Bowers Mansion curator Tammy Busick chronicles Comstock-era family in new book

Tammy Busick, curator at Bowers Mansion, described her newly published history of the Bowers family and the mansion’s role in Washoe Valley and Nevada’s Comstock-era past, telling Washoe Life hosts that the University of Nevada Press is publishing the book and that it is slated to appear in March.

Busick traced the mansion’s evolution: Sandy Bowers built the house near mining operations and Eilley (Eilley Bowers) later turned it into a resort that drew weekend crowds from the region. She said historically the miners union picnic could draw "4 to 5,000 people," and that Bowers Mansion served as a prominent recreation destination.

She recounted how a group of roughly a dozen women—starting with a $1 donation—organized to save the mansion, raised about $25,000, and then sought county support. "By then, the commissioners had agreed that this was worth saving," Busick said; she said Washoe County commissioners provided an additional $75,000 and the site became a county park. Busick described new archival finds in which she and historian Ron James located newspaper accounts that showed Eilley had been moved to the King's Daughters Home and that a fire was reported there shortly before her death.

Busick told hosts she had pursued publication for years and that historian Ron James helped expand Nevada-history context and edit the manuscript. The University of Nevada Press ultimately agreed to publish the work.

Busick said the book aims to preserve the mansion’s stories and to place the Bowers family in the wider Comstock-era history of the region. Hosts closed by thanking Busick and reminding listeners the America250 Nevada podcast series will highlight related local histories.