Past Pages for Wednesday, May 15, 2013

140 Years Ago

Mint House: An old well of the edge of the sidewalk exists in front of the Mint House. It affords unusual facilities for the drowning or neck breaking of any person, young or old, drunk or sober ... It is the intention of those concerned to place a safe covering over it ... with as little delay as possible in order that accidents may be avoided.

130 Years Ago

All sorts: Undertaker Wright’s new morgue and coffin repository is painted bright yellow and contrasts with the adjoining buildings ... One of the Warren engine boys, who was a little full, mistook it for a fire and wanted to get out the machine. Virginia City has just produced a four-tailed double-bodied dog to beat Jim Townend’s litter of kittens ...

100 Years Ago

Warrens (fire department): Held its election and officers are — A. G. Meyers, President; Fred Kitzmeyer, Vice president; H. Burlington, Treasurer; Frank Meder, Foreman, D. Bliss. A committee was appointed with instructions to make arrangements for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the organization, June 17th. It is the oldest volunteer fire departments in any State in the Union and the oldest in Nevada.

70 Years Ago

Advertisement: “Carson Theatre — ‘Look Who’s Laughing’ with Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Fibber McGee and Molly — They mow you down with laughter. Cartoon and ‘Everybody’s War.’”

50 Years Ago

New Highway Department building: Construction is scheduled to begin in June. The four-story building is to be erected near the south city limits and ready for use in late 1964. A testing lab will also be constructed. Cost of the two buildings $3,000,000, designed to accommodate 400 employees.

30 Years Ago

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission states that underground cavities carved out of rock will be ready to store highly radioactive nuclear waste by the year 2009. Storage sites studied include thick lava flows at Hanford, Washington, salt deposits in New Mexico and volcanic ash at the Nevada Test Site.

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