The historic, developmental days of Sparks were valued by an
inspired member of the church. Oliver Hansen took an interest in recording his
memories as well as memories of those whom he associated. He often referred to
the early pioneers during Boy Scout functions as well as sacrament meetings. Many
of those who sat in the audience listening to his presentations asked for his
notes, which he obliged. Fortunately, some of the notes, memories and mementos
he copied for people were kept. Oliver came to Sparks as a youth in 1926.
Old
Sparks
By Oliver Hansen
Information given at a pack meeting,
Den #3, Pack 24 on
March 27, 1987 in Sparks, Nevada,
Prater Way Chapel.
Heating
“At the beginning, Sparks homes were heated by wood and coal
burning stoves. I can’t recall any other ways until the 1940’s when oil was
used. Coal and wood were delivered by horses and wagons. Later trucks were
used. Houses had coal and wood sheds in the back yards. Recently, I drove
around the area of the little old Sparks town between B Street and Prater Way,
and between First Street and 17th Street and saw a number of these
old sheds still remaining.”
“I remember deer hunting up high in the Sierra Mountains,
west of Reno in 1950 and looking down on Sparks in the early morning. Sparks
was so completely covered by a bluish wood smoke that I could hardly see any of
it. In those days we called it smoke, not smog.”
Schools
“I do not know which school was first in Sparks. However, it might have been the old Robert Mitchell School which was located in the same place as the new Robert Mitchell School.”
“The original Robert Mitchell School was built in 1904. Mr. Mitchell was the architect. I suppose the school received its name from architect Mitchell. Mr. Prater was the first principal. He built a home and lived at 1310 Prater Way. Prater Way was originally named County Road. I don’t recall when it was named Prater after Principal Prater.”
“The old Robert Mitchell School was torn down in 1938 and the new one built.”
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| Robert Mitchell Construction,1940 |
“There is an old brick building on the corner of Pyramid Way
and D Street. It was built in the early days of Sparks and named the Mary Lee
Nichols School. It was abandoned as a school many years ago and is now occupied
by a thrift store.” [Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002
for late 19th, 20th century revivals Mission/Spanish
Colonial Revival architecture]
“The old Kate Smith School was at the corner of 19th
and F. Streets. It has been torn down and a new one erected nearby.”
“When I came here, Sparks High School faced 15th
Street, and was between C and D Streets. Sparks Jr. High was right behind the
high school and faced 14th Street. “Both of these schools have been torn down. The
present day Sparks High School replaced the old high school. At present the
Sparks Municipal Court building occupies the site of these two old schools.
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Old Sparks Junior High School Before Being Torn Down
Firehouses
“I do not know where the first fire house was located. In
1927, the little old fire station was located at the southeast corner of 12th
and C Streets. There were two, quite modern for those days, fire engine trucks.
There was an efficient fire department. Some of the men were paid, some were
volunteers.
Fred Shaber was fire chief.”
“I remember walking north on 15th Street where
the Sparks High School is now located. The road was a little traveled dirt road
that ended at a dairy farm about where Rock Boulevard is now located. To the
east was the big old Sparks City barn which in earlier days had housed the
city’s horses and horse drawn equipment. There were two old fire hose carts. These
carts were pulled to fires by
running men.
“The railroad stockyards were located just south of the track on the
east side of 17th Street. This was a pretty busy place and operation
at this time.”
“The business section of Sparks was almost entirely located on the north
side of B Street extending from about 6th Street to 15th
Street.
“A park of lawn and cottonwood trees extended from 9th to 15th Street on the south side of B Street. A
bandstand was located in the park at about 10th. This park was
enjoyed by many. It was a welcome site of green and beauty to travelers from
across the deserts to the eat – like an oasis. Travel was slow and arduous in
those days. No freeways. The highway, US40 (Lincoln Highway) was completed and
a Transcontinental Highway exposition was held in Reno’s Idlewild Park in 1927.
I attended. Big tents and exhibits. By today’s standards the Lincoln Highway
was just a somewhat poor road.”
“The City Hall was a frame building on C Street. The police and jail were
in this building too. This building was next door, east, of the LDS Sparks
Branch Chapel, address 1017 C Street.”
“A few years ago I asked a Sparks High School student why the school
teams, etc. were known as railroaders. He did not know why. I was amused, but a
bit sad at this answer. Years ago most kids in Sparks had railroad Dads. The
town was a railroad town. Businesses depended on the railroad payroll. People
talked railroading. The term Railroaders at school was a proud word with an
understood meaning.”
Oliver Hansen was an indispensable source of information
regarding the development of the city. He gathered his facts from talking to
ordinary people, influential people, and old timers. He wrote about things that interested him. Perhaps some of those things may not have
been pertinent at
the time, but later became valuable from an historical viewpoint.
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