SATURDAY
150 Years Ago
Climatic change: An old trapper in the Rocky Mountains says that the winds there now blow milder and damper than formerly, the air is heavier, the rain falls more frequently in Utah and portions of the Far West.
140 Years Ago
A fellow feeling, Hank Monk: A plethoric “sack”—it was a grain bag—that came up by rail addressed to Hank Monk. The sack was stenciled, “John Gibbons, Battle Mountain, and on the back of the tag was penciled: “Best cure for rumatism [sic] ever growed [sic]…”. The sack contained roots which Hank says he “haint [sic} got no faith in it no how.”
130 Years Ago
Swarming butterflies: Something over a million butterflies invaded Carson and filled the town. There were so many they frightened the horses in the streets where they collected in places the watering cart had been. They were small and had black wings trimmed with gold. They were everywhere waving their black and yellow wings looking quite picturesque…
110 Years Ago
The new fountain: One of the busiest places in the city is at the new water fountain where man and beast may be seen at any time of the day sipping pure mountain water. (The fountain is still there.)
50 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson Theatre—‘Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines’
‘Or, How I Flew from London to Paris is 25 Hours 11 Minutes’--with an all star cast, Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Robert Morley, Terry-Thomas…’”
20 Years Ago
Hot Music of 1999: “I’m Your Angel” by R. Kelly & Celine Dion; “Have You Ever?” by Brandy; “Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears; “Angel of Mine” by Monica; “Believe” by Cher; “No Scrubs” by TLC and “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin…
SUNDAY
150 Years Ago
Hurdy-gurdy: Two establishments of the hurdy-gurdy kind have been established within the last few days in the southern portion of the town. Our city has been free from the mightily revels [sic] of such institutions for four years.
140 Years Ago
Very dull: The town of Empire is undergoing the dullest spell ever experienced there. The water is at a low stage which shuts down the mills. The town is perfectly dead. Unless a rich body of ore is found on the Comstock, Empire is doomed. It is greatly hoped that the good little place will not meet with the same fate that Washoe City has.
130 Years Ago
Local news: D. Kaiser has had an electric light put in the dining room of the hotel. Theo Winters was in the city taking a spin around the new race track. There are four Carson Valley horse flyers at the new race track: Lookout, Butcher Boy, Dew Drop and Shamrock.
100 Years Ago
The President in Reno: It was the greatest day in Reno history when the President of the United States arrived. Reno was gayly decorated for the occasion with flags, banners and bunting flying from every conceivable point. In his speech President Wilson said, “…Nevada has fascinated me so much in the movement to the frontier, the spirit of adventure, and the constant action forward…”
50 Years Ago
Dayton Valley Days: The event was filled with activities such as “gunfights, kids on horseback, a dog driving an old car and two old-timers. With people milling Dayton’s Pike Street, they were treated to dozens of craft booth tempting people to buy everything.
20 Years Ago
Needles washed ashore, Huntington Beach: Lifeguards found 1,500 hypodermic needles that washed ashore. Hundreds of surfers were ordered out of the ocean. Health officials found high levels of bacteria including enterococcus that is known to cause gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
One hundred day absence: Henry R. Mighels, editor of the Appeal, has returned with his family from a visit to his old friend and home in the New England States. Besides the pleasure of greeting a friend, the printer experienced no slight sense of relief from the anticipated release of their hold on some of the many “irons in the fire.” He has arrived just in the nick of time to professionally receive the application of any rod that the Old Man of the Crescent may have had in pickle for the Appeal during the past week.
140 Years Ago
Brief mention: The southern stage brought in four bars of bullion from Belleville and two bars from Silver Peak.
General Grant has accepted the invitation to visit Virginia City. He will come on the 20thof October.
130 Years Ago
Local jots: Fire bugs are prowling about Carson and will continue until one of them is strung up according to the plan adopted here.
The Fair Directors began putting the finishing touches on the new track. It is the delight of horsemen.
100 Years Ago
Mail route closes: The mail service between Carson City and Bijou at Lake Tahoe will cease. It is a service that has been appreciated by patrons living between the two points.
50 Years Ago
Overpass collapse: The state will not have to pay for a never used $166,000 overpass that collapsed and could delay completion of the Reno-Carson City expressway. The failure was due to bracing put up by the contractor. The structure was to provide access to a proposed Washoe Lake recreation area from a housing development across the highway.
20 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson—Barnes Great American Circus, big top family fun, Meet Susie! She’s 4 tons of love and tradition. Put up the big top on Circus Morning, just like they did a century ago…. Experience the majestic presence of Kali, the Bengal Tiger… Come see all of the trapeze artist, jugglers, camels, …. Tickets Adult $10, Child $5.”
