Howard Street in Virginia City was named after William Henry Howard, the first sheriff of Storey County, Nevada Territory, sometime between March 2, 1861 and April 7, 1862. (Storey County Commissioner Minutes, p. 18, 7 April 1862) Mr. Howard built The Howard Theater in 1860, on what became Howard Street. In 1862 and 1863 he built the Topliffe and Sutliffe playhouses, which was before Maguire’s and Piper’s Opera Houses. These were both elegant and opulent, and eventually outshone Howard’s “melodeons”. (More Than a Song and a Dance, p. 14; author/date unknown) What is now called Howard Street Home was originally built in 1859 and was “The Gould & Curry Mining Company Office built by George Hearst, and also provided accommodations for the mining superintendent to live in the building, the first of which was George Hearst himself”. (Weird Haunted Virginia City, p. 9; Sandie La Nae) “The building also served as a passing residence for Comstock Lode mining magnate, John W. Mackay in the late 1870’s. When Henry H. Penoyer was the superintendent of the Gould & Curry Mining Company, he lived in the mansion during his tenure and was the first person to have died in the building”. (Weird Haunted Virginia City, p. 10; Sandie La Nae)

Lynn Leong, owner, and chef at the famous Virginia City “Sharon House” Chinese restaurant, lived in the building with his family in the mid-twentieth century. The restaurant building still stands and is located on “B” Street/Union behind the current Ponderosa Saloon & Underground Mine Tour. Mr. Leong substantially changed the building on Howard Street making it a true home, adding extra bedrooms with private bathrooms, dining room, laundry room and a professional line- cook kitchen, like that of his Chinese restaurant. Current residents of Virginia City have shared their personal stories about Mr. Leong’s well-known built-in “wok” and his infamous Christmas Eve feasts for friends and family. The “Trees of Heaven” which can be viewed from the parlor windows were planted by him and are a native tree species from China.

Current owners Michelle Buckman and her husband Jason Virden purchased the house in 2017. They have lovingly restored it in their image of a true Victorian Mansion, complete with formal parlor, and lavishly decorated reading room, 2 bedrooms and a dining room. The yards have been lovingly landscaped to make an enjoyable garden experience.