Our Town Yesterday
Continuing on "Old Buildings of Goldfield". Tourist and visitors to our town are always
interested in the old buildings still standing and/or in ruins.
The Historical Society is another source of information
Early Goldfield Churches
The History of Nevada written by Sam Davis recounts Goldfield's first church service this
way.
A Presbyterian clergyman by the name of Rev. Francis H. Robinson, was active in pioneer
work in Tonopah, full of missionary spirt, conducted his first service on April 24, 1904, at
the home of Mrs. C. H. Elliot. He organized the first Sunday school that same day in the
camp at the residence of Mrs L. Briggs, later elected superintendent. The first Sunday school
met on May 1 in the new post office, which recently has been moved a few feet to its new
site.
Arriving in camp on Sunday, April 23 was father Gleason, a missionary of the Catholic
faith. The following day he held services in the Main Street Office of H. B. Lind, in the
middle of the block between Ramsey Avenue and Crook Ave. On the same day at the same
hour Rev. Gleason and Rev. Robinson were holding religious services in Goldfield.
On May 27, 1904 Rev. Samuel Unsworth arrived in town inquiring of the need for an
Episcopal Church. Soon other denominations followed with the Presbyterians building their
house of worship 1905-1906 on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Ramsey. The Catholic
Church constructed its first building in 1905 at Cedar Street, while the grand building of th
Episcopalians was not used until 1909. In the Methodist built an elegant structure on the
corner of crook and euclid, while the Christian Scientist built theirs on the corner of euclid
and Myers. The Baptist house of worship was never finished.