Cerro Gordo Freighting Company Ghost Town Accommodations Pamphlet
$ 7.92
Description
Cerro Gordo Freighting Company Ghost Town Accommodations Pamphlet. The most definitive piece of evidence is the619 area code. Prior to 1982, the region used the 714 area code, and onMarch 22, 1997, the Owens Valley (including Keeler and Cerro Gordo) was split off from 619 and moved to the760 area code. Cerro Gordo Freighting Company Ghost Town Accommodations Pamphlet Based on the specific details provided, this pamphlet was most likely produced between 1982 and 1997. The most definitive piece of evidence is the 619 area code. Prior to 1982, the region used the 714 area code, and on March 22, 1997, the Owens Valley (including Keeler and Cerro Gordo) was split off from 619 and moved to the 760 area code. Evidence for Dating (1982–1997) Area Code (619): This code was active for the Cerro Gordo region for only 15 years. Any literature printed with "619" for a Keeler address must fall within this window. The Address (PO Box 221, Keeler): This has been the long-standing official mailing address for Cerro Gordo Tours and the Cerro Gordo Freighting Company during the Stewart family's tenure. The Rates ($69 Queen): This pricing is consistent with the late 1980s to early 1990s. For comparison, by the late 1990s and early 2000s, rustic ghost town "bed and cook your own breakfast" rates typically climbed toward the $80–$100 range as restoration costs increased. Aesthetic (Old West Brown): The "brown letterhead" and "three-fold" design were standard for local tourism brochures produced in the 1980s, often utilizing simple offset printing to match the rustic "ghost town" theme. Based on the historical ownership and the specific phrasing "Cerro Gordo Freighting Company" used for tourism, the pamphlet was most likely produced between 1973 and the early 2000s, with a high probability of originating in the late 1970s or 1980s. Key Factors for the Dating The dating is based on the transition of Cerro Gordo from an active mining site to a private ghost town attraction: Commercial Rebranding (1970s): In the early 1970s, Jody Stewart purchased the town and began marketing it as a "living" ghost town and a destination for historical tourism. She often utilized the "Cerro Gordo Freighting Company" name as a nod to the original 1870s freighting business owned by Remi Nadeau. The "Bed and Cook Your Own Breakfast" Era: The specific offer of on-site accommodations in historic buildings like the American Hotel and the Bunkhouse became a hallmark of the town’s marketing during Stewart's ownership (1973–2001). Ownership Transition (2018–Present): While current owner Brent Underwood uses modern digital marketing, he still maintains much of the vintage-style signage and branding established by the previous family.
