Transcript of interview with Lawrence Hadland by Lorraine Owens, February 2, 1979

UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 1 An Interview with Lawrence Hadland An Oral History Conducted by Lorraine Owens Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas Special Collections and Archives Oral History Research Center University Libraries University of Nevada, Las Vegas UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 2 © Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2018 UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 3 The Oral History Research Center (OHRC) was formally established by the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada System in September 2003 as an entity of the UNLV University Libraries’ Special Collections Division. The OHRC conducts oral interviews with individuals who are selected for their ability to provide first-hand observations on a variety of historical topics in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. The OHRC is also home to legacy oral history interviews conducted prior to its establishment including many conducted by UNLV History Professor Ralph Roske and his students. This legacy interview transcript received minimal editing, such as the elimination of fragments, false starts, and repetitions in order to enhance the reader's understanding of the material. All measures have been taken to preserve the style and language of the narrator. The interviewee/narrator was not involved in the editing process. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 4 Abstract On February 2, 1979, collector Lorraine Owens interviewed nurseryman, Lawrence Hadland (born November 16th, 1919 in Long Island, New York) in his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers the life and times of “Nurseryman Hadland,” and offers insights into local business, family life, jobs, and the overall community of Las Vegas. He also discusses the military and the local airport. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 5 Hello. Today is February 2nd, 1979. I am Lorraine Owens and with me today, in Las Vegas, Nevada, is Bud Hadland, a longtime resident of Southern Nevada. We’ll be discussing his relationship with Nevada in recalling memories and in discussing his family, his interests, some opinions and some interesting events. Bud, were you born in Southern Nevada? No. You weren’t. When did you come to Nevada? I was born in New York, came out here in 1945. Because my dad came out here and he advised me to come out—been here ever since. How old were you when you came here with your dad? I didn’t come with him. I see. (Laughs) He talked me into coming out here. Uh-huh. At the time we were married and had two children. I see. And we came out and settled here and I never went back. So it was your dad that influenced you to come here? Right. Rather than your desire to see the west? (Laughs) I might say that my dad, Kenneth Hadland, was park superintendent, started the parks in Las Vegas. He was the originator of the park department, City of Las Vegas. Hadland Park was named after him. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 6 I see. Now—was he here prior to ’45 when you got here? Yes. Or did he beat you here a few years? Yes. He came here earlier. Okay. What—do you recall what year it was? Must’ve been ’43, ’44. Okay. Okay, and did you complete any education here or? No. You didn’t. Okay. Went right into the nursery business with Garden Center. Became a partner and left there when my children got older and started our new nursery. Okay. Which is, Hadland— Hadland (Laughs) Nurseries on Tropicana? Right. East Tropicana? Okay. Ah, advertising. Huh? Right. (Laughs) Now your children were born back east then and you brought them here with you? No. Two of them were born in New York. I see. Jenna and Richie. Uh-huh. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 7 And the other four were born here in Las Vegas. I see. And were they educated here then? Yes. Okay. What part of town did you live in at that time? Sunrise Acres. Okay. They went to Roy Martin. Mm-hmm. Rancho. Oh. Las Vegas High. Okay. Now you say you’ve been in the nursery business most of the time you’ve been in Nevada? All of the time. All of the time. Okay. Matter of fact my grandfather had a Hadland Nursery back in Long Island, New York. Uh-huh. Now did it take some investigating to become acquainted with the type of growth that might persist in the desert? (Laughs) (Laugh) It took a lot of change from back east. Uh-huh. Okay. But we did it. That’s obvious and very well, too. Now you’ve stayed in Nevada, do you—you’ve become