A
Panoramic View of Searchlight, Nevada - 1910
More Photos
 | Quartette Mine (ca 1910) | |||
| (L-R) Felix Damian, John Emerson (First Mayor of Searchlight), Mr. Spare, Mr Lloyd Wallbright, Mrs Wallbright with Mrs Spare in front seat. Seated in front of car: Mrs Emerson, Una & Louise Emerson and Edith Spare (who became Edith Head) ca 1909 or 1910 (Louise Emerson Eberle collection) |  | |||
 | Another view of the (Oakly Gack collection) | |||
Searchlight, Nevada 1910 (Donated by Oakly Gack) |  | |||
Searchlight, 1906-1907
(Otis Reeder collection)
On the Road to Nipton ca 1902-1903
Showing off Christmas (1912) Presents (doll & Indian Suits)
(L to R) Una Emerson, Delores Escobar, Louise Emerson and Letha Colton
(Louise Emerson Eberle collection)
Searchlight from Tank Hill, ca 1906
(Donated by Ersie Coffee Fox)
The Searchlight Mining District was founded July 20, 1898 by fifteen citizens of the area, the name was taken from the Searchlight Mine which was located on January 4, 1898. The U.S. Post Office was opened in Searchlight, October 31, 1898. By 1907 it boasted a population of 1500 and was being considered to be the county seat of Clark County.
Just the name Searchlight is cause for visitors and school children from around the world to ask where the name came from. There are two stories, both attributed to the same people.
G. F. Colton and A. E. "Gus" Moore were locating mining claims in the area and needed a name for a mine they had just located. While lighting his pipe, Mr. Colton realized he was using Searchlight matches (manufactured by the Diamond Match Co.) so they gave the name Searchlight to this claim.
The second story is that Colton and Moore were looking at some ore and one told the other that there was gold in the rock and the other one said "if there is gold, you would need a searchlight to find it." We leave it to you to make your choice of the stories but it is historical fact that Searchlight matches were freely used in the area. Many wooden "Searchlight Match" box crates have been found in the area.
Real Estate?
Diane Kendal @ 1-702-279-9928 or 1-702-297-1750
In the Las Vegas area call: Walt Daily @ 1-800-214-1180 (daily@ctaz.com)
Photo Tour of Searchlight February 2003: Page One Page Two