Converted Mining Barracks and Swamp Coolers
I'm writing a story that takes place in 2003 and the main location is a fictional small desert town in Nevada. The main action of the story will take place in one house that I'd like to be fairly "in the middle of nowhere" off of a main access road from the town. I'm thinking to have my house as a converted mining barracks (formerly used by a small mining company) with part of the conversion done in the early 1900s and more "modernization" a generation later.
What I need to know is: the probability of such a structure existing; what would have likely been involved in the conversions (in general terms); the materials that might have been used in this construction; and the effects of locating this structure in a small valley at the base of low hills that lead to another larger range of higher elevations.
Just a bit of history of the property, I'd like for a character in the story to have had an ancestor who came west during the tail end of the mining boom - perhaps he was a professional from the East - and purchase the land and the barracks building when the mining company folded. Is this practical? Would the same type of transactions be involved, i.e. execution of a deed of conveyance?
Also, what would be the resulting damage due to run-off from a wash in the hills after a rain? What is the soil base in the Nevada desert, i.e. sandy dirt versus red clay?
What I've done: I've Googled "converted mining barracks," "housing from converted barracks," viewed several sites regarding mining in Nevada - even just to get a look at a photograph - but I can't seem to find the answers. I've researched climate and weather for the desert as well, but can't seem to get satisfactory answers to those "little details."
One last thing… I'm assuming the use of a "swamp cooler" instead of traditional air conditioning units and I've found out all about how these evaporative coolers work. Only I can't find any practical descriptions. Does anyone have first hand experience with these? Very generally, what is the maintenance involved? What do they sound like? Are they effective in cooling?
I would appreciate any help at all. Thanks!
What I need to know is: the probability of such a structure existing; what would have likely been involved in the conversions (in general terms); the materials that might have been used in this construction; and the effects of locating this structure in a small valley at the base of low hills that lead to another larger range of higher elevations.
Just a bit of history of the property, I'd like for a character in the story to have had an ancestor who came west during the tail end of the mining boom - perhaps he was a professional from the East - and purchase the land and the barracks building when the mining company folded. Is this practical? Would the same type of transactions be involved, i.e. execution of a deed of conveyance?
Also, what would be the resulting damage due to run-off from a wash in the hills after a rain? What is the soil base in the Nevada desert, i.e. sandy dirt versus red clay?
What I've done: I've Googled "converted mining barracks," "housing from converted barracks," viewed several sites regarding mining in Nevada - even just to get a look at a photograph - but I can't seem to find the answers. I've researched climate and weather for the desert as well, but can't seem to get satisfactory answers to those "little details."
One last thing… I'm assuming the use of a "swamp cooler" instead of traditional air conditioning units and I've found out all about how these evaporative coolers work. Only I can't find any practical descriptions. Does anyone have first hand experience with these? Very generally, what is the maintenance involved? What do they sound like? Are they effective in cooling?
I would appreciate any help at all. Thanks!