152 Years Ago
Overland Telegraph: Construction of the Overland Telegraph is progressing rapidly from Salt Lake City to the Missouri River. Doubts have been expressed about the completion of the western end by Dec. 1. No fear on that score — unless the Indians prove troublesome. The party on this side that left Fort Churchill on the 20th of June now have the line built 100 miles east of that point. (Territorial Enterprise, 1861)
140 Years Ago
Warden of the Prison: Mr. Hyman says the prison is already cramped for room with 85 prisoners. The prospects are that the number will be a hundred or more inside of a year ... Hyman is not made of the stuff which hesitates or despairs in view of new and unexpected difficulties ... So he will solve the problem. We may be sure of that.
130 Years Ago
Snowshoes: Superintendent of the Railway mail service, Mr. H. J. McCusick, was in town and is making a collection of curiosities belonging to the mail service. The Sharp Brothers of the Ormsby House have loaned him the long shoes worn by “Snow Shoe” Thompson when he carried the mail from Placerville and Carson ...
120 Years Ago
All sorts: James Raycraft’s wife presented him with a daughter. During this hot spell nothing is so pleasing at the taste of pure ice cream — made fresh at Tennant’s.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Bell Telephone Company of Nevada: At certain times, the long distance operator will ask you to limit your call to not more than 5 minutes ... Your cooperation will mean better telephone service for everybody.”
50 Years Ago
Washoe Valley schoolhouse: Flames destroyed the old Franktown school built in 1878 ... The building once served as a one-room schoolhouse. It was being re-roofed to preserve it as a historical monument, located just south of Bowers Mansion ...
30 Years Ago
Laura Bright will make a special appearance with her guitar at the Crossroads shopping enter in 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.
