North E Street near the railroad depot in Virginia City, probably in the late 19th century.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
German picnic: Our German fellow citizens propose having a picnic at the ranch of Charles Schultz on the Carson River, four miles from Carson. Conveyance will be provided, and will start from Captain Meyer’s place, on Second Street opposite the Ormsby House. Everybody is invited to participate in the pleasures on the occasion…
140 Years Ago
Wayside notes: The Indians predict lots of pinenuts this fall.
130 Years Ago
Warning to horsemen: At Meyers Station there is a well of ice-cold water. A horse who comes in from a warm drive is certain to be taken with cramps in the stomach and be laid up sick if it drinks the water fresh from the well. There is a trough near the well supplied with spring water from the mountains, which is excellent water for horses that is the proper temperature.
70 Years Ago
Exchange, Lions donkey baseball: The game lasting an hour was followed by a race from centerfield to home plate, which was won by Tommy Young, assisted by a donkey. Jeff Springmeyer came in second. He was leading the race, but his donkey decided it did not want to cross the finish line...
60 Years Ago
Meeting the Beatles: Fran Mooney, Gale Albin, Gail Sawyer and Louise de Lipkau traveled to Las Vegas accompanied by Mrs. Mooney and her son in a car loaned to them by Phil Roventini. They were the only ones allowed in the Beatles press conference… and the only ones allowed to talk to them…
Sunday
150 Years Ago
40 drops: A lantern suspended over the sidewalk in front of the new saloon, bearing the above inscription on each side, attracted the attention of many. The doors of the new saloon were thrown open, a free lunch and drinks were the attraction. In the rear room the unchained “tiger” was in undisputed possession of new quarters.
140 Years Ago
Climb to the stars: The Rev. Geo. James, F.R.H.S. will deliver his popular and entertaining lecture in the M.E. Church. The lecturer will give a full account illustrated by photographs of the celebrated Lick Observatory which is now being erected at Mount Hamilton.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: Treadway’s Park is being rapidly put in shape for the encampment.
Businessmen of New York City, who employ 20,000 boys, have determined to give preference to boys who do not smoke cigarettes.
70 Years Ago
Nevada climbs: The third highest income per person in the U.S. in 1953 was Nevada, exceeded only by Connecticut and Delaware. Nevada’s income of $2,175 was two and a half times the average. The lowest in the nation was Mississippi with an average of $834.
60 Years Ago
Class of 1954 reunion: The Carson High School Class of 1954 held a reunion at the Club Jubilee in Pleasant Valley. Class members attending were (in part): Robert List, Don Bernard, Joyce Hamlin…. Class members in addition to those attending the reunion were Joe Dolan, Larry Sullivan, Ton Fettic, Earl Boise…
Monday
150 Years Ago
Huge timbers: A wagon passed through town with two large timbers and another with two more of similar dimensions. They measured 20 x 24 inches and were 40 feet long. They came from Rigby’s Mill at Lake Tahoe for the Savage mine at Virginia City.
140 Years Ago
Mill for Alaska: The Steamer Idaho takes up a stamp mill to be used at a mine in Alaska Territory. The mill has 120 stamps, will work on Douglas Island and will cost probably $250,000. The island is between Admiralty Island and the mainland. Senator J.P. Jones is among the persons interested in the new mining venture.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: A band of Gipsy fortune tellers is in town. If you cross their palms with silver, they will rip the veil of futurity to shreds.
The new survey between Nevada and California cuts off a small slice of Douglas County and turns the Fredericksburg creamery into California.
70 Years Ago
New Warren Engine firehouse: The new Warren Engine Company No. 1 firehouse is making its first move since 1908. It will move across Musser Street into the new volunteer firehouse. According to Laddie Furlong, the move will start the middle of next month and will take a month to make.
The first firehouse stood between Fall and Plaza on Fifth Street. A bell tower was already in the yard when the company moved in and then two years later, they moved to a building at Second and Nevada Streets where rent was $30 a month and then to the old Kitzmeyer building. In 1908 the city trustees authorized the Warrens to take over the old Curry house. It was built by Abe Curry, first warden of the state prison.
60 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Now showing ‘Advance to the Rear.’ You’ve met the rat pack, now meet the mouse pack. Glenn Ford, Stella Stevens, Melvin Douglas — Carson Theater.”
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
The German picnic: The Germans of Carson City held their annual picnic at Mr. Charles Schulz’s ranch on the banks of the Carson River. The ladies engaged themselves in spreading the finest lunch ever served on the banks of the Carson. As soon as the music was heard, the picnickers rushed to the dancing ground and enjoyed themselves in this innocent amusement.
140 Years Ago
Benevolent cranks: Managers of the “House for God’s Orphans,” in Chicago were bound over to the Grand Jury for ill treatment of young children left in their charge. Four young inmates attended and told the Grand Jury that a large number of babies died in the asylum through lack of care, and that young children were locked up dark rooms and given very little food. The court looked upon the managers of the institution as religious fanatics.
130 Years Ago
Nearly lost the child: A couple in a hurry to catch an excursion boat forgot to bring their child with them. After the boat had started the wife asked the husband if he had brought down the baby. “No, I supposed you had,” was the response. The child had been left at the hotel. They telegraphed the hotel people to unlock the room and see if the child was all right. He was still sleeping. The child was restored to its anxious parents that evening.
70 Years Ago
Nevada high polio state: The number of new polio cases rose over 15% from the previous week. States with the most cases since the beginning of the “disease year” are California, 1,873; Texas, 1,742; Michigan, 711; Florida, 685; and Ohio, 631. The rate of polio cases in proportion to population was highest in Wyoming, followed by Nevada, Texas, Florida and Iowa.
60 Years Ago
Does he chase dogs or cows: Appearing before the Douglas County Commissioners, Budd Stachler, county dog catcher, says he has been called to remove cattle from highways. If this is part of his job, he asked that his gas allowance be increased to cover the extra mountain trips. He was called three times during the same night to drive up to the lake and get cattle off the highway. Stachler also suggested that the two dollar fine imposed for a stray dog returned to his owner is not enough. The fine should be increased. He has returned one wolfhound dog 15 times and is only able to level a $2 for each violation…
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.