The most striking events (famous or infamous) of our past in the U.S. usually made the headlines in newspapers or other recorded documents. The newspaper that we read today is a reflection of who we are, where we've been and where we're going.
So with that said, what made John "Snowshoe" Thompson so famous? Let's see. He was a mail carrier in the mid-1800s. OK, now what? He carried the mail across the Sierras starting in Genoa all the way to Placerville - on snow shoes, hence the name. (It was rumored that he was never paid by the U.S. government for his services.)
On his way to and from Placerville, he saved some stranded peoples' lives along the way.
And he was an avid skier!
Help me, please, what set this man apart from the rest of his peers?
Does he really deserve a statue in front of the Squaw Valley ski resort?
Does he really deserve a $50,000 statue in the town of Genoa where he is reportedly buried?
John "Snowshoe" Thompson was a great skier because of his Nordic heritage. He was not, I repeat, he was not born in the U.S. Mr. Thompson was born in Norway. In Norway, a person does two things; breathe and ski. (This same logic applies to Kenyans who always win the Boston and New York marathons.)
Now, who in the world is Ben Palmer? There is very little history about Mr. Palmer in Carson Valley. He is not even mentioned in the history books in school nor is there a historical marker where his barn stood for over 100 years. (It was recently torn down by the owner. What a shame!)
Mr. Palmer was both a rancher (still a coveted profession in Douglas County) and a landowner. He herded cattle up and down the valley and was considered one of the most prominent residents of his day, which was around 1870, a mere five years after the Civil War.
So, again, what was so special about Ben Palmer? Ben Palmer was African American!
So, you be the judge. Who is the REAL outstanding historical figure in Northern Nevada history?
QUINCY HARRIS
Carson Valley
