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In 1894, several years after Whitaker
relocated to Pennsylvania, the school
closed its doors. The old building was
leased to the University of Nevada and
used as a dormitory until 1896 when
Lincoln Hall, the new men’s residence,
was completed on campus. The building
was later used for classrooms and as a
hospital then finally demolished.

In 1878, Hatch ran for Surveyor General
of Nevada. He narrowly defeated the
previous office holder, John Day.

Reno suffered a catastrophic fire in March
of 1879. Newspapers around the country
reported that “The Great Reno Fire” had
destroyed most of the town’s business
district. The mines in Virginia City, a major
source of income for Reno, were faltering,
as well. Despite these setbacks, local
businessmen were hopeful that a new
railroad would bolster the local economy.
Satisfied that Reno would be a good
starting point, The Nevada & Oregon
Hatch’s 1869 map showing a portion of Washoe and Roop County boundary, the “Old Immigrant Railroad Company was incorporated as
Road” and the Central Pacific Railroad a three-foot narrow-gauge railroad to be
built south to Aurora, Nevada and north to
the California-Oregon line.

The Lake House, Virginia Street at the Truckee River in Reno The Hatch House, on Marsh Ave in Reno as it appears today

The Hotel Amedee at the terminus of the N & O Railroad. Located at the
hot springs on the eastern shore of Honey Lake it was the center piece of
the town of Amedee
Whitaker’s School for Girls in Reno, Nevada, circa 1880
Two survey teams immediately set out in opposite directions, one heading south. The other, led by General Hatch, ran the survey
northward. Money was hard to come by and the investors were worried about lack of future funding, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u

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