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
-->SATURDAY
150 Years Ago
Climatic change: An old trapper in the Rocky Mountains says that the winds there now blow milder and damper than formerly, the air is heavier, the rain falls more frequently in Utah and portions of the Far West.
140 Years Ago
A fellow feeling, Hank Monk: A plethoric “sack”—it was a grain bag—that came up by rail addressed to Hank Monk. The sack was stenciled, “John Gibbons, Battle Mountain, and on the back of the tag was penciled: “Best cure for rumatism [sic] ever growed [sic]…”. The sack contained roots which Hank says he “haint [sic} got no faith in it no how.”
130 Years Ago
Swarming butterflies: Something over a million butterflies invaded Carson and filled the town. There were so many they frightened the horses in the streets where they collected in places the watering cart had been. They were small and had black wings trimmed with gold. They were everywhere waving their black and yellow wings looking quite picturesque…
110 Years Ago
The new fountain: One of the busiest places in the city is at the new water fountain where man and beast may be seen at any time of the day sipping pure mountain water. (The fountain is still there.)
50 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson Theatre—‘Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines’
‘Or, How I Flew from London to Paris is 25 Hours 11 Minutes’--with an all star cast, Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Robert Morley, Terry-Thomas…’”
20 Years Ago
Hot Music of 1999: “I’m Your Angel” by R. Kelly & Celine Dion; “Have You Ever?” by Brandy; “Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears; “Angel of Mine” by Monica; “Believe” by Cher; “No Scrubs” by TLC and “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin…
SUNDAY
150 Years Ago
Hurdy-gurdy: Two establishments of the hurdy-gurdy kind have been established within the last few days in the southern portion of the town. Our city has been free from the mightily revels [sic] of such institutions for four years.
140 Years Ago
Very dull: The town of Empire is undergoing the dullest spell ever experienced there. The water is at a low stage which shuts down the mills. The town is perfectly dead. Unless a rich body of ore is found on the Comstock, Empire is doomed. It is greatly hoped that the good little place will not meet with the same fate that Washoe City has.
130 Years Ago
Local news: D. Kaiser has had an electric light put in the dining room of the hotel. Theo Winters was in the city taking a spin around the new race track. There are four Carson Valley horse flyers at the new race track: Lookout, Butcher Boy, Dew Drop and Shamrock.
100 Years Ago
The President in Reno: It was the greatest day in Reno history when the President of the United States arrived. Reno was gayly decorated for the occasion with flags, banners and bunting flying from every conceivable point. In his speech President Wilson said, “…Nevada has fascinated me so much in the movement to the frontier, the spirit of adventure, and the constant action forward…”
50 Years Ago
Dayton Valley Days: The event was filled with activities such as “gunfights, kids on horseback, a dog driving an old car and two old-timers. With people milling Dayton’s Pike Street, they were treated to dozens of craft booth tempting people to buy everything.
20 Years Ago
Needles washed ashore, Huntington Beach: Lifeguards found 1,500 hypodermic needles that washed ashore. Hundreds of surfers were ordered out of the ocean. Health officials found high levels of bacteria including enterococcus that is known to cause gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
One hundred day absence: Henry R. Mighels, editor of the Appeal, has returned with his family from a visit to his old friend and home in the New England States. Besides the pleasure of greeting a friend, the printer experienced no slight sense of relief from the anticipated release of their hold on some of the many “irons in the fire.” He has arrived just in the nick of time to professionally receive the application of any rod that the Old Man of the Crescent may have had in pickle for the Appeal during the past week.
140 Years Ago
Brief mention: The southern stage brought in four bars of bullion from Belleville and two bars from Silver Peak.
General Grant has accepted the invitation to visit Virginia City. He will come on the 20thof October.
130 Years Ago
Local jots: Fire bugs are prowling about Carson and will continue until one of them is strung up according to the plan adopted here.
The Fair Directors began putting the finishing touches on the new track. It is the delight of horsemen.
100 Years Ago
Mail route closes: The mail service between Carson City and Bijou at Lake Tahoe will cease. It is a service that has been appreciated by patrons living between the two points.
50 Years Ago
Overpass collapse: The state will not have to pay for a never used $166,000 overpass that collapsed and could delay completion of the Reno-Carson City expressway. The failure was due to bracing put up by the contractor. The structure was to provide access to a proposed Washoe Lake recreation area from a housing development across the highway.
20 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson—Barnes Great American Circus, big top family fun, Meet Susie! She’s 4 tons of love and tradition. Put up the big top on Circus Morning, just like they did a century ago…. Experience the majestic presence of Kali, the Bengal Tiger… Come see all of the trapeze artist, jugglers, camels, …. Tickets Adult $10, Child $5.”
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.