Aug. 26, 1897 —
The docile dray team of Marshal Record created a little excitement on the streets on Monday evening. It all happened in this wise: The old nags heard that wheat had taken a regular old McKinley jump and they began to prick up their ears, and at this juncture Lou P. Cox, a former pop, began the yell of prosperity and this was more than the team could stand. They smashed the wagon up somewhat but were soon recovered and are now as demure as ever.
Claud Smith lost the index finger at the second joint of the right hand by placing it through a hole in a hay sweep and then pulling a lever. It did a very neat job and the lad will be more careful in future, where he thrusts his remaining phalanges.
100 Years Ago. . .
Leo. Hoyt placed a building back of the Moats Tire Shop and opened up a battery and electrical shop.
New Paper For Osmond: The Osmond high school was starting the publication of a monthly, the Osmond Hot Shot. It was filled with choice reading matter and was ably edited, and was going to make a big hit with the people of this community. The first number was off the press and could be obtained at either a yearly subscription rate or by the single copy.
Will Hauswirth had a narrow escape about 4½ miles north of Neligh, when the Ford coupe in which he was riding was run into by a Ford sedan, badly damaging both cars, but not seriously injuring either party. Will said he was on the right side of the road and almost crowded into the ditch to avoid the collision but the other car kept on the wrong side of the road and ran right into him. Both cars were taken into Neligh for repairs and the next day, Will drove into Osmond, fortunate to be alive.
Wm. Broekemeier Sr., who made a success of farming and owned several choice farms in this vicinity, said that Osmond was better off in 1925 than in many other years, as the farmers had a good oat crop and there was considerable good corn around Osmond. He told of one year when he farmed, when 140 acres of oats made but 150 bushels.
The Osmond Electric Co., owned by C. F. Boye, was the Crossley headquarters. They advertised: “Buy your radios now at these new low prices. We carry a complete line of from one to five tube sets at all times. One tube set complete, $21.50; five tube set complete with wet battery, $88.50. We also carry in stock a full line of radio and automobile batteries, tubes, loud speakers and radio accessories, electric appliances and fixtures."
75 Years Ago. . .
The curbs in Osmond’s business district were being striped to facilitate parking of automobiles. The new paint job also would provide for parking the greatest possible number of cars on the streets. In the future, parking had to be done between stripes and the yellow no parking zones around fire plugs and near crossings would have to be observed.
Fire caused by a short circuit in wiring threatened the home of H. A. Goger near the Osmond Oil Co. The fire started in an east wall, filling some of the rooms with smoke. Some of the wall had to be torn away by Osmond firemen to assure that the fire was out. Chemical extinguishers
were used and a water line held in readiness. The Osmond fire whistle was temporarily out of order and word was spread to firemen by word of mouth and telephone.
“Letters bring happiness to our land" was the statement made by the United States Post Office Department as they urged Americans to write letters during the week of Oct. 15-21, officially marked as National Letter Writing Week.
“The hills are like mountains and you can imagine what we have had to fight in," said Robert Wortman in a letter to his parents from Korea on Sept. 30. Robert said he had walked from Inchon to Seoul in less than a week. Air superiority had greatly eased the fighting job, said the Osmond soldier. “The planes work the hills over pretty well before we go in," he said. "Don't worry about me; I'll take care of myself," closed his short letter.
The Oct. 18, 1950, issue of the Republican carried the first column of school notes of Osmond High School for the 1950-51 school term. That year, the news would come under the heading "The Tiger's Roar," and editor of the column was Eugene Schmit. Assistant editor was Joan Hoffman.
65 Years Ago. . .
At a meeting of the Osmond High School Pep Club, the main discussion of the day was that concerning lack of school spirit among members at pep rallies, which were held every Friday at 11:45 a.m. and at the football games. Reasons and remedies for this lack of spirit were discussed. One of the main distractions for members at the games was the boys who were not participating in sports. A “pep club" for boys was suggested. Mr.
Graham, high school superintendent, suggested that the boys who wanted to, be permitted to join the pep club.
The advertising agents of Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. had scheduled two advertisements in a group of weekly newspapers including the Osmond Republican.
It was the first time in some 25 years that a major cigarette had diverted a portion of huge advertising budgets to the small weekly press. The first ad appeared the week of Oct. 19, 1960. The news item, the publisher said, was not to endorse smoking. “However, the habit being what it is — if you smoke, we recommend the products or services of advertisers who support a community need — the weekly press."
There was no doubt about it now. The first frost had arrived. The Weather Bureau thermometer at Osmond plunged to an official 18 degrees to stop the growth of all vegetation, save those few outdoor plants which owners took precaution to protect from such temperatures.
Jack Theisen, Osmond farmer, who classed a little hunting and fishing and a little more bowling as his only recreational activities, sent his personal ball down the Town Bowl lanes here for eight straight strikes, all within a single game.
50 Years Ago. . .
At the October meeting of the Osmond FBLA, the spook insurance committee wrote a contract which was approved by the members, and which would be sold to businesses. If any of the insured windows were soaped on Halloween night, the FBLA would have them cleaned by the time the business opened the following day.
Pierce County Home Extension clubs held their annual achievement day. The bicentennial tapestry square design submitted by Sunnydale Extension Club of Osmond was judged the winner. This Pierce County design entry would now be completed in needlepoint and submitted to the Nebraska Home Extension Council which would be responsible for compiling the 93 county squares into a large tapestry, which would be entered in nationwide competition and eventually hung in the capitol building at Lincoln as a permanent display.
Rural route mail carriers Ed Kudera and Francis Liewer received safe driver awards for 27 years of safe driving on rural routes out of the Osmond Post Office, according to Postmaster Norman Windeshausen. This award was presented by the National Safety Council in cooperation with the United States Postal Service.
The District 42R school board heard the results of a survey of parents concerning the possibility of offering girls' basketball. Superintendent Del Fuelberth reported that the survey was about two to one in favor of offering the new sport. He pointed out that his feeling was that if the new sport was to be instituted, some of the other activities would have to be curtailed.
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Rataczak and Clint of Joplin, MO, were recent guests of the Jim Burger family of Osmond. The Rataczaks were here to pick up a weanling stud colt which they bought from the Burgers. They actually purchased the colt when it was only nine days old, but had to wait until it was weaned. The colt, Gipsy Sky Hawk, was out of Pawnee Patches, sired by Gipsy No Star H and would be used as a sire in the Rataczak herd. It would also be shown in the Missouri horse show circuit.
25 Years Ago. . .
Using a product grown in the area in which they lived, Stephanie Stueckrath found her family business expanding into neighboring states. JBK, LLC of Osmond developed soy candles which were being marketed in three states besides Nebraska. The business was named for the Stueckrath’s three children, James, Brandi and Krista.
10 Years Ago. . .
After 53 years of full-time service to the Osmond Republican, Bernice Blecha decided to slow down a bit. Blecha became editor emeritus of the Republican and moved to one-quarter time to allow her more time to spend with family. Long-time Republican employee Regina Lorenz took the reins, as she took over as general manager. Lorenz celebrated her 25th anniversary at the newspaper the previous September.
