Submitted by Karl Breckenridge
I offer this information today primarily because I foolishly told the world that two buddies of mine – Larry Champagne and Don Hartman – got into a Facebook thrust-and-parry conversation about their dad’s and family members’ service as engineers for the Mighty SP Railroad.
It was so good and informative – about the old, but not ancient days, of railroading – I requested their permission to reprint their comments here in a This is Reno quarantine post. They granted the permission, and sent me their photos and I went to town to craft a column about the bygone days of Wendell, Mina, Luning, Flanagan, Modoc and the Overland Line. And others.
Larry’s dad highballed the golden days of the narrow-gauge once-Carson-Colorado line for the SP down to Laws and Keeler, south of Bridgeport, Larry speculated that time period to be c. 1960 (“c.” is a great tool for columnists and retired dentists; loosely translating to “I don’t know either but I think it was about 1960”).
(By the way, should a reader survive the pandemic and drive southward on 395 and arrive in Bishop with a moment or two to spare, Laws – just on the northern limits of Bishop – has a great railroad museum – mostly outdoors, grassy with little houses, a very pleasant way to end your journey before a pre-dinner cocktail and the best steak in Bishop, if not California, at the Bishop bowling alley! You’re welcome…)
Anyway, I’m hitting the high points of these two friends’ posts back-and-forth, for which I sought and received their permission to bring to y’all. I told them that they were starring in this show of Day 24’s column. I got up early and made my coffee and sat down to cut-and-paste their comments into a column for your enjoyment.
But – the best-laid plan of this scribe once again ain’t gonna happen. Facebook saw me coming and prevents such re-use of their comments. Digitally – the normal cut-and- pasting doesn’t work. To which I can only say – sorry ‘bout that, Don, Larry and the readership. What you just read is the “steak” of the thought – their words brought the “sizzle.”
I will, in place of that text I couldn’t steal, heartily endorse a visit by you and yours to the Sparks Heritage Museum, where much of the above text, and so much more, comes alive in maps and photos, thanks to a ton of work by the museum’s staff and volunteers.
And having concluded about ten percent of what I wanted to accomplish, I bid you on behalf of This is Reno, a fond farewell until again we convene Thursday morning! And, of course, be safe, huh?
Submitted opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of This Is Reno. Have something to say? Submit an opinion article or letter to the editor here.
Karl Breckenridge
Karl Breckenridge was slowly going nuts. So he decided to help out This is Reno by writing a daily out-of-his-mind column for the duration of the coronavirus shutdown. Now that it’s over he’s back to his usual antics, drinking coffee with the boys at the Bear and, well, we’re not sure what else. But he loved sharing his daily musings with you, so he’s back, albeit a little less often, to keep on sharing. Karl grew up in the valley and has stories from the area going back to 1945. He’s been writing for 32 years locally.
Read more from Karl Breckenridge
Cheers 4 – the Lear steam bus
The latest news on the Lear Theater has Karl remembering some of the Lear’s other projects, including a steam-powered bus.
Cheers 3 – the groceries II
Karl did not limit his column to ten items or less, so get out of the express line to read this history of Reno grocery markets.
Cheers 2 – the groceries I
Karl got a little distracted this week, starting off with a list of Reno’s great groceries of yesterday then slipping on some ice.
Cheers 1 – Of wine and Little Italy
Karl is back, making us all wonder why we didn’t spend more time during stay-at-home orders pressing grapes into homemade wine.
Day 75 – Karl’s retired to the Bear
From the get-go our pal Karl said he’d write “a short squib on a daily basis – nothing political, nothing controversial,” well, except for that one column.
Day 74 – the Truckee’s picturesque islands (updated)
Karl’s pal Jody shares the rich history of bootlegging, decorating, and engineering within the confines of the Truckee River’s banks and its picturesque islands.
Day 72 – Hobos, tigers and leprechauns
Karl recollects the series of eateries that drew diners to the corner of Virginia Street and Gentry Way for several decades.
Day 70 & 71 – in Flanders Fields
Karl shares a poem by John McCrae to mark Memorial Day.
Day 69 – The Nugget shark: John meets Jaws
Karl was talking about baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, long before the kids these days had ever been born.
Day 67 – What I like about Reno High
Karl, er, Carmine Ghia, writes an end-of-school-year essay to turn in to Mrs. Lehners about everything he likes about Reno High School.
Day 67 – 25 Bret Harte
Karl saddles up and heads to Newlands Manor where Western movies star Reno Browne grew up, and Lash Larue paid a visit or two.
Day 66 – Out for dinner we go
Karl goes out to eat at the El Tavern Motel, a truck stop outside the Reno city limits on the Lincoln Highway.
Day 65 – Dawn Bunker
Karl is back in action with a fresh story of which students of Mrs. Bunker’s class at Jessie Beck Elementary School still won’t spill the beans.
Day 64 – abducted
Karl Breckenridge called in to This Is Reno editors this morning with a hands-in-the-air, what-can-I-do sense of resignation.
Day 63 – Wedding chapels
Karl’s enjoying coffee with pals at the Bear, so today Jody stands at the altar to share the history of Reno’s wedding chapel industry.
Day 62 – the mansion at 2301 Lakeside Drive
Karl’s 7-year-old alter ego rides his bike down to Virginia Lake to explore the Hancock Mansion, a nifty home complete with a bomb shelter, sunroof and doll collection.
Day 61 – Basque hotels
Karl wanders back in time to 1960, a time when multiple Basque hotels served up minestrone soup, English lessons, banking, and accommodations.
Day 60 – the bygone Greyhound terminal
Karl’s synapses are firing today after hearing mention of Reno’s Greyhound bus terminal on Stevenson Street, now razed.
Day 59 – Don’t tell Mom
Karl rewinds to Mother’s Day to share a story from the archive about Grandpas without a Clue and another ragtop adventure, by reader demand.
Day 58 – School stuff
Karl considers the value of a school name as the WCSD moves to rename one of the area’s older remaining schools and open a new one.
Day 57 – Pedalin’ around Vine Street
Karl rides his bike through history, remembering some of the places and people that helped to build Reno into the city it is today.
