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
Frozen ear: Henry R. Whitehill returned from a trip to the Railroad District in Elko county with a frozen ear. He left Palisades on horseback and returned on the following evening—his frozen ear was saved.
140 Years Ago
In brief: Look out for well-executed counterfeit half dollar coins.
A full-fledged snow storm has hit the western mountains again.
120 Years Ago
All sorts: The Pioche Record reports a rich find of cinnabar and gold ore four miles northwest of Goodsprings on the spur of the Potosi Mountain, Yellow Pine district. There is a big rush to the new camp.
100 Years
Where are the lights? The electric light people offer no explanation for the lack of light. It is growing to be a matter of more darkness than light. It is poor economy to allow these frequent break downs, and has driven away a number of patrons who wished to place the electric fluid in their homes. Stir the machines up, Mr. Company, for the nights are pretty long and dark.
80 Years Ago
Rabbit Brush: Dr. T. Harper Goodspeed, botany professor said that 500,000,000 pounds of useable rubber could be obtained by extraction from plants growing wild in the alkali lands of Nevada, California, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Idaho. This rubber could be extracted at a cost of 45 cents a pound. Dr. Goodspeed then asked for $25,000 for a survey of the possibilities.
70 Years Ago
Cheerleader: Miss Gail Altenburg was elected a cheerleader at Carson City High School in a school election. She will fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Pat Baker. Other candidates for the office were open only to upper classmen—Barbara Martin, Lee Sawyer, Sylvia Selfridge, Jean Smith and Ruth Thom.
20 Years Ago
Snow in California: A blast of Artic air blew snow into the San Francisco Bay area causing some school to close and treacherous driving conditions. Nearly 4 inches of snow crested the Santa Crus Mountains and crept below 1,000 feet in the Bay Area.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
David R. Jones, age 6, had a leg broken while running playing in the yard. He was running across a smooth yard with the other children when the bones of is leg suddenly snapped and punctured the flesh. Dr. Luce was called in and set the bone.
140 Years Ago
In brief: Out of the 1,000 who swore off in this city on New Year’s Day, 999 have fallen from grace. Hank Monk is the only steadfast one—when he is asked.
Alf Doten, late editor of the Gold Hill News, whom everybody in this city knows an likes, for Austin to take editorial charge of the Reveille. Mr. Doten has the best wishes of his friends.
120 Years Ago
Tonopah’s dead: The death rate for the past week in Tonopah has been pretty high. Five hundred people constitute the populations. Deaths: Neil Boyle, pneumonia; Patrick Lowe, pneumonia; W. A. Montgomery from DeLamar, complication from pneumonia; S. O. Whitestine from Randsburg, pneumonia; P. W. Morin, pneumonia; and, John Cahill from Empire, 24 years of age, pneumonia.
100 Years Ago
(Continued) A locomotive could be wheeled across the best part of the lake, it is said. The deepest soundings are near the center of the lake, a little over five feet. This is the lowest this body of water has been in the history of white men.
80 Years Ago
The Hollywood Roundup: Jack Benny—Only a few days ago Jack Benny completed a picture with Carole Lombard and in respect to her memory cancelled his show.
70 Years Ago
Photo caption: To cut down on sugar and sweets and thus keep her weight under control, this young woman substitutes saccharin, which has no food value, for sugar in her daily diet. She learns how to use saccharin for making tempting desserts…
20 Years Ago
Photo caption: Three-year old Claire plays with her mother, Mary, in their Carson City home. Mary Carlson said her experience helps underscore the challenge of obtaining quality day care for children in Carson City.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Professor Chalmers, a mining engineer and agent of the English capitalists who have been negotiating for the purchase of the Dunderberg mine, left for London. He was called home for a final report and verbal consultation preparatory to the consummation of the trade. (A mansion near the ghost town of Silver Mountain City in California--still awaits his return.)
140 Years Ago
Advertisement: “A Full Line of Groceries, Liquors, Hardware, Crockery, etc.—8 pounds C sugar for $1.00, 7 Pounds Crushed or Granulated $1.00, Six cans tomatoes for $1.00, six papers for coffee fof$1.00. The Dry Goods Must Go! Harris Bros.”
120 Years Ago
All sorts: The Green Monster mine of Yellow Pine district, Lincoln county, under bond to the Hearst estate, has been paid for by the representatives of said estate—developing into valuable property.
100 Years Ago
(Continued). During the bonanza days of Virginia City milling plants were erected on the west side of Washoe Lake. Ore from the Comstock was hauled around the north end of Washoe Lake, coming down the grade through Jumbo Canyon. A bridge was erected across the tule field, known as the burnt post section. Thousands of tons of high grade ore traversed across the marsh lands and treated at the mills.
The tailings of several mills were dumped into little Washoe lake, and spread over the meadows below Ophir and Franktown.
A cyanide plant was erected at one time on the Ophir mill site where the richest tailings of the Comstock were deposited. Price’s lake broke and the entire accumulation of tailings, worth fortunes, was swept into the tule fields near Washoe lake. (January 26, 1922 Carson City Daily Appeal).
70 Years Ago
Snow: Volunteer civil service workers from Hawthorne naval ammunition depot are using Navy snow removal equipment to reach Lee Vining, reported to be running short of food and fuel.
20 Years Ago
Tribal monopolies: “The idea is to level the playing field and not allow unregulated, uncontrolled gaming in California.” Craig Marler, spokesman for the initiative backers. A secretive group is planning a $2 million petition drive for an initiative that would break state Indian tribes’ monopoly on gambling and make California the third state to allow Nevada-style casinos.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
