70 years ago: Bill Dolan of Carson City, senior journalism major at the University of Nevada, has been assigned to work as a part time reporter for the Nevada Appeal.
Saturday
155 Years Ago
(Blasting at the state prison, continued) On canvassing matters, it was found that not less than 50 pieces of rock had fallen upon the roof of the building, one of which fell with such force and weight as to break the rafters and joist and make the upper rooms a wreck. The Deputy Warden and his child narrowly escaped being crushed under the falling timbers. No one was hurt, however, and the damage to the building has yet to be repaired.
140 Years Ago
The Enterprise gives the governor a lively scoring for vetoing the bill allowing Professor Friend a compensation of $12.50 a month for making the meteorological reports.
120 Years Ago
The road to Tonopah is thronged with men hoofing it to Tonopah and Goldfield with no other assets than clothing and blankets, notwithstanding the warnings frequently reiterated by the newspapers of that region that, the labor market is overstocked, and every square inch of territory from Sodaville to Death Valley is staked as thickly with mining locations as a country graveyard with tombstones.
70 Years Ago
Gov. Charles Russell is hurrying through bills he must approve or veto by midnight tonight. As of this morning, Russell had approved 378 of the 447 bills sent to him by the legislature.
60 Years Ago
Ray Abbaticchio, noted G-Man, who was one of the nation’s leading J. Edgar Hoover men battling wanted criminals such as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and the Barker-Karpis Gang died here of a heart attack at the age of 58. He was Nevada’s chief gambling control enforcer. Abbatichhio led a drive to keep known hoodlums out of Nevada’s casinos. He issued the state’s “Black Book” of 11 men the state considered particularly unwelcome in the gaming rooms.
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Successful company: The burning of the new Carson Company’s Gas has a strong yellow light, with a surprising steadiness.
140 Years Ago
All sorts: Frank Brown of Humboldt County took a violent fancy to a horse he saw there, and since then has been requested by the court to stop at the prison for four years.
Mrs. Sarah Williamson has invented a new cook stove and obtained a patent. It will not be of much use as Carson ladies are noted for their good cooking on any kind of stove.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The Gibraltar Saloon will soon reopen. The tiger is merely taking a much needed rest.
Benjamin Wilson, a boy in Stockton, accidentally shot himself through the head.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “April Fool’s Party — No foolin’ we are going to have a lot of fun just foolin’ around! Free prizes! Free fun! Dick Graves’ Nugget.”
60 Years Ago
Photo caption: “The Contrasts,” a musical group composed of four Carson City High School students, have donated their talents to a teen dance to be held at the Carson High School gym from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Proceeds will go to the March of Dimes. Pictured are Bill Long, John Murray, Monty Johns and Ward Johns.
Monday
150 Years Ago
St. Paul’s Church, Virginia City: A first-class Mason & Handin church pipe organ has been presented to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Carson City by St. Paul’s Church.
140 Years Ago
Local notes: The ranches are offering $100 to any preacher who can pray for rain and get it.
George Campbell, a postal clerk on the C&C had his foot cut off a few days ago while attempting to board a moving locomotive.
130 Years Ago
The Orphans’ Home: The Orphans’ Home Commissioners have elected Arthur M. Beebe of Reno as superintendent of the Orphan’s Home in Carson City. He is sober, industrious, highly respected and kind with children. His wife will be matron of the home, and Miss Mamie Moore will be teacher after the expiration of the present term. (Journal)
70 Years Ago
AEC denies injuries: Chairman Lewis L. Strauss of the Atomic Energy Commission said that it is irresponsible talk that there has been human injury in the Nevada atomic tests. The nation’s top experts on the effects of radiation agree that the Nevada tests have been conducted “well within any danger” zone. No fallout would have had an effect on an individual than that given in an ordinary chest x-ray.
60 Years Ago
Gray Reid’s: A $3.5 million Carson City Shopping Center with Gray Reid’s as a major store, will start construction April 30 as announced by Francis Carrington, a Santa Rosa, California developer.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Happy April Fool’s Day: And now dawns the day when the bigger fool a man shows himself to be, the more in season he is. None so wise as those who with good grace can be fools on this first day of April.
140 Years Ago
No morgue: The coroner of San Francisco has no morgue and has to place the dead bodies that come to his hand under a tent, like a circus show.
130 Years Ago
Suffrage amendment: The voters of Nevada will have one constitutional amendment to puzzle their brains over in the next election.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson Theater — ‘Roaring Timber’ based on Edna Ferber’s Novel with Edward Arnold, Frances Farmer, Joel McCrea and Walter Brennan.”
60 Years Ago
Playing at Sparks Nugget: George Gobel and the Andrew Sisters provide entertainment at John Ascuaga’s Nugget with two of the greatest headliner acts. The Andrew Sisters will be rocking in the Circus Room as they share the spotlight with Lonesome George Gobel.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.