Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Scarlet fever: The little daughter of Mr. O.H. Parker died from scarlet fever night before last. Mr. and Mrs. Mara lost their little daughter last. This dreadful sickness causes much serious apprehension as the disease increases in malignancy.
140 Years Ago
Brief mention: O.T. Barber’s wife presented him with a son.
Captain Avery is in the city. He is recognizable by his briny locks and sea dog gate.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: Various tennis clubs of Carson are asked to organize a snowshoe club. The racquets can’t be used any other way during this weather.
70 Years Ago
Beware of coins in parking meters: Parkers were told today to read directions on meters before coins are deposited. Jack Schumacher, traffic officer, said that a dime slot is provided on the one hour and 25-minute meters and will give only the maximum time the meter is set for. If a dime is deposited in a one-hour meter, it will give only one hour of parking.
60 Years Ago
Theft at Carson Airport: More than 1,000 gallons of aviation gasoline has been stolen from parked aircraft at the Carson City-Ormsby airport. On numerous occasions the thieves have left gas caps off during times of rain or snow and moisture has accumulated in the tanks causing costly maintenance.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
The soiree: Those who love to dance will love the “soiree”— Sashay hands across, Sally go down the middle; sound the banjo, beat the bones, play piccolo and fiddle. Tickets admitting one gentleman, and from one to 300 ladies, $1. Supper is 50 cents for each eater and eatress.
140 Years Ago
Part I: Mark Twain and Dan DeQuille: Some 20 years ago Dan DeQuille and Mark Twain attempted to start a Mendocino County paper. They took the type and material from their recently defunct newspaper in San Francisco and leading the stuff on a big wagon struck out into the country to retrieve their fortune (their type and tied up articles ready to print). Unfortunately, their journey over the mountains met with disaster.
Twain buys the howitzer: For $50 and two kegs of powder thrown in, Twain bought the howitzer. Dan thought the purchase was a reckless piece of extravagance and said so. Twain replied, “When we start our paper, we must fire a salute… No well-regulated office in California should be without a howitzer… (continued)
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The school children are allowed to remain away from school until it stops snowing. Farmers are all kept at home to see that stock does not freeze to death or starve for want of fodder.
Lie-Man Frisbie, the man with the Inyo marble eye and the paper mâché face is keeping the flies off the Arlington bar.
70 Years Ago
Nevada third in 1954 Copper: The third largest copper producing state in 1954 is Nevada according to Sen. Alan Bible. Production was 71,630 tons, an 18% increase over 1953 of 61,850 tons from the Anaconda Copper Corp., open pit operation at Weed Heights.
60 Years Ago
Carson City fire losses set record: Fire losses were more than $225,000 according to Les Groth, Carson City fire chief. The heaviest loss was Copeland Lumber Yard at $120,000. Other large losses included the White House Hotel, $22,320; Silver Sage Bar, $7,000; House at 602 E. Musser, $5,000; house at 511 E. Adams, $12,000… The Warren Engine Company No. 1 answered 222 calls during 1964.
Friday
150 Years Ago
Treasure City: Taylor, an old man of 70 years with rheumatism, was living on the brow of the hill in Treasure City and was carried away in his cabin by the storm. Parties coming down from Treasure City discovered him to be in a perilous situation but were unable to help. They paid some men $50 to bring the old man to this city and convey him to the county hospital.
140 Years Ago
Part II: Mark Twain and Dan DeQuille — A night attack. On the next night they camped 15 miles from Simpson’s. The horses wakened them at 11 o’clock. The two thought they were being attacked by a party of Indians. The two were without arms when they remembered, “The howitzer.” The two had hardly loaded it up when 50 Indians came charging up the ravine. (continued)
130 Years Ago
Railroad blockades: The roads in Nevada are in a dire predicament. The telegraph line connecting Reno with eastern and western wires are down. No news can be received by wire from the west for four or five days. Travel by rail is almost impossible in western Nevada.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Used car sale at the Car Corral – 1952 Plymouth $995; 1951 Hudson Commodore (8) $995; 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan $495; 1948 Packard Convertible $300; 1948 Buick Dynaflow $425…
60 Years Ago
Death of Salvatore Pierini: He had been a resident of Carson City for the past 50 years, born in Lucca, Italy in 1886. He operated a ranch located on the River Road near Carson City. He leaves two sons, Dominic of Washoe Valley and Pete R. of Carson City, a daughter Angelina Leona in Texas and Grandchildren Leonard, Ronald and Robert of Carson City…
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.