continued from The Pike Family Excursion (Part 2)
Posted January 1, 2023
"I've no doubt you'll show me everything there is to see!" The layout of the town, on the side of the hill like this, made it more intriguing and picturesque, if that word could be assigned to a noisy mining town.
"How in heaven's name do they have opera here?" She chuckled, thinking of the pounding of the stamps as percussion to set a tempo to the singing. "I've never been to an opera." In fact, she only knew that they had something to do with singing and a story, but beyond that, she really didn't know, but it qualified for her list of new experiences.
Posted January 2, 2023
The boardwalk was busy, crowded with folks, men and women. It was a steep descent from 'B' to 'C' Street. First, as they rounded the corner was the Sawdust Corner Bar, and then the Gold Canyon Cafe, which was a ways from the actual Gold Canyon, so named because that was where gold was first discovered. The Delta Saloon and a several other businesses followed and finally, Grosh Brothers Clothing Store, suits, shoes and boots, ladies ware including the latest fashions from San Francisco. Finally, because that was where they went in to have a look around.
"Take your time, Em. We've plenty of that." Barnabas offered, knowing she would anyway. He looked around, needing nothing when Silas Grosh looked up and saw him. "Well, Mister Pike. Almost didn't recognize you all dressed up as you are."
"Si, I see business is flourishing." He replied.
"Back to stay?" Came the question.
"No, here on mining business with my wife. Thought I'd show her around town while we're here. Up in Montana these days. Oh, here she is. Em, this is Silas Grosh, half of the brothers. Si, Emeline, my wife." He introduced as Em walked up.
"Misses Pike, a pleasure, Ma'am."
Posted January 3, 2023
"It's good to meet you, Mr. Grosh." Emeline extended her hand. "Mr. Pike has sung the praises of Virginia City, and I haven't yet been disappointed." She smiled widely as she looked around. "You have a wonderful shop here, a very eclectic array of goods."
She'd already spotted a few things that interested her, and some for the coming baby that she hadn't thought about before now.
"It's like an Emporium, Kalispell could use a place like this, where you can take home what you buy, and don't have to wait for it to arrive from back east!" Then she laughed. "Of course, anything I purchase will have to be shipped!"
Posted January 4, 2023
Silas Gorsh smiled, Missus Pike, a geuine pleasure. And yes, we ship to anywhere actually. Kalispell, Northern Montana,Right? Well, we can get it there. Not often we have cause to ship out of the area, but we can, and do."
"Silas and his brother have quite the operation here, and you're right about having a store like this in Kalispell, but unfortunately, we're just not big enough to support something this size." Barnabas agreed, "Be something alright, that for sure, \now if there's things you want we can take care of that now."
"Of course, and they would leave today toward your home." Silas promised.
Posted January 7, 2023
"Oh, I don't want to waste Mr. Pike's time, I'll come back when he's in his meetings." Emeline smiled. "I don't want to bore him, nor alarm him with what I buy!"
Besides, she was anxious to see more of the town first, find out what all it had to offer before making final decisions. "It's time to start thinking about what we'll need for the baby." Not to mention the house -- she was coming to realize that they'd be entertaining, and her simple, chipped dishes might not be appropriate, and there were other sundries to consider. "It would certainly be remiss not to take advantage of the goods here."
Posted January 7, 2023
"Remiss? Hardly, remember Helena is a lot closer, but Silas, keep account of what she orders and I'll be in to cover it. We were headed up to the Tahoe House for dinner, and generally showing the missus around town."
"Not to worry Mister Pike, not at all. And Missus Pike, you are welcome here anytime you care to drop in, we are at your service." Silas stated with a wide smile. "New owners up there, as you might expect, but the food has improved if that is possible."
"Well then, Em, shall we continue on our way?" Barnabas asked. There was no telling who he would run into, mining was a somewhat transient business, where people come and go, just as he had, for various reasons.
Posted January 8, 2023
"Indeed, onward and upward!" Emeline grinned, tossing a glance back at the shopkeeper. "Oh, and I pay premium for good tales about Barnabas!"
She smiled sweetly as she hooked her arm into Barnabas' and they resumed their stroll. "The Tahoe House sounds interesting, I'm getting a lot of ideas for the Lickskillet." Sighing, she shrugged. "Well, that is, if I keep it." Which was looking less and less likely every day.
"I'll have to check to see if the mercantile has any exotic spices. You can be my tester, luck man!"
Posted January 8, 2023
"Indeed, onward and upward!" Emeline grinned, tossing a glance back at the shopkeeper. "Oh, and I pay premium for good tales about Barnabas!"
"Silas?" Barnabas warned over his shoulder.
"Yes Mister Pike, I fully understand." Came the reply
"And there you have it, my dear. Anyway, as you said, onward and upward, and it is up the street from here, perhaps what would be another city block."
She smiled sweetly as she hooked her arm into Barnabas' and they resumed their stroll. "The Tahoe House sounds interesting, I'm getting a lot of ideas for the Lickskillet." Sighing, she shrugged. "Well, that is, if I keep it." Which was looking less and less likely every day.
"The Tahoe House has, as you will see, a long counter with seating on stools as we saw in Frisco and Portland. It also has booths. Now I don't know that something like that would work in your place, but maybe."
"I'll have to check to see if the mercantile has any exotic spices. You can be my tester, luck man!"
"Yeah I am! You say that in jest Em, but I am a most lucky man." He replied and gently squeezed her hand as the passed a number of businesses, shop's cafe's, saloons and the Washoe Club, home to millionaires. A three story building dedicated to the wealthy of Virginia City, of which there were a number.
"We'll have to stop in there at least once while we're here. I believe we qualify." He offered.
Posted January 9, 2023
"I'm very lucky, too," Emeline mused, giving his hand a tight squeeze. "Sometimes, I can't really believe any of this is real, and..." No, nothing was going to happen, and there was no sense ruining the time over fretting. "Of course, you might not feel so lucky if I come up with some terrible concoction and you still have to eat it, then tell me how good it is!"
She laughed, then rolled her eyes. "And now you want to take me to the fanciest place in town! How can I compete!" Again, she was amazed that they were talking about a place frequented by millionaires! Did they really qualify? There mere thought made her head spin!
"We can try eating at the counter, see how we like it, so we can judge if it would work for the Lickskillet." It wouldn't be hard to install a counter, and would provide extra seating.
Posted January 10, 2023
"Oh, it's real alright. If you like I can pinch you. And I wouldn't lie about a thing like some 'horrible concoction' and I surely wouldn't compliment you on it neither." He grinned, "Like you would make anything terrible. Anyway, can't say as the Tahoe House is the fanciest place in town, cause it ain't. The dining room at the International Hotel, and The Sharon House, are two of the finest in town, maybe this part of the state."
There may have been a place or two that were new to him that could compete, but mostly the cafe's and restaurants were serving good solid food for the mining population. Fancy places were for the well heeled of Virginia City, often still called 'Old Virginny' by some of the early inhabitants.
"And yes, Bill owns it, or at least he did." Barnabas added. "We'll eat there soon enough." He promised, "And the counter it is. Ate at it a time or two myself."
Getting through the throng of pedestrian traffic on the boardwalk was a bit of a challenge, but the reached the Tahoe House and stepped inside. "As promised."
Barnabas led her to two vacant stools at the counter.