Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Water: Never was water so scarce as in Carson City and vicinity. Everyone who gets water from the two water companies are locking up their hydrants. The wells of the city are drying up and owners taking the apparatus used for pumping the water away from the pumps daily in order to keep outsiders from using it. The Carson and Eagle Valley farmers all complain of the scarcity of water. They fear their crops will be a complete failure.
140 Years Ago
Dobson’s wrath: The water was turned off and old Dobson didn’t know about it until it was turned on. Yet when he heard that he had been deprived of water all day, he swore and foamed at the mouth all around the yard denouncing the water company in the strongest terms.
120 Years Ago
For sale: Forty acres of land situated one mile from Mound House, has a good spring, house with four rooms, barn for eight horses and corral. The property is adapted for sheep shearing or would make an excellent chicken ranch. Price $150.
100 Years Ago
School teachers wanted: In Elko county there are seventy-nine school districts. This year there is a lack of teachers, even though the wages paid in some of the districts reach $140 per month, or at the very least $110 when there are three or a half dozen pupils. School starts in a week.
80 Years Ago
Atomic test explosions: The Atomic Energy Commission announced a series of super-secret tests involving atomic and conventional explosives at Frenchman Flat. A limited number of official observers will be permitted in the test area. Residents were assured that “adequate safety provisions” would be made and the area posted to warn away unauthorized persons.
20 Years Ago
Contaminated gas: Stalling and sputtering cars were the result of filling up at Carson City’s Eagle Station. The main tank had been filled at 1:38 a.m. apparently with contaminated gas and gummed up fuel filters all over town. It started after a 4,800-gallon delivery from Sacramento.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
New York Bakery: Peter Cavanaugh who is the builder of the State Capitol, has taken on the baking business on a large scale on King street, near Ormsby. By machinery he rolls out crackers of the very best quality and sells bread and delivers it at lower figures than the same weight in flour can be bought. He does wedding cakes, a la Capitol, on the most magnificent scale and in the shortest amount of time.
140 Years Ago
A promising mine: The Voltaire mine has something in the shape of a mineral ledge near Carson which gives promise for future development. Over 300 feet of ledge has been exposed and the vein from 3 to 7 feet wide. The assays run $686 in silver with a trace of gold. A 20-stamp mill is being built, and there are 300 tons of ore on the dump. Eastern capitalists have the control of the mine which promises big, and Carson must step back and see other men take a good thing from right under its nose.
120 Years Ago
All sorts: The public school opens Monday. All the new school books and college supplies can be found at Davis & Kirmans.
Miss Annie Martin has accepted the position of accountant and clerk at Davis & Kirmans.
Nevada’s honey crop is a failure. Large frosts froze the wings of the bees, and the wings fell off.
100 Years Ago
Trap door: The Young Hotel in Sparks was raided and federal officers managed to save one bottle of evidence which caused the arrest of the proprietor, A. Bengetti. When officers started the raid, a trap door was sprung and several bottles started down the cellar. The officers managed to beat the last bottle to the junk heap and this contained a quart of moonshine. The trap door failed to open wide enough to take the wet load down.
80 Years Ago
Advertisement: “It’s SAFE in our hands… Have your car checked Now For Safety – Now that school is starting, Good Brakes are a Must … Keep YOUR Car Safe! Drive In Soon, ANDY GOTELLI, Pontiac, South Carson at 8
th St.
20 Years Ago
Selling fairgrounds: The City of Carson is spending up to $25,000 to find out what the fairgrounds may be worth for commercial development. The consultants are working up a design conceptual layout to determine if the fairgrounds can host enough commercial space to make selling the property worthwhile.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Roll of honor in the school at the State Orphans Home: Ormsby Musser, Joe Raper, Warren Laird, Tom Uren, John Brown, Mollie Cossett, and Leslie Smith.
140 Years Ago
Spiritualism: Mrs. Aug. Meyer will hold her usual Friday evening circle at the Ellsworth House, and will give a farewell circle entertainment on Saturday consisting of test songs by different spirit controls and psychometric readings of character. Admission 50 cents.
120 Years Ago
All sorts: Petroleum is now shipped across the Mojave desert to the Colorado river and up the river to the Searchlight district in southern Nevada, where it is used for fuel at the hoist and mill of the Quartette mining company. Oil is steadily becoming a factor in the mining industry.
100 Years Ago
Advertisement: “You’ve struck it right when you light a Camel. Your taste will tell you that! For Camels have the flavor and fragrance of choicest tobaccos, perfectly blended. They’re smooth and mellow-mild… That’s why Camels are the quality Cigarette.”
80 Years Ago
Birthday party: Patti Sue Bernard celebrated her birthday with a party with her parents, Warden and Mrs. A. E. Bernard, at their residence at the State Prison. Guests were Virginia and Betty Russell, Sonia and Betty Lou Svensson, Darla Walker, Mary Muth, Carole Mathews, Cindy Wilson, Pudgy Chambers, Patty Maxim, John Sherwood, Jack Cooney, Roger Noteware and Wendy Fogliani.
20 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Ironwood Stadium Cinema 8, ‘Jeepers Creepers,’ with Gina Phillips and Justin Long; ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,’ with Ben Affleck and Shannon Elizabeth, ‘Summer Catch’ with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jessica Biel.”
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
