Carson City looking north from the top of the Capitol building in 1871.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
Shooting match at Warm Springs: A pigeon shooting match will take place at the Warm Springs Hotel, under Lance Nightingill’s supervision. Osbiston of Gold Hill and King of Carson will shoot for $100 a side; and there will be a champion match for a silver cup.
140 Years Ago
Catamount killed: Miss Susie Jones, daughter of Captain Jones, a pioneer settler noticed that dogs had “treed” some animal near the house. She armed herself with a gun. No sooner had she approached the gigantic catamount, it sprang to the ground. The dogs followed in pursuit and the animal took to the tree for protection. The brave girl trudged on with her gun. She soon discovered his catship was in close proximity, but she wasn’t daunted by his glaring eyes and ferocious appearance. She took deliberate aim and fired. The cat made a spring but fell dead to the ground. She slung the huge wild cat over her shoulder and carried him home.
130 Years Ago
Society gossip: Constance Fontain, upon going out to the cow yard, found a pair of pants, a coat and vest and one boot. Fred Talcot also found a pair of mittens. The beauty of Constance’s discovery is that the breeches pocket contained $1.50. She says if the owner calls and identifies the property he can have the garments and $1.00. Evidently the man who lost his clothes was a one-legged man, as there was only one boot. (Times-Review).
100 Years Ago
Wrong dates for gold discovery: Historians in California have been off six days in their date for gold discovery. Henry W. Bigler kept a diary indicating the date as being Jan. 24, 1848. In his diary he wrote: “This day some kind of mettle (sic) was found in the tail race that looks like goald (sic), first discovered by James Marshall, the boss of the mill.”
50 Years Ago
Interest rate raised: First National City Bank of New York announced an increase in the prime rate to 7 percent from 6 3/4 percent. Increases in the prime are usually reflected in higher interest costs for loans to individuals.
20 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Proscenium Players, present Sister Amnesia’s Country Western ‘Nunsense Jamboree’ at Brewery Arts Center. Producer Liz Mitchell, Written by Dan Goggin, Director Carolyn Demar and Produced by Tams-Witmark. Admission fees: General $12.
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Spinning tops: The tops are an infinite source of entertainment, but when taken by older people can become dangerous. We saw a middle-aged man try to revive and exhibit the skill he had learned in younger days. We gave him plenty of room. The string was applied and whiz went the top, and the beautiful toy pirouetted on the tip of the man’s nose.
140 Years Ago
All sorts: Special invitation to the Honorable Officers and Members of the State Legislature—Gentlemen: You are hereby most respectfully invited to attend the services of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, during your sojourn at the Capital. A polite usher will be in attendance. Full services at the usual hours of 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Subject for evening service, “Conscience.” George R. Davis, Rector.
130 Years Ago
All sorts:
Dolph Shane at the Hole-in-the-Wall is now countering a milk punch that will make you hair grow an inch a month.
The Home Orchestra furnished the music for the Wheelmen’s’ ball, and all agreed that it was good enough for the President’s Inaugural.
100 Years Ago
Anne Martin of Reno: A formal challenge of the right of Charles B. Henderson, Democrat, of Elko, to a seat in the U.S. Senate was made by Miss Anne Martin of Reno. Miss Martin claims that sums aggregating $950 were contributed to Henderson’s campaign fund by federal officials, and his total election expenses far exceeded the maximum of $15,000 allowed under the Nevada Corrupt Practice Act.
50 Years Ago
Shooting: Potshots have been taken by children with rifles at the airport runway and obstruction light potentially causing a serious accident. The obstruction light is placed atop a hill at the east end of the runway so that pilots of incoming planes do not become so distracted by the runway lights at night that they fail to see the hill.
20 Years Ago
Wheelchair: Middle School student Francisco Delgadillo, a student at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, was presented with a much-needed wheelchair. The problem was brought to the Sertoma Club by Jill Heatherton who teaches ESL, and the Sertoma Club agreed to pay $1,000 and half of what they raised at the annual Barn Dance. The club paid the full amount of $3,000.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
Legislative Ball: The Ball will be held at Moore and Parker’s Hall where great preparations have been made for the most largely attended and brilliant affair ever given in this state. Gardner at the Ormsby House is prepared to furnish a supper fit for gods and men.
140 Years Ago
All sorts: They have a Hayseed club in Austin. Its members are opposed to women, but greatly in favor of oysters on the half shell.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: Louis Longell who was thrown from a buggy sustained severe internal injuries. He is not expected to recover.
100 Years Ago
Killed in action: Lawrence Foged, son of Peter Foged was one of the first of Carson’s youth to go to the training camps and to the front. He was an industrious hard-working boy. A brother of his, Henry, died a few weeks ago following an attack of influenza.
50 Years Ago
TV Listings for Channel 2: My Favorite Martian, McHale’s Navy, I Love Lucy, Farmers Daughter, I Spy and Alfred Hitchcock.
20 Years Ago
Year 2000: The White House inaugurated a toll-free telephone number designed to provide Americans with answers to their millennial apprehensions, such as… “Afraid your bank account will disappear come Jan. 1, 2000?” “Are you wondering whether your coffee maker will still brew 12 months from now?” The number is 1-888-USA-4-Y2K.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.
