Ruhenstroth
(Rodenbaugh Station)
Sixteen-year-old Jacob 'Jake' Rodenbaugh, a German immigrant, arrived in California in 1858, where he attempted placer mining. Becoming discouraged by lack of success, he resettled in Carson Valley in 1860 on an 800-acre ranch. Here he again tried prospecting, making one of the first discoveries of gold in the Pine Nut Mountains. His more notable industry at the time, however, was a successful charcoal business which supplied charcoal to Aurora, Bodie, and the Comstock Lode. Rodenbaugh also supplied charcoal to the Carson City Mint for its entire existence from 1870 until 1893.
As traffic on the Bryon Toll Road increased, crossing Rodenbaugh's property between Genoa and the mines at Aurora and Bodie, Rodenbaugh decided to take advantage and in 1877 established a station. "Jake's Place" was exceptionally popular, especially before beginning the steep ascent to the south which affectionately became known as "Jake's Hill". During the 1890s, mining declined and so did traffic, so Rodenbaugh focused on sheep ranching while his wife Delilah (Carter) ran the station.
Jake Rodenbaugh died in 1913 at the age of 71. Delilah continued to run the ranch and station until 1916, when she sold to Ludwig 'Louis' Ruhenstroth for $20,000. The station was closed in March 1917, and around that time Ruhenstroth erected a two-story brick house costing $7,000. Ruhenstroth continued to expand and operate the ranch until his death in 1935, though the property would remain in the family for another twenty-nine years. Today, the conspicuous Ruhenstroth home still stands in the middle of what has been developed as a subdivision bearing that family's name.
