Past Pages

153 years Ago

Carson City, Nevada Territory, July 1860: Advertisement: “St. Charles Hotel, corner Carson and King Streets, Carson City, Utah. The undersigned beg leave to inform the public that they still hold forth at the above well-known Hotel and Restaurant and are prepared to entertain those who entrust their keeping to them in a style not surpassed on this side of the Mountains ... L. Arpin, V. Bick & Co. Proprietors ... ” (Territorial Enterprise)

140 Years Ago

Sleeping coach: H. M. Yerington, general superintendent of the V & T Railroad, is making efforts to procure a sleeping coach. The sleeper will not be used between Virginia City and Carson, owing to the heavy grades and short curves ... It will leave Carson for San Francisco and passengers will be able to get a good night’s rest as the train will not arrive at Carson until 4 o’clock in the morning ...

130 Years Ago

Peck’s Bad Boy: Johnny McGinnis lives on King Street. Several days ago, Mrs. McGinnis started to give her seven-year-old daughter a bath. She was horrified at discovering the young lady was covered all over with crocodiles, fish, rare animals and Egyptian ibexes, painted on in lasting colors. The little girl said that her brother Johnny had painted her to give her a chance to go away with the circus ...

120 Years Ago

Painful accident: John O’Brien, aged 17, boiler maker at the V & T shops came home with his lips badly cut, his nose and bruises on his head, arms and hands. The boy says he got on the switch engine and stepped off and started up the track, walking on one rail. After that he remembers nothing ... He found himself on the sofa at his home over three hours later ...

70 Years Ago

Coffee: A Carson City lady had little faith in rumors based on hints from official sources. She prepared for a trip to California and included a glass container of coffee to insure a satisfactory supply. By the time she reached her destination, the rationing of coffee had ceased ...

50 Years Ago

Engine 27: The firebox of an engine will run again during Nevada’s centennial year according to the Nevada Heritage Association. A spokesman said the engine tender and two cars will be restored ...

30 Years Ago

Celebration of the publication of “The Silver Short Line,” a history of the V & T Railroad, took place in Virginia City. Authors Ed Wurm and Harre W. Demoro autographed copies while the restored V & T traveled through the Comstock Lode mining area ...

Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.