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
The long railroad tunnel beyond American Flat, says the Chronicle of last night is still burning. A boulder about the size of a two-story building has fallen across the south end, so completely blocking it up that no sign of a tunnel can be seen from that side of the ridge.
140 Years Ago
A dispatch from Austin says the Nevada Mining Company has made a big strike. The ore now taken from their mine in Gold Park, Nye County assays as high as $11,000. The button from half an ounce of rock is the largest ever made from the same amount here.
120 Years Ago
The rush of prospectors into Death Valley precipitated by boom articles published in that portion of the daily press which caters to the sensational, irrespective of what harm they may do can only result in the toss of money and time of the unfortunates who have been misled by stories about enormous deposits of nitre said to be seated there. – S.F. Newsletter
80 Years Ago
Governor E.P. Carville in a speech delivered in Ely today, said “my only pledge is that I will continue to give you sane and sensible administration of state government, geared to the tempo of wartime needs.”
40 Years Ago
Former First Lady Bess Truman dies of heart failure at 97.
20 Years Ago
Attorneys for a major company Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to toss out the ban on new billboards enacted by Reno voters two years ago.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
A free fight. Saturday night, we had a surplus population from the mountains and the boys took in large loads of the home production of our local mills which is of the fighting quality. The result was several quite lively free fights away along in the small hours; but lucky for them, the policemen were in a distant part of the city and no great damage was done and no arrests were made.
140 Years Ago
Two Chinese people had a rumpus night bonfire last in Chinatown, and one got his arm broken by being hit with an iron bar.
120 Years Ago
There is considerable activity in the mining districts south of here. The country around Wellington and Red Canyon is the center of attraction. At the depot there is a gasoline mining hoist for Mr. Wedekind, who lately purchased the mining property out that way. Everybody hopes that Uncle George will do as well in his new property as he did at Reno.
80 Years Ago
Ormsby County’s registration for the 1942 general election reached the total of 1,900 Clerk Marietta Legate said today.
40 Years Ago
Photo caption. Two of the volunteers who responded to the State Library’s plea for people to help with the Talking Books program, Estellene Smith and Marlene Grable, check mailing containers. Eight others also volunteered to help the program.
20 Years Ago
Supporters of a ballot question to legalize possession and use of marijuana in Nevada say it would generate at least $28.6 million a year in taxes.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Billy Wilson’s stage. Billy Wilson is as well known in Nevada as a stage man as Hank Monk is as a driver. For years he owned and run a stage to Virginia, but when he sold out that line, he bought and run a line to Aurora. For a long time, this was a losing game but of late it has become a good paying route through his exertions.
140 Years Ago
The breaking of a wheel at Cape Horn by the Eastern bound train caused the mail to be four hours late yesterday.
120 Years Ago
On Friday afternoon, W.J. Bryan, the great commoner and disciple of Democracy will address the people of this city and vicinity. Word was received in this city yesterday he would make the trip. He will speak about the campaign and then travel to Virginia City.
80 Years Ago
The state department of vocational training through its statewide courses has equipped approximately 1,500 persons to aid the nation’s war effort during the last two years.
40 Years Ago
Attorney General Richard Bryan’s tax plan, like the one backed and implemented by his opponent in the race for governor can be counted on to win some friends and also to make some enemies.
20 Years Ago
The first Statehood Stomp, a fundraiser for Nevada Day events is planned for 5-11 p.m. Saturday at Fuji Park.
Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.