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Collection: Newspapers > Nevada City Nugget

July 7, 1950 (6 pages)

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Nevada County’s Average Size Fish Displayed in Cullen’s Window —-iad The First Hundred Years Were the Roughest . Subscription, Year $2.50; Single Copy 5c Twenty-Third Year, No. 27 G Y % CAA AY WW CS a Zee KK Wty, Spectators who have witnessed our annual parades for many years say that Tuesday’s mammoth spectacle was the most colorful, varied, and complete that ever passed down Broad street. It was thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated by a capacity crowd which jammed every foot of viewing space along the line of march. A great wreath of credit should rest on the scores of persons who prepared, organized, and directed the .parade. It was a fitting climax to four jam-packed days of celebration. Bets, ehoeus Elmer Stevens’ seven-minute patriotic oration was a masterpiece of timely admonition; because it was timely in a sense of national urgency, it is unfortunate that more celebrants did not pause long enough to heed it. Incidently, Dick Knee selected as theme song on his public address system the popular tango with the line “It’s later than you think 2 . ” An ominous note made striking in a background of revelry. pa Si) 1, peck If you were mystified by the Mr. Bones dance in the marionetteshow: here’s the secret. Bill Steward does it with his teeth. He manipulates with his hands the strings which give the puppets action. Two sets of strings run through the skeleton’s bones, one, attached to rings at the joints. By pulling up this second set of strings with his teeth, Steward can simulate two sets of bones dancing in midair. There now, simple, isn’t it. Or is it? ary 7 hee As the celebration opened, Nevada City received a lot of outside publicity regarding Chief of Police Max Solaro’s attempt to close up the gambling joints. From all reports, he might as well have saved his breath. Max is undoubtedly earnest and competent but there was every evidence that an authority higher than his eased the situation for the operators. In two recent elections, municipal and county, where there was an undercurrent of controversy around the gambling issue, the voters showed unmistakably that they do not want gambling as an integral part of community life. Apparently final authority in Ne. vada City is still. deaf to that mandate. Can open gambling in the hands of imported professional dealers be condoned or encouraged just because we have an excellent. opportunity to gouge tHose guests who prefer to be suckers? coi Riis Nevada City’s main streets are ideally constructed to induce a carnival air. The streets in the evenings were packed with folks renewing old friendships, visiting, and just having a go time. It was this spirit of sustateted fantasy which made it possible to string out the celebration’ for four days; a feat which would be impossible in less favored towns. ‘The splendid. pioneer exhibits in show. windows on Broad and Commercial were. immensely popular with visitors, helped to carry. out the centennial theme realistically. M—— ¥ A long dose of. super-heated { weather which landed astraddle our celebration didn’t seem to reduce enthusiasm. It is probable that fiercer heat elsewhere may Jhave accounted for the record crowd of over 20,000 which*lined (Continued on page six) ‘ny Baker as the young: George . 20.000 ATTEND NC PARADE AND CELEBRATION Tradition keynoted the fpurday Nevada City Fourth of July Centennial Celebration that-officials estimated was witnessed and participated in by about 20,000 persons. ahesr Police Chief Max Solaro woke everyone up at dawn Tuesday with 13 bone-rattling blasts of dynamite from the top of Sugar Loaf Tuesday morning. The climax of the four-day celebration was the big parade on Tuesday morning, and it fulfilled all tradition from its grand marshall, Goddess of Liberty, floats, and firemen te the mounted units. Elmer Stevens, orator of the day in 1915 at the age of six, was orator of the day this year, delivering a speech based on an 1866 speech of Aaron A. Sargent, Nevada county pioneer great. The traditional water fight between the fire departments of Nevada City and Grass Valley ended in the traditional draw and the , traditional soaking of the nearest spectators. The tradition of square and folk dancing was beautifully and gracefully demonstrated by the Nuggeteers, Goldancers and the Rough and Ready Square Dance club at several performances in the life of the celebration. Athletics had its share in the celebration with ring sports at the Pine street stadium in front of the Elks hall and a_ baseball game at Pioneer park where the gentlemen from Grass_ Valley whipped the ruffians from Nevada City 6-5 in ten innings. Frank Stewart with his variety show, and Verle Gray with a water pageant kept the evening hours