America's last company town closes, but store owner Tammy Sparkes says Empire, Nevada, makes you realize what life is about

ONLY ON THE BLOG: Answering today's OFF-SET questions is Capt. Tammy Sparkes, Executive Officer, Office of the Chief of Staff, Nevada Army National Guard.

Tammy and her husband, Dana, own the Empire Store in what used to be Empire, Nevada-around 100 miles north of Reno–the last company town in America that closed officially on June 20. No more gypsum mining. No more Zip Code. No more town.

The United States Gypsum Corporation built the town in 1948 for its workers and at one point, some 700 people lived and worked in the town. A sign at the gas station said, "Welcome to Nowhere." What was life like in Empire during better days?

I lived there during my teenage years and it was a very tight-knit community and ALL were considered family. You always felt completely safe and relaxed.  The rat race that most Americans live in does not exist there. 

The employees worked normal shifts got off work and went home and relaxed.  There isn't any shopping, movies, restaurant choices, or need to spend hours running errands. But what it did have was thousands of acres of history, fishing, hunting, quadding, camping and endless room to roam and explore. 

There was a pool, golf course, community center, tennis courts and countless other recreation. 

What's quadding?

Sorry, ATV riding. All-terrain vehicles.

This has its goods and bads. I use to think that it was so boring and I couldn't wait to get away, and then I did and I have been all over the world and lived in every type of community and there is no where that makes me feel as calm and peaceful as Empire, NV. It makes you realize what life is about, appreciating all that is around you friends and family.

Your parents retired from the plant a few years back and had built a house across the highway from the plant and still currently live there and run a mini storage business there as well. How long did they work at the plant and what did they do there?

My father worked there for 10 years and retired in 1997.  He worked on the village crew (yes it wasn't a town it was a village.)  My dad was part of the village people (: Yep I'm going to get it for that one) maintaining the apartments, remodeling, fixing pipes all the general maintenance that comes with taking care of over 100 homes and properties.  He can fix ANYTHING with a knife and duck tape. 

Sunny (mom) worked there 42.5 years and retired in 2007.  She was the Human Resource Supervisor and of course for ANY problem that arose EVERYONE went to Sunny–she also could fix anything (still can to this day, I have her on speed dial.) 

They built their house in 1993 (brick unmovable) and the Black Rock Mini Storages in 1995.  They as well will continue to live there, which is just more incentive to fight to keep the store alive. 

You served a tour of duty as a military ordnance officer in Kuwait, returned last October, and poured your savings into the Empire Store to fix it up. You must have known that the U.S. Gypsum was facing a bleak financial future, right? What did the store mean to you?

I had no idea that plant would ever shut down.  Really, how many gypsum mines exist? 

The store has been here over 60 years and done well.  The store is open and will remain open.   The only concerns we have is power and water is supplied from the plant if they shut that off we will have some serious hurdles to overcome.

There are still the Gerlach residences (the small neighboring settlement), ranchers, campers, hunters, and of course, Burning Man that will keep the store going.  I knew getting into this that we weren't going to make money in the short-term.  My husband and I both work full time jobs that sustains our life so the store could build up and that seems to be holding true.

So the town had around 300 people before it shut down. Where are they going and what will happen to them?

This is the heartbreaking part and what weighs heavier than any store or business.  This was their home. When they shut down (gates were locked last week)  these people didn't just lose their jobs.  They lost their homes, their way of life, and family! 

I didn't even want to be near the store last week because people were distraught and crying and just plain lost. We ALL lost some of the best friends we have ever known. The Gypsum Company did their best to help them find jobs and held job fairs etc.  Most of them got work at mines in Elko, Battle Mountain, Eureka and all over. 

The other sad part is the school closing and some of those kids were there all their life.  Speaking from experience it's hard to go to a large school and not get the attention from teachers or students that you are use too.

The news from Washington last week: Fed chairman Ben Bernanke and the rest of the Federal Reserve have grown more pessimistic about the state of the U.S. economy. The jobs market is "weaker than anticipated." It also issued new economic projections that call for slower economic growth, higher unemployment and higher inflation in 2011 and 2012 than in its previous forecast. Fun, huh?

How long do you think you'll be able to hold on to the store?

This is another great thing that comes with that community.  Most of them that remain in the Gerlach area are retired and the mining community seems to be growing.  This will help to keep this area alive.  These people don't care to keep up with the Jones's they are there to live a peaceful life where the politics, economy, society are just a little less stressful. 

Like I said before I don't depend on the store to live if I did then that would become a life altering situation for us.  I am still able to employ people, feed people, and keep the lights on.  I will continue to hold on to the hope that I can continue to do that! 

We can all view every event in our life as negative should you choose.  I choose to see the positive.