GREENWATER, FURNACE, KUNZE and RAMSEY
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GREENWATER, FURNACE, KUNZE and RAMSEY |
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NAME: Greenwater,
Furnace, Kunze and Ramsey COUNTY: Inyo ROADS: 2WD GRID #(see map): 3 CLIMATE: Hot summer, pleasant or cold winter. Light snow is a possibility. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Autumn, winter, spring. |
COMMENTS: Three
townsites, Furnace, Kunze and Ramsey, all located in a five mile
belt off of the Greenwater Valley Road by 1 to 3 miles with an
interconnecting road. REMAINS: Debris, cans, rotting lumber, mine shafts, stone ruins (at Kunze townsite). |
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FURNACE: Furnace was part of the Greenwater excitement of 1907, but an independent townsite. It was primarily a tent town, business included a store, restaurant and the obligatory saloon. A Post office was applied for and was established March 26, 1907 and discontinued February 19, 1908. Sidney Norman was appointed postmaster, but records state that he was "not commissioned." The post office department has no records indicating that the post office ever operated. Residents of Furnace abandoned the site for the more favorible Ramsey townsite of Greenwater. GREENWATER: Original claims at Greenwater
dates back to the 1880's but were not developed due to the remoteness
of the site. In 1904, new claims were filed and many famous names
got on the Greenwater bandwagon: Charles Schwab, John Brock and
William Clark. Their names attracted people and capital to this
remote high desert region situated on the eastern shoulder of
Death Valley. Speculators and prospectors alike congregated in
a shallow, but narrow canyon to a townsite dubbed Kunze. Greenwater
swelled to more than a thousand people and growing by early 1906
and residents began to realize that their narrow canyon enviroment
needed some growing space. So a new townsite, called Ramsey,
was platted a couple of miles southeast in the Greenwater Valley
and the entire population of Kunze and Furnace was invited to
join in a moving process enmass, including the post office originally
opened in the Kunze townsite. The Ramsey townsite boasted streets
150 feet wide to avoid conflagration that took many a town in
the west, the Greenwater Times and Greenwater Miner competed
the right to declare the riches of Greenwater to the world, and
an unusual magazine dubbed the Death Valley Chuck-Walla was published.
The post office was located next door to Tiger Lil's den of iniquity,
and the post office operated between October 5, 1906 and May
31, 1908 (no word on how long Lil remained in business). Three
railroads were planned to reach Greenwater, the closest to actually
constructing a branch was the Greenwater Copper Mines and Smelter
Company, who completed surveys. The Tonopah & Tidewater and
the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroads were putting finishing
touches to their lines running to Rhyolite and took a hard look
at extending branches to Greenwater. The Greenwater frenzy was
fueled by speculation and the stock market, but little ore was
actually produced. The boom was over by 1908, the last mine to
finally give up hope closed in 1911. Submitted by David A. Wright  Historical view of Greenwater (Ramsey townsite). Photo taken April 1907. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research
 Kunze or original Greenwater townsite. View northeast. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research
 Kunze or original Greenwater townsite. The tent print shop that published the famous Death Valley Chuck-Walla was located in this general area. View north. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research
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All Pictures Courtesy David A. Wright
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