This is the day Bill Gooch knew he wanted to work for Washoe County.

Old Vya Yard, 1960’s. The little buildings to the right are bunkhouses for workers and guests visiting from Reno when they stayed over.

Clyde Gooch’s first Nevada Buck 1952.

The old house at the maintenance station was originally the Sharp place, and he was the sheriff at that time.

Picnic up the canyon behind the old Powers' ranch south of Vya.

A Long Valley picnic. Bobby Gooch is on the right and his brother, Ben, is the little guy. About 1947.

This was torn down and went to Rio Vista. The Vya Post Office was down past the pond where Buzz Miller lived. There were several houses that were torn down over the years.

The old maintenance shed still looks the same.

Adams motor grader – Guy Jones – 1950's

Three pictures of the '49 House taken by Bobby Gooch's cousin and his wife

The '49 House has an interesting history and was supposedly burned down by unhappy Cedarville wives.

The '49 House is now only a memory.

Over the top of the Dugway short cut looking over Long Valley heading east ~1950-60. Washoe County no longer maintains the Dugway, a bone of contention to local residents and to all who use it.

Clyde Gooch, standing, is Bobby Gooch's dad.

The maintenance station when Bobby Gooch lived there.

A root cellar just out the back door at the Vya maintenance station.

South end of Main St. in Cedarville, CA. 1930's or 1940's.

Photo of Cedarville, CA. A lot of the old buildings are still in place.

This stage coach picture came from Bobby Gooch's grandmother's photo album. It could be the old '49 trail.

Since the printing of this article, Bill Gooch retired from Washoe County in 2018.