By Bill Roberts

Goldfield Days this year will feature a wide range of activities that should be favorable to any individual’s interests.

Historical presentations will be at the forefront of the three-day event, Aug. 17-19.

The “Last Wells Fargo Strongbox Robbery” will be sponsored by the Goldfield Historical Society along with two other presentations by Frank Adams, a native Nevadan and 42-year veteran of Nevada Law enforcement.

“It happened on June 13, 1908 on the road between Schurz and Rawhide,” according to a historical society spokesman.

“Two men armed with revolvers jumped from behind a rock and shouted ‘hands up’ to the driver and passengers of the Day and Kano stagecoach. They demanded the strongbox that belonged to Wells Fargo and Co.”

For the rest of the story, you will have to hear Adams’ presentation.

He serves on the board of directors of the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commission and the Silver State Police Officers Museum.

On Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Adams will present “The Origin of the Nevada State Police,” a look into the Goldfield labor strife of 1907 which led to Nevada’s organization of a state constabulary.

Saturday, from noon to 2 p.m., he will present “The Rawhide Stagecoach Robbery of 1908.” The case was tried in the Esmeralda County Courthouse in Goldfield.

In recent years, new research has revealed some interesting facts about this little known but historic robbery, according to a historical society spokesman, and Adam’s presentation will discuss this new information.

He will next present “The Earp Family in Nevada.”

“There are many myths and tall tales on the Earps in the Silver State. But fact is they were in both Tonopah and Goldfield, if only for a very short time,” according to the historical society.

Adams’ presentations will be in the courtroom of the Esmeralda County Courthouse.

Goldfield also will be host to its yearly “historic bus tours” under the guidance of Allen Metscher, president of the Central Nevada Historical Society and Goldfield resident.

Tours will begin at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in front of the John Cook bank building on Columbia.

The celebration parade will be at 9 a.m. on Saturday and the long list of activities include the county land auction see separate story in this week’s edition , the opening of several historical buildings to visitors, bed races, children’s activities, beer garden, food vendors, poker walk, car show, pie eating contest, root beer drinking and miners’ liars contest.

Sunday will include the announcement of winners in various drawings being held throughout the weekend, pet parade and the repetition of several Saturday activities.

The Goldfield High School restoration project will host a “paranormal tour” on Saturday at 9 p.m. Details are available from Dominic Papallardo at 775-485-6333.

Information on other chamber sponsored events is available by calling 775-485-3700.

An “antique bottle show” is planned on Saturday featuring noted bottle collector and speaker Bob Ferraro.

It will begin at 1:30 p.m. at The Palace at the corner of Crook and Sundog.

Exhibits will feature bottles from Goldfield, Tonopah and Beatty and Ferraro will offer free evaluations of bottles.

More information on this event is available by calling Randy Main at 800-352-1773.

Because of very limited local accommodations, chamber officials are emphasizing camping availability in the area.

A number of bands have been contacted to participate in the festivities. A special stage backed up by “a school bus with two cars erect” will be one performance site and events also will be held at a downtown stage.

Other details may be obtained by calling Chad Sorg at 775-485-3246.