North Carson Street looking northeast in the 1950s.
Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Noe & Johnston, photograph artists, King Street. Opposite Sweeney’s Building, Carson City, are prepared to take pictures in the highest style of the photographic art. Terms the most reasonable. We invite inspection and comparison of our work. Noe & Johnston.”
140 Years Ago
Severe winter: Judging from the conduct of the Indians hereabout, they expect a very severe winter. On every train from Reno there are a large number of Indians with large quantities of venison that they store away selling very little. They say there will be so much snow it will be impossible for them to go into the mountains to shoot game.
130 Years Ago
Jim Wiggins entertains Thanksgiving entertainment. On the 29th and 30th of the present month Jim Wiggins will turn loose the biggest lot of sport ever seen in Empire with turkey shooting, chicken shooting, duck throwing and a masquerade. The costumes can be had at the hall — he will have a lot of new and attractive costumes on hand. Tickets $1. Mrs. Kohl will have a big spread. It will be the grandest Thanksgiving that Empire has ever seen.
110 Years Ago
Carsonite married: Mr. and Mrs. Milton Garrett of Berkeley, have issued cards announcing the marriage of daughter, Eleanor Geisar Hart to George Dee Smith, Jr., of Carson City. Mr. Smith is employed by engineer Emmett Boyle and intends to build a beautiful bungalow for the newlyweds in Carson City.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Sky-Vue Drive-In Theatre, Admission 65 cents, children under 12 free. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m. – Snack Bar – Gregory Peck as ‘The Gunfighter,’ ‘Taxi’ with Dan Daily and Constance Smith, news and cartoon.”
Thursday
150 Years Ago
The Big Mule wagon: The wagon was about to start from Slater’s hay yard for Walker River when it suddenly collapsed and dumped its cargo of flour, boxes and sacks upon the ground. After being interrupted in the midst of his labors by a kicking mule and making some attempts at the pacification of that unruly beast finally damned him and invited him to “kick away.” This last was the only suggestion the beast was of a mind to heed — and he launched out with as willing a pair of heels as ever gave effectiveness of the ungraceful act of recalcitration.
140 Years Ago
Amusements: The ladies of the Episcopal Church will give a hop and oyster supper at the Carson Opera House. No church has given an entertainment here. The people are hankering after a church supper and dance. Quite a number of witnesses and experts in the Holmes Northern Bell case agreed to come for half price provided they could be sure of a religious festival to vary the monotony of the suit.
130 Years Ago
Ads: “For sale— A No. 1 Hallett & Davis square grand piano. Can be had for $200 for cash or on the installment plan.” “For sale: A six-year-old bay mare, light buckboard, and a single harness, mare perfectly gentle, price $100.”
110 Years Ago
Rain and snow: After midnight a gentle rain began falling and continued for several hours, thoroughly wetting gardens and streets. Snow fell in the mountains and all the peaks west of town are enveloped in a dress of white.
70 Years Ago
Concrete plant: A petition demanding operations of the Carson Concrete Products Company be discontinued as a public nuisance has been filed with the city council by 32 property owners of northeast Carson City. Petitions declare that operations be discontinued immediately.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Earthquake: Those who were within doors where pendant objects like lamps and gas fixtures were hanging, testify to feeling a shock of earthquake about 6:45 a.m. We who were out of the tremors felt nothing of the kind, but there being several others than the Dashaways to back this assertion of a shrug of mother earth’s broad shoulders. We are inclined to believe that there may have been a slight squirm in the direction indicated, and that it was not altogether an attack of the jim-jams that suggested the idea. We trust there may be, as a result of these terrestrial disturbances, enough shaking of the atmosphere to give us some rain clouds and some copious droppings therefrom.
140 Years Ago
In brief: Mr. J.P. Sweeney has purchased the vacant lot opposite the Ormsby House and during the next month will commence the erection of a two-story brick building. Mr. Sweeney’s enterprising spirit is entitled to great praise.
130 Years Ago
Mysterious disappearance: Sam Ray, blacksmith at the V&T shops disappeared Friday after being paid. He did not leave on the train as the ticket agent did not sell him a ticket nor did the conductor collect any cash fare from Carson. His wife, who is inconsolable, wants information about him. Mr. Ray had driven over to Reno on a visit to friends and turned up alright. (Weekly)
110 Years Ago
Shot: Tom Cunningham, a conductor on the Tonopah and Goldfield railroad, shot and dangerously wounded Clarence Bell while they were fighting over the dance hall girls. Cunningham championed the woman, when he was knocked down by Bell. Arising he drew a pistol and shot the cowboy through the stomach. There is little hope of his survival.
70 Years Ago
Postmaster exam: The first examination for Postmaster in Carson City will be under new exacting eligibility requirements.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.