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Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FRB.2ACI/137
Message Board Post:
Hello,
I contacted Mr. Bill Cook for information on this subject and he suggested I post it here.
He is going to post a picture of the ashtray on the Carson City Website. I would be so
grateful for any help.
I am at wit's end. I ran across your site and thought maybe you could help
with this quandry or maybe point me in the direction of someone who could.
I collect old Nevada Casino Ashtrays. Many sell for thousands of dollars. I
have one from Carson City that has had myself and others tearing our hair
out.
A scan of the ashtray is attached. I showed it to a friend that does
genealogy and he said I might approach it from that standpoint, as the tray
mentions, "Cliff, Newt, and Laura." This tray has to date from somewhere
between mid 40's to maybe late 50's. He thought that maybe a phone directory
might indicate that the three mentioned may have been related, brothers,
brother and sister, husband and wife and that maybe a phone book would make
that correlation.
It is concievable that one or all of these folks could be alive today. I
just keep wondering about them and their "Capital Bar."
Ok, so here is where the fun begins...The point of this inquiry is to
determine rather the Capital had gaming of any kind and then to fill in the
blanks of the places history and possibly figure out who Cliff, Newt, and
Laura were.
But, there are problems and it is somewhat confusing, so I will try and
explain.
The ashtray shows the spelling as, "Capitol", which would seem reasonable,
with CC being the Capitol of Nevada. There is one Casino Poker Chip Guide
that lists both a "Capitol" and a "Capital" Bar. It shows no info for
the
one spelled "Capitol", but suggests it did exist. It lists no address for
either, but does indicate a couple chips have been found from the "Capital
Bar."
The only other reference I have been able to find is in "Harvey Fuller's
Index of Nevada Gaming Establishments by City." It was a 20 year project of
Harvey's to list every gaming license in Nevada from 1931-1991. The one
thing we have to remember about Harvey, is that lots of his notes were on
soggy bar napkins and he was not always the best speller. He lists a
"Capital Bar" at 420 N. Carson and opening in 1948, with no closing date. He
also, lists a "Capital Saloon" at the same address from mid 1954- early
1959. But to confuse matters worse, there is evidence that The Stockman's
Club occupied the same address from 10/01/57 to 4/05/58. I am not sure how
buildings are numbered in CC but it would seem odd that they would have the
same address at the same time frame.
So, I solicit your help. Someone has to know the answer to this. Were there
actually two Capital-Capitol Bars, or is this a simple spelling error that
has created the confusion, and there was only one joint, just spelled two
ways?
Then, I sit and wonder about Cliff, Newt, and Laura...Was it a good
experience, what kind of people were they. Then ultimately if one or all of
them were still alive, what a thrill it would be to have the chance to talk
with them.
If there is anyone you could point me to I would be so grateful. Maybe it
will just come down to going to Carson City, ashtray in hand and looking for
older folks that may hold the answer in their memory. I have called a number
of places in CC and nothing but dead ends. Talked to one gentleman that
apparently still writes for the newspaper. He said back then he was into
"Gambling, Whiskey and Hookers." Said, he didn't pay much attention to how
things were spelled or where they were at. Oh, well...
Thanks so much,
Mark Englebretson
2841 West C Street
Torrington, WY 82240
mark(a)communicomm.com
1-307-534-2043, call collect if you wish.