enlivened for the milling throng. Band concerts and a featured concert by the Grass Valley. Miners Chorus added to the evening enjoyment. Ray Spickelmier, president of the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, was chairman of the general committee. Carl J. Tobiassen was parade chairman. I. C. Bell was in charge of the coaster derby, and Dick Knee kept the crowd well informed with his efficient sound system. Ronnie Tobiassen, 9 year old son of Supervisor and Mrs: Carl Tobiassen was marshalof the junior parade Saturday and when the kids parade was integrated into Tuesday’s parade, he led the long procession down Broad on his pony, bearing in his hand the stars and stripes. Elza Kilroy, marshal of the parade, led the adult divisions on a white horse. The marshal was resplendent in white and wore a feathered cockade and sash. Sierra Chapter of the Gold Star Mothers rode in a car and were followed by the colors escorted by the .American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Boy Scouts. The officers of the day, Spickelmier, Robert Paine, and Stevens, were followed by Thomas H. Taylor, mayor of Nevada City, and county officials. The Nevada City high school band, fronted by high-stepping majorettes: provided the first of music-playing -units. Miss Wanda Stinson, as the Goddess of Liberty, dressed in a simple white drape robe gathered with a golden rope, was a beautiful personification of the queen of the:day. The Nevada City Soroptimist club did themselves proud in the float they prepared to bear the goddess on her tour. The magnificent float was a perfect setting as,a vehicle for the handsome goddess. The Rotary club featured KenWashington cutting down the cherry tree. The Young America float was followed by the Redmen, with Judge George Washington Gildersleeve reading the Declaration of Independence in an American Revolution scene. The Rebekah lodge float was followed by the Nevada County Historical Society depicting Doc: Buffington and George Hargrave washing gold in one float and E. (Continued on page six) ‘lake and warned that action will -anyone found trespassing on the Nevada City (Nevada County) California, July 7, 1950 TOBIASSEN FAMILY DOMINATES HOLIDAY You can say the Tobiassen family, was evident at the Fourth of July Centennial Celebration. Papa Tobiassen, Carl J., that is, for 12 years sheriff of Nevada county and current supervisor of the first district, was chairman of the parade committee and was responsible for arranging and.assigning places in the big parade. Mrs. Tobiassen participated in the parade,.riding in the shining convertible that is the current automobile: of Davey Tobiassen. Mrs. Tobiassen was a representative of Sierra Chapter, Gold Star Mothers. Davey, in addition to furnishing the vehicle for the Gold Star Mothers, participated in the boxing and wrestling shows staged by his bigger brother, Elton. Elton also participated in the boxing show. Bill Tobiassen made himself generally useful around the celebration, supplying a spot of music here and there, and serving as escort for the Goddess of Liberty—Miss Wanda Stinson, who is Bill’s. fiancee. \ Ronnie, nine. years old, was marshal of the children’s parade beth on Saturday and ‘Tuesday. ; Heé.was resplendent in.patriotic colors astride his pony. And the younger generation got into the act. Patricia, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs.’ Elton Tobiassen, participated in the children’s parade. Hearkening to e whirring wings of the stork, Mrs. Mildred Music, daughter of,the family, confined her particigation to being a spectator. LIONS CLUB OFFICERS — INSTALLED WEDNESDAY Stanley Wright was installed president of the Nevada City Lions club Wednesday night at the Deer Creek Inn. Robert Jefford, international counselor, was installing officer. Other officers installed were Cliff Jacobsen, first vice president; Onda Smith, second vice president; Allen Clapp, secretary; . William Mullis; treasurer; Kenneth Zurflueh, Tail Twister; Gordon Lawlor, Lion Tamer; Grady Campbell and Dr. Walter Mullis, directors. The Lions club is sponsoring an old-time dance tomorrow night, and instruction will be given by the Goldancers. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Farmer of San Luis Obispo, and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Harmon of Kansas City were guests at Wednesday’s gettogether. ALISON SIMMONS DIES SUDDENLY ON FOURTH Alison Simmons, 45, former mayor of Grass Valley and bank official in Grass Valley, died of a heart attack Tuesday evening. Simmons retired last year as mayor after serving four years. He was born in Tombstone, Ariz., but grew.up and was educated in Grass Valley. »» He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Dorothy Jean; mother, Mrs. Emma Simmons; and brother, Arlon, all of Grass Valley:
Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2 o’clock“In the Hooper-Weaver mortuary, Grass Valley, with Rev. Donald Getty, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating. Masonic rites will also be observed. Interment will be in the Masonic cemetery. No swimming will be permitted in Lake Olympia swimming, pool according to a warning released this week by Thomas: Barrett, Nevada county probation officer. Barrett said the place has been fenced and ‘posted as the water has been declared polluted and unfit for swimming, Barrett stated he has caught several youths swimming at the be taken in the future against . COFFEY DIES property. GAMBLING RUNS WIDE OPEN. FOR CELEBRATION Gambling ;was wide open in Nevada City during the four days of its Centennnial Celebration on Saturday, Sunday, Moonday and Tuesday. The gambling continued despite two orders by Chief of Police Max Solaro that it be stopped. The second order Tuesday afternoon succeeded in closing all blackjack, dice tables and chuck-a-luck games, but slot machines continued _to operate for what little time remained in the celebration. The city police made investigations to see if gambling operations were. being conducted. The tables and machines took recesses during those periods. Most businessmen who had the gambling devices in operation stated they were locally operated and local dealers were hired. One house imported professional dealers and operators for a 30 percent cut of the take. There was some dishonest dealing spotted during the games and one blackjack dealer had a phenomenal streak of ITuck—running himself twenty straight unbeatable hands. The gambling and its attendant publicity in the metropolitan press and on the radio undoubtedly accounted for part of the record-breaking crowd here during the celebration. SUPERVISORS REJECT PERSONNEL SURVEY THAT COST $1,200 After authorizing a personnel survey of Nevada coumty jobs and salaries that cost $1,200 to execute, the Nevada coumty board of supervisors rejected it im its entirety three to one Wednesday afternoon. Frank Rowe was the only supervisor presemt who endorsed the survey with his vote. Supervisors Carl J. Tobiassen, J. C. Coughlan and arren Odell voted against adoption. Henry G. Loehr was not in attendance. The board did authorize Recorder John Nettell to include $6,000 in his new budget to purchase a photo-recording machine. The board will meet again on Monday as a board of equalization. WELFARE DEPARTMENT BACK IN COURTHOUSE Nevada county welfare department is once more located in the courthouse, folowing completion of transfer of :records, equipment and personnel Friday. Nevada county assumed financial responsibility of the -aged and assistancé program beginning with the new fiscal year last Saturday. The entire staff of the welfare! department is located im _ offices' on the second floor of the courthouse. ._Tthe Commercial street location was abandoned in am economy move by the board of supervisors. George Lowry is welfare director. MRS. ADELINE CONNERVERY ILL IN HOSPITAL For the first time in many years Mrs. Adeline Merriam Conner’s’ column “Just Wonderin’”’ does not appear in The Nugget. Mrs. Conner is seriously ill in the. Nevada county hospital where she was admitted Wednesday. Fred Conner, her husband, said very little hope is held for her recovery. George W. Coffee, 55, mative of Nevada City, and. chairman and president of Pacific Tim Consolidated corporation since 1945, died Tuesday of a heart attack at his home in New York. HANS RONNINGEN AND BOB DANOS . COASTER CHAMPS Bob Danos, 13, won the junior championship and Hans Ronningen, I5, took top honors as senior champion <in the final heats of the Dynamite Box derby Tuesday, held on Broad street as part of the Fourth of July Centennial Celebration: Young Ronningen, driving a sleek hard-whteeled coaster sponsored by G & H Pharmacy, made the besttime of the three-day derby when he flashed down the Broad street course in 46 seconds.Young Danos, driving an allgreen coaster with conventional soft wheels, made the best time of 60 seconds in his last race. He raced for the Grass Valley Union, nosing out freckle-faced Joe Merkey, The Nugget driver, by two seconds. _ I. C. Bell, chairman of the derby, awarded $105 in. cash to first and second place winners in the seven heats in the Monday races. The presentation was made formaily at the variety show on Monday evening. No cash was awarded in the final three heats for selection of the champion on i Tuesday afternoon. Boys who each won $10 as winners of their heats in the Monday semi-finals were: Joe Merkel, Nevada City Nugget; Paul Penrose, Haddy’s Service Station; Bob Danos, Grass Valley Union; David Mott, Berliner & McGinnis; Jack Steinhoff, Bob Tamblyn’s Agency; Bud Seeburg, News and Novelty; and Hans Ronningen, G & H Pharmacy. Drivers winning second place money of $5 each were Kenneth Jenkins, Hansen’s Paint Store; Jimmy Dicheare, The Hut; Bobbie .Tonella, Grass Valley Ford Agency; Neil