VIEW FROM THE PAST

100 Years Ago

Walter Schmidt, the old prospector of the Whiteplains country in northeastern Churchill County, is in town this week calling on his old-time friends. He came to this locality in 1867, and now at the age of 72 years, is developing his fifth great mine. His first was the Alpha at Rye Patch which produced $2,000,000, then the Butte which produced half a million, besides the Taylor in California. For 20 years he has worked on the old Desert Queen in Churchill County. He spent $40,000 on the Desert Crystal Salt Works, and reduced the price of salt from $15 to $4 a ton. Mr. Schmidt came over in Geo. Coffrin’s car and it was his first automobile ride. In speaking of his experience being whirled over the desert in the machine, he remarked “Why, that thing goes like ___!”

Churchill County Eagle, Saturday, June 13, 1914

The Eagle is in receipt, from Senator Newlands, the descriptive matter of the new battleship Nevada. The Nevada and Oklahoma, sister ships, are equipped with 14 inch guns and are of 27,500 tons displacement. They mark a distinctive advancement in battleship construction over their predecessors the New York and Texas, and will cruise at a speed of 21 knots an hour.

Churchill County Eagle, Saturday, June 13, 1914

75 Years Ago

Their Brittanic majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth entered the United States late Wednesday at Niagara Falls and proceeded to Washington and a formal state reception. Their arrival marked the first time in history that reigning British sovereigns have set foot on American soil.

The Fallon Eagle, June 10, 1939

Residents along the U.S. 50, the Lincoln route through Fallon, heard from a trailer traveler whose trailer is one of those deluxe models that has everything and is almost as big as a Pullman. In all the territory they had covered, never had his wife and he run across a better highway than that from Wendover to Fallon. Incidentally, a lot of foreign licenses are in evidence lately in Fallon. Maybe word-of-mouth advertising by others is beginning to get in its licks.

The Fallon Eagle, Saturday, June 10, 1939

Give “Dad” on his Day gifts that he’ll enjoy the entire year. Suggestions from our sporting goods department for “that forgotten man”: Fishing tackle, guns, ammunition, sports equipment. “Everything” for the man who loves to go places and do things.

The Fallon Eagle, Saturday, June 17, 1939

50 Years Ago

The centennial hay palace will be located west of the 4H building at the fairgrounds. It will be 48’ by 64’ requiring about 100 tons of hay or 1500 bales. Antiques from the good old days in Churchill County such as farm machinery or are welcome. Please call Elaine Hornsby of the Cowbelles.

Fallon Eagle-Standard, Tuesday, June 9, 1964

The VFW urges all residents to fly their flags on Flag Day, June 14.

Fallon Eagle-Standard, Friday, June 12, 1964

A View From The Past…Stories from the Churchill County Museum archives, researched and compiled by Margo Weldy, Churchill County Museum Assistant