Out of the many tales of how Searchlight, Nevada got its name, only George Frederick Colton the founder of the town would be able to explain it. But no one asked him and he died in 1918 with that answer. Jeffrey Kintop, a historian, narrows down the most likely theory as to why the town was named Searchlight.
Beyer s Byways: Searching for Searchlight
By John R. Beyer
For the Victorville Daily Press
I often get emails from readers asking about this or that, sometimes with details on something I may have missed on my travels: A road I incorrectly labeled, a name I misspelled. It’s good that these emails come in. I love reading them and communicating with their senders and learning from my mistakes.
It’s also good because it means readers are enjoying my columns, which makes my day.
One such gentleman wrote me after the Christmas Tree Pass story came out, and suggested I check out Searchlight, Nevada.