2025 St. Vitus Summer Doins – American Flat Mill
Holy macaroni, Julia has a spanking new location for the St Vitus Summer Doins, held on the weekend of the 28th & 29th of June. It’s the historically significant area of old American City and the American Flat Mill, both now gone, and just fond memories in old timer’s jumbled up minds.
Gold and silver mining began in the American City and American Flat area after 1860 when Comstock discoveries started extending beyond the Gold Canyon ravine sites. By 1864 citizens of the newly founded American City conspired to relocate the territorial capital from Carson City to the new town. American City movers and shakers offered a stupendous inducement of $50,000 ($1.6 million today) to the Nevada territorial government if they’d relocate to the new American City. Local papers backed the move, but legislators duly rejected the offer.
During 1864-1866, American City thrived, with two large hotels, a post office, and its own township officers. Sadly, the community faded away and by late 1867 American City was all but abandoned. In 1920, the United Comstock Mining Co. constructed a $1.5 million ($24 million today) four-story cyanide mill of reinforced concrete near the old American City site called American Flat Mill, to process the low-grade ores coming out of the Comstock Lode mines.
Three years later Comstock Merger Mines Inc. was formed to operate a group of Comstock mines in the middle of the lode, and in 1923, acquired the mill when the United Comstock Mining Co. went out of business. A small company camp just below the mill included a store, several houses, and a post office.
In December 1926 the mill was finally closed due to the falling price of silver. All valuables and machinery were removed and sold leaving only metal and concrete ruins. The metal structures were removed during the war (WW2) leaving concrete ruins standing in despair.
The remains at American Flat Mill became a gathering spot for thugs, rustlers, cutthroats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperadoes, mugs, pugs, nitwits, half-wits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass kickers, shit kickers, Methodists, and local ne’er-do-wells for decades. Generally, it was considered a great place to party! Unfortunately, the powers that be (i.e. government do gooders) argued that the structures were dangerous (probably right), and its fate was sealed: total demolishment. In the fall of 2014 the site was closed off to the public and entirely dismantled and removed by BLM.
If you fit into any one of the categories of men mentioned above (no bull dykes allowed) you really should come to the Doins at this site, and stand, sit, or gracefully recline on the grounds of this historic place. While there is little to nothing to see of the old structures, the Officers of Julia C Bulette are conspiring together to put on a Doins worth remembering. The location is remote from the leering eyes of the general public, yet very easy to access.
Roisterous Iscutis Bruce (aka Budders) is watching Julia Child VCR tapes to improve his cooking skills and plans on a meal to remember. Grand Musician CJ (aka Sponge Bob) will provide a Slippery Gulch if he can figure out how to make ice. Hangman Mike (aka Leggy-C) is working diligently to make sure any and all PBCs have an enjoyable day (mostly for the benefit of the Brothers). Gold Dust Receiver Wes (aka Reverend) will happily pick your pocket and take your last dime. Recorder Jason (aka Mayor) is learning to read and write so he can deal with the paperwork. Vice NGH Tom (aka Roofied) is carefully reading up on Grand Council rules and guidance for Doins so he can identify all the problems he’ll need to address next year. And NGH Gary (aka Dusty, F that guy) is already drinking heavily in eager anticipation of getting harassed and belittled all day by the most excellent and exalted Clampatriarch Carl (aka Harley) Davison.
The schedule of events and relevant levies follows:
Early site campers will be allowed to fight over spots on Friday the 27th of June. Don’t show up before that unless you ignore directions and feel like you’re super special. All red shirts camping on site MUST take heed of the Map of Doom and NOT camp in any restricted area. Violators will be relocated to a different spot by the Humbug using an old 1965 International Harvester TD-340 Bull Dozer. Seriously, keep the restricted areas clear. The main road and the area reserved for the cook crew, crappers, and “event equipment” needs to be available when the gear gets there.
The Doins will officially start at the Moran building at 34 N B Street on Saturday morning.
Door and Bar will open at 8:57 am sharp. If the JCB Flag is flying, the joint is open for Red Shirts.
Supplicant PBCs MUST be surrendered to Grand Imperturbable Hangman Mike (aka Leggy-C) starting when the doors open and completing no later than 11:03 am. After that their money will be accepted, they might be able to participate, but they will not receive any paperwork or certifications unless a written waiver is provided by the NGH certifying their inability to follow directions properly. After “intake activities” the event will move to the Mill area camp site.
All paperwork must be completed at the Moran Building. Sponsors, MAKE SURE YOUR PBC WRITES LEGIBLY OR THEIR SKIN (if they make it) WILL BE FILLED IN WITH ANY NAME THE RECORDER FEELS LIKE WRITING DOWN.
Your Day of Fun will cost you one of the following fees…
$50 – Red Shirts
$60 – PBCs
*PLUS a letter from your Mom or Widder saying you can try…
The GPS location of the camp site is 39.270667, -119.667194, and you can find it here if you’re not a moron.
Detailed info on the camp site…
This camp site is on BLM land, just outside of Comstock Mine land. Please remember to be respectful when going through the Comstock Mine property (the roads are theirs), don’t speed, keep the dust down, WATCH OUT for heavy equipment! Also note, the Storey County Sheriff’s Office patrols the road between Virginia City and the Comstock Mining Company turn off like it’s more important than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Take care to follow all traffic rules…
The Green road marked on the map should be keep open at all times! Do not park or camp on the roadway.
You can camp in either the Blue rectangle (Primary area) or the Yellow rectangle (Overflow area). There is a “dip” in the road between the two areas so camp trailers or other “long” vehicles may not make it thru that part of the road. You may want to bring a shovel and rake to help clear your camp spot. There are areas that are nice and flat, but they may have a bush, rock or other flora that you can move to make your camp experience better…
PLEASE don’t park or camp in the Violet rectangle area until after all the equipment has been brought in and set up (should happen on Friday or early Saturday at the latest). This area is reserved for the cook crew, the port’a potties, and “other” items needed for the Doings. HOCO will happen in this area.
The camp site is about an 8 minute easy drive from Virginia City so those that don’t want to camp can easily stay in Virginia City and carefully commute to the Doins site.
Per State and Federal rules there will be NO open flame camp fires allowed. Here is a link to the current restriction orders. Approved outdoor cooking and heating devices (as outlined in local fire code) are generally allowed, except on Red Flag Days. Campfires are never permitted anywhere in Storey County. Here is a link to the current Storey County restriction orders.
See you at the Doins at the new site!