The grand opening of the Elks Montezuma Club, Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1900

Photograph of the grand opening of the Elks Montezuma Club, Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1900. The two-story masonry building features arched windows and large arched doorways. The building is decorated with ornaments, flags (including the American flag), ribbons, and large bows. People are gathered around the front entrance (on the corner of the street) where a pianist is playing the piano. Nearby, several people are sitting on wooden chairs situated on a platform. Light bulbs and banners hang across the street to signify the grand opening of the club.; Legible signs include: "Montezuma Club, B.P.O.", "The Red Front, general dealers", "Nye and Ormsby County agency", "Price Slashers [...]", "bank", "this road to Crystal Baths swimming tanks", "Gol[...]ld Drug Co.", "real estate, Title Abstract Company", "National Ice Co.".; "Prominent among the factors which go to make life in the desert mining camp not only bearable but enjoyable, is the social club. Tonopah has it Mizpah Club; Goldfield its Montezuma Club, and Rhyolite now has its Shoshone Club. To the credit of Sam F. Lindsay, county commissioner, miner, businessman and all around substantial citizen, stands the last organization. As president of the organization, he piloted it through its early days, and with the help of the prominent citizens of the camp, planned the beautiful clubhouse as a center of social life. " -- unknown author.