North Carson Street looking northeast in the 1950s.
Saturday
155 Years Ago
Fatal accident: There was a terrible accident on the V&T R.R. A boy was run over and killed — The Gold Hill News tells of the shocking and fatal accident as follows: A fatal accident occurred at the Main Street station. The regular morning train for Carson, consisting of a locomotive, several platform cars, and quartz cars, with the passenger car bringing up the rear, among them Herman Man, son of Albert Man of Virginia City, aged about six years, with his brother, were standing on the platform of the station, watching the train, which was passing at a fair rate of speed around the curve, and within a few inches of the platform. With a view of getting a ride to Virginia City, little Herman sprang forward upon one of the flat cars following the locomotive, and losing his balance, from the onward motion of the train, he staggered and fell, dropping down between that and the car following, terrible to relate, he fell across one of the rails, and it is thought that two cars passed over him before the train was stopped. He was picked up immediately, dead, the fatal wheels passed directly across his little body, cutting him nearly in two, so that his bowels were let out. His remains were taken the hall of Liberty Engine Company, No. 1, nearby, and shortly after forwarded to Virginia City. No one is to blame for this dreadful accident but the little victim himself.
140 Years Ago
Programmes: The Appeal has now on hand some unique ball programmes which for cheapness and artistic design cannot be surpassed on the coast.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The Mercury was down to 25 below zero and 35 below zero in Empire. At Truckee, the cold surpassed anything ever experienced in that section. (The temperature change caused by the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa.)
Evan Williams says that at the Mexican Mill the steam from the exhaust turned into snow as soon as it struck the cold air and fell in flakes as large as his hand.
70 Years Ago
Alaskan quakes: University of California seismologists have reported three very strong earthquakes with an overall Richter magnitude of 7, centering in the area of the Aleutian peninsula.
60 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Three bedrooms, 2 baths-main floor; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath – upstairs unfinished, living room with fireplace, large family room with built in BBQ. Only $28,500, R&S Realty Co.”
Sunday
150 Years Ago
A sad bereavement: Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Gardner have lost their youngest daughter to the awful scourge of scarlet fever. The ravages of that disease are hoped to be abated with the wintry weather.
140 Years Ago
Kittrell’s trip to Bodie: In attempting to reach Bodie, Gen. Kittrell’s sleigh broke down, his team ran away, and he wandered 12 hours in the snow before he could reach a cabin. Had the snow not kept the air heated with profanity, he would have frozen to death.
130 Years Ago
Absent minded: A man went into Bryan’s restaurant, pulled some newspapers out of his pocket, tore off the wrappers and laid them beside his plate. He rose up and taking the wrappers put them in the stove. After he used the stove lifter, he went back to his table and tried to spoon up his soup with the stove lifter. He made several attempts at his mouth and got all sooty before he realized his mistake. He threw the stove lifter across the room, and everyone was laughing. He paid his bill and left. The absent-minded man was Sheriff Williams of Genoa.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson Theater — ‘Black Shield of Falworth’ with Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, David Ferrar, Barbara Rush. Cartoon and news.”
60 Years Ago
Sun dimmed by nuclear explosion: A nuclear rocket engine 12 feet high and 4,500 pounds flew apart amid a burst of energy, was blown up and created a great cloud of dust that briefly dimmed the sun. Newsmen watching on a tv screen in a building four miles away saw the reactor and flatcar blow up into tiny pieces.
Monday
150 Years Ago
Concert to benefit the Episcopal Church: The Virginia City Choral Society will give a concert at the Carson Theater on the 19th. The profits of this concert will be donated to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church under the direction of Mr. N.A.H. Ball. After the performance a dance will be given at Moore and Parker’s Hall. Supper will be served by the ladies of St. Peter’s Church. Following the supper, there will be a ball with very gay and festive music.
140 Years Ago
Part I — The eclipse: The most startling incident was the eclipse on Sunday. Those who were not so fortunate as to have a double refractory telescope handy resorted to the usual piece of smoked glass.
View from the Mint: Prof. Einbach, assisted by Mr. Marr, of the U.S. Coast Surveying Expedition took up his post of observation at the Mint. There were two dozen local astronomers on hand including several ladies who rendered valuable service wearing their tall hats in front of the telescopes at just the time when it was a matter of special importance.
A mean trick: Before Superintendent Crawford and George Tufly came upstairs to take a look, Prof. Einback leaned over the banister and with perfect seriousness said that the eclipse had been postponed by the order of the Signal Service, Department of Washington. The two men said, “That settles it,” and went home. They missed the entire eclipse. (continued)
130 Years Ago
Social gossip:
Helen Blythe with a strong company played before slim audience of Carson people. The thermometer stood at 25 degrees below zero, and it required considerable courage for one to go out in the frost to hear one so highly recommended.
70 Years Ago
Photo caption: Leading the Grand March at the Inaugural Ball in the high school gymnasium were Gov. and Mrs. Charles Russell, Lt. Gov. Rex Bell and Mrs. Katie Jenkins, Clark J. Guild and Mrs. Anna Belle Ambrose, and Chief Justice and Mrs. Charles Merrill. (Fendrich photos)
60 Years Ago
Governor to attend inauguration: Gov. Grant Sawyer and the First Lady plan to attend inauguration ceremonies for President Johnson. Gov. Sawyer said he would leave Monday, after he delivers his state of the state address to the opening session of the 1965 Legislature.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
The storm: It began with a gale. The wind blew with great violence. Much damage was done at the state prison where a portion of the fence, including the big gate succumbed to the zephyr and went flying down the road. The tin roof came off the water tank and was carried off 100 yards before it “lit.”
140 Years Ago
Part II — The Eclipse, the female astronomers — A dozen ladies or more were on the platform, one would take a peep through a telescope. The following could be heard, “Hurry up before it’s over or “Oh my bonnet… Keep off my feet please.”
During the eclipse: From half past three until the sun sank behind the mountains, it was in the form of a slim crescent with downward horns. Yesterday morning Old Sol rose as usual and appeared none the worse for his experience of the day before.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The town is full of drummers.
Six more inches of snow fell in Carson. Snow is reported to be 12 feet at Emerald Bay, 10 feet at McKinney’s, 16 feet at Yank’s and 10 feet at Tahoe City.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “’Hernando’s Hideaway.’ Just Dark Enough to See you Drink,” Arletta & Tony. Dancing, Carson City.”
60 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson Theater — Now Showing, ‘Becket” with Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole and Hal Wallis. Two of the most exciting stars of our time in one of the most exciting dramas of all time!”
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.