Yankee Blade
During the 1863 rush to Reese River which brought to life the town of Austin, the small settlement of Yandleville emerged a few miles to the north, owing its name to Isaac M. Yandle of the Yates & Yandle Gold & Silver Mining Company. It was soon renamed Yankee Blade at the insistence of Mr. Yandle, after the first producing mine (which in turn honored a newspaper in Boston). By the spring of 1864, some thirty adobe and stone cabins were scattered around the settlement and twice-daily stage service connected Yankee Blade to Austin. A year later, the 15-stamp Confidence Mill was completed below town and Yankee Blade boomed as additional mills were built nearby. Unfortunately, water was struck in the mines in 1867 and most activity was brought to an abrupt end. The Confidence Mill was sold to the La Plata Silver Mining Co., who dismantled it and moved it to Park Canyon. Some production was done in the following years, but Yankee Blade faded into memory during the 1880s. Stone ruins can be found scattered amongst the trees throughout the area.
