In 1859 William (a.k.a. Waterman) S. Bodey discovered gold near what is now called Bodie Bluff. It started with about 20 miners and grew to an estimated 10,000 people by 1880. The town of Bodie became busy with families, robbers, miners, store owners, gunfighters, prostitutes, and people from every country in the world. At one time there was reported to be 65 saloons in town. Among the saloons were numerous brothels and gambling halls and opium dens.

Daily miners would go to the saloons and the red-light district for entertainment. The mixture of money, gold and alcohol would have mortal consequences. Newspapers reported that townspeople would ask in the mornings “Have we a man for breakfast?” Meaning ‘Did anyone get killed last night?’ Because of the early violence that plagued the wild mining town, Bodie, the sweep of deadly disease, death by childbirth, mining accidents and death by natural causes, had Bodie’s cemetery unusually populous.

Downtown Bodie 1910

J.S. CAIN – BUSINESS PIONEER

J.S. Cain, who was eventually the town’s principal property owner. Cain moved to Bodie when he was 25 and built an empire. He began building his empire by putting lumber barges on Mono Lake and transporting timber for Bodie – the same timber that was needed to support the mine shafts, stoke the boilers that ran the machinery, built the buildings, heated the homes and cooked the food. Wood was a BIG business in Bodie.

Cain and a business partner had leased a block of land from the Standard Consolidated Mining Company and ended up took $90,000 in gold out of that claim in just 90 days! When they tried to renew the lease, the Standard said no, but Cain later took control of the mill though court action and went on to be one of the richest men in town. Cain’s son David Victor Cain (D. V. Cain) also became a prominent businessman and eventually had the house across the street from the Methodist Church.

HAUNTED BODIE

The Real Ghosts of Bodie

Evelyn Myers

One little three-year-old girl, Evelyn Myers known then as The Angel of Bodie died in a tragic accident. The daughter of the general store owner was well-loved by the townspeople and because of this a collection taken to help her family by a stone marker of her portrayed as an angel leaning against a scroll. There are stories of her appearing to visitors. This spirited young girl likes to appear to young children and tries to play with them in the graveyard near her resting place. A family was visiting the Bodie Cemetery, when their youngest preschooler was sitting by the young spirit girl’s grave, she began laughing and giggling with someone her parents could not see. When asked by her father, she told him that she was playing with another little girl that had a hole in her head.

The Woman in White

This apparition in a white dress has been seen sitting serenely by graves while knitting. She appears to be peacefully spending time watching the town, and possibly remembering the wonderful times she had with her loved ones.

Incidents of Bad Luck

“In the late 80’s I lived on Eldorado St. in Gardnerville NV. I was 16 yrs. old and admired the beautiful unobstructed view of Jobs Peak from my second story balcony. My family and I visited Bodie which is where I decided to take a few old nails home with me not paying any regards to the posted “bad luck” warnings. Almost immediately returning home bad things were happening around me. I took the old rusty nails and threw them out into the open field in which my beautiful view became a 3-story cement wall where businesses thrived then faltered. I believe that property will forever be tainted.”

– BECKY B. GARSIDE