A Dec. 1 column in The Union by Bernie Zimmerman, chair of the Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission, affirmed that Nevada City’s legal name since 1851 has been City of Nevada and that the town has been incorporated four times: 1851, 1854, 1856 and 1878. Bernie did his homework and his recent chronological account was rock solid. Most history books claim that in the spring of 1851— following that first incorporation — Moses Hoyt (Hoit in some accounts) became Nevada City’s first directly elected mayor. Truth be told, however, the town’s first directly elected mayor was Hamlet Davis. Unfortunately for Davis, he became Nevada City’s version of John Hanson — elected president of the United States in 1781, but under Articles of Confederation, not the Constitution; George Washington had that honor eight years later. For Davis, it was a case of Nevada City holding a municipal election before its incorporation had been certified.