Aug. 26, 1897 —
D. D. Walker returned from Long Pine last week. He brought back with him a string of horses which he offers at very reasonable prices.
Holmes Bros. And Cox of Foster have been shelling corn for several of our citizens. The boys are skilled workmen, and are doing the best work ever done in our town.
C. J. Peterson living northeast of town, who has been down with typhoid fever was in the village for the first time since his sickness on Tuesday. We were pleased to meet Claus and hope he will now get along nicely.
100 Years Ago. . .
In the High School Notes: A new blackboard has been placed on the north wall of the mathematics room. It makes quite an improvement in the appearance of the room. The high school orchestra had its first rehearsal Monday evening. There will be 12 or 13 members. The eighth grade geography class has made a large and very interesting collection of rocks and minerals.
Coleson-Holmquist Co. advertised: Time to think of coal. Let’s spend winter with as little money and grief as possible with the fuel question. That means Harris Lump for the heater, Harris nut for the range. We also have all other grades and prices on coal. Satisfaction guaranteed. Same as always — Phone 100.
Farmers Lumber Co. advertised: Why not a few bundles of kindling to take the place of cobs? Clean soft pine, no rats or mice, and no waste. Why not try some?
Mrs. Alice Buchanan had several ribs broken in an auto accident in Plainview when her car collided with a car driven by Pete Boyens. She was driving west and the glare of the sun prevented her from seeing the other car, while the sun shining on Mrs. Buchanan’s windshield prevented Mr. Boyens from seeing her car. Mrs. Buchanan was taken to the Plainview hospital where she remained for a few days.
The Oct. 8, 1925, Osmond Republican published the Reports of Condition of three local banks, showing the resources and liabilities of the following: The Security State Bank, $535,818.51; The Farmers State Bank, $ 405,848.33; The McLean State Bank, $188,238.18.
At the regular meeting of the Osmond Community Club, the main topic for discussion was the light question, that is, of the High Line company which was here taking charge of the street lights. Mr. Gordon of Minneapolis, a representative of the company, was present and outlined the proposition of the company, agreeing to contract to rebuild all the lines, lower the rates to a basis (which he read) and build the overhead street lighting system without cost to the village for a fixed rate per month of $135.50. The matter was discussed and it was voted to leave the matter to the village board.
75 Years Ago. . .
Work had been going on for a few days, clearing shrubs and trees on a lot directly across the street south of the Methodist church for a hospital garden spot.
Winners of the high school initiation costume parade were Carleen Fuelberth, who was the 1950 Freshman Fullback of Osmond, and Neil Thomsen, who was Sparkle Plenty. Each was given a gift.
The season’s first killing frost arrived on the night of Oct. 2, 1950.
The official government thermometer at Osmond dipped to 28 degrees. The general frost followed heavy rains which covered a wide area. Osmond officially recorded 2.11 inches.
It was on Sept. 20, 1950, that Norman Windeshausen, Osmond postmaster, mailed a brief letter to Louis Windeshausen or any Windeshausen, Bastogne, Belgium. Nine days later, he had a reply in the form of a two-page, longhand letter, in French. The letter was translated to English by the Rev. G. L. Wise, Osmond Presbyterian minister and master of several languages. The postmaster wrote the letter in the hope of contacting relatives with whom communication had ceased shortly after the turn of the century. The Bastogne address was supplied by a cousin of Norman’s father, Nick, and the reply came from another cousin of both, Jean (John) Windeshausen. The incoming letter disclosed that the writer was engaged in a fertilizer and feed business and that he and a brother were in the carrier pigeon business. He enclosed several family pictures with his letter.
65 Years Ago. . .
The 1959 Census of Agriculture conducted in Pierce County counted 1,339 farms (529 in 2022). Total land in farms was 345,231 acres (251,807 acres in 2022).
An unimproved 80 acres located one mile east and one mile north of town brought $170 per acre at public auction. The land was purchased by Miss Mary Hassler of Osmond, who owned other farm land in the immediate vicinity.
Lloyd’s Produce, the successor to Osmond Creamery here, was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Jahde, formerly of Pender. The Jahdes took over operation of the business on Oct. 1. They purchased the produce business and the brick building in which it was housed (the recent Lorenz Automotive building). Mr. and Mrs. Jahde and their two children planned to live in an apartment in the building. Mr. Jahde was a butter maker and was going to explore the possibility of manufacturing butter here.
City Clerk Elmer Schneckloth said the Village Board took no action on a Community Club request for holiday lighting outlets at its October meeting. An appointed committee brought the plea to the board whose spokesman commented, “We’ve been spending an awfully lot of money lately.” Among other bills allowed at the meeting was one for slightly in excess of $5,000 for oiling city streets. The local newspaper presented the written information that a number of taxpayers had indicated their wish to see a published statement of municipal swimming pool income and expense. Here too, there was no affirmative action.
St. Joseph Hospital at Osmond, an institution of 15 years service, henceforth would be known as St. Joseph Community Hospital. The change was made at the suggestion of a number of Osmond residents and the other communities which the hospital served.
50 Years Ago. . .
Five persons were injured in a near head-on car-pickup crash east of the Highways 20 and 81 junction. The car, driven by Roger Leiting, who was accompanied by his wife and two young daughters, was eastbound when it was struck by the westbound pickup driven by James Baker of Randolph The occupants of both vehicles were admitted to Osmond General Hospital, and Roger was later transferred to a Sioux City hospital for treatment of severe leg and hip injuries. Leiting, who had driven for Petersen Transfer for about three years had just returned to Osmond with one of the Petersen trucks and was on his way home to Randolph.
With the final approval of a federal loan, work began on the construction of a 50 by 50-foot processing plant, which, according to plan, would be in operation here in a matter of months. Other loans by private professional lending agencies and by local interested persons had already been arranged for. The new plant was located directly across the street to the west of Big John Mfg., another comparatively new Osmond enterprise.
A decision by the city council after consulting with engineers and contractors occasioned a slight change in design of a partially new intersection at Third and State streets, the "post office" intersection. Vehicle entrances into the intersection had been made narrower, according to modern design, which extended a new curb farther into the street to facilitate parking. Original design called for an all-concrete job. The council changed plans to include approximately 100 square feet of exposed soil at each of the four corners which would be planted to flowers or shrubbery.
25 Years Ago. . .
Following procedure as they had been trained, students and a driver safely exited an Osmond Community School bus in which a fire had started.
There were 11 students on the bus as driver Alton Streich was making the customary turn-around at the Mark and Alicia Koehler home. The 1987 bus was not his regular vehicle. It was a district “spare” he was using while brake work was being done on his regular bus. When Streich saw smoke coming from the engine compartment, he instructed the students to leave through the back door of the bus. He left by way of the front door with the bus fire extinguisher. Older children helped the younger ones out of the bus and all went to a spot a safe distance away.
10 Years Ago. . .
The Osmond High School Marching band competed in the 74th annual Harvest of Harmony parade in downtown Grand Island. Despite waiting nearly an hour past their scheduled time to perform, the Tigers performed extremely well as they received a “superior Rating” by two sets of judges. The judges included an “Overall Effect” judge and “Music and Marching” judges.