accustomed to the climate. Do you love Nevada? You don’t want to go back to New York? UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 8 No. Definitely not. ‘Cause with this weather right not. (Laughs) Yes. We had seven and a half inches of snow. (Laughs) But I won’t go back. Now because you live in the desert do you have particular hobbies that pertain to the desert? Oh we like to go out investigating desert flowers? Hiking. I don’t do much of that right now. My children do, a lot of hiking. Death Valley, going on trips, and of course, I like to fish, Lake Mead, Mojave. Okay. Now as far as other recreation, do you like to go Downtown Las Vegas to the Strip? Definitely not. (Laughs) (Laughs) I learned that a long time ago. You learned your lesson well, huh? (Laughs) Okay, now, have all of your children remained in Southern Nevada? No. My oldest daughter is in Los Angeles, right now, has been travelling around. She’s been here for—back and forth considerable times. She got into the show business, so therefore she’s been travelling. And my other son is in Santa Cruz right now. Outside of that, they’re all here. Uh-huh. Now they’re in the Hadland Nursery business with you? No. Just the two sons. Two of them? The two oldest. Mm-hmm. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 9 Although the others are interested, the younger boy is doing gardening and maintenance work in Santa Cruz. Mm-hmm. And my daughter is very interested. Her husband works at one of the hotels as a gardener, maintenance man. Mm-hmm. Now while you’ve been here in Las Vegas, have you participated in any particular social clubs or other special groups? No. I’m not prone that way. Uh-huh. I like to do the things I can but I am not a social person. Okay. Now regarding the cultural things in Las Vegas, for example, the symphony and the theatre, do you like to participate in some of those things? Do you go to the museum? Personally not. My wife is very interested. Mm-hmm. She does that quite often. Uh-huh. To symphonies and so on. Now in just the time you’ve been here would you say Las Vegas has increased its frequency of the cultural things? I’m very proud of Las Vegas for doing that. They are coming on strong. They have been strong and they’re doing a great job. Mm-hmm. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 10 It’s not all gambling. It’s really, you can do anything you want culturally and so on in Las Vegas and I’m really proud of them. Does the tourism in Southern Las Vegas or Southern Nevada affect you any? In any way? Not greatly. Just spasmodic. Tourists come in. Mm-hmm. Buy plants, who are interested in shrubs and plants that you want to grow back in their native country. Uh-huh. Native habitat. Native whatever. Where ever they come from, huh? (Laughs) Okay. Now you said your children attended particular schools. Have you lived particularly in the east side of town or the southeast side of town? Northeast? Or have you pretty much lived everywhere? Oh yes. In the east, east area. I’ve lived here. Uh-huh. Because I know the town pretty well. Uh-huh. Or did know it. Uh-huh. (Laughs) So by that you’re saying it’s changed a lot, then, huh? It’s changed a lot. What ways do you feel? Well, right here where we’re standing right now is mesquites, just desert right here. Look at it now. You’ve been down, you come through here. Lived over the other side of Charleston and just across from Charleston, which is city property still— UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 11 Uh-huh. It’s just barren property and that’s the way it was. So would you say east of Maryland Parkway, or what would you say would be the boundary for the greatest expansion in the—? How far do you want to go back? (Laughs) Well, from say 1950. The great expansion was east up until I would say four or five years ago, and now it’s going really west. Uh-huh. Great expansion out there. Uh-huh. West of the freeway, let’s say, or further out. Uh-huh. Okay. I can perceive that also. How about economically, have you seen a great change in Nevada since 1950? Economically, may I clarify what you mean, economically, or? Well, tourism has come to this state because of gambling. And that, I would say would be the main industry other than mining. Now we’re beginning to get, I see a few small industries around and—which seem to be the forerunners. Well, I believe they just, they’re just still working on that. Mm-hmm. There hasn’t been too much interest, industry, outside of the old Henderson that’s been there for a number of years. Uh-huh. