Centerville and Siegel are located in north-west Spring Valley. From Ely, take Highway 93N forty-three (43) miles to Schellbourne Station. Turn east for 14.8 miles to stone house. At stone house, turn south on Nevada 893 (Spring Valley road) for three miles. Exit right. Centerville was located at a point 3.5 miles west of the Spring Valley road. Siegel is approximately four miles south and east above the Centerville location.
Although they are not the same place, the history of Centerville (an 1881 map shows the spelling as Centreville) and Siegel is so intertwined they have been included together in this history. Centerville was located in the Schell Creek Mining District - a sub-group of the Aurum District organized in 1870 to include four groups of mines, Schellbourne, Centerville, Queen Springs, and Tehama. By 1872, all the localities were collectively known as the Schell Creek district, and in 1883, they were reported under the name Aurum district.
There were reports of rich silver ore in the two dozen or more, shallow workings and a 5-stamp mill was constructed at Centerville sometime before 1872. John Biggs, George Treat, J.W. Dickinson, Archibald McDonald, Edgar Mills, W.H. Duren and James Cameron formed the Tehama Consolidated Silver Mining Company in 1872. The company employed fifty men. R.J.F. McWilliams and Company platted a 160 acre townsite.
Many small mines were active in the district, but ore occurred only in surface deposits. The mill failed, as there was not enough millable ore. This short-lived camp promised to be one of the greatest in White Pine County. By 1874 only a handful of hopeful prospectors remained in Centerville. Unfortunately, the region was in a state of industrial depression by 1875 and the promise faded
Simon Davis made some promising discoveries in 1881 and the camp was revived. In 1882, Cherry Creek, Egan, Schellbourne, Centerville, Ruby Hill and Aurum were reported to have more votes than all the rest of the county combined.
An interesting note of historical importance involved Centerville. The Ward Reflex in September 1882 stated, "Senator Spencer and Major Roddy have decided to prospect Centerville to the extent of several thousand dollars." U.S. Senator Spencer of Alabama was involved in mining while seeking refuge in Centerville eluding federal agents who sought him as a witness against Senator Dorsey. Dorsey was involved in a government star route, mail fraud case. Accompanied by his wife, Spencer went into hiding at Centerville where he felt certain there would be a safe asylum. Mrs. Spencer was a southern author and it was while camped in this lonely place that she contributed a great deal of the literary effort that went into the book called “Ann Eliza,” alleged to be an expose’ of Mormonism.
In 1903 A.L. Siegel of Salt Lake City bought all the claims in the district. The camp of Siegel became the company camp of the Siegel Consolidated Mines Company. A post office opened at Siegel on January 19, 1907 with Harold Siegel as postmaster. Ore deposits ran out and all mining activity ceased. The post office closed on July 31, 1908 and Aurum became the postal address for its patrons.
Today the ruins of one lone log building and some stone foundations mark the site of Centerville. At Seigel, in the large grove of trees above Centerville, there is little to mark this once active spot. Seigel and Centerville are in a beautiful setting and are among the favorite places to visit for White Pine County residents.
