Friends of the Belmont Courthouse

10/11/2026

Thank you for visiting the Belmont Courthouse, and thank you to Terry Terras for conducting the tour!

10/07/2026

10/03/2026

History certainly has a way of leaving little messages behind!

During the recent replacement of the floor in the Recorder's Office at the Belmont Courthouse, the Perchetti Construction work crew uncovered this writing on one of the original floor joists. Along with the clearly written words “Court House” appears another marking that reads “C.P. 73.” And that's where the mystery begins.

The Belmont Courthouse was constructed in 1875–1876, so what does “73” mean? Is it a number? A date—possibly 1873? And what does “C.P.” stand for?

We know that rough lumber used in construction of the courthouse came from the Pine Creek sawmill, which was operating before the courthouse was built. Could the marking be connected to the lumber itself? Could C.P. be someone's initials? Or does it mean something entirely different?

For now, we don't know—and we don't want to turn a possibility into a fact simply because it makes a good story. The joist remains exactly where it has been for roughly a century and a half, now once again concealed beneath the new floor. Fortunately, Brett and Tom photographed and videoed the inscription before covering it.

So we're putting the mystery out to you. If you have knowledge of 19th-century lumber or construction markings, early Belmont history, the Pine Creek sawmill, or recognize “C.P. 73,” we'd like to hear from you.

Sometimes history survives in official records. Sometimes it survives in newspapers and photographs. And sometimes-- someone simply writes it on a piece of wood. ✏

09/28/2026

Brett Perchetti sends this GREAT photo of an identifying mark he and Tom found on top of the jail cell block recently while they were painting the ceiling. Pottstown Iron Company., located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, produced the iron from which the cells were constructed. The "40000 T.S." most likely refers to the historical maximum annual production capacity of the Pottstown Iron Company. In historical industrial records, "T.S." stands for Tons Stack (referring to the output of its blast furnace stack) or simply a shorthand for Tons (Short).

Thank you, Brett and Tom, for photographing this awesome little piece of hidden history in the Belmont Courthouse!

09/11/2026

BIG THANKS to the crew with Spirit of Nevada for the short film about the Belmont Courthouse! Enjoy!!

What happened inside the Belmont Courthouse more than 150 years ago...

09/01/2026

"Spirit of Nevada" is an Emmy Award-winning television series hosted by Samantha Chian that explores the remarkable people, historic places, and hidden stories that make the Silver State so special. The series is produced by five-time Emmy-winning Digital Stream Productions and currently airs on Cox YurView Channels 14 and 1014 HD in Southern Nevada, as well as Reno’s CW in Northern Nevada on over-the-air Channel 8.3, Charter Channels 12 and 695, and DirecTV Channel 9. Episodes are also shared on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Spirit of Nevada crew was in Belmont today to explore the town's silver-mining history, its surviving historic buildings, and the Belmont Courthouse’s important role as the former seat of Nye County government. The Board of Trustees was proud to host them, and we'll be sure to let you know when the episode is set to air! You can view past episodes on YouTube.

Welcome to Spirit of Nevada, where we explore the people, places, history, and adventures that make the Silver State so unique. Join us as we uncover hidden gems, meet inspiring locals, and share unforgettable experiences from every corner of Nevada. Spirit of Nevada is proudly sponsored by Richard....

09/01/2026

How about a jail update? These photos were taken this morning! We now have a roof and a ceiling, and it's because of YOU! If you bought a brick (which we're still selling and still installing) or a coin (which we're still selling) you helped to fund this project! As always, a big thank you to Brett and Buddy of Perchetti Construction.

08/17/2026

Perchetti Construction continues their work on the jail rebuild. We hope you enjoy these updated photos!

08/16/2026

Happy Sunday! This article, which was copied with the permission of the Central Nevada Historical Society, was printed in the Belmont Courier on June 23, 1876. Big thanks to Rick Motis for helping your Facebook editor figure out which side of the building is north!

08/09/2026

152 years ago this week, the first male child was born in Belmont, but there's a twist! This article, taken from the August 4, 1874 edition of the Belmont Courier, was provided by the Central Nevada Historical Society.