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 12 But it’s working up to it. And there’s a lot more industry coming in. But tourism is still the main factor. Number one, huh? (Laughs) Number one. Okay. Have you seen a lot of improvement in the way the city is handled as far as maintenance of the streets, care of the parks, since there have been more people, more industry come into the state? Not too great. Mm-hmm. ‘Cause the growing—the growth is so great that the—you gotta catch up with it, so let’s not blame them too much. Right. They’re—they haven’t caught up yet, huh? You’ve got that big growth coming on, you know. Uh-huh. So. I would say, it’s about equal. I mean we’re—we’re getting there. Uh-huh. Okay. Now since you’ve been here, 1945, do you recall any great catastrophes, or, that have dealt with the weather or any accidents that have been outstanding in your mind? Not really, compared to other parts of the country, I don’t think that there’s been any great catastrophes. We’ve had droughts, we’ve had snow storms. Mm-hmm. We’ve have floods. But compared to the other parts of the country, when you read the paper or get the reports, I think Las Vegas has been very lucky, myself. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 13 Uh-huh. Do you? We have a mall. We always have something going on. But nothing—the weather is beautiful. You—you really like it here, don’t you? (Laughs) Yes. I do. You really—you don’t mind the temperature when it reaches 117 or 115? Ah, there’s such a thing as air-conditioners. (Laughs) Uh-huh. That you can get under that, in other parts of the country you don’t have them sort of things there. I guess they’re working up to it. But we, with this high temperature, are ready for it. Uh-huh. And—and then, your blood gets thin, you don’t mind it. (Laughs) Is that what happens after you’ve been here a while? (Laughs) Well, also there’s always a breeze. Uh-huh. And a breeze like the old swamp cooler. You can go out, if you get into a breeze you cool off. No big problem. We have less perspiration and heat perspiration here then they do in lots of part of the countries. That’s probably true. It is true. (Laughs) Now have you been active in a particular church group during your years here in Las Vegas? No. The only thing I ever got into was Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Uh-huh. For your children. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 14 Quite a few years ago. Uh-huh. But that’s about all I really got into. Okay. Have you been active in politics in any way, perhaps in this city? No way. (Laughs) Just—just by going to the polls every year or so, huh? (Laughs) I never miss an election. That’s—that’s fantastic. There should be more people like you. (Laughs) Now do you—in looking at the overall picture of Las Vegas, do you perceive the influence of any particular group? A main group that might be influential in passing certain legislation? No. I am not too much on legislation. I do read the paper. I take it with a grain of salt. Mm-hmm. And the ones I feel should be in I vote for. Mm-hmm. Hope they do a good job. Mm-hmm. And they can always make mistakes. Like anyone would, sure. Except me. (Laughs) You don’t make mistakes? I made my first mistake this year. (Laughs) I won’t ask you what that was. No. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 15 I’m thinking particularly of the Mormons when I ask you that question. I’ve understood that there is quite a conclave of Mormon in this area and on over into Utah and I was curious to know if you felt like it had any influence on anything. No. I don’t think so. They’re a good group of people, like any church, the Catholic, they’ve all got power. Mm-hmm. They can do things, but they do good. Mm-hmm. They may make mistakes, too, but they’re all out to do for their own. Uh-huh. And plus others. They seemed to be interested particularly in family units, which is a big plus. That is what I admire about ‘em. Yes. That is a big plus. I do too. Do you ever recall any presidents coming through? Or have you ever met a movie star? (Laughs) Oh yes I’ve met a couple of movie stars and Strip people on the Strip. Mm-hmm. But there again, I’m not prone that way. Mm-hmm. I’m kind of a home person. Uh-huh. Do—? Family person. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 16 Do you remember who they were? Do you remember the people who you met? Oh, I remember Buddy Crackett coming down—Buddy Hackett, Hackett—down to the house when he was going overseas and (unintelligible) were going out. A few of the—being with her, she was at the Sands and the Desert Inn in the shows. Uh-huh. Pizazz and, at the Sands. And they’d come by the house or we’d go out there and meet ‘em but nothing great. Uh-huh. Course we do business with quite a few of the big name socialist. Does Liberace ever buy plants at your shop? Course. Oh does he? Absolutely! (Laughs) We have a standard bill opener every month with him. Uh-huh. And Wayne— Newton. Newton. And well, Redd Foxx. Oh yes. I could name quite a few probably but— Yes. That’s the few I remember. