Elko County Rose Garden

The following historical sketch is taken from the 8-2-94 article in the ‘Elko Daily Free Press’, “Walking Tour provides introduction to Elko”, by Mike Antrobus; and Howard Hickson’s article “Elko: The first 100 Years”, 3-29-98, that can be found on Mr. Hickson’s website: “Howard Hickson’s Histories”, on the web at mightymoose.us (see links page).

The Elko County Rose Garden is located on the grounds of the first county public high school in the state of Nevada. The building opened in 1896, with 43 students. The cost was $7,420. The building remained in use until 1918, when the present high school was constructed. The building was then used for the American Legion and Elko Homemaker’s Club. In 1926, the second floor was used as a public library - until it burned in 1942. The second floor was removed and the first floor and basement were then used for the library. After the construction of the new library in 1974, the building was used for county offices and is now called the “Elko County Administration Building”.

Old High School (now County Administration Building) Photo taken early 1900’s, Photo: Northeastern Nevada Museum. Additional historical photos of Elko can be found in Howard Hickson’s excellent web site (links page).

Elko County Administration Building (Old High School), taken looking North. The rose garden is located behind this building. 5/27/00, DT

The small building on the north side of the County Administration Building is the ‘20th Century Club Building’, once used as a physics and chemistry lab for the old high school. The garden is planned to be between the 20th Century Building and the County Administration Building. The first year beds are located in the distance by the weeping birch tree.

20th Century Building, 5/26/00 DT

In 1890, Josiah and Elizabeth Potts were hanged behind the courthouse (across the street from the Elko County Administration Building) for the murder of Miles Faucett. She was the first and only woman executed in Nevada and the Potts’ hangings were the last executions in the county. It has been rumored that Josiah and Elizabeth still roam the grounds of the Elko County Courthouse.