The Boys and Girls of Summer

In the late spring of 1910, while the city fathers and business leaders mopped up after a fire and quickly put the town back together again, what were the young adults up to?

Even in those early days, the local newspapers ran what we could call gossip columns. They are great fun to read. They chronicle trips to Reno to shop; visits to a doctor; the recovery from measles or appendicitis or a fall; the purchase of a bicycle; the details of winning or losing a card game—nothing was too trivial to print. This is where to look to find the adventures of the young.

I’ll share one of my favorite items of this nature. It evokes the essence of a lazy day in the Lahontan Valley, spent by youths doing what youths did before automobiles were common and television sets, let alone cellphones, were nonexistent.

On Sunday last, a crowd of Fallon’s younger set formed an equestrian party and repaired to the region around Soda Lake in search of sport and adventure. Failing of adventure, their efforts in the line of pleasure and sport were rewarded in good measure and a very enjoyable day was passed. After a lunch on the edge of the lake, athletic games were in order, and many championships were decided, chief among which was the blue ribbon for premier horseshoe hurler, which fell to one James J. Johnson, before whose indomitable pluck and perseverance the effort of all others were as naught. Repairing homeward in the late afternoon so that the latter end of the ride was finished in the glorious Nevada moonlight, the day was brought to a fitting close by a banquet at the Overland, where a very delectable feast was enjoyed. Those composing the party were Misses Allen, Williams, Ruff and Whipp, and Messrs. Clancy, Post, Marean and Albert and James Johnson (Churchill County Standard, September 29, 1910).

It sounds so idyllic. So do the reports about summer baseball. Teams of young men were organized in Fallon as well as in Stillwater. The two teams were great rivals, and both sponsored dances to raise funds for uniforms and equipment. Churchill County Standard, May 12, 1910. “The baseball benefit dance given by the ball boys [Fallon’s team] Saturday evening was a success. Preparations are being made for a big game with either Reno or Lovelock and the local grounds are being made spick and span.”

Not to be outdone were the Stillwater boys.

Churchill County Standard, May 19, 1910: “The Stillwaterites will give a dance Saturday evening, the proceeds of which will go towards equipping the community’s baseball team. The residents of the county’s former seat of government are quite proud of the ball playing prowess of their lads.”

Churchill County Standard, May 26, 1910: (The editor of the Churchill County Standard did not hide his loyalty to the Fallon boys.): “A large crowd of Fallon young folks made the journey to Stillwater Sunday to see our team trounce the lads who live at Stillwater, on the baseball diamond, to the tune of 19-7. The game was hugely enjoyed by those present.”

The same edition carried the news that all the dancing had paid off. “The baseball boys received handsome suits and other equipment for the diamond Friday, and when they next appear on the baseball battlefield, they will, for a while at least, present quite a nobby appearance. The boys will travel to Reno on Sunday, June 5, and will give the first team there a try for first honors. Quite a number of the local fans are planning to accompany the home team to Reno.”

Did they travel by rail via Hazen? Did they pool the small fleet of autos then owned by local townsfolk? The paper is silent on that topic, but my sense is that those were delightful times to be young in Fallon.

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