The first Territorial Legislature meet Oct. 1, 1861, at Abraham Curry's Warm Springs Hotel. Today the Nevada State Prison occupies the site.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
A cottage: Our attention is called to a little cottage built by Jerome Thorington of the Sazarac Saloon.
140 Years Ago
The fall races: Each year, the town of Reno sends its dragnet over the state and collects inhabitants of Nevada to its State Fair.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: Governor Adams and Burriston made a Mormon trade, the governor gave Burriston 200 head of horses and 100 head of steer for his brand of cattle while Mr. B. throws in a sack of carrots (White Pine News).
100 Years Ago
Frog gathering: Baseball, marble playing, top spinning and other games of youth gave way to another sport for Carson boys. Frog gathering has come to stay, it is declared, and in spite of the fear that warts will grow on the hands that have held the animals, some good catches are reported. One lad managed to gather six from a culvert in the Capitol walk.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “For America’s Finest Highway Travel – Go Greyhound… from Carson City to Los Angeles - $8.35, from Carson City to Sacramento - $3.10, from Carson City to San Francisco, $5.35… Irma Olsen, proprietor. Page Hotel, phone 203.”
30 Years Ago
Trail goes cold: The Nixon Opera House (named after senator George Nixon) caught fire after someone poured flammable liquids several places in the old building and burned down what could have been a Winnemucca showplace since 1907. The City of Winnemucca and State Cultural Affairs had earmarked money to repair the building, and then the arsonist set it on fire.
Sunday
150 Years Ago
The Catholic Church: By perseverance Father Tormey has succeeded in raising sufficient funds to have the Catholic church in this city handsomely fitted up with pews and paraphernalia pertaining thereto. The Catholic church, a fine structure, is the kind the city can boast about, and great credit is due to Father Tormey.
140 Years Ago
Advertisement: “The Original Madison Square Theatre Co. of New York presents, ‘Hazel Kirk,’ a simple story of love in old England beautifully played…”
130 Years Ago
All sorts: When you visit Reno today look out for pickpockets.
100 Years Ago
Morning fire: A fire of unknown origin caused $5000 damage at a warehouse owned by E.J. Walsh and located near the Virginia and Truckee railway depot – two small trucks owned by Heineke Construction and a wood saw belonging to Mr. Walsh among other items that were burned.
70 Years Ago
Super service by Governor: Governor Charles Russell and budget director Arthur Suverkrup were motoring from Elko to Winnemucca when they came upon two ladies trying to change a flat tire by following instructions from a book. Suverkrup manned the jack while Gov. Charley used the lug wrench and changed the tire. The ladies gave thanks and asked if they would ever see the gentlemen again. That is when Suverkrup introduced the two to Nevada’s Governor Russell.
30 Years Ago
Advertisement for rentals: “Senator Apartments, studios $335 a month. Woodside Terrace Apartments, one-bedroom apartments $330 up. Horseshoe apartments, 1 bedroom, $340 per month… “
Monday
150 Years Ago
Washoe Ball: Many persons from Carson will attend the ball of the Washoe Tribe of Red Men, to be given on Oct. 1. Passenger trains will be running over the Reno division of the V.&T. R.R., and all can have a good deal of fun for little money.
140 Years Ago
“A Marvelous Find:” Dr. Harkness, of Sacramento, came up to supervise the tunneling at the state prison quarry where the footprints are being exposed. He said, “From a scientific standpoint it is a marvelous find… People on the pacific slope hardly realize how much of an excitement has been raised in Europe over the discovery…”
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The signal flags indicate cooler, though fair weather.
100 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Grand Theatre, A Vaudeville Comedy Drama, ‘The Girl and the Tramp,’ a riot of fun – not a moving picture – popular prices. 50, 75 cents and $1 plus tax.”
70 Years Ago
School driving: Three new 1952 autos have been donated to Nevada’s driver training program and accepted by Gov. Charles Russell. The autos were donated on behalf of the Ford Motor Co. by Richardson-Lovelock of Reno. In Carson High School, 52 students are enrolled in driver courses under the direction of R.G. Whittemore. They are using a surplus station wagon donated to the school by Carson Rotary club.
30 Years Ago
Photo caption: Dayton’s own Dawn Van Sickle and Steve Nelson demonstrate some of the traditional skills of the Old West, spinning yard and banging out ironware. The old-timey get-up is part of the celebration of Dayton Valley Days.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Thrashing: Snow-shoe Thompson has a thrashing machine and a large force of hands employed in thrashing grain in the upper end of Carson Valley.
140 Years Ago
In brief: All of the hunting lies in this paper are from the facile pen of James Chesley, our croquet and sporting editor.
R.L. Fulton of the Reno Gazette is in for a red-hot newspaper fight.
130 Years ago
Birth: Mrs. James D. Torreyson presented the Attorney General with a lovely daughter— 9 1/2 lbs., and its father already thinks of exhibiting it at the Pavilion.
100 Years Ago
Ex-bums form club at State University: They were called “the most unique college secret society in the United States,” and are a dozen men at the University of Nevada who have official recognition of the school as “The Sundowners of the Sagebrush.” The organization’s bid to the freakish fame lies in the fact that to be eligible for membership a candidate must present proof that he has “bummed his way,” by land or sea, for at least a thousand miles.
70 Years Ago
Dental history: Vivian Sue Seal, baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Seal, made the news when she had two teeth extracted by a dental surgeon at the age of three days. She surprised her parents and doctors when she cut two more teeth to replace the baby ones that were removed.
30 Years Ago
Princess Diana: The Princess has given up her Mercedes and will drive one of the cars leased by her household. According to a Buckingham Palace spokesman, “Everybody is affected by the recession.” He further commented, “The prince and princess of Wales do not have a bottomless pit from which to draw money, and she is tightening her belt like anybody else.”
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
