The Vivian Mill in about 1885. The mill was the eastern most mill in Carson River Canyon.
Wednesday
145 Years Ago
A day’s ride (continued from previous day). This road affords a fine view of Washoe Valley and Lake. A distance of four miles brings one to Marlette’s lumber mill in Little Valley. The road to the tunnel of the Virginia and Gold Hill Water Company crosses Franktown Creek about an eighth of a mile below the mill. Following the road, a mile and a quarter further brings one to the Washoe end of the tunnel, at which there are a few buildings and a telegraph station.
140 Years Ago
Every day or so one or more “old timers,” with a pack strapped to their back, pass through Carson for the Stillwater mines.
120 Years Ago
For an excellent tamale go to M.B. Silvia’s opposite the depot. Open all night.
80 Years Ago
The softball game between the Rotary and Eagles teams scheduled for last evening was rained out and will be played some evening in the future. The Eagles of Carson and the Reno Laundry are scheduled to play a non-league game in the local field this evening.
40 Years Ago
A lot of Nevadans, mostly in population centers, are scratching their heads trying to figure why their property taxes have been raised as much as 20 percent.
30 Years Ago
An old-fashioned bounty picnic will be held in Yerington at the Mountain View Park on Sunday. Back in 1870, when Pizen Switch was the colorful nickname bestowed on what is now the city of Yerington. It was named by cowboys that referred to the bad liquor sold at a saloon and called it “switch” that was constructed entirely of willows.
Thursday
145 Years Ago
A day’s ride (continued from previous day). It is a slightly place, high up on the side of the mountain, overlooking the lake and valley, and in the pine forest. To the east and south the mountains have been nearly denuded of timber. Our companion, in 1859, “blazed” the first tree in the valley. The forest was then dense and so shady as almost to exclude the direct rays of the sun.
140 Years Ago
A party of curry engine boys caught over 200 trout at the lake on Sunday, which they generously distributed among their friends.
120 Years Ago
“All eyes of the mining world are on Nevada.” That is the expression used on each and every hand by a number of capitalists who are present in this city. In the east, they say the mining possibilities of Nevada are the main topics of conversation among mining men in general and capitalists in particular.
80 Years Ago
Military restrictions on the sale or use of fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday period do not apply to Nevada, or rather to those communities in Nevada which do not have ordinances against such sales was the word from Hugh A. Shamberger, director of the state council of civil defense.
40 Years Ago
State fire investigators say they still have no suspect in the fire which destroyed the old trailer section of the Mustang Ranch Brothel.
30 Years Ago
Despite concern the state will lose money, a legislative committee decided Friday to endorse legislation to allow many welfare recipients to work and not lose their benefits.
Friday
145 Years Ago
A day’s ride (continued from previous day). The water company now supply their flume and pipes from Franktown creek. Good, pure, spring and snow water it is. The only need is of a more abundant supply. To affect this by obtaining water from Marlette Lake on the Tahoe slope, the tunnel has been constructed. It passes directly west under and through the mountain, we should say twelve underdogs or more feet below the summit and a distance of about a mile through.
140 Years Ago
Col. Zine Barnes, a character made famous in this city during the last legislature by his ingenious manipulation of the Sutro sack, has gone to locate at Salt Lake. He is a smooth prattled and can accomplish more towards converting Mormons than General Connor’s guns ever did.
120 Years Ago
A raging forest fire is in progress in the mountains back of Genoa and Walley springs. At the present time close to a thousand acres of virgin timber and second growth are a mass of flames. The fire has such a headway there is no way of stopping it. The fire at night is a picture of wonder a beauty.
80 Years Ago
Leslie A. Kofoed, who served in the 1941 Nevada legislature as senator from Pershing punts, is expected to assume the duties of United States Marshal of this state.
40 Years Ago
Houston International Mineral. Corp. has announced it will close its Comstock Mill in Storey County June 30, with 40 employees eventually being laid off. It is the third shutdown of a Nevada property by the company.
30 Years Ago
County government officials credited the “fair share” tax law as being their salvation during a year when sales tax receipts generally have declined.
Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
