Looking west from William Street at the Dutch Mill restaurant, corner of William and Carson streets in the 1950s or '60s.
Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Pierce escaped. From Dr. Luce who left Genoa yesterday we know that when George Bell, jailer, went in to give Pierce his breakfast, he was gone. He had cut his way through the wall in his cell into the adjoining room. He then found himself in the entrance hall and cut his way through the soft brick. His wife was allowed in to visit him with a satchel with her. What was in the satchel was not known. The jail is a poor affair, a man with a good jack knife could cut himself out in two or three hours.
140 Years Ago
On Wednesday last the express wagon running between Candelaria and Hamilton was stopped by a masked road agent and Wells, Fargo & Co.’s treasure box captured. The amount secured by the robber is not known.
120 Years Ago
We don’t just know what has become of the incandescent light system in this city, as it has baled to materialize for the past week.
80 Years Ago
Lions and guests attending the “preview” luncheon served today by Lion Ken Johnson in the new dining room of the senator, heard an interesting talk on the timely subject of “censorship” by the guest speaker, Denver Dickerson, editor-publisher of the Carson City Chronicle.
40 Years Ago
Police are baffled by the death of a man in Detroit who was struck in the head by a 14-pound bowling ball that crashed through the front windshield of his car, coming from nowhere.
20 Years Ago
The Board of Examiners Tuesday held off approval in Nevada Magazine’s printing contract for next year after questioning why an in-state printer can’t be found.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
The worst day yet – such was yesterday. The sun shone with a sickly hue and the atmosphere literally howled. The dust taken up in occasion gusts and whirlwinds marched down the streets around all corners, unavoidable and almost suffocating. Oh! For rain or snow or something.
140 Years Ago
The editor of the Times-Review, having recently joined a Bible class, reads a lecture to the fast women of Tuscarora because they insist on drinking at the same bar with the wine bobbers of that section. The scribe can easily avoid these contaminating creatures by taking his toddy at home, or keeping his demijohn under the office table, a la Comstock editors.
120 Years Ago
When the Southern Pacific started to take the kinks out of its road, the counties that were to be benefitted hailed the advent with delight. They looked forward to the expenditure of great money in their midst. On the other hand, the criminal courts should be looked over. There is not a county where the work has gone on that the courts have not been occupied with malefactors of some classes. When the counties figure up the court costs and the cost to the state, it is questionable as to the profits.
80 Years Ago
Henry E. Kelly, mild-mannered “phantom outlaw,” eluded deputy sheriffs and federal agents for 10 months until he was confronted outside his mountain hideout near Lone Pine and shot to death by a forest ranger who beat him to the draw. Kelly eluded officers in the Alabama Mountain range, scene of many a movie western.
40 Years Ago
Carson City’s parking enforcement people have a present for holiday shoppers: they won’t issue a parking ticket at meters until after Christmas.
20 Years Ago
About 8:30 Tuesday on a darkened stretch of road and only a block away from his destination, 81-year-old George Smedley walked into the path of a car on Stewart Street. He died at the scene.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Jack Frost has been playing the mischief with people’s pipes – no less than fourteen of the same having burst and are now discharging into the street. Yesterday was a rib-searcher, to be sure.
140 Years Ago
The Washoe’s assert that this delightful weather will last all winter.
120 Years Ago
It was rumored on the street yesterday that ex-governor Adams has sold his electric light plant to the Floriston people, the company that is coming to this city. The governor, on being asked if the deal has been consummated, state it was not yet closed.
80 Years Ago
Featuring selections by the Carson City Band and the music departments of the Carson City elementary and high schools, the community Christmas program will be held Dec. 23 at the Civic Auditorium.
40 Years Ago
A 67-page long report from city manager Don Hathaway has been released in response to a grand jury criticism of city policies on the use of city-owned cars.
20 Years Ago
It may not be the mother of all storms, but a series of weather systems that will move into the region is sure to blanket the parched Sierra with plenty of snow.
Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.