Big Bad Bodie: High Sierra Ghost Town [Paperback]

Doug Brodie (Author), James Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Bodie, California is the most well-preserved ghost town in the West. It is also a State Historic Park located at an altitude of 8,369 feet (a mile-and-a-half up), five miles from the California-Nevada border. The town reached a population of 10,000 in its heyday, from 1877 through 1882, and gold and silver production topped 100 million dollars, based on today's prices. Bodie consists of 175 buildings kept in a "state of arrested decay" by the State, meaning they will never be restored, but are prevented from further deterioration through a system of constant repair. As is the case with many "ghost towns" of the West, questions, mysterious circumstances, puzzling episodes, previously unexplained events and enigmas surround Bodie. In their fascinating new book Big Bad Bodie, authors Watson and Brodie have endeavored to solve these "puzzles" and provide answers to questions, such as:Who is really buried in Bill Bodey's grave, and why? Why is the name of the town spelled "BODIE," when the town's namesake spelled his name "BODEY"? Why will there never be gold mining in Bodie again? Who started the 1932 fire that burned down much of the town? Big Bad Bodie: High Sierra Ghost Town is the first new book about Bodie to come along in more than two decades and includes 60 photos, many from the lens of Watson's camera, plus numerous illustrations. Brodie and Watson have written a rich and fascinating history of a notorious California ghost town, sure to be of interest to any reader.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Doug Brodie is a 1945 Manteca Union High School graduate. He is also a graduate of Stockton Junior College, the University of the Pacific, and he holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Sacramento. He worked for 16 years in the Editorial Department of the Stockton Record and retired following 22 ? years with the City of Stockton's Police Department and as assistant to the city manager. Jim Watson is a native of Stockton and is employed by the City of Stockton. He served as Property Manager in the Police Department and is currently in the City Administrative Services Department.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Robert Reed Publishers; 1 edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931741107
• ISBN-13: 978-1931741101
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,011,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome addition to Western American History Studies, September 14, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Bad Bodie: High Sierra Ghost Town (Paperback)

The collaborative effort of James Watson and Doug Brodie, Big Bad Bodie: High Sierra Ghost Town is the history of a Western ghost town of the 19th and 20th centuries, as compiled from newspapers, personal testimony, research in the Bodie area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and more. Black-and-white photographs complement the primary sources that compile an accurate and memorable picture of what life in Bodie was really like. Big Bad Bodie is a welcome addition to Western American History Studies collections and would well serve as a template for specialized "yesteryear" histories of other western communities as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on Bodie, CA, January 6, 2010

By 

meggie's momma (idaho) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Bad Bodie: High Sierra Ghost Town (Paperback)

After visiting Bodie a few years back, I wanted to know more about it's history and the characters that made up the town. This book provides excellent information on the people and businesses of Bodie. I definitely want to go back now! The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five was that I thought the authors got off on a couple too many tangants about towns in the region other than Bodie. If I lived in the area and knew these towns, it would be great, but since I don't, I just want to hear about Bodie. Otherwise, a fun read!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly enjoyable., January 1, 2010

By 

Doctor Who (PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Bad Bodie: High Sierra Ghost Town (Paperback)

Wonderful historical book about this infamous Sierra ghost town. Seems well researched and covers what is worth knowing about Bodie. A good read and not as 'dry' as some historical tomes can often be.