Sutro Tunnel supporters celebrate restoration progress

Bill Miles, CEO of Miles Construction in Carson City, shone his flashlight into the Sutro Tunnel on Sept. 12 to show its improvement and potential for cleanup and restoration.

“We’re going to try to get 1,500 feet,” he told onlookers. “You can see we’re making progress.”

Along with partners such as Simerson Construction, Miles has taken great care in the tunnel and the buildings around it. He was a former resident of the Victorian mansion on the land housing the tunnel in the early 1980s and said he feels invested in the acreage and its history. To see the turnout celebrating the work of the local partners and volunteers was a boon for Miles.

“We have a lot of good construction people involved and people that are very well schooled in what it takes to do projects like this, and some of us own equipment and donate equipment to clean up the pond,” he said. “This is awesome. It’s exciting to see.”

More than 400 attended the Nevada Builders Alliance and Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity’s second “Meat and Drink” event Sept. 12. Visitors had an opportunity to take self-guided tours, view the refurbished pond and buildings and partake in a barbecue dinner by Carson City BBQ and drinks from local vendors.

Dayton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Cassinelli emceed the soiree.

“It’s going to be a great tourist destination for Lyon County,” Cassinelli said. “It’s 100 feet back into the tunnel, rebuilt now, and the beam and the woodwork, the timbering work that’s been done by Simerson Construction, is absolutely fabulous.”

Preserving the tunnel’s architectural and geographical integrity and connection between communities has united enthusiasts of Nevada history, volunteers passionate about community service and businesses willing to support a cause in Lyon County.

“It’s pretty spectacular,” said Rob McFadden, Friends of Sutro Tunnel board member. “To get 400 people to go to anything is a tall order. It’s really cool to have this as such a big point of interest. There’s not many tourism draws in the Dayton Valley or Lyon County , so I think this is going to be a pretty big opportunity.”

Visitors were welcomed by Virginia City’s Silent Riders, reenactors who dress in Victorian, Edwardian and Old West costumes. Their wardrobe is provided by Recollections, a retailer that provides fashions from the late 18th through the mid-20th centuries. The Silent Riders walk around town keeping true to the era greeting event gatherers and taking photos with them, said Michelle Buckman, one of the Silent Riders. Buckman, wife of Jason Virdman, plays his character’s wife, Mrs. Curry.

Virdman represented Stephen Curry, Virginia City’s mayor from 1873 to 1875.

“We’re both residents of Virginia City and we support the Sutro Tunnel,” Virdman said. “We just enjoy coming down and sharing the history of the people and this area.”

Northern Nevada Development Authority Executive Director Jeff Sutich enjoyed that the site is accessible to the public.

“I think this is amazing,” Sutich said. “There’s a lot of history here in the Sutro Tunnel and with the mining, and it’s a huge water source for the region. I think this is really good for the public that we’re getting to tour it and to bring that history back. It’s really good for the community.”

Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell was pleased to see businesses, churches and artists collaborate for the cause.

“I think it’s just phenomenal when you see regional partners come together for the success of a project like this, and when I look at the progress of this tunnel, I am always amazed that they got another 50 feet,” Bagwell said. “We’re proud of our past and confident of our future, but you’ve got to hold onto that pride of that past.”

Spencer Davidson, the site’s caretaker, tour guide and volunteer, took on the persona of tunnel visionary Adolph Sutro. Davidson was 17 when he first learned of the tunnel and was encouraged by his uncle to visit the site, but a former caretaker kept most unwanted company away.

“So me being here for 30 years, this is the first time I actually got to set foot on the property,” Davidson said of when he took over as caretaker. “I’m 47 now. When I got out of my truck , I was doing a gunfight show right here in front of the tunnel for the governor, and I looked at the site manager at that time and said, ‘Which one of these places do I get to live in?’ And he said, ‘Are you serious? Our caretaker just put in his notice this morning.’”

Davidson took up the job when it wasn’t offered to anyone else, and since then, he’s been responsible for installing the duct work to help house the fans inside the tunnel, helps take care of the ponds, checks gates at night and releases water from the tunnel. Davidson said a little more than 85 gallons comes from the tunnel every minute, totaling about 140,000 gallons per day.

Local musician Carson Chandler said the Sutro Tunnel is a great cause.

“Being a part of each event has been really special to me,” Chandler said. “Dayton is a place I call home. To see many people supporting (Friends of Sutro Tunnel) is huge.”

Nevada Builders Alliance CEO Glen Martel said partnering with the Friends of Sutro Tunnel to host its second event was rewarding. Fundraising efforts benefit local workforce development programs and sponsorships for students at Western Nevada College, Carson High School, ACE High School in Reno, Southern Nevada Trades High School in Las Vegas and other partners, he said.

“It’s just a great opportunity to advertise the history of Northern Nevada and what’s going on and use the opportunity to educate people in what’s been going on for years based on our mining history and then also provide funds for our future,” he said. “We’re through the major challenges (with the tunnel). We’ve got the permits, we’ve got the partnerships in place and we’re really just looking forward at getting that tunnel back and getting a piece of Northern Nevada history.”