Rock Drilling Contest

On July 30, 1905
A rock drilling contest was held in Tonopah, Nevada. That winning rock is on display at the foot of Main Street and has been for decades. Brought to Ghost Town by Walter Knott, the hole-y rock is a true piece of history and represents an era when the art of competitive hand drilling drew hundreds, if not thousands, to towns throughout the West. Drilling was an implicit part of mining and mining towns would often hold drilling competitions for miners and prospectors. To be successful in hand drilling, one had to master teamwork, technique, and retain speed with endurance. Prizes for these contests were often several hundred dollars. Knott’s Berry Farm’s winning rock was drilled by Malley and Cundy in a Double Hand Contest with an eight-pound hammer — they drilled 38.5 inches in fifteen minutes. It was also drilled in a Single Hand Contest won by Atha Rich with a four-pound hammer which drilled 22.5 inches in fifteen minutes.

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