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 17 Okay. Well, that’s—that’s very interesting. Mr. Hadland, do you buy your products for your stores in California or do you grow them here in a nursery area? No. We get all our things from California. Mostly all from California. In the past years, we trucked them ourselves. Now we have truckers coming in that haul ‘em for us, buy and sell. Oh, I see. Uh-huh. Remember the days when the old L.A. highway was a two-lane highway. Uh-huh. (Laughs) And traveling that highway in those old trucks was quite a chore. It wasn’t a chore for us then but it would be compared to now. Comparatively. Ah huh. Comparatively. It used to take us a good eight hours to come from say (unintelligible) which is outside of L.A. to Los Angeles. Eight hours straight driving. That’s quite something. (Laughs) A lot different from now where it’s four hours. A lot. A lot. Yes. And—did you travel at night particularly? Always at night during the summer months when it was so hot had to be at night. We couldn’t do it in the day time. Well. You’d— Well, we could but it wasn’t advisable. Uh-huh. Mm-hmm. Now was that because of the plants you carried or the driver or both? Both. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 18 Uh-huh. Okay. Especially the driver. (Laughs) (Laughs) Now did you have air-conditioning in the trucks then? Or no? That was—? No air-conditioning. I think I had a radio. I don’t remember. Uh-huh. But we’d come up the highway just yelling and shouting at ourselves and. Anything, huh? (Laughs) To stay awake. Ah ha. (Laughs) Okay. So you say it was two lane and now there’s some grades between here and Los Angeles, aren’t there? There’s a couple of them. (Unintelligible) Pass and Baker Grade. Baker Grade was the big one. Okay. Used to come up there doing about ten to fifteen miles an hour. Uh-huh. With your foot in the throttle. (Laughs) All the way to the floor? (Laughs) No. Under the floor. Oh. (Laughs) But it was quite an experience. You’d come up and just stay with it. Uh-huh. Okay. Now do you recall the Strip as it began to blossom? Do you remember some of the hotels and—? UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 19 Well. The thing I remember basically way back of the Strip was the Red Rooster. And Gracie Hayes owned that. And when you went out to the Red Rooster or beyond that you generally took a water bag on your trip ‘cause that was way out in the desert. Uh-huh. And it bloomed from there on. All the big hotels coming up. We did do a lot of landscaping on most of the big ones. Uh-huh. Such as what? Can you recall some of the names? The Desert Inn was the first one, we had the big contract with. Right. The Stardust. Hacienda was later on the old Sahara Hotel now, was the old Bingo Club. Uh-huh. That was one of the first that we landscaped and— And how ‘bout the Frontier? Did you—? The Last Frontier was there at the time. Oh. The New Frontier we did quite a bit of work with it. Uh-huh. We gave ‘em a lot of supplies. If I may mention a name, Frank Grebber. Uh-huh. Who is still alive and kicking right now, he’s retired of course in Utah, right now. Uh-huh. That’s—That’s fantastic. Now do you recall any old establishments? I mean when you arrived in Southern Nevada, were at the time just the remnants left or perhaps I guess UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 20 what we would call ghost towns or abandoned buildings that were from the past, do you remember any? No. Not really. Most of them were still fairly active. Course the old Ranch was still there. Uh-huh. Course the old adobe building was I think at that time, they’re reconstructing it now, or have done it. Uh-huh. And then the old ranch out on—can’t remember the name, it’s out by Losee Lane out there, out in North Las Vegas, was still there. And that was where the bunch of old renegades used to hang out. Mm. At that time, or before my time. Uh-huh. But it was an apartment or a dude ranch it what it was when I came here. I see. Uh-huh. Now have you been out to any of the ghost towns or the mining areas around? Oh yes, we go around to ‘em quite often but we just go around looking at ‘em and through Northern Nevada we take a trip every once in a while. Uh-huh. Do you like to collect