Past Pages for May 8-10, 2019

Wednesday, May 8

150 Years Ago

Velocipedes: Walter Brown made 50 miles at the Velocipedrome, in Jersey City, in four hours, twenty minutes and fifteen seconds. This is Walter Brown, champion oarsman. It takes plenty of muscle and wind to make “time” on a velocipede. (New York Herald)

140 Years Ago

All sorts: The Carson Guards had a moonlight parade last evening. Several cases of diphtheria are reported at Tuscarora. Sutro now aspires to be the largest town in the state. Mark Twain and his wife will pass the summer in Paris, and return to their home at Hartford in September.

130 Years Ago

Snowed in: Lyman Frisbie, Dick Mills and two young girls started for the Lake and were snowed in—taking refuge under a big rock during the storm. They hardly escaped with their lives—rescued by a stage driver.

110 Years Ago

Nine hop heads: The greatest raid upon an opium den ever recorded in the history of Reno was made by Sheriff Ferrell and Deputies Branton, Nicholas and Dickey. Nine men and 20 complete smoking outfits were taken to the county jail.

50 Years Ago

Leisure Hour Club: Everett Randall was elected President of the Leisure Hour Club. Other new officers are Mrs. Paul Gardner, vice president; Mrs. C.W. Sanders, recording secretary, Mrs. Harry Walsh, corresponding secretary, Chester Newell treasurer…

20 Years Ago

Photo caption: Laura Hickey stands on the porch of her 1800s ranch house that has been part of her family for 136 years. A fifth generation Nevadan, Hickey’s interest in history has led her on several entrepreneurial adventures—the latest is a cattle drive.

Thursday, May 9

150 Years Ago

Post office removed: Postmaster Small has removed the Post Office to the Ormsby House block. This is a good move and is no “Small” favor to the dwellers in Carson west end.

140 Years Ago

A new kink: A warning signal to dog fanciers – Dogs that curl their tails to the right are never afflicted with hydrophobia. It prevails only among dogs that curl their tails to the left. No gentleman in London will own a dog that curls his tail to the left.

130 Years Ago

Rain dance: Johnson Sides explained how the big rain happened – the Piutes (sic) had a rain dance, and when they had danced enough, he sent a messenger to stop the performance. Unfortunately, the messenger never reached the dance, and they over did it. Snow and rain came down in larger quantities than expected. Sides says it will not happen again if he can prevent it.

110 Years Ago

Import some beauties: Mrs. Frank Wildes has imported two beautiful Persian cats that are the admiration of all. They came from the Persian kennels in Los Angeles.

50 Years Ago

Ruth Berger, Mother of the Year: Recently named mother of the year by the Eagle Auxiliary. Mrs. Berger has three children of her own and three stepchildren…. She is a native of California and has lived in Carson City for 35 years. She collects dishes, ceramic work and dolls and is a charter member of the auxiliary when it was formed in 1948. Her husband Harold Berger retired from running a newsstand for 35 years…

20 Years Ago

Comstock history weekend: The Fourth Ward School is the centerpiece of the National Historic Preservation Week in Virginia City. The 13th season will begin with noted archeologist Kelly Dixon of the Comstock History Commission. A dig at Piper’s Opera House revealed a number of artifacts that will be displayed at the Fourth Ward School – a wine bottle from the 19th century with wine, a length of rare velveteen wallpaper and champagne flutes.

Friday, May 10

150 Years Ago

A “Last Tie” Blast on the Carson and Virginia Railroad: Doc Benton brought a note from Moran and Judd, who are at work on the Carson and Virginia Railroad, informing us that at 12 noon they would let off some big blasts—down about the Santiago tunnel.

140 Years Ago

Queen Victoria in mourning: In the principal Italian journals of Milan she is described as an unpretending, respectable-looking lady, attired in deepest morning, too short and stout for royal dignity, but bearing a somber aspect not devoid of charm. They are imprinted with a saddened pained expression indicative of inward physical suffering rather than of mental sorrow…

130 Years Ago

Legs arrived: The artificial limbs for George Gardner arrived by express. It will not be long before they will take the place of the ones he lost a year ago.

110 Years Ago

Train car with a history: At the Virginia and Truckee shop is a newly fitted and painted car bought in 1874 from Charles Crocker and was Crocker’s private car. The railroad company took out the partitions to make a fine coach, one of the longest cars in service on the road.

50 Years Ago

TV Guide: Channel 4 Evening—Huntley Brinkley, News, Death Valley Days, I Dream of Jeannie, Father Goose, and The Tonight Show.

20 Years Ago

Photo caption: Becky Purkey, executive director of the Fourth Ward School Museum pours some tea for Keosha Jones and Diana Escobar at the Carol Morgan Page Silver Tea held at the 4th Ward School.