Carson City looking north from the top of the Capitol building in 1871.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
Caught in the act. Sam Sing sold whiskey to Piute Jim Pearson, at Chinatown, last Saturday night. Newhouse and several other Indians were there. The trap was well laid, and the unwary “pigtail” got his foot into it. When Newhouse revealed the dazzling star on his constabulary breast, Sam seemed determined to die of fright. His gay deceiver, Piute Jim, yelling fits and murder, to the calaboose. He was fined $50 and jailed for 25 days in default of payment.
140 Years Ago
A few days ago, the Appeal mentioned that John Dennis, the talented editor of the Times-Review, was engaged to a young lady in San Francisco worth $2 million. Here is the major’s reply: “Sam Davis, of the Carson Appeal, is a liar and horse thief and has been bought with British gold. Here recently published a malicious fabrication, with the willful design of ruining this writer’s political and matrimonial prospects. His fiendish purpose, however, failed in its accomplishment.
120 Years Ago
The talk of organizing at Hobart Mills is causing considerable comment. The officials at that place make the same claim put forward by the Truckee mill officials and it is stated that in the event of a strike at that place the entire plant will be closed down. A similar report comes from Verdi.
60 Years Ago
Advertisement: There will be NO HUNTING on the Long Ranch this year, Kings Canyon Road, Carson City.
40 Years Ago
Two buildings on the former Stewart Indian School campus will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for the Nevada Day weekend.
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Roll of honor of the Carson Public School for the month of October 1873: High School—Edward Allen, Alice Blethen, Laura Berry, Virginia Chedic, Fred Bullock.
Grammar department: Emma Chedic, Lena Colton, Hannah Logan, Eva Slingerland, Forest Small, Dora Van Sickle, Rosser Edwards, Olie Bray…
Primary department: Jessie Hawley, Arthur Wilmott, Julia Kelly, James Allen, Allie Linn…
We congratulate our young friends whose names are thus honorably mentioned. We hope to see the list swelled in the next report.
140 Years Ago
In brief: Professor Petersen has taken some stereoscopic views of the Episcopal Church and announces them for sale at 25 cents apiece.
The roofs of the Arlington House and Harris Brothers’ store have been painted with J.T. Preddy’s waterproof paint.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: John Piper came up from San Francisco and says his little daughter has improved considerably the last two days. The attending physician hopes to restore her sight.
The Appeal’s four-pound potato hasn’t been equaled yet. Bring on your varicose spuds. We’ll back our potato against any raised in the county, spud, and money ready any time.
110 Years Ago
Leisure Hour reception: The handsome new club house opposite the high school is finished, and the members of the club will throw it open on next Monday night to the public for inspection and a general good time. The club wants the citizens of their town to see that they have their interests at heart and that they are anxious to make good in every way.
70 Years Ago
Celebration: Nevada’s 89th birthday as a state is the biggest and best of all Nevada Day parties. There are more statewide entries than ever before, and the celebration in Nevada’s capitol city is just one of those things that grows each year. Chairman George Roulette anticipates a crowd of 30,000 visitors.
Monday
150 Years Ago
New postmaster: Mr. Ben. Winnie has been appointed postmaster of the Carson office. Mr. Winnie will have to be up and doing it if he would fill the bill as acceptable as Fred Turner, our former postmaster.
140 Years Ago
A windfall: A gentleman from the Comstock stated to the Appeal that a few days ago a poor, old lady seventy years of age named Mrs. Hennessy who resides in Virginia City received advice that she is the heiress to $2 million. The money has been in Dublin for a quarter of a century, no one knowing whether she was dead or alive.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: It is wonderful how the Ormsby (House) sets such a fine chicken and roast pig dinner with all kinds of meats, fruits, pies, cakes, puddings, and all kinds of vegetables for 25 cents.
110 Years Ago
Women’s federation of clubs: A convention will be held in this city at the new Leisure Hour Club whose members will act as hostess to the visiting clubwomen. Entertainment has been arranged. Governor Oddie, his mother, and sister will tender a reception to officers, delegates and visitors at the executive mansion.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson Theatre — ‘Houdini’ with Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. True—Thrilling—Incredible. A real-life, death-defying escape and the amazing love story of the most fabulous daredevil of all-time…”
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Robbed again: A periodical robbery of the Battle Mountain stage occurred just at the first crossing of the Reese River. Eugene Burnett, saw a solitary footman standing in the middle of the road with a double-barreled shotgun. When the coach had advanced sufficiently close to him the individual shouted, “Stop! Hand out the box.” There were six passengers aboard, but they were not interfered with. The amount was not disclosed, but the box contained waybills, letters, packages and money. (Reese River Reveille)
140 Years Ago
A lively horse: Some very lively time was made on the track by a horse who entered the race on his own hook. Black Charley, a trotter, was hitched to a post which held up the roof of his stable. He took a lively interest in trotting. When he heard the word “go” he could no longer restrain himself, and making a mighty effort broke for the track with the post and a portion of the gable end of the stable hanging to his neck. In spite of this handicap, he came down the homestretch in splendid style, and only lost the heat by a neck.
130 Years Ago
Coyotes: The coyotes are numerous and hold high carnival around the slaughterhouse, treating the people of the seaport town to a midnight concert. Once in a while an old timer will awake the echoes in the heart of the city.
110 Years Ago
Tests prove good milk: Mr. Will Knippenberg of this city took the matter of whether the milk was good. The samples were taken from wagons on the streets and are representative of the milk furnished by the local dairymen. The results are quite satisfactory, indicating a fairly good grade of market milk.
70 Years Ago
Pony Express ride: The longest pony express ride will be a feature of Nevada Day, Oct. 31. The ride will start in Jackson, 180 miles from Carson City. The route the modern express riders will follow lies along highway 88 over Kit Carson pass and from Woodfords to Genoa along the old wagon road then to Carson on highway 395. The last lap from Genoa to Carson will be ridden by Nevada Robert Carson, grandnephew of Kit Carson. He will use four horses in relay and is timed to ride up Carson street on the gallop at 10:55 a.m. just before the parade starts. At the Carson City post office, Nevada Carson will unload his pony express mail pouch. It will then be cancelled with a stamp authorized by the postmaster general and dispatched.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.