Lyon County Museum hosts A Chautauqua highlighting Historical literary efforts by Mr. Jon Ford

Yerington NV – October 20, 2026

By Karen Pedersen

A large crowd of locals were treated to a presentation by Hank Wheeler, played by Bob Weiser, in Chautauqua style as Hank gave firsthand accounts of “The Makin’ and Namin’ of “Pizen Switch” as described by local author Jon Ford.    

Hank, an early figure in the founding of the town of Yerington, enjoyed some “pizen” as he bellied up to the bar at Jim Downey’s saloon while telling tales of the naming of our beloved Yerington.   According to Hank, Mr. Bill Lee saw opportunity to establish a town in beautiful Mason Valley just north of Pine Grove.  He built Downey Saloon which became a gathering point for travelers and cowboys.  

The saloon was built off the beaten path, which required travelers to “switch” back if they were headed to Pine Grove and other active mines of the time. Further, cowboys would race horses up and down main street, apparently, they would yell, “Let’s switch off and get some pizen!”  Downey Saloon was well known for its inferior whiskey often referred to as “poison” or “pizen”.  

Hank Wheeler, played by Bob Weiser, jokes about the whiskey at the Downey Saloon.

In addition to Downey Saloon, the “business nucleus” consisted of Bill Lee’s boarding house, a blacksmith shop, and Bennett’s Mercantile store.  As the area grew residents changed the town’s name from “Pizen Switch” to Greenfield to change the town’s image. According to Hank, this name change caused quite a ruckus between citizens, and in the end did not stick. 

In 1894 town leaders changed the name to Yerington to attract Mr. Henry Marvin Yerington to bring a spur railroad down through the town.  Mr. Yerington did not respond favorably to the request, but the name of Yerington stuck.  Hank ended his “tellin” with a toast as he promised to tell more stories if the audience would have him back.

This event was in collaboration with the Lyon County Museum Board of Directors and the Writer’s Discussion group of Yerington in an effort to highlight the historical literary efforts by Mr. Ford, an effort begun by his mother Velma Ford, and part of a much larger document entitled “They Called it Pizen Switch” yet to be published.    

Future series of presentations of other local historical figures through the art of Chautauqua are being planned if interest warrants.  Chautauqua is the portrayal of a historic person by an actor who delivers documented information about the society in which that person lived.  The Writer’s Discussion Group of Yerington meets on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. at Bound and Wrapped Bookstore, Yerington’s exclusive book store.