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The Goumond House | Exploring the Clark County Museum

📍 Henderson, NV

The Goumond House was built in 1931 for a man named Hagen "Jake" Hagenson. Shortly after construction was finished it was bought by Prosper J. Goumond, who lived there with his wife Gertrude and granddaughter Margo until he died in 1954.

Goumond was a profitable businessman who was part owner of the Boulder Club, a popular casino located on Fremont Street. He was also the owner of Tule Springs, a large plot of land he bought from John Herbert Nay (who had bought the water rights to the land in 1916) that functioned as a "Dude ranch" - a resort where celebrity divorcees could wait out Las Vegas' lenient six-week residency period for divorces.

The Boulder Club supposedly did not provide alcohol or gambling during its operation due to its illegality at the time and was open until 1960 when it was destroyed by fire. The Binion family bought the club and used the property to expand the Horseshoe Club (now known as Binion's Hotel & Casino).

The 1400 sq. ft. Swedish/Scandinavian Tudor house, originally located on South Seventh St. down the street from the Las Vegas High School, had both a basement – which was rare due to the tough caliche material that made up the ground - and one of the first residential swimming pools in Las Vegas.

It was turned into a rental property after Goumond's death, which it remained until 1981 when the Clark County Preservation Association obtained the house. In 1984 the house was donated to the Clark County Museum and relocated to the museum's Heritage Street. The restoration and renovation took over 10 years and the house finally opened to the public in 1999.

Although most of the house’s significant history takes place around the 1930s, due to significant upgrades during its use (specifically to the kitchen) the house has been decorated in the style of the 1950s and is the only building on the street that has a TV.

The house also has many claims of paranormal activity - including the apparition of a slender woman who stands by the door, only to disappear when you try to speak to her. Claims also include doors opening and closing on their own and a black cat who seems to pass through your hands when trying to pick him up. ■

Sources & Attributions:

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Clark County Museum

(clarkcounty.gov)

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Las Vegas Review-Journal - "Heritage Street's Goumond house named for gaming pioneer"

(reviewjournal.com)

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Haunted Las Vegas by Paul W. Papa