Calico's ancient fire house

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Photograph dated May 10, 1962 shows the Calico fire house, one of the buildings restored by Walter Knott who purchased the town in 1951. Calico was founded in 1881 as a silver mining town and at its height, had over 500 mines and a population of over 3,500 people. In 1890, with the passing of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, the price of silver dropped from well over a dollar to half. As a result, Calico was abandoned by the miners and became a ghost town. Walter Knott purchased the town in 1951 and began rebuilding Calico to its original state. Later, in 1966, Knott donated the town to San Bernardino County and is now known as Calico Ghost Town Regional Park. The town of Calico is also listed as California Historical Landmark no. 782.