Jenkins, the Bottle Shop; David Tonella, Success Cafe; Jimmy Williams, Bret Harte No. 1; and Wally Brooks, Arch’s Service Station. The fourteen boys who won Places out of the 38 original starters were. featured in the three heats Tuesday. Bob Danos and Joe Merkel] were first and second in the first heat, David Tonella and Jimmy Williams were one-two inthe second and Hans Ronningen and Wally Brooks flashed down to the finish in the final race. It was estimated that Nevada City merchants who sponsored the racers had’spent over $660 on the first coaster derby to be held here as part of the annual celebration. Three. days of racing opened Saturday afternoon with the 38 boys racing in pairs against time. It was during this series that weaknesses were quickly discovered, allowing drivers to make minor repairs on their homemade. vehicles before-the sem1finals Monday. were in minor crashes or wabbled out of competition, three came to complete stops enroute, and one “clipped” an intoxicated pedestrian in a spectacular crash. A bystander reported that the ; uninjured but jolted pedestrian picked himself up without losing ta drop. Monday and Tuesday Ike Bell jeeped the boys up Broad street from the Plaza to the Methodist church, each heat being towed slowly on a long ropé: Michel Lipman was starter, Al Woods was chief timer and Wilson McKenney was clerk. Bob Tamblyn and Ken Wray worked the mikes. Howard Smith and Stanley Horn-: berger relayed information between the top a bottom of the hill via walkie-talkies. VARIETY: SHOWS MAY CONTINUE IN SUMMER Continuance: of the: «variety shows: that made.such hits during the. Fourth. of: July Centennial Celebration, may be continued: on an. every two weeks .basis during the: summer, according to Frank Stewart;: who'emceed the shows. ~ Stewart :said:.the program will be: sponsored) by the. Nevada City } Junior. Chamber of Commerce, . and. merchants; and would be held on Pine street. _ Stewart said.Jerry Austin: has volunteered.-to donate music for} J one of the programs of the series. Five coasters ' AMERICA MUST FULFILL DESTIN SAYS SPEAKER “This generation must fulfill its destiny or perish in the pages of history,’ declared Elmer Stevens, orator of. the day for the patriotic exercises held in Nevada City on Tuesday, July 4, as a’ part of the Centennial Celebration. Stevens, history and speech instructor of Grass Valley high school, a native born resident of the county, and an orator of repute since he delivered the 1915 Fourth of July speech at:the age of six years, gave a masterful. speech, that was excellently delivered. Stevens based his speech on one delivered July 4, 1866, by Aaron A. Sargent, one of Nevada county’s first leading citizens. Stevens’ speech was preceded by the reading of excerpts from the Declaration of Independence by his 15-year-old son, Jan, and the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Mrs. Lynn Bates of Grass Valley. They were: introduced by Robert Paine, chairman of the patriotic observances committee. Paine briefly touched on cooperation betwéen Nevada City and Grass Valley contributed a major part toward the success of the celebration. ‘Paine also pointed out that the words that were sung by Mrs. Bates, read by Jan” Stevens, and delivered by Elmer Stevens; although a century or (continued on page 2) ASSESSED VALUATION OF COUNTY IS HIGHER Nevada county’s assessed valuation climbed nearly one million dollars the past fiscal year, according to figures released Wednesday by Assessor Philip Scadden. The increase is $969,166. Scadden and his staff assessed the county at $25,181,090 for 1950 compared to $24,211,930 in 1949. Scadden turned the assessment rolls over to the board of supervisors Wednesday. The board will meet Monday, July 10 and Monday, July 17, as a board of equalization to hear protests against. assessments. Assessed value of Nevada City in 1950, according to Scadden, is $1,559,650. Grass Valley is assessed at $3,210,410. NO GUESTS IN HOTEL DE CLINK OVER HOLIDAY Police Chief .Max Solaro was:.a. very unhospitable host over. the four-day holiday celebration of Nevada City’s Centennial. He didn’t have a guest in his Hotel de Clink.. Solaro said he didn’t even, get a report on any fist-fights beyond a few preliminary swiping of. the air by stews that didn’t develop into body contact. The only: damage reported during the celebration were two ‘broken window panes at Flindt’s jewelry. shop on Commercial that was caused by. an exploding firecracker. BURNS 8 ACRES ON 4TH A Fourth of July fire burned eight acres of cut-over timber in the Grizzly creek area northeast . © of Columbia before it wa. . .der — control by late afternoon. ' A crew, of about fifty men re-. cruited’ from holidaying men. im »_ Nevada City’ fought the fire at — its peak. The alarm was soundéd about 10 a.m., just about the time the: big parade got underway: Weather : Fred Bush, observer ‘ReBassay