Before we move forward, I would like to tell you about the Prosser Ditch. Sometime in the late 1800s, an irrigation ditch was dug—probably by Chinese laborers—that began at a natural spring on the west side of Red Mountain, which can still be seen from 395 North just past the Parr Blvd exit.
It ran south down the ravine (passing the Cave of a Thousand Wonders), around the hillside north of Sutro Street, and back up to Reno Cascade. From there, it went over the hill, down where Dandini Blvd is today, then back up and over another hill into Prosser Valley, where it ended between 2nd and 3rd Avenue on Slope Drive.
Back to our story. In 1947, Walter J. Harris sold 1,160 acres to Harry and Ruth Gepford. Between 1947 and 1949, Harris’s son sold another 40 acres to the Gepfords as well. In 1948, a gentleman named Dennis Coyle Hill sold 419.24 acres—which he had acquired through land patents—to the Gepfords.
In 1946, the Gepfords laid out a total of 3,000 acres they had purchased to develop Sun Valley, spanning from 1st Avenue to 9th Avenue. (I do have some maps of the Sun Valley Subdivision dated 1947.)
After WWII ended, soldiers returned home wanting to build new lives, often with very little money. Many moved west, where Reno and Sparks were growing and land was inexpensive. A large number settled in “the Valley.” This is when Prosser Valley became Sun Valley—1947.
Life was hard back then. Dirt roads were graded, but there was no electricity, water, or telephone services. There weren’t enough residents to justify bringing electricity or water into the valley. Most residents had to dig their own wells by hand, and outhouses were common until septic systems were installed—also mostly by hand.
As the valley grew, electricity and telephone services were eventually brought in. Because there were so few residents, telephone lines were shared—these were called “party lines,” meaning anywhere from four to six homes were on the same line. It wasn’t unusual to pick up the receiver and hear someone already talking. Each home had a unique ring pattern: one might have one short ring and two long rings, another three short rings, and so on.
In 1949, Harry Gepford donated one acre to the Sun Valley Landowners Association—also known as the Community Hall—used for public meetings, social gatherings, dances, and fundraising events. It was also used as a one-room schoolhouse for grades 1–8, serving about 30 students.
In June 1951, he donated 10 acres to the Spanish Springs School District at 5th Avenue and Leon Drive (more about that later). Also in 1951, he also donated 8.35 acres for a park located at Leon Drive and 3rd Avenue (now known as Gepford Parkway). Originally, the park was named Harris Park and now belongs to the General Improvement District.
In 1952, he donated one acre to build a volunteer fire station at Sun Valley Drive and 4th Avenue (also now belonging to the General Improvement District).
The earliest deed I could find in “Sun Valley” dates to August 1947, issued to Charles and Pat McBride at the corner of Sun Valley Drive and 7th Avenue, where the Bi-Rite Market and Bi-Rite Pizza are located today.
In September 1947, Gepford sold 10 acres to Robert Smith on 6th Avenue and Lupin Drive. Also in 1947, he sold approximately 2½ acres to George Coslow and his wife at 165 E. 5th Avenue.
In 1948, Gepford sold 1 acre to Herman Jednick at 120 E. 2nd Avenue, behind the Golden Gate Station, where Jednick operated a wrecking yard. He was known as a grumpy man to us kids. The house on that property was originally built in 1930 and moved to the Valley, where it still stands today.
There were many other early Sun Valley settlers—names you may recognize—who helped build the Valley and are now long gone.
Some of them include:
- 1947 – Vince “Bud” Stockes
- 1948 – Cecil Clinger
- 1949 – Melvin Brown
- 1950 – John & Mary Moore (my parents)
- 1950 – Dave Sequira
- 1950 – Jim Frances
- 1950 – Lola Cornbread
- 1951 – Rufus Walker
- 1951 – Louis & Marge Atwell
- 1953 – George Smith
- 1953 – Paul Stratton (Stratton Drive, behind Hobey’s)
Just to name a few.
Next month: The beginning of the elementary school.
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