Looking west from William Street at the Dutch Mill restaurant, corner of William and Carson streets in the 1950s or '60s.
Saturday
145 Years Ago
The placidity of affairs at Glenbrook was a little disturbed yesterday morning by an encounter between two captains of lake steamers via Lapham and Avery. The misunderstanding was occasioned by the taking of passengers consigned to one steamer by another. The lie passed; pistols were drawn; but the lead contained therein caused no bloodshed, because the weapons were not discharged. Matters were amicably arranged, and the usual serenity of the lake shores has been restored.
140 Years Ago
Lively times. One can scarcely pick up a Reno paper nowadays without finding an item descriptive of a tussle between a patient and an attaché of the insane asylum. A day or two ago Asa Dawson, brother of the doctor, had his nose barked by an infuriated patient. There must be a wonderful vitality-lending property in the Reno atmosphere, stimulating the unfortunate insane to such a belligerent course.
120 Years Ago
Among the many good things that has happened to Tonopah of late is a rain. A downpour happened a few days ago which delighted all of that section.
80 Years Ago
Maj. Gen. Simon Buckner, commander of the Alaskan defense forces, awarded to medals to 16 airmen and 3 soldiers for bravery during the initial attack on Dutch Harbor. The distinguished service cross was given to Col. William O. Eareckson of Reno, Nevada, for “conspicuous example of courage and leadership” while flying in repeated attacks against the Japanese.
40 Years Ago
The Carson City grand jury report on the use of city-owned vehicles was one of the best-kept secrets in town until Wednesday, according to the sheriff Hal Dunn. The report recommended that city officials respond to the jury within 90 days. But no one bothered to tell any city officials the report had been made. A reporter, looking into a Nevada State Prison report, stumbled across the city vehicle report. The day after the report had been made, a copy appeared on city manager Don Hathaway’s desk.
20 Years Ago
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will focus on Fallon-area residents for an unprecedented study to determine the health effects, if any, associated with arsenic-tainted drinking water.
Sunday
145 Years Ago
Samuel C. Davis, of the Virginia Chronicle, the wit, poet, and genial gentleman was among the visitors at the turn-verein picnic. He attempted several times during the day to pass himself off as a German, but the imposition was detected. Otherwise, his conduct was exemplary.
140 Years Ago
A mysterious woman. Late Saturday night a woman clad in black with a handkerchief tied over the lower part of her face, covered with a heavy black veil, so as to most thoroughly conceal her identity, and carrying a club, walked nervously by the Ormsby House. Several men who were attracted by the woman’s peculiar actions followed her to see who was to be belabored with the club. She peered into most all of the saloons along the street without finding the object of her fond search, and eventually gave her followers the slip. The woman was bent on very serious business and the individual she was looking for can congratulate himself upon his escape. Who she is no one appears to know.
120 Years Ago
The upper portion of the Chollar shaft caved in at 4:45 o’clock this morning, wrecking the eastern or forward part of the main hoisting works building and the machine shop on the north side, and part of the floor of the carpenter shop on the south side. The noise of grinding, creaking timbers aroused residents of the vicinity, who were soon on the ground viewing the wreck.
80 Years Ago
In Las Vegas today, Governor E.P. Carville issued the following statement concerning the proposal to limit the 1942 legislature session to 30 days. “It would be most inappropriate for any legislative body to remain in session longer than necessary to perform its duties and meet its legislative responsibilities to the people.”
40 Years Ago
Facts and figures, projections and estimates have been laid out once more telling our lawmakers that if things continue as they are we will be in big trouble as far as prison population goes in a relatively short period of time.
20 Years Ago
The owner of a Minden aerosol recycling plant has pleaded no contest to two felony charges stemming from an explosion last year that killed one worker and injured four others.
Tuesday
145 Years Ago
About 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, a man was seen to fall down in the street, a short distance north of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad depot. It was supposed that he had a fit or a sunstroke. He seemed to be unconscious for considerable time, but after he was doused by a bucket or two full of water, he revived, and exclaimed in stentorian tines “b-boys le-lets take er drink o’ sunthin.” The sympathizing by standards departed in disgust, favoring the conclusion that the old fellow was playing possum.
140 Years Ago
Yesterday a boy exhibited on Carson Street a three-legged toad. The reptile was born that way and didn’t know the difference.
120 Years Ago
Yesterday morning three children of Mr. Fricke, a farmer at Sheridan, were severely injured by the explosion of powder that was stored in the rear of the house. Fortunately, there was only half a keg of powder stored as the rest had been sent into the mountains to be used by the wood cutters. All of the children were badly burned.
80 Years Ago
The only bid received by the highway department for construction of seven miles of road from Reno to the air base in Lemmon Valley was by the Union Paving Co. of San Francisco and was in the amount of $115,109.98.
40 Years Ago
The Ormsby Public Library can hire a reference librarian and open its new building, thanks to the board of supervisors.
20 Years Ago
Happy, the Lhasa Apso reported missing from the Carson City care center where she brought joy to Alzheimer’s patients, has found her way home.
Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
