What a success! We had about 150 people, Chapter members, non-chapter members, and locals, come to the 15th annual CA/NV Chapter of OCTA Winter/Spring Symposium in Genoa, NV. The Genoa Town Hall was just enough room for us.

The opening speaker was Frank Tortorich, who gave a fast-paced talk on the time-line of events during “Snowshoe” Thompson’s life in the Carson Valley and his famous mail route between Genoa and Placerville, the US Mail, and when California was in Utah.

Next was a panel discussion, “Where was the first Mormon Station in Carson Valley?”

This lively discussion left us wanting more!

The weather cooperated too. Although it was cool, it did not rain.

The catered lunch was a delicious surprise of sandwiches (turkey, roast beef and ham) and three kinds of salad plus yummy cookies for dessert.

Many took advantage of the lunch hour to tour the Genoa Courthouse Museum opened especially for us by Billy Jean Rightmire, museum curator and local historian.

The Mormon Station was also open for people to have lunch as well as tour through their historical museum.

We had a special treat from the Douglas County Historical Society Youth Chautauquans, who walked through our midst dressed in period clothing and assumed such familiar characters as Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins and Clara Barton.

The afternoon session was a second panel discussion - “Where was the first settlement in Nevada?”

There was a short general membership meeting afterwards followed by a two-hour break.

Frank Tortorich toured a few folks over to see Snowshoe Thompson’s cave on Highway 88 before joining the other attendees at Walley’s Hot Springs for a Happy Hour with cocktails and fun music by our OCTA musicians. A delicious dinner was followed by Chapter Awards Presentations by Awards Committee Chair, Anne Louise Bennett and her committee. Among the awards presented was the Chapter’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to Don Buck. (Look for more details in Trail Talk)

Sunday, there was a special tour of the Markleeville Museum. Dick Edwards, director, Ellen Martin, assistant, and Nancy Thornburg, former director, were all on hand to answer questions and share with us even more history about the area.

The weekend came to an close out in Diamond Valley with a drive-by look at the remains of Snowshoe Thompson’s homestead before starting for home just as the snow began!

Kathy Lewin
Genoa Symposium Co-Chair
April 28, 2005

View from Genoa Lane - about halfway between Hiway 395 and Genoa

The symposium was held at the Genoa Town Hall

Co-Chairs Patty and Kathy. To Patty's right is her daughter Carrie, who helped make things work.

Frank Tortorich gave a talk on Snowshoe Thompson

Bill Settlemeyer and Patty Knight. Bill is from a long time local ranching family.

Kathy Lewin was Mistress of Ceremonies for the day's activities

Martin Griffith presented his opinions on the exact site of the original Mormon Station

Don Buck moderated the two panel discussions

Jeff Kintop delivered his views on where the original Mormon Station was located

Billie Jean Rightmire, curator of the Genoa Museum, invited everyone to visit the museum during the lunch break

Snowshoe Thompson Memorial

Genoa Court House - now a museum

Genoa Museum exhibit

Pony Express Plaque

E Clampus Vitus Plaque

Mormon Station Monument

Stanley Paher told us why Genoa should be considered Nevada's first settlement

Martin Griffith claimed Dayton was the first permanent settlement

Leslie Fryman made her case for considering Dutch Nick's as the first settlement in Nevada

Curtis Grant updated us on the Compendium regarding Future Directions

Tom Hunt fields a question on the proposed OCTA City of Rocks parcel purchase while Jim Allison looks on

Still Friends: Stanley and Martin after the discussion on Nevada's First Settlement

Patty and Kathy

Jim Allison entertained at the Happy Hour preceding the Awards Dinner at Walley's Resort

Bob Iverson

T. J. Nelson

Mark Lund

Tom Fee received a Certificate of Achievement from Fran Taplin while Awards Committee chair Ann Louise Bennett looks on

Fran Taplin also presented a Certificate of Achievement to Patty Knight, Co-Chair of the Symposium

Virginia Hammerness presents a Certificate of Achievement to Kathy Lewin, Symposium Co-Chair

Don Buck received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award

Patty and Kathy

Alison Portello received the annual Senior Trail Boss Award

Tom Fee

Trails West Marker - Carson Trail

Don Buck, Bob Iverson, and Vilma Buck on the Carson Trail

Don Buck at the Dayton Cemetery -- uh oh -- Martin Griffith must have put that sign up on the fence!