Downtown Carson during the Nevada Day Parade in about 1950.
Wednesday
150 Years Ago
Capitol Square contracts: The contract for furnishing the iron fencing for Capitol Square has been awarded to the Misses Clapp & Babcock, principals of the Sierra Seminary for their bid, of $5,550 in coin, for the delivery of the fencing upon the grounds. It is the lowest by some hundreds of dollars of any submitted. We congratulate all concerned in this outcome of an important matter — congratulate the state on having so favorable a bid from so responsible parties and congratulate the ladies on their success in a new field of enterprise.
140 Years Ago
Grasshoppers in Fresno: Grasshoppers are in strong force and the indefatigable colonists are setting armies of chickens upon the enemy. Portable chicken houses have been built and the bands of chickens are turned loose in the fields. The birds are doing their best to put the insects down and hopefully their efforts will be successful.
130 Years Ago
All sorts: The necessary money to bring the great crossly reflecting telescope from England to California has been raised, and the telescope will be placed in the observatory at Mount Hamilton.
70 Years Ago
Bored audience comes to life: Dr. Robert Williams of Seattle, president of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, concluded his report to the society’s convention by flashing a 20-foot nude image of Marilyn Monroe on the screen. The action brought cheers and whistles from more than 1,200 doctors, scientists and clinical advisors who had been listening to Williams talk. Many of the members complained that papers presented at the annual meeting were too complicated and that graphs used were too full and uninteresting.
60 Years Ago
Current best sellers – fiction: “Herzog,” Bellow; “The Man,” Wallace; “Rector of Justin,” Auchincloss; “The Horse Knows the Way,” O’Hara; and “This Rough Magic,” Stewart.
Thursday
150 Years Ago
Dead: Mr. James Dealy’s pet bird, the sociable and talkative Australian magpie, whose talents as a conversationalist, have been so greatly admired has been in a decline — his voice less and less in vigor and his manner less cheerful and inspiring. Peace to his feathers.
140 Years Ago
Can skunks swim: They are numerous along the river. Indians say they never saw a skunk swim, but it is doubtful if one of them would wade into the water where it was liable to be swept over a dam by the current.
130 Years Ago
Bicycles: People have mortgaged their homes to enable them to purchase bicycles. The same craze has begun here, and wheels are as thick as flies. The neat bloomer bicycle costume worn by the ladies if the only thing now left to make wheeling a joy and beauty forever.
70 Years Ago
Hand is head of this body: The body of Idaho state patrolmen which serves the Twin Falls area includes a “hand, leg, foot and shoe. Lt. Clark Hand is in charge of the district. Other officers are Stanley Legg, R.W. Foote and Kenneth Shoe.
60 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Carson Theater — ‘Kiss Me, Stupid,’ with Dean Martin, Kim Novak, Ray Walston.”
Friday
150 Years Ago
Advertisement: “Strawberries — received every morning at the California and Nevada produce market, north of the U.S. Mint — prices declining daily.”
140 Years Ago
Local notes: Vesuvius is again pouring out lava. The old mountain is throwing up to show how it feels over the negotiations between England and Russia.
130 Years Ago
Cyclone: A terrific cyclone has swept over an extensive territory in Iowa. Property has been destroyed and it is feared that the death list will number over 200.
70 Years Ago
Advertisement: “See how little it costs to call long distance — typical rates from Carson City Ely — $1; Austin — .75 cents; Lovelock — 60 cents; Hawthorne — 50 cents. Station to station rate for 3 minutes after 6 p.m. weekdays and all day Sunday. Save time — call by number. Bell Telephone.”
60 Years Ago
Park Terrace in New Empire: A $12 million dollar residential subdivision will be located in the New Empire area at Airport Road and U.S. Highway 50 East with the signing of $750,000 worth of bonds. The first unit of 122 acres will include 239 single family home lots, 71 two to four family lots; 22 apartment type lots, a school and park site of about nine acres and a commercial area of 21 acres. The developers of Park Terrace are Powdrell Enterprises of Carson City and the Dennis-Powdrell Corporation of Sparks.
Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.