Aug. 12, 1897 —
Bert Southwick had the misfortune to upset his separator about four miles south of town.
To operators of portable steam engines in Pierce County. You are hereby notified that you will be held responsible for all damage to culverts and bridges caused from crossing the same with portable engines without first placing on the culvert or bridge, on which to run the wheels, planks three inches thick and 12 inches wide. By order of County Board. R. A. Tawney, Clerk.
100 Years Ago. . .
This was the record of Hot Chot, the famous Spotted Poland China boar belonging to Gus Weinrich and Sons. He was grand champion at the Pierce, Knox and Cedar county fairs, and won the grand championship at the Sioux City Interstate Fair, with boars entered from Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. He beat the boar which won the grand championship at the Nebraska State Fair in 1925, so had he been entered at the Nebraska fair, would have come off with grand championship honors there also. This was indeed an honor for Gust Weinrich and Sons, and spoke most highly for their famous Spotted Poland Chinas.
Nick Goeres purchased the Jack Waddell dray line and took possession Oct. 1, 1925. The Osmond Republican wished Nick success in his new business venture.
Miss Mamie Friedenbach, Miss Martha Doerfling and Miss Adelaide Hoffmann drove down to Norfolk, Miss Adelaide going down to have an x-ray picture taken of her hand, on which she had a tumor, which had been giving her quite a bit of pain.
Claus Hinrichsen and wife went to Plainview to see Mrs. Louie Hinrichsen, who was in the hospital there, sick with the typhoid.
“ A Real Bargain:” One good pocket knife, one Auto Strop safety razor and strop, all three for only $1.25 while they last. — Geo. Senift Hardware Store.
75 Years Ago. . .
Emil Broekemeier, farmer living southeast of Osmond, fell from a load of hay when a tie rope broke and was injured when he struck the ground. He was brought to St. Joseph Hospital here where x-rays were taken and it was determined that no bones were broken. Principal injuries consisted of torn and strained ligaments in the right leg.
Unless unforeseen developments occurred which might affect availability of materials, Osmond was going to have a new post office building ready for occupancy within a year. The structure would be of brick and concrete block and would be on a corner lot owned by Casper Theisen a half block north of Theisen Bros. office and repair building. The building would be 26 by 48 feet outside dimensions and would face the west. It was going to be one of the few new permanent type buildings to be added to Osmond’s business section in a decade. The current building had been used in that capacity since 1916 or 1917 and was a brick structure in the center of the main business block.
Starting Sept. 30, 1950, WOW-TV began a fall-winter schedule with more than 50 hours a week of fine programming. Viewers could watch their sets from soon after lunch until midnight. During the very first week, they would see the Nebraska-Indiana football game, the World Series, and a schedule of programs including comedy, music, variety, “whodunits,” news, “Giddy-appers” (western movies), serious drama, cooking schools, puppet shows, musical comedy and quizzes.
65 Years Ago. . .
The Robert Petersen farm at the northwest edge of Osmond was the site of the Pierce County 4-H Plowing Contest. Nine 4-H boys participated in the contest. Merlyn Kuhl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Art Kuhl of Pierce, won the event. Merlyn was presented a trophy by Leland Foote on behalf of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce which sponsored the contest. Merlyn’s younger brother, Billy, was the other purple ribbon winner in the contest.
In a few months, Osmond would have a new brick and concrete construction library. It would be a gift to the city — no strings attached. The donor was Dr. C. E. Rodgers, local M. D., who was born here in 1892 and who had practiced here for 41 years. The building would be located on a lot owned by the city between the present frame library building and the city fire station. The building would be presented to the city as a memorial to Mrs. Rodgers and the Rodgers children.
General dissatisfaction with service rendered by the Eastern Nebraska Telephone Co. at the Osmond exchange had been mentioned in many a private conversation for months. One group of farmers secured eight out of nine patrons’ signatures to the following complaint which they said would be sent to the phone company’s headquarters at Blair” “This is to inform you that the undersigned refuse to pay their telephone bills unless No. 1 service is restored immediately. We have been dissatisfied with the service we didn’t get in the past three years and you can be assured we will have the best of service or no pay will be forthcoming.” A company employee subsequently spoke before the Osmond Community Club assuring it of improved service and installations and the matter was at that time not publicly aired.
50 Years Ago. . .
Mr. and Mrs. Barry Bruckner of McLean purchased the home of the late Mrs. Anna Lundstrom at public auction for a reported purchase price of $20,500. Mr. Bruckner was engaged in the operation of a trucking firm with his father, Walter.
The Trades and Industry (T&I) class at Osmond High School was starting a new organization at the school. The organization, Vocational Industrial Club of America (VICA) was having its membership drive. Current members were: David Blunck, Tim Bowing, Dennis Buchanan, Robert Gansebom, Kevin Koehler, Thomas Kruse, Scott Kumm, Alan Maxey, Greg Pfanstiel, Ted Sazama, Dan Schmit and David Kelley. The class was going to construct a 24-ft. by 40ft. garage directly behind the school to provide a badly-needed storage area for the school.
Five new teachers joined the staff at Osmond High School: “Donna Bell Galvin, sixth grade and art; Mike Gahan, guidance counselor; Karla Hoebelheinrich, home economics; Sharon Bissell, English, and Ellen Loughran, vocal music.
25 Years Ago. . .
At the September Osmond Community Club meeting, Treasurer Kevan Schuettler shared a recap of income and expenses for Summerfest 2000. Proceeds, which amounted to $5, 205, were pledged to park improvement. Camper pads and improvement of the tennis courts were planned, and enclosure of the north shelter at Poolside Park had already taken place.
10 Years Ago. . .
Members and friends of Osmond’s United Methodist Church marked 125 years of service to the community on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. The celebration included a special worship service with Pastor Rodgers Chishiba officiating and the Revs. Carol Jean Stapleton, pastor here from 1999 to 2010, and Judy Carlson, pastor at Wausa and Randolph, also taking part. The morning’s sermon was given by Osmond native Rev. William Nottage-Tacey entitled “The Little Church That Can.” Other guest clergy included District Superintendent Rev. Eldon Davis of Elkhorn Valley United Methodist District, Rev. Robert Call, pastor here from 1963 to 1967, and Rev. Kevin Burkhardt, who served here immediately prior to Pastor Chishiba.