anything in particular? No, no. Just like to look at ‘em. Just look? And see what could have been or what has been there. Uh-huh. What might’ve happened or what? UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 21 What might’ve happened? Yes. Right. It’s fun to fantasize, isn’t it? (Laughs) Mm-hmm. Pretend you’re in the Old West. (Laughs) Now as far as the buildings in town here, was there a period of time that you recall where some of the city buildings began to need renovating and maybe they built a new city hall or a new whatever? Do you remember? Oh yes. There’s been so many of the old buildings that have been torn down and new ones, the banks and the hotels and course city hall has been, I might make mention of an old family in town, can’t recall their name but they’re still on Third Street and the old house is still there. Wow. I happened to go past it the other day, walking down the street. What are their names? I can’t remember. But that’s an old family, and they stay there because the older folks that are still alive like to walk Downtown. I see. And they keep that old house there. It’s right on Third Street. Third near—what other street? North of Fremont. Uh-huh. About one block, two blocks north of Fremont on Third? Third or Fourth. One of the two. Do—could you guess perhaps when the house was built, by looking at the style or the architecture? UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 22 (Laughs) Oh no. I couldn’t guess but it was one of the first houses built in Las Vegas. Is that right? Mm-hmm. Huh. That’s very interesting. Now you mention Bob Baskin. Mm-hmm. Was he a friend of yours? A very good friend. He had the Round Up Drive-In, which is on the intersection of Main and now known as Las Vegas Boulevard South and started that there. And he was— And of course it burned down. Oh I see. A number of years ago. And we were located right behind him at the Garden Center. I see. And he was city commissioner, county commissioner and quite a politician. Uh-huh. I believe he’s passed away now. I’m pretty sure he has. Did he belong to the Republican Party? The Democratic Party? Or? (Laughs) Beats the heck out of me. Oh. (Laughs) I don’t know. But you do know he was a politician? Well, he was in politics. He was—had all the politicians coming around yacking at the restaurant. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 23 Uh-huh. And of course then he moved down to Las Vegas Boulevard North (unintelligible) restaurant. I see. Do you have any particular feelings about the gambling in this state? If you were a legislator say in 1910, I believe it was, where they decided that they should stop the gambling and promote other industry, would you have voted for the gambling or against? I believe I would vote. I don’t know what I would’ve done then but right at the present time, I’m glad they voted for it. Uh-huh. Because it’s been boon to, not only Las Vegas but the whole state of Nevada. Uh-huh. And it’s not only the gambling, course the gambling brought in the entertainment capital. Mm-hmm. So therefore that’s why we are so great here. So you’re glad to have it? And you look at the reports of construction and so on in other parts of the country and their complaining about constructions down fifty-six, fifty percent. We’re complaining because it’s only down ten percent. Uh-huh. You’re right. (Laughs) We complain. (Laughs) For what? Yes. Are you interested in photography at all? Have you—? No. I’m not but my two sons are very interested in it. They take a lot of pictures. They spend a lot of money at Camera Center. Uh-huh. I was wondering if perhaps—? UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 24 And they are very interested in it. Uh-huh. Do they take pictures particularly of foliage? Or the growth? No, no, no, course plants is one thing they do but also sunsets. The whole bit, I mean whatever, children, whatever they can come up with. I see. It seems to me Nevada is extraordinarily beautiful. The sunsets. In its own way. Yes. It’s a beautiful— The mountains. Beautiful country. The— And you can find so many interesting things which they do—they’re, they are very interested in it. Uh-huh. And like I say, they don’t take a picture of a plant or scenery, they don’t take one picture. It’s usually five, six, ten, of one thing. Mm-hmm. To get the right mood. But they are really going at it. Mr. Hadland, do you feel like the transient population that comes in and out of town has an effect on Las Vegas, as far as making it a nice place to raise your children in? It depends on how you figure that? Of course, transients coming into town will bring