Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Fire at Silver City. About 11 o’clock last night a fire broke out in Osborn’s Hotel, caused by the carelessness of a woman border. Mrs. Merrill, the lessee of the Osborn House, lost everything, barely escaping with her life. The following houses were totally consumed, and nothing save of their contents: Osborn’s Hotel loss is $4,000; Hawkins blacksmith shop, $1,500; Millard’s dwelling and the Mansion House were considerably injured by the fire. None of the property was insured.
140 Years Ago
From this on all youngsters caught out of doors after 8 o’clock will be taken in by police. The curfew bell will make bad boys tremble in their boots.
120 Years Ago
Yesterday the shop whistle at the V.&T. shops failed to awaken the people who are used to it as there is no steam up at the place. The work of putting in a new boiler is in progress and nearly the entire crew is on hand rushing the work to completion. When the new boiler is in place it will be steamed by oil, which is the first oil burner to be introduced in this city in any capacity.
60 Years Ago
Lt. Gov. Paul Laxalt lashed out at Gov. Grant Sawyer and company today for “complete mishandling” of the financial problems faced by many schools in Nevada.
40 Years Ago
U.S. Troops land on Grenada. Marines fear more attacks in Beirut, Lebanon.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
Abe Dreisbach’s store was burglarized last Wednesday. The plunder obtained by the thieves was seven boxes of tobacco and two dozen pairs of pantaloons. In the evening before the burglary two Chinese people came into the store and asked to be shown some wallpaper, and while the clerk was attending to them it is likely that a confederate of thieves slipped into the wholesale department and secreted themselves until the lights were out.
140 Years Ago
Since the curfew ordinance went into effect there has been a general disposition on the part of the young men of Carson to strictly obey the law both in its letter and spirit. Last Sunday night while services were going on in the various churches the solemn notes of the curfew rang at 8 o’clock. In an instant a number of boys, who were engaged in devotional exercises, rose to their feet, and with on accord shot out of the door and skinned home.
120 Years Ago
A few of the businessmen of this city and who believe in an up-to-date city and one that the stranger can find his way in, have posted their number in front of the business house while a few residences are following suit.
60 Years Ago
Gary Dean has pulled to a slight lead in the Nevada Appeal motor bike contest, but Mike Furlong is breathing on his neck in the exciting race.
40 Years Ago
Flags throughout Carson City and the nation are flying at half-staff in honor of the American forces killed during the past three days in Lebanon and Grenada.
Friday
150 Years Ago
The town is distressingly sickly. The doctors really believe it is malaria. Why doesn’t the big storm come and, in washing away decayed vegetation, put an end to malarious exhalations? God knows.
140 Years Ago
Leroy, the murderer of Skerret, has been sentenced to hang on the 21st of next month. It is a safe bet that he won’t hang.
120 Years Ago
Waiting for the location of a mine of gold. There will be a rush and a lively one the day that the Frenchman, who lately discovered the rich quartz makes its place known. There are at least a dozen men on his trail, who are keeping every point in view with the idea of an extension or being “Johnny on the Spot” when the day comes that the ground is made public.
60 Years Ago
Amid the color and tradition of beauty contests, a young, brown-eyed Carson City girl was named Miss Carson City last night. Jackie Darrigrand, 36-24-36, was crowned queen of the annual beauty pageant sponsored by the Soroptimist Club of Carson City.
40 Years Ago
The Personnel Division last year may have violated the law in paying some state officials more than 95 percent of the governor’s salary, but at this point no one is sure what to do about it.
Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.