Revolutionary War-era papers among July Fourth promotions

Four newspapers describing George Washington's first inauguration, printed by Ben Franklin, illustrated by Paul Revere or published in 1776 will be given away July Fourth in a casino promotion that pays tribute to the transition of early America from colonies to a united nation.

The Slotworld contest giving away the time-yellowed relics is just one of the ways Carson City gaming properties plan to lure in locals and tourists over the upcoming four-day holiday weekend.

The Ormsby House will sponsor fireworks again this year, but they will light up the sky over Mills Park rather than at the hotel-casino itself.

The Carson Station will pull out its prize wheel and begin a month-long giveaway of cash and barbecue grills.

And the Pinon Plaza resort will give away cash every night Saturday through Tuesday as well as a two-night stay in one its new hotel rooms.

In deciding how to promote Slotworld for Independence Day weekend, marketing director Tom Overy said it seemed fitting to feature newspapers from the early years of the nation.

"We can give people an opportunity to own something they've never seen before and probably never go out and get on their own," Overy said.

"I went on the Internet and found a company in Williamsport, Penn., called Thomas Hughes Early and Rare Newspapers. I told him what we were looking for and he pulled these for us."

The papers, which are being displayed inside the Slotworld entrance until Tuesday night's drawing, are:

- The Pennsylvania Evening Post of March 9, 1776, which describes talks about the costs of bringing British troops and mercenaries to America, taxation matters and the calling of a convention.

- The Massachusetts Sun of July 8, 1784, whose illustrations were engraved by Paul Revere.

- The Pennsylvania Gazette of Sept. 9, 1762, printed in Philadelphia by Ben Franklin.

- The Connecticut Courant and Weekly Intelligence of Hartford, Conn., of May 4, 1789, containing an account of Washington's inauguration.

"We're hoping people will bring their children in while these are on display," Overy said. He said photocopies of the newspapers are available.

The newspapers have been mounted between panes of glass for protection and the winners will receive them mounted, he said. Or the winners can choose to take the cash value of a newspaper instead. He said the total retail value is estimated at about $4,200.

"We're kind of hoping the winners prefer the cash, because we'd go ahead and put the papers on display. We've got an unused space that will be in our planned expansion that I'd like to use for historical exhibits," Overy said.

He said details on how to qualify for the drawings are available at the casino cage. The drawing will be at 8 p.m. on July 8 and contestants need to be present to win.

The Pinon Plaza is featuring nightly drawings between 8 and 9, giving away $1,111 Saturday and increasing $111 each night to $1,444 on July Fourth, Director of Operations Sean Sever said.

The Independence Day weekend marks the Plaza's fifth anniversary. Prior anniversaries had been celebrated with outdoor barbecues where Pinon patrons could watch the fireworks over Mills Park. This year, however, the barbecue site is beneath the new wing of the resort's hotel.

Sever said Pinon's patrons will have a chance to enter the drawing for a two-day stay in a new hotel room, to be awarded at the Tuesday night drawing.

Carson Station will give away cash, meals and hotel room stays with prize-wheel spins over the long weekend, casino marketing manager Tom Raffa said. Tickets can be earned for several barbecue grills to be given away throughout July and $1,500 to be awarded July 27.

The Carson Nugget will use the holiday weekend to kick off a July keno special. Teaser will be featured on the Nugget's main stage this weekend, with Kathy Lee performing in the Cork 'n Bottle lounge.