Rewrite! News from past issues

Oct. 14, 1899: Will Hunter turned off a fine lot of beef cattle last week, and received a nice little check of about $15,000 in exchange. It pays to raise good beef steers these days.

Oct. 14, 1899: High School Notes: A good deal of damage was done in the laboratory by an explosion last week. The class has recovered from the shock but has no desire for a similar experience. While Halleck was waiting for a rustle he was almost snowed in. To the Public – is there any acid known which will change blue eyes brown? Information will be gladly accepted by H.S. What attractions have the laboratory windows for the busy-bodies at large? A large number attended the lecture last evening. It was highly interesting. — X.Y.Z.

Oct. 13, 1924: Owyhee was visited by considerable of a snow storm, last week, according to J.A. Sewell, well known stockman of that section, who is in the city today. "It snowed for exactly 68 hours without stopping," Mr. Sewell stated, "and in that time piled up seventeen inches of snow on the level. This is regarded as considerable of a storm, in view of the extremely dry conditions of the ground. The snow storm continued down as far as Jack Creek, and from that place on into Elko there was little or no snow along the road," Mr. Sewell states.

Oct. 17, 1924: Judging from the number of hobos who are passing thru Elko at the present time, they are making their annual pilgrimage from the cold eastern states to sunny California. Yesterday, Officer Cotant says a freight train was carrying at least a hundred men, all of whom he refused to allow to stop and sent them on their way westward.

Oct. 15, 1949: Elko high school students are planning their first homecoming celebration. Special invitations are being mailed to all alumni and former students of the Elko high school. A pep rally will be held on the night of November 4 as a start of the homecoming celebration. A homecoming dance will be held in the high school gymnasium. The homecoming queen will be named from photographs to be sent to Bing Crosby. She will be crowned at the dance. Bing consented to select the queen and six candidates will be named by the students of Elko high school. In accepting the task of selecting the Homecoming queen, Bing wrote the following letter: "I'll be happy to cast my most discerning eye over photos of the candidates for Homecoming Queen. Send them to me at 9028 Sunset, Hollywood." Warmest regards, Bing Crosby.

Oct. 15, 1949: Elko can well be termed the "Little Gretna Green of Nevada." Seven couples were standing in line at the county clerk's office this morning awaiting their turn at signing the big book to get marriage licenses. Most of these couples come to Elko from Idaho and Utah.

Oct. 17, 1949: The newly completed Burns Funeral Home has been opened to public inspection by Robley Burns. As a result of the new, modern addition, it is possible to accommodate 250 people at a funeral service. The home is carpeted with a rose-colored carpet while the walls are decorated in soft green and cream colors. Every facility possible has been provided for the accommodation of mourners. Particularly so that they might have complete privacy.

Oct. 17, 1974: Rural fire protection for the approximately three million acres of privately owned land in Elko county is the principal responsibility of 14 volunteer fire departments organized under the leadership of Lowell V. "Lody" Smith, northern area forester stationed in Elko with the Nevada Division of Forestry. Smith explained the 14 separate units have been established as non-profit corporations and provided with fire fighting equipment which is operated by the volunteer members. To illustrate the cooperative organization, Smith cited the example of the Lamoille Volunteer Fire Department, which was the first rural unit he organized after he was assigned to Elko County seven years ago. Smith noted a garage to house a fire truck was erected at Lamoille on ground made available under a long-term lease from the Elko County School District; materials for the building were purchased with Elko County funds; the actual construction was accomplished with volunteer labor donated by residents. The truck itself is a federal military surplus vehicle reconditioned and outfitted for fire fighting.

Oct. 19, 1974: Troop 731 was pleased to have Frank Joe of the Inter-Tribal Council present an hour long talk on Indian lore and Indian history to them on October 10. Joe showed Indian artifacts, including a quiver made from bobcat skin, an ancient knife made from obsidian, several hand made necklaces and moccasins. The girls also joined Joe in a Round Dance. Annette Malotte, a member of the troop, brought her Indian costume, including a shawl belonging to her great grandmother, and armbands and a bustle made of Eagle feathers.

Oct. 16, 1999: A dozen Elko County Boy Scouts donated their time along with 500 other scouts from Nevada and California in restoring a one-mile stretch of trail in Yosemite National Park to its condition nearly 60 years ago. The project, known as the Conclave of the Century, involved clearing underbrush, low-lying branches and removal of non-native plants on the trail. The scouts ended up donating an estimated 2,500 hours in restoring the trail, one of the largest donated efforts to the park in its history. Some Elko Boy Scouts who participated included Mark Koppe Jr., Josh Randall and James Dickenson.

Oct. 16, 1999: Big Kmart celebrated its 100th birthday with a big cake and a visit by Mayor Mike Franzoia this week. Store manager Steve Gackle, who has been a Kmart employee since 1980, made a few remarks in which he said he was proud of his employees and the service the Elko Kmart has provided the community since the store opened here eight years ago. In 1899, S.S. Kresge, founder of S.S. Kresge Co., became full owner of the Big 5 and 10 Cent Store in Detroit. By 1962, the Kresge chain changed its name to Kmart and opened its first Kmart store in Garden City, Mich. Sales that year were $483 million.

Anyone able to identify this week's mystery photo from the Northeastern Nevada Museum's unidentified photo collection can contact the museum at 775-738-3418, ext. 104 or email .

With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history.