This is Bodie, or rather the remains of Bodie. Only about five percent of the buildings it contained during its 1880 heyday still remain. Today, it stands just as time, fire and the elements have left it-a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. Designated a state historic park in 1962, it is now maintained in a state of "arrested decay."
Bodie was named after Waterman S. Body (also known as William S. Bodey), who discovered gold
here in 1859. The change in spelling of the town's name has often been attributed to an illiterate sign
painter, but was a deliberate change by the citizenry to insure proper pronunciation.
The town of Bodie rose to prominence with the decline of mining along the western slope of the
Sierra Nevada. Prospectors crossing the eastern slope in 1859 to "see the elephant"-that is, to search for
gold-discovered what was to be the Comstock Lode at Virginia City and started a wild rush to the
surrounding high desert country.
By 1879, Bodie boasted a population of about ten thousand and was second to none for wickedness,
bad men and "the worst climate out of doors." One little girl, whose family was taking her to the remote
and infamous town, wrote in her diary: "Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie." The phrase came to be known
throughout the west.
Killings occurred with monotonous regularity, sometimes becoming almost daily events. The fire
bell, which tolled the ages of the deceased when they were buried, rang often and long. Robberies, stage
holdups and street fights provided variety, and the town's 65 saloons offered many opportunities for
relaxation after hard days of work in the mines. The Reverend F. M. Warrington saw it in
1881 as "a sea of sin, lashed by the tempests of lust and passion."
Nearly everyone has heard about the infamous "Bad man from Bodie." Some historians say that he
was a real person by the name of Tom Adams. Others say his name was Washoe Pete. It seems more likely,
however, that he was a composite. Bad men, like bad whiskey and bad climate, were endemic to the area.
Whatever the case, the streets are quiet now. Bodie still has its wicked climate, but with the possible
exception of an occasional ghostly visitor, its bad men are all in their graves.
Here we are North of Mono Lake at the town of Bodie. This is the old Methodist Church erected in 1882. This is the only Protestant church erected. E.J. Clinton of San Francisco restored the church and held the last service here in 1932. Since then, the interior has been badly vandalized, and the Ten Commandments painted oilcloth which once hung behind the pulpit (Thou shalt not steal) has been stolen. The Catholic church on Wood Street, also built in 1882, burned down in 1928
Andra got this awesome picture with the menacing clouds in the background. We later had to leave due to the weather, but returned later for more photos.
A shot of the mining buildings and the tailings on the hill. The old firehouse with it's bell can be seen on the left.