Past Pages for Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016

150 Years Ago

Mint cornerstone invitation: An invitation has been extended by Col. Curry, the Superintendent of Construction of the Branch Mint, to the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of Nevada to attend the ceremonies of laying the cornerstone. There are rumors of a ball to wind up the ceremonies of the occasion ... It will prove that, sure enough, “the mint papers have come.”

130 Years Ago

Accidental death: J. F. McClellan was beheaded on the track of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. The headless body was found on the track and his head outside the rail. He had stopped in town to take photographs to send East to his wife and daughters to show that since he had come West for his health, his condition had improved. He mailed the photographs, and then became intoxicated. He fell while attempting to cross the track. The deceased was aged 57 and a native of Canada. (Reno Gazette)

110 Years Ago

All sorts: The hop step in the waltz has come into vogue. It is not as dreamy as the glide but is better exercise.

70 Years Ago

Veterans housing: Six apartments are being held open to give local men the first opportunity for housing. Plans are underway for beautification of the site. Two play boxes to be filled with sand are being made, tentative arrangements for a basketball court for dads and installing cook stoves will be the last detail to be filled. Housewives are currently using electric hot plates.

50 Years Ago

Photo caption: Whether or not you believe in flying saucers, an object appeared in the sky and Robert Hahn, a photography enthusiast, was up on King’s Canyon Road experimenting with night shots in color photography when the object appeared. It hovered at an estimated 1,000 feet and seemed to be about 100 feet in diameter ...

20 YEARS AGO

Advertisement: “Meadowdale Theatre, Gardnerville — ‘Alaska,’ ‘Chain Reaction,’ and ‘Independence Day.’

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