pounds of butter daily. In 1916 a larger facility was built of brick to accommodate the pasteurization process that was mandated by a new California law. The Minden creamery was the largest in Nevada. It had a world market and shipped 124 cases of butter to China in 1915. In 1969 Bently Nevada Corporation purchased the building to house a portion of its manufacturing operations. (Open to Public) 45. Minden Flour Milling Company (1609 US Highway 395 North): Completed in 1908, the new mill was owened and operated by farmers in Carson Valley. Initially it could process 100 barrels of fl our daily from the local grain. Its four silos held 65,000 bushels of grain. In 1921 the mill was described as “one of the biggest milling concerns in the state, with a reputation for excellence.” In addition to fl our, the mill produced a line of chicken mash and cattle feed. It ceased to operate in the late 1960s and was purchased by Bently Nevada Corporation in 1975. The building was designated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. (Private Site) 46. Meyers Mercantile (1609 US Highway 395 North): In 1906 the Dangberg Company began constructing a 250-foot-long structure with north-side loading docks on the railroad track. Meyers Mercantile Company opened in 1907 and leased one end of the new building, and the Dangberg Ranch Offi ce occupied the middle section. The end closest to the Minden Flour Mill was used as a warehouse for the mill. Meyers Mercantile Company opened for business in 1907. A fi re destroyed the mercantile portion in 1926, and the business (by then the Farmer’s Cooperative Mercantile Company) rebuilt in Millerville—a small community in Gardnerville at one time. The foundation of the original building was shortened to accommodate the surviving portion housing the Dangberg Ranch Offi ce and the fl our mill warehouse. A feed store occupied a portion of the building for a time before Bently Nevada Corporation purchased the structure in 1975. (Private Site) 47. Henry Beck House (1604 US Highway 395 North): This house was the second residence built in Minden (1907). Located across from the mill at Fifth Street and Railroad Avenue (now Highway 395), it was occupied by Henry Beck, the fi rst manager of the Minden Milling Company. (Private Home) 48. The Minden Times (1620 US Highway 395 North): In 1936 A. E. Haines, a printer and publisher, erected a brick building at this location to house a printing shop and newspaper that he called The Minden Times. The fi rst issue was printed in June of 1936 and many of the town’s youngsters peddled the paper up and down the streets of Minden. Haines and his family struggled for seven years to make a success of his publication, but on December 25, 1942 he published the fi nal issue with this notice: “As much as we regret, with this issue we ‘fold up’ The Minden Times for the duration of the war.” The Minden Times never resumed publishing, and the redbrick building was converted to a residential building. It has been unoccupied for many years. (Private Home) 29. Rickey/Hellwinkel House (1618 Mono Avenue): Built in 1909 by the Dangberg Company for Frank Rickey, a purchasing agent for buyers of wool, cattle and sheep. The home was subsequently owned by the Van Sickle family, early residents of Genoa. Fred Hellwinkel, co- owner of the C. O. D. Garage, later bought the house. (Private Home) 30. Ben Cardinal House (1620 Mono Avenue): Ben Cardinal, an early manager of the Minden Butter Manufacturing Company, had this house built after H. F. (Fred) Dangberg, Jr. deeded the lot to him in 1914. Douglas County District Attorney Grover Krick and his wife Hattie purchased the house in 1935 and owned it until 1985. (Private Home) 31. Jepsen House (1624 Mono Avenue): Known as a “Sears house,” this residence was built in 1937 by Herb Dressler for Hans Jepsen. The early prefab house was ordered from a Sears catalog. Jepsen served as Douglas County Clerk from 1927 to 1954. (Private Home) 32. W. H. Bridges House (1628 Mono Avenue): Built in 1919 for W. H. Bridges, second manager of the Farmer’s Bank of Carson Valley, the house has been occupied by State Senator Lawrence Jacobsen and his wife Betty since 1951. 33. Lisle McInnis House (1632 Mono Avenue): This home was built in 1919 for Dr. F. H. Baker, a veterinarian who lived in the house for only a short time before moving to Gardnerville. Lisle McInnis, one of the fi rst insurance and real estate agents in Minden, then purchased it. He was also involved in developing the Minden Inn. (Private Home) 34. Minden Grammar School (1638 Mono Avenue): Minden’s fi rst school building was built in 1908 and painted green. The Minden Grammar School, a brick building that replaced “the little green schoolhouse,” was constructed in 1918 for $14,291. Minden children were educated in this building until 1980, when the school was closed and converted to administrative offi ces for the Douglas County School District. (Open to Public) 35. Mrs. Arlie Williams House (1621 Seventh Street): This residence was built in 1919 for Mrs. Arlie Williams, mother of Minden postmaster Roy T. Williams. Archie Safely, Minden Elementary School principal in 1943, later occupied this house for many years. (Private Home) 36. Fritz Schacht House (1622 Esmeralda Avenue): This residence was built in 1919 for rancher Fritz Schacht, a partner in the creation of the Minden Butter Manufacturing Company founded in 1908. He was also an original stockholder in the Carson Valley Farmer’s Bank. (Private Home) 37. M. E. Fay House (1623 Esmeralda Avenue): Built in 1917 for local rancher M. E. Fay, the house was later owned by August and Gladys Brinkman and then by John and Norma Ellis. John, Norma, and their son Darwin owned and operated the Minden Mercantile. (Private Home) 38. Fritz C. Neddenriep House (1626 Esmeralda Avenue): The Dangberg Land and Livestock Company built this home in 1919 for Fritz Neddenriep, a foreman for the Dangbergs. Prior to working for the ranch, Neddenriep managed the Minden Livery Stable. (Private Home) 39. Douglas County Courthouse (1616 Eighth Street): The Nevada Legislature voted to move the county seat to Minden in 1915. The courthouse, designed by Frederic J. DeLongchamps, was built for $23,178 on a lot deeded from the Dangberg Land and Livestock Company. Originally, the building housed all the county offi ces and the jail. (Open to Public) Discover Minden: A Walking Tour 26. The Twin Houses (1602 and 1604 Mono Avenue): Henry Bassman built these two houses in 1907. At the time of their construction they were identical and were the fourth-oldest homes in Minden. (Private Homes) 27. Springmeyer House (1608 Mono Avenue): Rancher Ed Springmeyer, an early settler of the area, had this house built in 1909. At one time a large barn stood behind the house. Later, Stanley and Dorathea Springmeyer purchased the home, which remained in the family until 1989. (Private Home) 28. Joe Cardinal House (1614 Mono Avenue): This home was built in 1908 for Joe Cardinal, an early manager of the Minden Flour Mill. Cardinal’s daughter Gretchen was born in this house in 1909, the fi rst child to be born in the new town of Minden. The Minden Club, a women’s service club still active today, was founded on the front porch of the house in 1910. Cardinal was one of the charter members of the Minden Commercial Club founded in 1920. The club was the predecessor of the Town Board that governs Minden today. (Private Home) Vibrant fall colors set off the rustic charm of the gazebo in Minden Park. Classic car shows are popular at street celebrations in downtown Minden. This blue beauty is on display opposite the historic C.V.I.C. Hall (built in 1912). The Town of Minden sign greets visitors as they travel north from Gardnerville into Minden on US Highway 395. The trees lining the streets of historic Minden neighborhoods are ablaze with color in the fall. ular at street Classic car shows are popu n Minden celebrations in downtown Vib the gaz