Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Skating: There is to be a grand skating carnival at Moore & Parker’s Hall on Christmas evening. The proprietors of the rink will offer prizes for the best lady and gentleman skater. The contest is to be decided by a committee, and to each a pair of winners, the prize will be a set of Plympton’s steel skates with silver rigging.
140 Years Ago
Earthquake shocks: The city was visited by three sharp earthquake shocks. The shocks were felt in the County buildings and had the effect of clearing the courtroom of all occupants. In houses chandeliers swung to and fro, bells rang and frail articles were shaken from their places.
120 Years Ago
All sorts: The three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Brown of Reno, died Sunday. A few days ago she received a scratch while playing and blood poisoning ensued. The child died in four days.
100 Years Ago
More good ore: Good work comes from the development in the Brunswick District where F. DeLongchamps is working a lease on the Comstock Extension owned by Al Eske. Recent developments show a good body of commercial ore. The work of the leaser [sic] is doing more to develop the district.
70 Years Ago
Photo caption: One of the highlights of the Admission Day celebration in Carson City was the dedication of the new museum and art institute. (Nevada State Journal)
20 Years Ago
Anthrax: Traces of anthrax were reported on a package sent from NBC to the New York mayor’s office and at a Veterans Affairs’ Hospital in Washington. On Capitol Hill, workers are preparing to sterilize the anthrax container.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
Captain Charley: The Gold Hill News learns that Captain Charley, the well-known Indian interpreter and peacemaker, is dead. He died at Walker River, about five miles below Wellington’s.
120 Years Ago
Advertisement” “Opera House, Arthur C. Aiston’s Co. Presenting the Largest Successful Drama, entitled: ‘At the Old Cross Roads’ by Hal Reid. No play with deeper heart interest was ever written. Prices…50 cents and $1.00.”
100 Years Ago
Advertisement: “’The Arlington,’ Carson City’s leading hotel…Headquarters for Commercial Men and Travelers. Tourist Trade Solicited, Dining Room Service Unexcelled—Rates reasonable. W. J. Maxwell, Proprietor.”
70 Years Ago
Scotty’s Castle: The federal government is contemplating the purchase Scotty’s million dollar castle in the winter resort area, along with Furnace Creek Inn. Death Valley Scotty (Walter Scott) and A. M. Johnson, his partner, acquired it in Grapevine Canyon with the proviso that the government should have the first right to purchase.
20 Years Ago
Sharkeys: Harold “Hal” Holder is awaiting approval from the state Gaming Commission for a gaming license to operate in Gardnerville. Sharkey’s Nugget is considered a local landmark and was purchased from Milos Begovich who has owned it since 1971.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Young Winnemucca: The Chief of all the Piutes [sic] of Nevada, young Winnemucca, died of consumption at Wadsworth. Young Winnemucca commanded the Indian army in the Spring of 1860 near Pyramid Lake in the battle with Major Ormsby, Captain Storey and Henry Meredith.
Chief Winnemucca still lives up in the north part of the State, towards Queen’s river. He is very old and decrepit. (Gold Hill News.)
140 Years Ago
A masher squelched: A man who travels on the railroad and sits down by the side along females and has the impression that he recognizes a likeness of a relative, met his match. He sat down in the half of a seat and the young lady was already sitting in another. He asked if her name was James and she said “no sir.” She asked him is your name Zinc or Copper? No, said the gentleman. “No, ma’am, said the astonished man, and she said, “but I thought certain you must be first cousin to a brass foundry.”
120 Years Ago
Washoe Lake: A Carson sportsman has ordered a first class steamer launch for Washoe Lake. A pier and dock will erected on this end of the lake, where the boat will be stored during her idle hours.
100 Years Ago
Anti-cigarette law: Bootlegging is the joke of most communities, but in Utah it is beating the anti-cigarette law. Officers appear to be so busy enforcing a large number of other laws that they haven’t had time to handle the horde of “criminals” who persist in flirting with Lady Nicotine in her forbidden form.
70 Years Ago
Whiskers hides friends: George Ray left Carson City twelve years ago and engaged in the service station business in California. He returned to attend the Admission Day celebration and found the city greatly changed and improved. He failed, however, to recognize many of his men friends because of the camouflage of whiskers.
20 Years Ago
Feds cut rates: The Feds slashed its federal fund rate by a half-point to 2 percent and signaled that it was prepared to continue cutting if conditions deteriorate further. The cut has been the 10
th in 2001 and indicates the nation’s longest economic expansion.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
