Downtown Carson during the Nevada Day Parade in about 1950.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
Ormsby House: Work on the Ormsby House is progressing and all possible speed is being made to have the building completed. The structure presents a fine appearance and is a decided improvement on the “old corner.”
140 Years Ago
Advertisement: “The St. Charles Hotel, Carson City. J.E. McDonald, Lessee. Lake Tahoe Stage Office. Lodging 25 cents, meals 25 cents, board and lodging per day $1, board and lodging per week $6.50, board by the week $5; Rooms clean and meals all that a hungry man cares for. The bar, stocked with the best of wines, liquors and cigars, attended by a competent gentleman.”
130 Years Ago
Got him: When Woodburn was speaking in Dayton, he had to drink considerable water to keep his throat moist. He drank so frequently that finally an Irishman rose in the audience and spoke. “This is the first time I ever saw a windmill run by waterpower.”
100 Years Ago
Nevada products: Two transcontinental railroads passing through Winnemucca have carried to outside points a total of 168 cars of Northern Nevada products during the last sixty days. 107 sheep, 55 cattle, 3 horses, 2 pelts, and 1 hay.
70 Years Ago
“Carson Theatre – ‘The Greatest Show on Earth,” color by technicolor, Cecil B. DeMille’s most wonderful production – Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charleston Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame, James Stewart. Prices: Adults 60 cents, students 40 cents, children 20 cents, loges 74 cents. Saturday Matinee children 14 cents. All others 40 cents.
30 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Wallace Theaters in Carson City, 55 E. Winnie Lane, ‘Under Siege,’ ‘Last of the Mohicans,’ ‘Pure Country,’ and ‘A River Runs Through It.’”
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Born: We received a supply of liquors and cigars from Richard Mills, in honor of the birth of a nine-pound girl in his family. We drank to the health of the newly born and wished the youngster long life and prosperity. While discussing the fine old cognac and puffing a Havana, the “boys” forgot all their sorrows, not even the devil murmured. I was wishing a like event would occur every day. Who’s next??
135 Years Ago
All sorts: A case came up in the Supreme Court of Canada to decide whether or not the Roman Catholic Church has a right to fine a man $850 for kneeling on one knee instead of two.
120 Years Ago
Ranch property bargains: A ranch of 410 acres in Washoe Valley is for sale and includes timber land containing 1,500 cords of wood, 2,000 fruit trees, an acre of strawberries and currants; a good house of six rooms, barn and granary with corral. It has one of the best water rights and plenty of water. It is located ten miles from this city on a well-kept county road one mile from the railroad depot. Price is $10,000, part cash and balance on easy payments.
100 Years Ago
Leisure Hour: Pictures from the Florence Church Memorial collection were displayed, and Mrs. Louise Spencer Ellis read an interesting paper dealing with the “Sagas of the Norsemen.”
70 Years Ago
177th birthday: The United States Marines celebrated their 177th birthday in lavish style at the Civic Auditorium. There was a huge cake of over 40 pounds and bearing 177 candles. Lt. Col. D. M. Schmuck, commanding officer of the Pickle Meadows cold weather battalion, was accompanied to the stage by honor guard, and he cut the cake.
30 Years Ago
Photo caption: President-Elect Bill Clinton shakes hands with well-wishers as he arrives for presidential transition work at the Arkansas Capitol in Little Rock. Clinton is expected to make many selections for his new administration.
Monday
150 Years Ago
More houses needed: The demand for dwelling houses continues. We understand several more will be built during the next six weeks, or at least a number contemplate building small houses for rent. We need twenty-five or fifty more. They could be rented at rates that would pay handsomely on the investment.
135 Years Ago
A nondescript bird: Naturalists in Austin are puzzled over a huge bird shot in Smoky Valley. It measures eight feet across the outspread wings and resembled a cross between a goose and a Peruvian condor. (Silver State)
120 Years Ago
Tonopah doings: The main wires along the streets of Tonopah have been strung, and the houses are already wired. The dynamos have been set at the powerhouse, and the big engine is on the road from Candelaria.
100 Years Ago
Advertisement: “The World’s Greatest Melodrama. Millions have read the story, millions have seen the play and millions will see, “Ten Nights in a Barroom.” Starring is John Lowell. Playing at the Grand Theatre.”
70 Years Ago
Nixon: Nixon submitted his resignation as Senator to California Governor Earl Warren.
30 Years Ago
Veterans Memorial: A veteran’s memorial wall may become a must-see attraction for visitors to the State Capitol. The 38-foot-long sandstone wall, east of the State Capitol, will be dedicated during a 3 p.m. ceremony Veterans Day. The Sculptor is Lil Mitchell of Las Vegas. The mural shows service members dressed in war uniforms in which Nevada has participated since statehood in 1864.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Empire school: A first class male teacher is needed at Empire. The candidate will replace Mr. Sessions who has taught for the last year and resigned to accept the situation of “Local” on the new Appeal. They regret the loss of a teacher so competent and one who has endeared himself by fidelity.
135 Years Ago
All sorts: Everybody who attended the Rink agrees that a better time could not be had anywhere. Messrs. Fryer & Gordon have admirably succeeded in making it a popular Saturday night resort.
120 Years Ago
Douglas doings: Don Sherry, a Mason Valley prospector, discovered an extensive copper mine about half a mile north of Mason Pass. Assays made from three different divergent points on the ledge gave a value of 62 percent in copper.
100 Years
Glenbrook to Tahoe open: There are four inches of snow at Glenbrook with a depth of fifteen inches at points along the road between Tahoe and Carson according to Frank Meder. The snow on the road lies deepest between Towels’ Springs and Clear Creek, but Meder says the travelling is comparatively easy. The Auburn Road is reported to be seventy-eight inches deep.
70 Years Ago
New book: “Music in the Southwest, 1826-1950” has been published by the Henry E. Huntington Library of California. It was written by Howard Swan, Chairman of the Department of Music at Occidental college.
30 Years Ago
Top weekend movies: “Passenger 57,” “Under Siege,” “A River Runs Through It, ““The Mighty Ducks,” “Jennifer Eight,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Candyman,” “Consenting Adults,” “Pure Country,” and “Sneakers.”
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.