Carson City looking north from the top of the Capitol building in 1871.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
Advertisement: “For sale! Cook’s Ranch situated three miles east of Carson City. Crossing the Carson River on the east line and the Mexican Ditch on the west, containing 320 acres of land with house and barn, and other improvements. Walter M. Cook.
140 Years Ago
Carson urchins: A group of trundle-bed trash, 12 to 15 years of age, consider it necessary to carry a six-shooter in their hip pocket for personal protection. They should be relieved of their weapons and soundly thrashed.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: President Cleveland was born on St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland and Grover Cleveland is trying to drive the Americans out of the United States.
The Paper Tea will be held at the residence of Judge M.A. Murphy. The evening entertainment will be very attractive with music and readings by Miss Howe, illustrated with tableaux vivants.
70 Years Ago
Prospecting class: An evening course in “prospecting” will include class discussion of points of essential knowledge to the prospector, and also laboratory work in identifications of minerals and non-metallic ores. J.P. Hart, graduate of University of Nevada who has practical experience in the mining field will conduct the course in Carson City.
40 Years Ago
Carson by-pass: The Citizens’ Advisory Committee of the Carson-Douglas Area Transportation Study is looking to the east to locate a new freeway by-pass route. The committee favored a route which will make use of much undeveloped land on the floor of Eagle Valley. The committee favored a route that would cut diagonally from the existing U.S. Highway 395 North at Lakeview estates to just southwest of the Carson Airport and nearby industrial park. The proposed freeway would join Lompa Lane, continuing on east of the Warehouse Market complex and on to the Stewart area…
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Kitzmeyer’s house: Messrs. Bottsford & Anderson, the well-known builders and planners, are busy at work erecting Mr. Chris Kitzmeyer’s new dwelling house that fronts Mrs. Curry’s homestead. They are making what promises to be a very handsome house. The fact is that if anybody can put boards and timber together in a shape for external comeliness and internal comfort, these excellent mechanics are the parties.
140 Years Ago
Advertisement: “For sale – a furnished house with six rooms – three bedrooms, parlor and sitting room, kitchen, front and back yard, city water, shade trees, woodsheds, etc. Price $1,000. (This is a rare bargain for anyone wanting a permanent home in Carson. Inquire at the office or Mrs. Purcell, corner of Fourth and Plaza).
120 Years Ago
Emma Nevada: Mignon Palmer, a daughter of Emma Nevada, has entered the operatic field. It is a rare spectacle that mother and daughter are on the stage together.
70 Years Ago
Light bulb: A 75,000-watt bulb, the biggest ever made, is on display at the 75th anniversary dinner of the American Power Conference. They could not light the bulb because it would burn the paint off the walls and singe the hair of the diners.
40 Years Ago
Brothel streak: Now there are streakers in Nevada’s bordellos. Two women streaked the Cottontail Ranch. Operator Bev Harrell reported someone pounded on the front door, asking for work. The two women streaked, jumped into a waiting car and disappeared. They were wearing tennis shoes and brightly colored hats.
Monday
150 Years Ago
Missing man: The man – Edward Welch, missing since Christmas, is now known to have been drowned. His remains were discovered in the Carson River below the Morgan Mill – a suicide.
140 Years Ago
San Francisco earthquake: San Francisco was visited by the severest earthquake shock since 1868. Although people were driven from their houses, they treated the shock as a good joke.
120 Years Ago
The lady and the tiger: Many people of Reno were at the Palace opening. Many gentlemen were there with their wives and daughters and many of the ladies did feed the tiger. Their husbands and fathers approved. (Journal)
70 Years Ago
Honors: Three students Carol Meder, Allan Shamberger and Theresa Gibson represented Carson High School at the solo and ensemble division of the Western Nevada Music festival in Reno. Miss Meder played “Romance” by Mozart on the French horn, accompanied by Miss Gibson.
40 Years Ago
Streak report, Carson City: Streakers struck at the Carson Mall. A witness reported three young men in tennis shoes, two of them with ski masks who bolted through the mall, past cake sales and gawking spectators.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Fire alarm: A fire was caused by the burning out of a chimney in the New York House, an old building on the east side of South Carson Street. The house is owned by an Englishmen known as “Old Dad,” and has been occupied by Chappel as a paint shop. No harm done.
140 Years Ago
The rogue nurseryman: Ham, the fraudulent plant peddler, got about $400 in cash here for plants not worth $50.
120 Years Ago
All sorts: James O’Brien saved his life by taking a flying leap from a runaway handcart. He escaped with slight injuries.
70 Years Ago
Red frog: (Angels Camp, Calif.) – The Soviet Union has been offered a chance to show whether its jumping frog can outjump frogs from other places in the world. Georgi N. Zarubin, the soviet ambassador, was asked to enter a frog in the jumping tournament in May. Frogs have been pledged by Australia, South Africa, England, Canada and South America.
40 Years Ago
Concert: “A Concert On Ice,” is an ice show and a combination of music, comedy, skating and non-skating. The show headlines at Harrah’s Reno and spotlights international famed Olympic champion Peggy Fleming.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.