150 Years Ago
Footrace: The Washoe Tribe boys got up a foot race around the plaza, just four of them, and they ran like quarter horses. One young boy was the successful disputant among the others and judged to be the winner. They made good time and were in full motion and distance. It looked like they were driven by the wind.
130 Years Ago
Spooner’s Station burned: Spooner’s hotel on the Lake Tahoe road was burned to the ground. The fire originated in the kitchen. Mr. Spooner only saved a few trunks. This is his second loss.
110 Years Ago
Twelve thousand coming: 12,000 railroad tickets have been sold traveling to Nevada points. All of these travelers will be coming to Nevada. Within 60 days this tide of humanity will begin to roll westward, and the railroads are expecting a repetition of the Klondike times. The fame of the state is spreading, the richness of its mines, the glint of gold and the wage earner will come. In addition to receiving the best of wages there is a chance for the fickle goddess to favor the investment of his savings (Wonder Miner).
70 Years Ago
Wobbly prowler: C. Day, a transient who wanders around town, entered a home in Carson. The complainant said Day had entered his house and was ushered out the back door. While bolting the entrance, Day wobbled around the house, reentered the front door and went to sleep on one of the beds. He appeared in city recorder’s court and was ordered to continue his wanderings elsewhere.
50 Years Ago
Welfare board: Ormsby County Commission Chairman Keith Macdonald has been appointed by Gov. Paul Laxalt to the Nevada State Welfare Board. Macdonald is co-owner of the Drug Center and Muller’s Drug store. He is a graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in pharmacy.
20 Years Ago
Cave Rock: Cave Rock was closed to preserve the historical and spiritual site as an integral part of the Washoe heritage. A long-term management plan for the area is to be put into place by the end of the year. Until then climbers will remain banned from using the rock.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
