Originally from Illinois, the brothers opened their first store in Johannesburg, Ca. in 1902. Moving with the mining booms, they opened stores in Ballarat, Beatty, Pioneer and Rhyolite. From the Ballarat store, H. D. Porter loaded thirty tons of merchandise onto an 18-mule team freight wagon and came east across Death Valley to the Bullfrog District. The original store was built on Main St. After the move to Golden St., the wooden building was used as a furniture store for the Porter Brothers.

With the purchase of a lot on Golden Ave. the construction of a new stone building began in July 1906 and was finished four months later. According to the Rhyolite Herald, November 1906 "This is a large substantial structure, practically fireproof, and occupies a prominent site on Golden Street. The main floor is 30 x 80 feet, with a basement and gallery." Nels Linn was the contractor who did the stonework. The estimated cost was $10,000 for the complete construction of the building.

One of the signs that hung from the Porter Brothers Store was "All Things Good But Whiskey". With all the saloons already established in Rhyolite, the Porter Brothers maintained a reputation of never selling liquor.

One of my favorite stories here concerned one of the Porter Boys and we'll call her Mrs. X to save embarrassment. Anyway, Mrs. X walked her little poodle everyday right by the Porter Brothers Store. And everyday the dog would take a leak on the middle post of the store. Being tired of cleaning up the mess, one of the Porter boys hooked a copper wire and a battery to the center post. Well, I imagine you can guess what happened next. It really was a sight to see that ball of fur yipping and running down Golden St. with Mrs. X behind it. No, the poodle was not injured, but it never, ever, came near the Porter Store again.

The Porter Brothers also owned a warehouse and lumber yard in Rhyolite. They were very popular, but were also known as practical jokers. If anything strange but harmless happened in the town, it was a good bet that one of the Porter Brothers was behind it.

In May of 1910 the brothers sold the entire stock of merchandise and closed their store. L.D. Porter stayed in Rhyolite until 1915 when he finally left and settled with his family in Santa Barbara, Calif. H. D. Porter took over the duties of the Postmaster in 1915 and stayed until there was no hope left for Rhyolite in 1919.

Time is short and we must push on. Last stop on the tour is the Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad Depot.

THUMB NAILS OF THE PORTER BROTHERS STORE
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1906	1907	1931	1941	1944	1944
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