Carson City looking north from the top of the Capitol building in 1871.
Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Two prisoners from Reno have been received recently at the state prison. Their names are Frank Rhett, who goes for life, and Ah Ba, whose time is two years. Washoe County has now a representation at the prison over 30 convicts.
140 Years Ago
If lamp wicks are soaked in vinegar before putting in a lamp it will prevent the chimney from becoming blackened by the flame.
120 Years Ago
The worst fire in Virginia City in many years started at 12:45 this afternoon and in less than an hour the magnificent hoisting works of the Union Shaft was a mass of ruins. The fire was started in an outhouse adjoining the works and was probably caused by someone dropping a match.
60 Years Ago
The 16-man all-star team which will represent Carson City in the State Babe Ruth League Baseball Tournament here next week was announced today by team manager Dominic Oxoby.
40 Years Ago
The University of Nevada Board of Regents violated the state’s Open Meeting Law during secretary meetings to discuss the appointment of UNLV President Robert L. Mason, the attorney general’s office complained in a brief filed in Washoe County District Court Monday.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
At the prison – A contemplated break by some 25 prisoners, originating in the boot and shoe shop is reported. Their plans were discovered in good time to prevent their execution. We are unable to state the particulars.
140 Years Ago
The Sazarac nine of Virginia City has accepted the challenge of the active nine of Gold Hill and will play a baseball match in this city on Sunday next for $100 a side.
120 Years Ago
A lamp exploded in the photograph gallery of Mrs. L.E. Rickard at Winnemucca Monday night and the establishment was totally destroyed.
60 Years Ago
A 14-year-old Carson City boy who said he was afraid because he took his parent’s car without permission yesterday rammed the car into another vehicle and into a fence and fled as police arrived. Sgt. William Furlong said he first spotted the adolescent in the two-door auto as it proceeded along King Street.
40 Years Ago
State workers have been put on notice they will be charged for “dial-a-porn” calls made under a new information service offered by Nevada Bell. General Services Director Terry Sullivan said Monday he has no idea how many calls were made by employees to hear sexually explicit recordings but knows for certain some were made from state agency telephones.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Queen’s Circus and Menagerie will be on exhibition in Carson to-morrow, afternoon and evening. The Virginia papers speak highly of it. The Chronicle of last evening says many of the performers are superior artists.
140 Years Ago
The water has now so far fallen in the Carson River that it is again within the banks.
120 Years Ago
With the roof of his mouth almost torn out, suffering from a bullet wound in his neck and believing that he was about to die, William Harrison, of Hazen yesterday accused H.C. Lawrence, postmaster at that place, with attempting to murder him on the desert, three miles east of Hazen.
60 Years Ago
Walter T. (Yip) Wennhold, a life-long resident of Carson Valley, died Thursday morning at Washoe Medical Center in Reno. Following his service in WWII, he returned to Douglas County and applied his trade as a plumber.
40 Years Ago
Carson District Judge Mike Fondi rudely dismissed attorney Ralph Crow’s attempt to oust the city’s district attorney Monday, suggesting Crow should “remove” himself from the practice of law. Crow had sought the removal of District Attorney Bill Maddox and deputy prosecutor Noel Waters over a traffic citation.
Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.