   |
|
The Boomtown History Conferences began when a few dedicated historians decided the history of these important boomtowns should not slide into oblivion and the effort to preserve and promote the history of these areas was worthwhile. The first conference was held in February, 2006, at Longstreet’s Hotel and Casino in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, and included two days of presentations which centered on the people, places, and events that took place in the area a hundred years before. The papers presented during the conference were compiled and the first boomtown book, Boom Town History, was published. The second conference was held in 2007, and focused on Northern Nye County and the boomtowns of Goldfield, Tonopah, and Round Mountain. Once the conference was done, the presenters again submitted copies of their presentations and photographs, and Boomtown History II was published. In August, 2009, Tonopah and Goldfield hosted the conference and the direction for future conferences took a dramatic turn. Realizing there was a demand for the history of the boomtowns in Nevada, Arizona, and California, the organizers of the Tonopah event joined with Treasurer/Editor Jean Johnson and formed Boomtown History Conferences, Inc., a Nevada nonprofit corporation, dedicated to the promotion and preservation of these historic areas. The group also realized the books published after each event provided a wonderful marketing tool for the towns featured at the conference to promote their areas, so they worked to ensure as much information about the tours, as well as the papers presented, were included in the book. Editor Jean Johnson also made the decision to include color photos for the first time, and the results of this decision, as well as her dedication to the editing of the volume, produced the incredible book which is Boomtown History III. As the group prepares for the Ely Boomtown History Conference in August, 2010, we are also looking forward to Boomtown V in Northern California.
 Clair Blackburn - ChairmanClair’s first visit to Tonopah was in 1957 and he had not returned to the area until beginning work at the Tonopah Test Range in 1982. Always a history enthusiast, he became interested in the Belmont Mine Fire of 1911, and after much research was instrumental in locating direct descendants of William “Big Bill” Murphy, the hero of the Belmont Mine Fire. Clair was a presenter at both Boomtown II and Boomtown III. Clair and his wife, Teralyn, still reside in Tonopah.
Michael Burnaroos- Vice Chairman
Denise Nelson - Secretary
Treasurer
and editor of the Boomtown Event publications, Jean has presented several
papers on early Death Valley and has edited over 150 papers on desert
history. When not writing or editing, she teaches cello and performs in the Eastern California Symphony and chamber orchestras and the Minaret Quartet. |
