Oct. 7, 1897 —
The Jones Sisters millinery opening was largely attended and each lady was presented with a very handsome souvenir, a neatly printed card, announcing the event. In their show window, tastefully arranged, was a great number of hats, bonnets and other feminine fixtures placed in position to show the taste and skill of the firm. It was a day that will be remembered.
100 Years Ago. . .
The magical and musical entertainment put on in the Osmond city hall by Magical Gordon and Musical Frederick, proved itself a rare treat, in fact something high class and out of the ordinary. Both performers were artists of the highest class, and Superintendent Severin and the OHS were congratulated in providing this splendid evening’s entertainment for the public.
In the School Notes: Parents Visiting Day was a decided success. Seventy-seven visitors registered. Regular class work was carried on the first two periods of the afternoon and those classes had many visitors. The last two periods were given over to a program which was enjoyed by all.
Mrs. Claus Albers took charge of the Harding cream station, of which Mrs. Mert Haswell had been operator.
A large ear of corn hanging in the window of the Farmers State Bank had attracted the attention of the passerby during the week. It measured 26 inches in length, weighed seven and one-half lbs., was 1 ft. and 2 in. around and was brought from Iowa by Alexius Kuhl. The publisher was unable to state in whose field of corn it was “raised,” but shucking in corn that size would have been a fast job, at say seven or eight cents a bushel for every time you threw 10 years in, you would have a bushel. “The next time Alexius comes home, he will probably bring an Iowa whale.”
75 Years Ago. . .
Snow, wind and cold weather did not slacken the crowd that attended the grand opening of the new fountain at Van Ackeren Pharmacy. Nearly 250 chocolate sodas, the day’s special, were sold. Twenty-five boxes of chocolates, one to every 10th soda, were given away. The treat was planned to show the public the new $2,000 soda fountain and to introduce the Fairmont Ice Cream Agency. Free balloons were given to the kiddies.
A team of 10 Osmond men shot 85 blue rocks out of 125 rocks to beat a team of eight from Wausa who shot 62 out of the 125 at the local gun club grounds under the newly-installed lights. Members of the Osmond team were Earl Thomsen, Floyd Burt, Don Hetrick, Leonard Van Ackeren, Bud Schuttler, Byron Petersen, Geo. M. Luebbers, Bob Francis, Eddie Kudera and Hugo Pilger.
The Osmond city hall was filled to capacity as the junior class of OHS presented their annual three-act play, with this year’s play being “Lindy Lou.” Members of the cast were Gerald Albers, Joan Hoffman, Delno Fuelberth, John Kumm, Dwaine Hoeppner, Marvin Moes, Violet Klutman, JoAnn Grause, Mardelle Dibbert, Violet Berner and Glorianne Hunteman. The class sang “I Know A Secret,” “Lindy Lou,” “Roses,” “Sam Song” and “Molasses” between acts.
On Dec. 13, 1950, 10 boys left Pierce County in the December draft call for induction into the armed forces at Omaha. Of the 10, six were from Osmond: Robert L. Holtzclaw, Lyle W. Wacker, Dale L. Koehler, William G. Broekemeier, Killian F. Beck and Kenneth E. Gansebom.
Members of the OHS choir presented something new in the way of Christmas performances. The entire mixed chorus assembled in the intersection of main street near the library and presented a half hour concert of various Christmas songs.
65 Years Ago. . .
The annual OHS Homecoming festivities were held Dec. 16, 1960, between the halves of the first team basketball game with Wausa. The 1960 Homecoming theme, “Fantasy in Frost,” provided a snowy setting for the five elected senior queen candidates: June Stamper, Paulette Bruckner, Connie Holmes, Bev Steckelberg and Violet Reed. The theme song was changed to “Winter Wonderland” and Charles Timmer sang instead of the previously scheduled boys’ quartette. June Stamper was elected queen by a twovote margin in one of the closest races in OHS history. Connie Holmes was runner-up.
Santa arrived on schedule at the invitation of the Osmond Community Club which spent more than $300 to insure the success of his visit. Committee chairmen announced that more than 800 sacks of candy, nuts and fruit were sacked by the Osmond firemen and dispensed by Santa and his helpers on the cold afternoon. Hospital, nursing home and the homes of many shut-ins were on the list requiring special visits. Four free shows were run at the Osmond Theatre to accommodate the children and adults who filled all seats for “Walk Like a Dragon.”
Shelia Waddell, 9, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Waddell of Osmond, returned home from Lincoln after having had surgery on her leg. She had polio when she was five years old which left her right leg crippled, so the cords in this leg had to be lengthened. She was going to be in a cast for about six weeks.
50 Years Ago. . .
A 650-lb. yearling calf was rescued from a hole in a snow bank, where it had evidently been since a blizzard 17 days earlier. The calf was discovered by its owner, Alton Fuelberth, after a road near his farm was opened for the first time following the blizzard, and he was returning from his neighbors. Fuelberth said he noticed a hole in the snow bank and upon inspection, saw the calf lying at the bottom. He said it appeared the calf must have laid down during the blizzard and was covered by the big drift in the road ditch. The snow on top apparently fell in, forming the icy pit where the calf remained. It was pulled out and taken to the farm where it was reported to be eating and drinking, but only able to stand for short periods of time.
At the December meeting of District 42R Board of Education, the members voted to install new lighting fixtures in about one-half of the classrooms. Approximately 10 classrooms would have the new fixtures. The board voted to purchase and have installed 120 two-tube fluorescent fixtures for the rooms to replace the present 300 watt incandescent lights.
25 Years Ago. . .
Brian Messenger, nephew of Chris and Cindy Stogdill and son of the late Deborah Messenger, was invited to play in the 2001 Down Under Bowl in Australia the following June as part of a prestigious All-Star program. He was to play in an American football tournament featuring All-Star State teams from all over the United States and from Australia and New Zealand.
Typical of the Osmond community, an outpouring of love and concern was extended to Gary and Pam Schieffer and son Nate at the time of the death of the Schieffers’ younger son, Nick. The Schieffer family chose the holiday season to thank the community by dedicating a Christmas tree in their front yard to the “good people of Osmond” in memory of Nick. Friends were invited to place ornaments on the tree.
10 Years Ago. . .
More than 150 residents attended the Christmas Wishes program on Dec. 13. Ron Aschoff was recognized for his service to country and community. A new veterans memorial — a replica of the Iwo Jima sculpture — was unveiled. Another part of the evening was the unveiling of the Osmond River Walk. Norm Lorenz explained the path would go to the memorial for the Honored 15 along Highway 20. Christmas Wishes 2015 raised $13,000.
