The Vivian Mill in about 1885. The mill was the eastern most mill in Carson River Canyon.
Wednesday
150 Years Ago
The circus and menagerie: The great tents were pitched down on the Commons to the north of Captain Meder’s house. Every good little boy and girl had to go and see the wild animals and the spangles. The children were massed in regiments of infantry. The show with a menagerie attachment is the first that ever came through this way. The elephant is a dreadful little runt. The bull and a buck deer from India is a beautiful animal. The trapeze artists are surprisingly good performers, the tumblers are good, and the clowns are fresh and funny…
140 Years Ago
Robinson’s circus: The big circus will be here during the heated term, and the attractions are as follows: A woman tattooed all over, a jabberwocky which sweats blood, a baboon who plays the piano like Rubenstein, a gorilla who plays poker like Governor Adams… a snake from Madagascar that swallows itself and Madam Joseph, a woman of great strength, that requires two trained elephants to pull her out of bed in the morning.
130 Years Ago
Our beauty contest: Anybody can vote as often as he or she likes, and the vote is open to both married and single ladies. No votes sent to ridicule any lady will be received. The vote now stands as follows: Mrs. Henry Morrison, 4; Miss Ella Bender, 3; Mrs. P. Dupuis, 2; Mrs. Sam Wright, 1; Mrs. Fannie Lowe, 1; Miss Berta Thaxter, 1; and Miss Julia Wasson, 1.
110 Years Ago
A new machine: Fred Frisbie and wife are sporting a new Studebaker – 25. It is just the right size for a pleasure car.
70 Years Ago
Circus: About 100 youngsters from Sunny Aces children’s home will be guests of the Reno central trades labor council to see the circus.
30 Years Ago
K-mart Superstore: A K-mart store is the beginning of plans for 545 acres in northwest Carson City formerly known as the Hartoonian Ranch Property. Plans also call for a golf course, townhomes, and a hotel-casino. The development includes a retail area on the east side of the property along U.S. Highway 395 including K-mart Superstore and others.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
Bowers Mansion lottery: This is one of the most substantial and tempting chance games that have been offered. The whole concern, real estate and personal property is to go in the list of prizes, including a lot of coin gifts, several lots of diamonds and all the splendid pictures painted for Sandy Bowers, among them by Hill, who has no superior among American landscape painters. The lottery includes the house, grounds, and furniture. John Kersey is Carson agent.
140 Years Ago
Complaint: There is much complaint on the part of persons residing in the neighborhood of the Episcopal church, about boys who stone the church and otherwise act in an indecorous manner in the churchyard after nightfall. If there is not an early cessation of this hoodlumism the aid of a police officer will be invoked.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: Louie Roberts accidentally shot the little Kilday girl with an air gun in the head. Dr. Guinan stopped the flow of blood. The wound is not dangerous.
110 Years Ago
Placer gold: An air of general prosperity pervades the main Manhattan gulch – home of the placers – from the substation to the canyon mouth. Good clean-ups are being made daily and the gulch is sending to the mint many thousands of dollars every month. (Manhattan Post)
70 Years Ago
Nevada leads in marriage licenses: The number of marriage licenses issued in Nevada during the first quarter of 1953 was 34 percent higher than the same period last year and the highest percentage increase in the country.
30 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Homes for rent – One-level, 2-bedroom condo, washer, dryer, refrigerator, $550, $500 deposit – 3-bedroom townhouse, woodstove, carport, storage, $600 per mo., $600 deposit – Lake Glen condo, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath and 2-car garage. Lovely location, $750 per month.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Emmet guard picnic: The music of the National Brass Band announced that the expected picnic party had arrived at the V.&T. depot enroute from Virginia and Gold Hill by way of Carson to the famous Bower’s Mansion. Ten flat cars and a passenger coach were packed with men, women and children, the sight of luxuriant trees and green meadows was a pleasure and a treat. The day was warm, at home monotony and dust were the prospect, music and change of scene invited us away. The corks from soda bottles went flying, the band played, the children laughed and cried. The tunnel passed; Washoe Lake is gazed upon. The whistle toots at Franktown and the trained arrived at the foot of the avenue with the mansion in view. Having reached the spot destined for the day’s festivities, it was not long before the mysteries of the mansion were explored from top to bottom and every part of the premises scrutinized by our hilltop friends. Cabbage leaf cigars would now burn rapidly, emit a dense, suffocating smoke, and then die out! Ice cream, pretty good. Lemonade smelt of limes but tasted strongly of prussic acid. Mrs. Bowers is advertising her place which is to be disposed of soon by a grand lottery.
140 Years Ago
In brief: The Good Templars and Sunday Schools will have a picnic at Steamboat Springs today.
Chinatown has a Chinese hoodlum who gives the Chinese more trouble than all of the white hoodlums in Carson combined. He is about 18 years of age and said to be a holy terror.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The California Fish Commission has employed a special attorney to prosecute persons who dump sawdust in the Truckee River.
Mrs. Garcia, the old Spanish woman in Sacramento, who has the leprosy, continues to take care of others.
“The Two Comediettas, A Happy Pair and Petticoat Perfidy” will be presented at the Opera House. Miss Wasson, Miss Brooks, Miss Bender and Mr. Colburn are participants. Admission 50 cents.
110 Years Ago
North Carson mine: The tunnel is in over 1,000 feet, and in 100 feet will cut the ledge, when drifting will be continued the tunnel taps the ore body at about 400 feet deep. The tunnel has been driven through granite and no timbering has been necessary. Some of the ground was exceptionally hard necessitating the installing of electric-driven drills to complete the work. The electric lights at the dump can be seen from any point after the north end of the city is reached in the evening. (The mine was owned by Thurman G. Roberts. At one time and he could keep watch on the mine from his house at 1207 North Carson.)
70 Years Ago
Unemployment pay: The 1953 legislature increased the state unemployment compensation benefits beginning July 1, 1953. The weekly benefit amount for an unemployed eligible claimant without dependents will be increased from $25 to $30 maximum, and dependent allowances were increased from $12 a week to $20 maximum…
30 Years Ago
Photo caption: Dayton graduates Abby Leigh Morse and Amy Roberta Ferguson, also 18, give each other high fives prior to their processional into the Dayton High School gymnasium for their 1993 graduation.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.