Photographic essay focuses on Fallon’s history

“Images of America: Fallon,” a photographic essay on the history of Fallon, edited by Michon Mackedon and Valerie J. Serpa, has just been released by Arcadia Press.

The editors have a compiled a more than generous selection of photographs, accompanied by extensive annotated captions, that provide an overview of the development of Fallon and Churchill County over the past century and a half.

The book is organized in roughly chronological order and the chapter titles allude to the growth of the region: Native Americans, Ranchers, Farmers, Miners and Station Keepers; The Birth of a City; The Oasis of Nevada; The Social Fabric; Moving Toward Mid-Century; and Defining Home.

Before white settlement, the region was home to members of the Northern Paiute Tribe. White settlers began passing through the area as part of the Gold Rush in 1849 and, in 1861, Churchill County became part of the newly created Nevada Territory.

In 1908, the City of Fallon was founded with a population of 1,350, and the editors go from there to trace the historical, cultural and architectural development of the are. If you’ve any interest in the history and evolution of our community, this book is highly recommended.

There will be a book signing at the Churchill County Museum this afternoon from 4-6 p.m. and copies of the book will be available for purchase. There will also be an additional book signing at the Red Zinnia on Nov. 5 starting at 5 p.m.

Poetry reading

Coming Nov. 8, the popular Reno poet, Gailmarie Pahmeier, will present a reading at the Oats Park Art Center from 5-7 p.m. There will be a meet the author reception from 5-6 p.m. and the reading will begin at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Pahmeier is the author of several books of poetry including “The House on Breakaheart Road” and she teaches creative writing and literature courses at UNR. She will read from her latest collection of poems “The Rural Lives of Nice Girls” published this year by the Black Rock Press.

Gailmarie’s poems are tales of family and home; they open the door, invite you to sit a spell, maybe have a drink, listen to lyric stories of small town lives off the side of the highway. So plan on hearing one of Nevada’s best contemporary voices.

Kirk Robertson covers the arts scene. He may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com