Tables delivered for the new Library

Report by Dennis Casebier

Rob Fulton was here today deliverying three tables for the Library/Depot. Rob, Mark Wire, and Hugh Brown unloaded them. They are in the south Freight House. Some assembly required.

Majority whip tours Library

Senator Harry Reid (left) and Dennis G. Casebier take in the view towards Searchlight from the second floor bay window of the Library.

Report by Chris S. Ervin
Photos by Shannon Raborn

Senate Majority Whip Harry Reid (D-NV) toured the newly completed Library building today. The Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association was honored to play host to Senator Reid and his Southern Nevada Director, Shannon Raborn.

The Goffs Depot, upon which the design of the Library was based, connected the shortline Nevada Southern Railroad with the mainline of the Santa Fe at Goffs. Searchlight, Nevada was the terminus at the other end of the Nevada Southern. Senator Reid grew up in Searchlight and still calls that former mining town his home.

Several members of the MDHCA Board of Directors as well as some volunteers had the pleasure of visiting with the good Senator for about ninety minutes. The Senator declared the Library to be a fine building.

From left to right; Steve Mongrain, Gail and Donna Andress, Hugh and Carol Brown, Jo Ann Casebier, Chris Ervin, Dennis Casebier, Russ Kaldenberg, Sen. Harry Reid, and Leslie Ervin.

Signs installed on the Library

Report by Chris Ervin
Photos by Leslie and Chris Ervin
Historic images courtesy of Mojave Desert Archives

Starting yesterday, with most of the work done today, Chris Ervin installed four of the five "historic" depot signs on the new Library/Depot. A "GOFFS" depot station sign was centered on the bay window as well as on the far (south) end of the Freight House.

Historic (above) and new bay window GOFFS station sign (below).
A 30-inch square "Santa Fe" herald was also installed on the north end of the two-story Depot building just above a 60-inch long "GOFFS" station sign.

Historic (above) and new Depot signs (below).

To be historically correct, another "Santa Fe" herald needs to be installed on the Freight House, but a special mounting bracket will need to be fashioned before that can happen.

Historic (above) and new Freight House sign (below).

All of these signs are modern reproductions based on historic photos and artifacts found on Ebay. As mentioned in a previous post, MDHCA president Steve Mongrain arranged for the fabrication of the signs and their donation by Vegas Valley Business Forms. They are nice accents for the Library built in the image of the original Goffs Railway Depot and are sure to attract attention.

Data cabinet installation begins

Report and photo by Hugh Brown

Danny Marin and Bobby Kokrak from Data Specialties, Inc. arrived at Goffs shortly after 9 AM to begin installation of the various data, phone, and cable TV infrastructure components in the north Freight House of the Library/Depot.

They worked through until 3 PM, and then departed for Buena Park. They will return early tomorrow to complete the job. The original plan was for them to stay here this evening, but a tester needed for final checking was not loaded on their truck, hence, necessitating the return.

Water tanks painted and signs delivered

Report by Dennis Casebier
Photo and artwork by Chris Ervin

Hugh Brown and Mark Wire commenced painting the two 5,000-gallon water tanks that support the Library/Depot. This project continued for several days.


Also, Steve and Mary Mongrain were here to deliver the GOFFS and SANTA FE SIGNS for the Library/Depot. The signs are being donated by their business, Vegas Valley Business Forms.