Downtown Carson during the Nevada Day Parade in about 1950.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
The Episcopal Sunday School excursion to Bowers Mansion – the story ends: Mrs. Bowers had things to sell at her place and sold them cheap. She complimented the picknickers for their orderly behavior. And the picnic was glorious, exhilarating, long to be remembered and pleasurable. Thanks to those who managed the enterprise.
140 Years Ago
Fourth of July celebration: There was a children’s celebration at the Opera House, put together by the Methodist Church. The theater was appropriately decorated and packed with children was a commendable affair. The ladies having the entertainment in charge generously distributed 800 tickets to the children of Carson and gave the little ones a treat. The theater was appropriately decorated and packed with children, all keyed up to a concert pitch with enthusiasm of the most patriotic sort. A collation was served afterwards, and the children gorged themselves with ice cream and cake.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: All the mills on the Carson River have been shut down owing to the low price of silver.
120 Years Ago
Autos: An automobile came into town last evening. They are becoming rather common and before long some ambitious Carsonite will possess one.
70 Years Ago
Nevada high tax: Nevada’s typical family of four persons with $4,000 income now pays approximately $1,093 in taxes, double what it pays for clothing, housing and food.
30 Years Ago
Advertisement: “’Bliss Mansion bed and breakfast 9 bedroom, 9-plus bath, 2 kitchens, 15 fireplaces, 2 car garage, 8,500 square feet plus 100 square feet on a full city block across from the mansion.”
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Midnight incendiarism: People returning from Mr. H.F. Rice’s mansion discovered a strange light proceeding from a pile of cordwood which Jose Rosenstock has been accumulating, and near inspection, it appeared that somebody had deliberately set fire to it. Mr. H.M. Yerington was on the ground ahead of anybody else and by means of Jose’s pump and a handy water pot of “the first water” it was put under control. There was something devilishly cool and deliberate about this fire setting – the pile of wood shape, kerosene fumes and coal oil.
140 Years Ago
An authority on beer: Mr. Sweeney is now bottling Klein’s beer process and is succeeding so well that a bottle half used and left uncorked all night is pungent and sparking in the morning. The foam is so fine in texture that it excludes the air almost as effectually as a cask. Sweeney is now selling bottled beer for 25 cents that is kept on ice all the while. It sparkles like champagne and possesses a “nip” which distinguishes it from all other beers on the market.
130 Years Ago
Empire items: Sam Longabaugh is putting in his boom at Empire. He intends starting his drive at Markleeville and driving the rear into the jam at Rodenbaughs, then boom sloughs bar and irrigating ditches down through the valley to Empire. He intends to cut the boom in the canyon and by August he expects to be taking the wood out of the river. It will be quiet in Empire until the wood gets there.
120 Years Ago
Local news: The largest tree in Oregon was felled. It is to be sent as a curiosity to the World’s Fair. It is the Aberdeen spruce and stood nearly 300 feet high, 40 feet around and 118 feet from the ground to the first limb. Its age is calculated at 440 years, being a good-sized tree when Columbus discovered the land later called America.
70 Years Ago
Virginia City restoration urged: Members of the Nevada Chamber of Commerce Executive Association urged support for the statewide appeal for funds to preserve and restore Virginia City. Governor Russell urged Nevadans to support the restoration movement that has already begun to accomplish the result, and that within the near future functioning committees will be set up at each Nevada city.
30 Years Ago
Simulators: Because of a ban on nuclear weapons testing, caretakers of the U.S. atomic arsenal are embracing live firings or simulations. Characteristics of a nuclear explosion such as heat, blast, ground shock and release of radiation can be done by computer modeling and field experiments without nuclear materials.
Monday
150 Years Ago
The Mint: Large amounts of silver bullion are now being received at the Carson Mint from Benton, California, to be turned into silver coin. The Mint is now in full blast and ready to do all business authorized by the United States Government.
140 Years Ago
A serious Parisian: The French editor of the Chronicle takes the Appeal’s allusion to the hospital des Invaledes in dead seriousness. The same article made a statement that John Mackay had purchased the tomb of Napoleon and moved it into his backyard. This has not as yet been contradicted by our matter-of-fact neighbor.
130 Years Ago
Male beauty contest: The Appeal begins its contest to determine who is the handsomest man in town. Anyone over 18 years of age and under 50 is eligible. He must be a man of good moral character and able to look well in the new suit of clothes which he will have to wear, if selected by vote. He must be a resident of this city and a perfect specimen of humanity.
120 Years Ago
Wasn’t hoodooed: Miss Abe Mallet met with a painful accident and will be confined to the house for some time. She and her two sisters had walked out to Mr. Russell’s place taking a 22-calibre target rifle. Miss Mallett had been sitting for some time in conversation and was about to rise when the rifle she was holding discharged. The bullet entered the inside of the left foot just below the ankle bone and came out above the center of the fore part of the heel. Dr. Hood was called. (Independent)
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Sky-Vue Drive-In Theatre… Admission 65 cents, children under 12 free – Ethel Waters, Julie Harris, Brandon DeWilde in ‘The Member of the Wedding’ and Wayne Morris and Preston Foster, ‘The Tougher They Come.’”
30 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Wallace Theatres, first matinee of the day only $3.50 — ‘The Firm.’ ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Son-In-Law,’ and ‘Sleepless in Seattle.’”
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Wilson’s Parisian circus: This circus is reputed by the California press to be a first-rate show. It ought to be, John Wilson has been long enough on the Pacific coast to know what is necessary to meet the expectations of the people here. John’s circuses have always been good ones. He had a troupe here in 1865 that would be hard to beat.
140 Years Ago
Trees turn to stone: Andy Fife informs the Pioche Record that while prospecting for wood up along the Colorado River, he came upon a petrified forest on the Arizona side of the river. It is located in the Buckskin Mountains, near where the river cuts through the range. It was over three hundred acres with petrified trees twenty feet in diameter. Brush, sagebrush, and grass being all turned to stone. It is near the locality where captain Powell is endeavoring to have the government establish a National Park.
130 Years Ago
New teachers: The following were granted first grade classes – Josie Roberts (Foreman-Roberts House) and Mamie Hickey.
120 Years Ago
Rather industrious: A blind man, minus one arm, was playing a combination of musical instruments. The man was blind as a bat and one arm had been severed near the elbow. This did not stop him. A banjo, with a patent arrangement for working the chords of the keyboard is fashioned, while a harmonica is swung over his head. He works out the latest tunes and in better order than the average musician. Without the light of day to guide him, without a strong right arm to work for him, he manages to make a living and not by begging, but by thrift and industry.
70 Years Ago
U.S. population gain: The Census Bureau estimated the total U.S. population at 159,473,000 on June 1, a 17 percent increase over June 1952. The bureau said 2,703,000 persons have been added to the population since June 1952.
30 Years Ago
Now playing at the Carson City Community Center— “The sun’ll come out tomorrow when Western Nevada Community College presents ‘Annie.’ Admission $8 general, $7 students/seniors, $6 children under 6.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.