Meet the 85-year-old who refused to let his Idaho town die. He stayed alone for 28 years.

Willie Hawes’ 28-Year Solo Defense of Silver City

When Silver City lost its county seat in 1934, the Idaho mining town began to fade.

Buildings were torn down, treasures sold off cheap, and power lines cut during the 1940s. Yet one man stood firm.

Willie Hawes, born there in 1876, chose to stay as the lone resident for 28 years. He wore all the hats – mayor, cop, fire chief, and postman.

Thanks to his watch until his death in 1968, much of Silver City still stands.

Today, this ghost town sits on the National Register of Historic Places, where you can walk the same streets Hawes once guarded alone.

Silver Miners Struck It Rich in This Idaho Boomtown

Twenty-nine gold hunters from Boise Basin stumbled on silver at War Eagle Mountain in May 1863. Silver City popped up in 1864 and quickly grew into a major Idaho Territory city.

The first stamp mill cost $70,000 to build that year but made $90,000 in just 45 days from the rich Owyhee mines.

By the 1880s, 2,500 people lived in Silver City, with 75 businesses serving the busy town.

This Remote Mountain Town Got Modern Before Most Cities

Silver City grabbed many “firsts” in Idaho Territory, starting the first daily newspaper and telegraph office. The town got electric and telephone service before most places in Idaho.

Telegraph wires linked Silver City to the outside world in 1874, letting miners and shop owners talk with faraway places.

In 1901, workers built the Swan Falls Dam to power Silver City’s mines, bringing electricity when many bigger towns still used oil lamps.

Willie Entered the World During Silver City’s Glory Days

William James “Willie” Hawes was born on September 27, 1876, when Silver City buzzed with mining work.

He grew up watching his hometown change from a busy mining center to a slowly emptying community. The town served as Owyhee County’s government center from 1867 to 1934.

His family opened the Hawes Bazaar general store in 1885, giving young Willie a front-row seat to town life.

The Mines Started Running Dry as Idaho Joined the Union

Around 1890, the same year Idaho became a state, the mines that made Silver City famous began to run out. Small mining work went on and off until World War II, but the boom days ended.

The “Potossi” mine, run by Ned Williams, stayed open as the last year-round operation. When Silver City lost its county seat to Murphy in 1934, the final drop began as government jobs left town.

World War II Nearly Erased the Town from the Map

During the 1940s, as America fought in World War II, Silver City fought to stay alive. People tore down many buildings and moved them to the valley for homes.

Locals sold treasures from the town’s glory days for cheap. Vandals broke into buildings as word spread that Silver City turned into a “ghost town.”

The power company took out the electrical lines, leaving the once-modern town in darkness.

One Man Refused to Give Up on His Hometown

By the 1940s, Willie Hawes stood alone as the only person who still lived in Silver City year-round.

Born and raised in the mountain town, he felt no place could match his beloved hometown. While everyone else packed up and left, Willie chose to stay put.

He became the self-styled “keeper of the keys” and took on the job of saving as much of Silver City as possible.

The Town’s Last Resident Wore Many Hats

Willie worked as mayor, police chief, fire chief, postman, dog catcher, and handyman all at once. He held every public job because nobody else lived there full-time.

A 1955 newspaper called the 79-year-old Hawes the most photographed man in Idaho as tourists and reporters sought him out.

He kept order while staying in touch with the outside world through his phone and radio.

Winter Solitude Gave Way to Busy Tourist Seasons

During harsh mountain winters, Willie kept his bean pot boiling and his sourdough mix ready.

His phone and radio connected him to the world during months alone. When spring came and mountain roads cleared, Willie showed great energy for a man his age.

Each new season brought visitors to Silver City, and Willie made sure they respected the old buildings and followed his rules.

The Guardian Created His Own Tourist Attraction

Willie built a tiny saloon inside an old beer vat that once belonged to the town brewery.

He placed this creative spot in front of the former ice house, making visitors smile with his handiwork.

Throughout his years as guardian, Willie fixed town structures and stopped more damage to historic buildings.

His one-man saving effort earned thanks from Owyhee County and Idaho history fans.

The Lone Watch Ended After Nearly Three Decades

Willie Hawes died on February 19, 1968, at age 91, ending his 28-year solo watch as Silver City’s protector.

His burial took place at Cloverdale Memorial Park in Boise, leaving Silver City truly empty for the first time since its founding.

His death marked the end of constant human presence in a town that once rivaled Boise in importance.

Without Willie, Silver City faced an unclear future as a true ghost town.

His Dedication Saved an Idaho Treasure

Four years after Willie died, workers restored the Idaho Hotel and reopened it for tourists in 1972.

That same year, officials added Silver City Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places, protecting over 10,000 acres of mines, buildings, and mining remains.

Today, more than 70 buildings still stand in Silver City, preserved largely because one man refused to abandon his hometown.

Willie Hawes turned a dying mining town into a living museum of Idaho’s past.

Visiting Silver City Ghost Town, Idaho

You can visit Silver City Ghost Town from Memorial Day weekend through October, about 68 miles from Boise via Murphy.

The two-hour drive includes 23 miles of gravel road requiring a high-clearance vehicle.

The Idaho Hotel provides meals and lodging mid-May through October, while Pat’s What Not Shop and Silver City Fire & Rescue Store open during the summer.

The town has no electricity, gas stations, or modern services since the 1940s.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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