NHS Artown Talks – On The GO! (off-site, NSW) Sat. July 19

NHS Artown Talks – On The GO!

Program Schedule
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Discover this year’s NHS Artown – On the GO! talks.

The Nevada Historical Society’s building may be closed for an exciting remodel, but you can still enjoy these fascinating lectures at the Nevada Sunset Winery during the closure. NHS Artown Talks – On The GO! Series is their Artown summer program that delves into Nevada and Reno history. Make sure to visit Nevada Sunset Winery every Saturday in July to spark your interest in the captivating past of Reno and Nevada with eight engaging programs that are geared towards audiences of all ages. A FREE Artown event!

1-2 pm Fighting Fire with Fire, Steve Frady, historian
2-2:30pm Break, switching speakers
2:30-3:30 pm The Reno You Know, Steve Ellison creator and host

Young America No. 2 Silsby Steamer

1-2pm
Fighting Fire with Fire
Steve Frady, historian and author

Marked by gleaming brass and nickel, the mechanical monsters belched great columns of smoke from the fire in their bellies with parts moving in constant mesmerizing motion. These were the steam fire engines of the Gold Hill and Virginia Fire Departments, a new technological advancement that set the standard for other Nevada fire departments and gave the Comstock’s men in the red shirts and leather helmets an

Steve Frady

advantage over the “Fire beast,” most of the time.

Historian and author Steve Frady started his career in the fire service as a member of the University Fire Department at Cal Poly at Pomona, where he graduated with a BS Degree in Journalism. He is the retired police and fire public information officer for the City of Reno, and former editor of the Nevada Appeal. He is an exempt member of the Virginia City Fire Department, where he served 10 years as chief and was involved in researching and restoring historic Virginia City and Gold Hill firefighting equipment. He is a founding trustee and past vice chairman of the Virginia City Comstock Firemen’s Museum and the author of Red Shirts and Leather Helmets: Volunteer Firefighting on the Comstock Lode, published by UNR, and Where Duty Calls: The Story of Warren Engine Co. No. 1 and the Carson City Fire Department. He served as a deputy Nevada state fire marshal, as chief of prevention and enforcement with the Nevada Division of Forestry and is an exempt member of Warren Engine Co. No. 1, where he served as second assistant chief.

2:30-3:30pm
Get To Know…  The Reno You Know!
Steve Ellison, creator & host, historian

Sharing the history of Reno and Northern Nevada with the world!   Steve Ellison, proprietor of the YouTube channel “The Reno You Know” will talk about the

Steve Ellison

channel’s creation and some backstory on several existing and upcoming episodes.

Steve is a 38-year-old resident of The Biggest Little City and has been endlessly fascinated with the historical aspects that make this little corner of the world unique.  He is a graduate of the University of California – Riverside, a PPA Master Photographer, a Certified Cicerone (beer sommelier), former board member of the Historic Reno Preservation Society, and he completed a full-length documentary on Harolds Club in 2015.

Learn more about the history of this Reno YouTube Channel, Video link: https://www.youtube.com/@SteveTRYK

We would like to thank our community partner, Nevada Sunset Winery for hosting our lecture series. Nevada Sunset Winery is located at 415 East 4th Street, Unit B, Reno, NV 89512.