Carson City looking north from the top of the Capitol building in 1871.
Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Mudd to be pardoned: The President has consented to pardon Dr. Mudd who was implicated in the assassination of Lincoln. (Exchange). Appeal note: We suppose that Spangler and the rest will also be pardoned, and go as clear as Mudd.
140 Years Ago
Governor’s Levee: The incumbent of the Executive office will invite his fellow citizens to a public reception. Governor and Mrs. Kinkead have thought it best to offer an opportunity to the resident and visiting public to pay them their respects and enjoy the pleasant meetings and greetings of such an occasion. It will take place at the Opera House. Everyone is expected to be present without further invitation or ceremony.
130 Years Ago
Site accepted: A dispatch was received from Washington that the Government had accepted the Indian School site. Building begins in the Spring.
100 Years Ago
Homestead: The land will become subject to homestead entry on Feb. 19, 1918. No preference right of entry may be acquired by setting on any of these lands prior to the time they become subject to entry.
50 Years Ago
Carson air show: Carson City’s Annual Air Show is set for June 21 and 22. The theme is “Aviation with a Western Touch.” Members were asked to bring suggestions for a slogan. Committee chairmen appointed include Dale Howard, sound system; Ted Thorton, badges and promotion; Hazel Hohn, women pilots’ event and newspaper publicity…
20 Years Ago
Y2K: Themes for the fair at the Carson City Mall will include earthquake preparedness and Y2K and how to get ready for a major earthquake. Also provided will be tips on how to get ready for possible Year 2000 computer glitches.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
Rats: A servant girl recently tried using whisky to kill rats. She made it sweet with sugar, crumbled in bread, and set it in the cellar. A few hours afterwards she found the rats gloriously “fuddled,” and engaged in throwing potato parings and hauling one another up to drink.
140 Years Ago
Shagbarks [sic]: “Pant” seems to have room enough and time enough and taste enough to appreciate everything. Among other things that he understands and takes into account is shagbarks. He sent back to America the other day and got a lot of the best of nuts, and he is sharing with his friends. He shared ‘em with the Morning Appeal. Take a little salt—but, pshaw! Everybody knows how to eat hickory nuts. (J. T. Pantlind “Pant” was the proprietor of the Ormsby House and the White House, as well as an intermittent writer for the Morning Appeal.)
130 Years Ago
Cigarette Evil: Young children carry with them the low and obscene pictures that go with each package. Pictures are getting louder and louder and lure young boys to purchase. They are made from the refuse of the tobacco shops, and ruin hundreds of young men that smoke them. Carson streets are filled with poor wrecks of boys, who look like men of 50, bent with cigarette dissipation, eyes bloodshot, complexion dirty and the spirit knocked out of them. A bill fixing a higher license on the sale of cigarettes will be introduced making it a misdemeanor for anyone to sell cigarettes to a boy under a certain age.
100 Years Ago
The greatest mouser: Some time ago a man was bragging to a friend about the wonders of his cat named Thomas. The cat was the greatest mouser in the country… nothing ever got away from him. A visitor to the home noticed a mouse going across the room and a minute or so later the mouse galloped back while the cat lay asleep beside the radiator. The guest said, I thought you told me that cat of yours was a great mouser. A mouse has been rambling around the room for 10 minutes, and the cat never looked up. “Oh, that’s our mouse,” explained Bill. Just let a strange mouse come in and see what Thomas will do to him.” (Philadelphia Telegraph.)
50 Years Ago
Photo caption: Search for Water—An employee of the Layne Texas Company of Houston operates equipment for a test hole being drilled at East Fifth and Elaine streets by the Carson Water Company. If enough water is found at a depth of about 800 feet, the water company plans to expand it into a well. It is estimated to take about three weeks to complete the drilling of the test hole…
20 Years Ago
Random searches: After a cache of weapons was found in a student’s car on the campus of the Carson high school, a proposal to make random searches for weapons is being considered. “We are responding to an escalating trend of young people who choose to resolve problems by fighting…” said Principal Glen Adair.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Information wanted: James W. Bailey of Marshall, Saline Co., Missouri is anxious to know the whereabouts of his brother Charles. He had better write to James or go back to “old Pike” for his grandfather is dead and has left him some property.
140 Years Ago
Governor Kinkead’s levee: A brilliant party was given in Carson by Governor and Mrs. Kinkead at the Opera House. The place was filled to overflowing with a delightful company of ladies and gentlemen, including Senators and Assemblymen and their wives, daughters and friends from Virginia, Empire, Reno, Genoa and elsewhere. There was dancing, and the music was furnished by Prof. Varney, and the supper was all that one could ask for – presented by Prof. Tremlitz, of the Arlington. Certainly everybody has reason to be highly satisfied with this “reception” of His Excellency and good wife – whose welcome to their many and much gratified guests was very, hearty, graceful and assuring.
130 Years Ago
Mr. Thaxter’s Raffle: Instead of buying tickets to the New Orleans lottery and lining the pockets of the Rebel Brigadiers, the Appeal advises readers to patronize Assemblyman Thaxter’s house lottery. The editor of the Appeal purchased a ticket even though they weren’t printed at the Appeal, and gave a dollar for it – the prize, a $40 music box.
100 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Want any of these – patent medicines, perfumes, photographic supplies, face powders, toilet soap, kodaks – yes? Then get them from J. A. Muller, Druggist, opposite Post Office.” (Laxalt Building)
50 Years Ago
Book about old Carson Mint: Howard Hickson, curator of exhibits at the Nevada State Museum, and artist and former columnist for the Reno Evening Gazette, has written a book. He answers such questions as “who really donated the lot for the Mint…. And why an employee painted an eagle over one of the building’s safes…”. To be published in June.
20 Years Ago
Advertisement: Northgate movies 10 (All digital sound theater with stadium seating) – Varsity Blues, At First Sight, Patch Adams, She’s All That, and Stepmom…
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.