Photo provided Tallac pier is advertised in this undated historical photo.
Wednesday
150 Years Ago
A huge Terrapin: L.P. Frisbie’s steward had occasion to look into the six-foot box in which the terrapins are. There were heavy groans, coming from the box, seemingly emanating from a very large turtle in distress. He opened the box and perceived a monstrous animal laying down and covered all over with terrapins. The clerk gasped, “Oh Lord, the devil is in the turtle box.”
Some bystanders of the early bird class reopened the box, and a man crawled out with the terrapins sticking to his shoulders, in his pockets, his hair and clothes. The man had gotten drunk, and some kind friends put him in the turtle box.
140 Years Ago
A lucky find: As Robert Logan was removing a bulletin board from the north side of the County building, he found a gold watch. He found it concealed in the wall. He thinks it is the watch that had been there a great while. It is supposed that it had been stolen and placed there by the thief who probably feared being captured.
130 Years Ago
Lockjaw: James Murphy stepped on a nail in the C.&C. mine, and lockjaw was the result. He died in great agony.
100 Years Ago
Leisure Hour Club: This evening a paper on “Modern China,” will be read by Mrs. B. Sauer, and Rev. Bateman will give a paper on “Personal Reminiscences of China.”
70 Years Ago
Annual fish derby for kids: The youth of Ormsby numbering 160 youths pulled over 400 trout from the ponds at the county farm. The kids were between the ages of 6 and 12. The largest family honors went to Governor Russell who had his five children at the fishing pond. They caught 26 fish.
30 Years Ago
Photo caption: Kay Bennett chairwoman and the “sheriff,” releases Doc Beaudette, who raised $500 bail, under the watchful eye of “Judge” Dick Murray. The action all in fun, occurred inside a makeshift 7-Up “jail” at Scolari’s market on U.S. Highway 50 East. It was a fund-raising project for the Cancer Society’s Carson City chapter.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
A carrier pigeon: Frank Hall of the Theater Saloon has a pigeon that is a wonder to all who see it. The bird has made a practice of flying in every morning to a private house and remaining there the whole day – and only going to the saloon to wash himself. The pigeon returned to Frank yesterday seemingly overjoyed. Frank noted something on the claw of the bird, took hold of it and danced for joy. On the paper in neat hand, for a pigeon, were these words, “Frank, you are a bilk.”
140 Years Ago
News from Mark Twain: A gentleman from the East says he met Mark Twain in Connecticut, and that Mark looked very cadaverous. He was bilious and cross, his humor turned into rage, and he was crosser than a hound pup doped with turpentine. His defluxion of fun has culminated in a rash of soreness. (Footnote: In 1881, Mark Twain made a large and unsuccessful investment in the “Paige” typesetter).
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The Dayton dredge people are stayers. As fast as one kind of machinery fails, they try another. They are changing the big pump on the dredge to a different kind at present.
100 Years Ago
Hiccups: Paul Thompson, veteran makeup worker at the state printing office, is confined to his home with an aggravated stomach ailment. Early relief has been looked for.
70 Years Ago
Bowers Mansion: Bowers will be open to the public tomorrow for the first time this season. The mansion is being refurnished through the efforts of parties in Reno. The historic mansion built by Eilley Orrum and Sandy Bowers will be open through the week during the summer but will be closed Tuesdays. Mrs. Olga Fish is the newly appointed curator.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Dolly Varden parasols: Olcovich Brothers have a lot of parasols of an entirely new pattern. The parasol forms an excellent walking stick, the awning part being the center of the cane. It can be used as a sunshade or a weapon of offense and defense. Dolly Varden dresses, wrappers, shoes, blankets, and bedsteads are all well worth inspection.
140 Years Ago
Decrease in opium smoking: Many months have passed since Carsonites have been called upon to make an arrest of a white person for smoking opium. This is encouraging as it evidences the fact that the slaves of the pipe are trying to overcome their pernicious appetite. The Chinese continue to whiff the pipe, but as we have so little in common with them, they can keep on Gabriel toots his horn.
130 Years Ago
Pretty strong: Oliver Roberts received a consignment by Wells Fargo from St. Helens. He refused to take it as the odor was so strong that his dogs left the premises. He found that it was a few pounds of some new kind of Limburger cheese sent him by Tubercio Parrott. He had to buy some clothes pins to put on his nose while eating the cheese.
100 Years Ago
Pioneer day: Thirty-five Nevada Indians are to be sent to the “Days of ‘49” celebration in Sacramento. Ambrose has already secured forty Indians of Carson Valley to make the trip in their native garb. They will live in wigwams at the celebration.
30 Years Ago
Photo caption: Bureau of Land Management smoke jumper Dan Arnold, from Boise, guides his parachute in a stand-up landing in a field east of Bowers Mansion. The public as well as about 1,068 area students were treated to a display of fire equipment used by firefighting agencies through Northern Nevada and Eastern California. Students also received safety training, including the “stop, drop and roll” technique used to smother a clothing fire. Firefighters are expecting a tense fire season as a sixth year of drought leaves the countryside in Nevada and California tinderbox dry.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
