HOSSNV
Full Member
- Jun 24, 2007
- 172
- 91
Carrara had 2 claims to fame , ones that people actually did come from miles around to see ! The first was the 65' tall wooden derrick that lifted the blocks out of the quarry . The second was a fountain ...... yes a fountain . The town newspaper the Carrara Obelisk liked to brag " it was the only public fountain in Nevada ! " I don't know if I am buying in to that one ! But I am certain it was the only one in the Death Valley region . " Meet me at the fountain ! " was the catch phrase and people did ! The fountain sat directly in the center of town in a small park with a number of North Carolina Poplar Trees planted about . When in full operation this thing would shoot a stream of water 30 feet in the air ! And at night it was lit up by colored lights , what a sight that must have been ! At its peak about 400 hardy souls called Carrara home and everyone thought Carrara would last forever . But like so many times before in so many other towns and mining camps dotted across Nevada ....... it was not meant to be . Just when things were finally all coming together the Nevada-California Power Company decided they were not making enough profit and they cut off all power to the small towns in Southern Nevada . Since all the heavy equipment was powered by electricity this effectively shut Carrara down . All the towns gathered together to protest and get an injunction but to no avail . The company tried a gasoline generator but it was beset with constant problems . And soon people started drifting away . When the post office closed on September 15 , 1924 it was the death knell for Carrara . Thanks a heap for coming along ! hope you had a good time ! Perhaps someday we can " meet at the fountain ! " Hoss
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