Inside Room 109

Jus’ across Pyramid Highway from our home is a very well-known Nevada landmark — or at least it should be. At one time it was ranch owned by one of the most powerful men in state during the early years of the 20th century.

The ranch is now subdivided and filled with single-family homes, an 18-hole golf course with sand-traps and water hazards and miles and miles of asphalt. Today, it’s known as Wingfield Springs.

When George Wingfield came to Northern Nevada in the late 1896 no one knew what kind of impact he would have on the state. Eventually with the 1906 formation of Goldfield Consolidated Mines Company, he became a multi-millionaire,  owned at least 12 banks and was a political powerhouse.

But as Nevada legend has it — George Wingfield also had a dark side. The way the story goes Wingfield took a liking to prostitute named Elizabeth, and was furious when he found out that she was carrying another mans child.

In his anger he allegedly chained Elizabeth to the radiator-heater inside room 109 of the Goldfield Hotel, which he built. There she is supposed to have stayed until she gave birth in the 30’s.

Old timers claim Wingfield took the baby and threw the it down an abandoned mine located under the hotel. As for Elizabeth, she vanished, never to be seen or heard from again.

There is no evidence supporting these allegations however. And what few facts remain, they do not support the story. 

First, while Wingfield owned the hotel from 1908 to 1923, he kept his distance. It was Casey McDannell that actually ran the hotel. 

Next, the hotel remained open until 1946 and I can’t imagine a woman being held hostage in a room without someone knowing this and reporting it. Either an employee or a guest would have heard her cries for help. 

Third, the mine beneath the hotel was built by Newton Crumley, who purchased the hotel from Wingfield in 1923. That mine wasn’t constructed until about ten years later.

Lastly, Wingfield no longer owned the hotel by the time this incident is alleged to have happened. If it did happen, perhaps the culprit would be Crumley — not Wingfield.

Then again the legend does make for some pretty good fodder around the card table and bar room.