a bad element in town. They lose their money. They’ve gotta do something. But the actual homeowner or people that bring in other people in Las Vegas, bring enough children in Las Vegas, if they UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 25 stay to their churches and their community outfits, I see nothing wrong with it. Because they don’t get into this element. Mm-hmm. Do you feel like you’re a member of a hometown community? Do you feel like in Las Vegas there are two communities, one a hometown type, group of people, and the other the transients? Definitely. It’s true. The transients are on the Strip, Downtown. You’re home people are in the outlying districts. They have their homes, they enjoy their homes, they enjoy their children. They have good schools. Some of the best in the country, I’m sure. And I really believe that it’s kind of a two way. I might say this, that mom and I raised six children in this town and they turned out pretty good. Ah ha. Oh they had their little troubles. (Laughs) But (Laughs) That says something for Clark County schools and (Laughs) this town. Now you like to fish you said, do you, are there any—what I mean is, what kind of fish can you get out of these lakes? What kind of fish? (Laughs) All kinds. (Laughs) All kinds? Well, they have the bass fishing, which I believe this next month when it warms up, I’m gonna start fishing again. I’ve been away from it for quite a few years. Just not by choice but just UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 26 because of business and so on, and gosh you can go out to Lake Mead, you can get the bass, the croppy, stripers are running right now. Down through Mojave get trout what more can you ask for? (Laughs) Now do you have a boat you go out in? Or do you do this from the edge? I had a boat, sold it. Didn’t get paid for it. But I sold it. (Laughs) And I’m thinking of buying a new one right now. (Laughs) Ah ha. And start in again. Uh-huh. Okay. Now do—there’s Nellis Air Force Base in the northeast side of town, do you feel like this community has been detrimental to Las Vegas? Or been helpful? Well, I believe it’s been one of the real helpful, it seems to me that the government or the Air Force wouldn’t be in here if they felt the personnel out there was the—Las Vegas was detrimental to the personnel. Mm-hmm. So, they would never have brought it here or stayed here if it wasn’t. And of course it brings in a lot of the servicemen and everything else, which is good for the community. Please turn the cassette to tape two. (Tape one ends) Do you feel Mr. Hadland, that the military community has been an economic boon to the area? Definitely so. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 27 Are you distracted at times by the planes that fly from the base? Are you annoyed? (Laughs) Well, yes. I could say that but any community in the country outside of the farming community is, if you’ve got a big city or, which we call ourselves, you’ve got airplanes flying. Uh-huh. It’s a part of life now, isn’t it? (Laughs) It’s a part of life. Okay. Now how do you feel about the Test Site being north of Las Vegas here? How do you feel about some of the tests that they’ve done underground and aboveground? Well, I kinda feel that with the Test Site that although it might be that we do get some radiation, which I don’t believe we have in here in Las Vegas, it’s drifted off and I think that there again economically it’s brought a lot of people to the town and built up the town. Mm. And give us advertisement and so I feel that it’s been alright. Uh-huh. I see. Are there any other memories that you can recall about Nevada when you first arrived? Do you remember it being just a little tiny town? Do you remember the kinds of transportation there was in town? Or do you remember taking trips and the distances that were involved? Or, can you give us some of your memories? Well, when we came to Las Vegas I would say it was a small town. We knew—actually we could walk down Fremont Street, which I don’t do now. Uh-huh. (Laughs) And you could say, “Hi, Joe. Hello, George.” Uh-huh. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 28 Now today there’s so many new people, so big that you don’t get that community thing. But the town is growing. The city is growing. It’s like any big city. Uh-huh. Originally came from New York and that’s the way it was when I was back there, so but and I come out here and it was a nice little community. You could go out oh from Fremont Street, go out about five miles and you’re in the desert. (Laughs) Was the train running through at that time? I’m sure it was. At that time Union Pacific was one of the big stays. Uh-huh. Of course now it’s nothing. Was that the way most people liked to go, from here to Salt Lake or here to Los Angeles? A lot of people did, yes, uh-huh. Mm-hmm. They all took the train and so on. Were you able to take any trips throughout the state in those days? In the forties or fifties? You mean by train or car? Either. Anyway. Oh yes. You could go all over. As a matter-of-fact the roads in Nevada in them days are a lot better. Probably because they didn’t have as much traffic on ‘em. Uh-huh. Were good roads. They might’ve been two lane but they were good roads. You didn’t get that bump and all the things like going to Los Angeles now on the freeway, you hit a lot of bad road. Is that right? UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 29 A lot of bumps and— Uh-huh. Roads coming out. Because of trucking and travelling. Now there was no speed limit for many years was there? No. There was not. No. Yes. But I really think the speed limit is good. Uh-huh. How do you feel about the possibility of it being raised ten miles per hour? From fifty-five to sixty-five? I would rather not see that. Uh-huh. I see. Because it’s good for your automobile. It’s good because of accidents not happening. Mm-hmm. When you get on the freeway today sixty, sixty-five is, they’re still travelling that, anyway. Yes. And not getting stopped. ‘Cause I had my truck on cruise and I travel between sixty and sixty-five and— Everybody’s doing it. Or more. Uh-huh. Do you recall when the speed limit was first instituted? Nah. What was it not early seventies when the— I believe it was, wasn’t it? UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 30 The government— Yes. Put everyone on a fifty-five mile an hour speed limit. It wasn’t Carter, it was Nixon. In his reign. Reign. (Laughs) Yes. Mm-hmm. Do you have anything to do with McCarran Airport or do you know anyone who has dealt with it? Well, yes. McCarran Airport is been—as a matter of fact when the first job I had in Las Vegas was at McCarran Airport out at Nellis Air Force Base. That’s where the planes came in? That’s where the commercial planes came in. Oh I see. Then. And that was in forty something? Forty-five. Uh-huh. Mm-hmm. So right after the war then? And then they moved out to this McCarran Airport as we know it now. Uh-huh. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 31 We’ve done considerable work out there. Landscaping. And we know quite a few of the people there. Matter of fact, we know one person, Bob Lowe, I guess I can mention his name, he’s retired now, who was head engineer out there for twenty years. He’s retired now. Uh-huh. Spoke to him today and wanted him to come down here and talk to you too. But he wouldn’t come. (Laughs) Oh. I wish he had. Yes. I really do. Yes. Now night before last something happened at McCarran that has never happened before, right? You mean, closing the airport? Yes. Uh-huh. First time in the history that it’s been closed. Uh-huh. Yes. And it was due to snow? Snow and icing. Uh-huh. Is what caused it. Uh-huh. They came into the—into the nursery looking for a nozzle for a spray, to spray the wings to get off some of the icing. Is that right? Oh, is that right? (Laughs) Huh. A small little thing like that, I don’t know how much good they did but (Laughs) they tried. Did you have a nozzle to give them? (Laughs) UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 32 Yes, yes. We finally found one for ‘em. Uh-huh. Now as far as snow here in Las Vegas, we had what seven and a half inches, maybe not at one time but in separate falls. Yes. Well, in ’49, I believe it was, it was one of the big snows, I was building a house on June Avenue at that particular time. Course it came down, I believe, if I remember rightly, it was about seven or eight inches of snow. But the sun came out the next day and melted it all. Uh-huh. Then in ’74, January 1, we had bad snow. I believe it was about four to five inches dropped. And then, two days later another three or four. Uh-huh. So they call that one the big one. Uh-huh. (Laughs) But here in ’79? Uh-huh. Yes, ’79, it’s been consistent. Mm-hmm. Too much and not melting it’s been about the worst one. Still on the ground. (Laughs) Yes. Ah. Okay. The sun’s still not coming out. No. (Laughs) We may get some more. Right? (Laughs) Mm-hmm. UNLV University Libraries Lawrence Hadland 33 In the day, in the forties, right after the war, do you recall anything that was an aftermath of the war like maybe lots of the young men coming back? Or jobs hard to find, because of that? Or—are there any things you remember about that tim