After his stroke, a personal assistant rolled an invalid William Boyce Thompson in a bathtub on wheels to the window so that he could watch the sunrise over Apache Leap from his beloved Picket Post mansion. The heartwarming story is one of several compelling urban legends told to visitors of the Magnate’s Castle on the […]
James Richard Thompson: The Brains Behind the Operation
James Richard Thompson (1873-1927) was born in Virginia City, Montana, the second son of William Thompson (1832-1900) and Annie Marie Boyce (1846-1894). Relatives described him as an avid reader who lived in a house filled to the brim with books. The three boys – including William Boyce (1869-1930) and Joseph Edward (1875-1950) – were wonderfully […]
Was King Tut’s Curse the Real Cause of W.B. Thompson’s Demise?
It’s been established that an early visit to Kit Tut’s tomb wasn’t good for your health. A long list of famous people was presumably laid low for disturbing the pharaoh’s 3,000-year repose. Maybe it’s time to add the name of William Boyce Thompson to the list. According to a letter written to an associate, Thompson […]
Great Aunt Gertrude Wanted to Buy Up All the Copies of Her Husband’s Biography
Gertrude Hickman, the wife of William Boyce Thompson, was so upset with the way her husband was portrayed in his official biography that she told relatives she wanted to buy up all the remaining copies.
Ely City Nevada: The Town That Went Poof!
William Boyce Thompson’s first crack at city building taught him a valuable lesson — never try it again.
Family Research Confirms Link Between Wealth and Obesity
Have you ever wondered why some of your relatives were fat and others weren’t? Thanks to the results of an admittedly shallow survey, we now have the answer: It’s because they had the money to buy more food.