Las Vegas Sun

November 21, 2008

Lost and found

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A salvage party dismantles a house in St. Thomas, Nevada in 1942. St. Thomas, which was abandoned to the rising waters of Lake Mead in 1938, has resurfaced due to fluctuating lake levels several times over the decades.

A salvage party dismantles a house in St. Thomas, Nevada in 1942. St. Thomas, which was abandoned to the rising waters of Lake Mead in 1938, has resurfaced due to fluctuating lake levels several times over the decades. View photo »

The remains of a building is seen through the tamarisk weeds that have grown over the site of the lost town of St. Thomas. The town was founded by Mormon settlers in 1865, but was abandoned to the rising waters of Lake Mead in 1938.

The remains of a building is seen through the tamarisk weeds that have grown over the site of the lost town of St. Thomas. The town was founded by Mormon settlers in 1865, but was abandoned to the rising waters of Lake Mead in 1938. View photo »

A structure at the site of the lost town of St. Thomas.

A structure at the site of the lost town of St. Thomas. View photo »

In this undated photograph, water rises over the ruins of St. Thomas.

In this undated photograph, water rises over the ruins of St. Thomas. View photo »

Steps are all that remains of the school building on the site of the lost town.

Steps are all that remains of the school building on the site of the lost town. View photo »

A photograph taken May 13, 1934 shows the abandoned school building in St. Thomas.

A photograph taken May 13, 1934 shows the abandoned school building in St. Thomas. View photo »

A photo of Verna Heller, second row far left #30, is displayed next to her St. Thomas School classmates in the office of Beezy Tobiasson in Overton. Tobiasson is writing the history of St. Thomas, a town near Overton that was abandoned to the waters of Lake Mead in 1938.

A photo of Verna Heller, second row far left #30, is displayed next to her St. Thomas School classmates in the office of Beezy Tobiasson in Overton. Tobiasson is writing the history of St. Thomas, a town near Overton that was abandoned to the waters of Lake Mead in 1938. View photo »

Verna Heller, right, grew up in St. Thomas with her nine siblings and left with her family in 1932, six years before the waters of Lake Mead flooded the town. Her daughter-in-law Beezy Tobiasson, left, of Overton is writing a history of St. Thomas. Heller now lives in Logandale.

Verna Heller, right, grew up in St. Thomas with her nine siblings and left with her family in 1932, six years before the waters of Lake Mead flooded the town. Her daughter-in-law Beezy Tobiasson, left, of Overton is writing a history of St. Thomas. Heller now lives in Logandale. View photo »

Heller recalls nightmares of a scene that would be a dream come true for 21st-century Las Vegas: the lake filling all at once.

Heller recalls nightmares of a scene that would be a dream come true for 21st-century Las Vegas: the lake filling all at once. "It did come up fast when it came up,” she said. “I was too young to have anything but resentment.” View photo »

A photograph taken April 10, 1935 shows an abandoned homestead.

A photograph taken April 10, 1935 shows an abandoned homestead. View photo »

Eva Jensen, archaeologist at Overton's Lost City Museum, takes a photo of an exposed sewer pipe that she hadn't seen before while touring the site of the lost town.

Eva Jensen, archaeologist at Overton's Lost City Museum, takes a photo of an exposed sewer pipe that she hadn't seen before while touring the site of the lost town. View photo »

The Gentry Hotel in St. Thomas, photographed May 13, 1934.

The Gentry Hotel in St. Thomas, photographed May 13, 1934. View photo »

Aaron McArthur, a UNLV doctoral student writing a history of St. Thomas for the National Park Service, explores the site of the Gentry Hotel. The significance of the the town has changed over the years, he said.

Aaron McArthur, a UNLV doctoral student writing a history of St. Thomas for the National Park Service, explores the site of the Gentry Hotel. The significance of the the town has changed over the years, he said. "The lessons that people seem to be drawing from it have less to do with matters of faith and ‘grow where you’re planted,’ and more with a cautionary kind of thing about what happens when we’re not responsible stewards of water." View photo »

A photo from April 11, 1945 shows cars abandoned by evacuating residents.

A photo from April 11, 1945 shows cars abandoned by evacuating residents. View photo »

The lower control arm of an old Model T automobile, which was used to reinforce concrete, is now exposed as the wall of an old auto garage crumbles.

The lower control arm of an old Model T automobile, which was used to reinforce concrete, is now exposed as the wall of an old auto garage crumbles. View photo »

An undated photograph shows a salvage party on a raft navigating the rising waters of Lake Mead.

An undated photograph shows a salvage party on a raft navigating the rising waters of Lake Mead. View photo »

Wooden framing at the window of a building in the lost town of St. Thomas. The wood will deteriorate more quickly exposed to sun and wind than it will if it were covered by water.

Wooden framing at the window of a building in the lost town of St. Thomas. The wood will deteriorate more quickly exposed to sun and wind than it will if it were covered by water. View photo »

A photo from March 25, 1964 shows St. Thomas during an earlier emergence from Lake Mead.

A photo from March 25, 1964 shows St. Thomas during an earlier emergence from Lake Mead. View photo »

Old Highway 91 can still be seen at the site of the lost town of St. Thomas.

Old Highway 91 can still be seen at the site of the lost town of St. Thomas. View photo »

Mon, Mar 10, 2008 (2 a.m.)

The town of St. Thomas was abandoned to the rising waters of Lake Mead in 1938, yet it has resurfaced from time to time as the level of the lake varies. Archaeologists and historians are taking advantage of the dry spell to study St. Thomas once again.

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

  1. By reid5570
    3/29/08 at 7:46 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    There are still a few former residents around, my Dad, his brother, and a few cousins and I have discussed St. Thomas many times with them.

    Yes, they have a lot of nostalgia and love for their childhood home. They didn't all move up to Overton and Logandale. Many of them moved to Las Vegas, St. George and Hurricane, some even went up into Idaho.

    St. Thomas was the crossroads for shipping and the largest town in the area. There are many fond memories and humorous stories told over the years.

    Contrary to the tone of tragedy and injustice that outsiders generate by their perception of St. Thomas, there was also a good side. These people were struggling to make a livelihood, and they were bought out by the government, given good money for their poor little farms and struggling businesses. They were given cash, a very good stake, more money than they had ever had before, that allowed them to move to St. George, or Hurricane and buy farmland, build a new home and set themselves up free and clear. Financially, the buyout of St. Thomas was a godsend to most of these people.

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