Past Pages Nov. 1

130 YEARS AGO

Declared illegal: The High School Literary Society of Virginia City has been declared illegal. It was composed of young ideas of the public school students who packed revolvers and in an indiscreet moment one of the "shoot" of Principal Gray exhibited his idol in the way of a white-handled bull-dog. The Enterprise devotes a half-column editorial to the subject when a spanking argument would have covered the business.

120 YEARS AGO

Bodie in 1878-79: Population 5,500, five newspapers, six shoemakers, four cigar stores, twelve fruit stands, six photography galleries, eight breweries and 92 saloons. Now all that remains is the site upon which it was located.

70 YEARS AGO

Admission Day: Huge crowds attended a successful celebration of Nevada's 77th Anniversary. Spectators were thrilled by the parachute jump of George Walts of Reno.

50 YEARS AGO

Photo caption: Audrey Chambers, "Miss Junior Nevada" of 1960 will lead the Wolfpack band through the pre-game show on Nevada Day. Miss Chambers' high-stepping rhythms will keep the band in pace with it's "Silver State" patriotic theme for Admission Day (Nevada's 97th birthday).

30 YEARS AGO

Grand Marshall Nevada Day: Lester Benjamin "Benny" Binion, Nevada's old-time gaming operator, will ride as grand marshal in the Carson City parade celebrating Nevada's 117th birthday.

10 YEARS AGO

Photo caption: All eyes are on Maizie Harris Jesse, in a skit from "Nuncrackers," performed at the Brewery Arts Center. Looking on are Kyrie Fisher, Natalie Birba, Marc Cerruti, Jenny McMenomy and Karen Chandler.

• Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.