Nevada Historical Society
Saturday
150 Years Ago
Unusual excitement: The express coach that was to leave for Mound House to receive the baggage there for Reno was on fire near the passenger depot. It was rolled up as quickly as possible near to the railroad office and left on the main track so the engine could get water from the brook that runs close by and to keep the new depot from danger. The alarm was rung, and the Curry Engine No. 2 flew to the rescue and took position with the suction hose in the brook. Inside of the coach was a seething furnace. The outside of the coach seemed slightly scorched, but the entire woodwork if not utterly destroyed is at least rendered useless for rebuilding.
140 Years Ago
Indians weather prediction: Based on their prognostications on the thickness of the moss which grows to the bark of trees. The Washoe say that the winter will be mild because the ground hog doesn’t dig his cellar as deep as usual.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The Presbyterians and Methodists will hold a reunion Thanksgiving service in the Methodist-Episcopal Church. There will be special music by the choirs of both churches led by Prof. A. Haymanson. Come and return thanks.
110 Years Ago
Part 3 – Made Nevada history: She cooked for forty men and reared her family. The station known as “Nick’s Station” was famous and a new one was built at a cost of $5,000. To clear the debt, a dance was given that lasted three days and nights. When it was over, there was money on hand to pay for the new station.
Her husband came in 1849 to California and then crossed the mountains back to Nevada. He settled at Empire in 1851, hauled the first load of lumber that went to Virginia City and imported whiskey from Kentucky. It was Mark Twain who stated that it was the most famous and lasting barrel of fire water that was ever imported.
Mrs. Ambrose has been failing for months. Her family of two daughters and four sons were with her when death closed the earthly path. Deceased was a native of Illinois where she was born June 20, 1834.
80 Years Ago
Scrap metal drive: Nevada ranks 6th in the scrap metal drive. Reports to the national committee for the Newspapers’ United Scrap Metal Drive indicated a total collection of 5,364,415 tons in the 48 states and District of Columbia.
30 Years Ago
Photo caption: Donald Big Pond, a 9-year-old grass dancer performs at Bordewich Elementary School during a Thanksgiving assembly. The gathering was scheduled to show students the multi-cultural tradition of the holiday.
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Currysburg – Engine house: We went up to see this lively little camp, and through the courtesy of Col. Abe, to be allowed a look at the ground plan of the mammoth building, the foundation laid. On the eastern end is the turn table and round house. There is the inner yard, and on the south side is the machine shop, repair shop, blacksmith and boiler shop, pattern shop and loft; on the northern side of the yard are the car shop, storeroom, foundry. The boiler and engine rooms project into the yard from the southside. At the western extremity of the building, the plan is to have three small rooms—the superintendent’s office, the book and timekeeper’s office and a drawing room. So much for the industry of Currysburg.
140 Years Ago
Fire at the lake: The steamer Governor Stanford was on its way to the Island House for a load of wood when one of the lifeboats caught fire from a spark from the smokestack. The fire was under considerable head way before it was discovered. The boat was lowered into the lake, and the flames quenched.
130 Years Ago
Dollies dilemma: Dollie Watson swallowed six dynamite caps. Jacob Whittier seized her and forced down her throat six pellets, which he said would explode and take her to start an involuntary journey through space. Dollies landlady insisted she leave at once and gave her felt slippers to go downstairs with to prevent the dynamite from exploding. Her friends avoided her as if she had a contagious disease. When she told her story in Justice Liebert’s court, the audience fled in a hurry and one deputy sheriff in his eagerness to get out smashed a window.
Physicians who have consulted disagree as to the consequences in the case. Some say she will explode; others say the dynamite must have lost its force. Whittier has been arrested and is awaiting the outcome of his experiment.
110 Years Ago
Moonlight picnic: Arrangements and a date have been set for the moonlight picnic at Cooks grove. The entire band will be on hand. The last dance was a picnic, and this will be a royal picnic.
80 Years Ago
Servicemen barred: From 5 p.m. until midnight, service men are prohibited from purchasing liquor in bars starting Dec. 10 in the states of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona.
30 Years Ago
Advertisement: “The Nutcracker’ presented by Pinkerton Dance Academy… Special Appearance by Tristi McMaster and Malcom Burn of the Richmond Virginia Ballet Company. Carson City Community Center. Weekend matinees. Tickets available at Brewery Arts. $12 Admission. $1 off for seniors and BAC members…”
Monday
150 Years Ago
Runaway and wreck: A young man named McMahon was engineering Matt Rinckel’s butcher wagon and turned a short corner into Spear Street and spilt himself out – which maneuver caused the horses to cavort and stampede, very violent carom upon the new picket fence in front of John G. Fox’s house. The wagon came to grief, and the horses took a new departure. There was a short runaway for the brutes. Results were a broken axle, wheel and two or three dollars of breakage amongst palings and things on Fox’s fence.
140 Years Ago
Impending war: For the past 20 years, the Paiutes and the Washoe’s have had a feud. The Paiutes have not allowed the Washoe to ride ponies. When chief Winnemucca was alive, the Washoe looked at him as a supernatural. He would strike his enemies dead with lightning. Since his death the Washoe’s have fresh hope and consider Natchez as an ordinary mortal. The Washoe’s have fresh hope and will challenge the Paiutes to mortal combat. Washoe’s say that they can muster 1,000 fighting men and are anxious for the row.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: About 15 inches of snow dropped. The thermometer went 7 degrees below zero in Elko. (Silver State)
110 Years Ago
Advertisement: “The Bank Saloon—Meyer & Sanger, proprietors. South Carson Street. Finest wines, liquors, and cigars. Sharp beer on draft. Private card rooms. Free lunch at the bar.”
80 Years Ago
Rat meat: At the French Academy of Medicine in Paris, rats were recommended highly as an addition to the meat ration. “Rats are better than pork and rabbit,” the speaker was quoted, and it will help in the campaign to exterminate them.
30 Years Ago
Photo caption: Carson City Towing uses a winch to turn a car onto its right side, after Alisha Burgess reportedly lost control of her car because the water the city sprayed turned to ice.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Effusions on the baby: A handsome and fluent young ‘operator’ wrote home to his relations and asked them to pick out a girl with all points proper for him and he would marry her on his arrival.
140 Years Ago
In brief: The offer of $20 to anybody who will count the verses in the Bible is a fraud. The work is a $400 job, and you won’t get through until almost spring.
130 Years Ago
“Whiskers:” The professional snow shoveler, Whiskers, who has been laying off all summer, now has a chance to work his trade.
110 Years Ago
Born: At the residence of Theodore Winters in Washoe Valley to the wife of Seth Longabaugh, a 12-pound son. Both mother and child are doing nicely.
80 Years Ago
Born: A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Bawden at Washoe general hospital in Reno the first minute of Thanksgiving Day.
30 Years Ago
Salvation Army: The Salvation Army will deliver meals and food vouchers for Thanksgiving dinner. Hot meals are being provided to local needy families.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.