On this date . . .
In the early hours of Jan. 17, 1910, the public school building and all its contents were destroyed by fire. Students finished the term in available housing in town with books borrowed from Pierce Public School. Bohrer Bros. completed a new building in time for the fall term with dedication on Nov. 12. Only a year earlier, in 1909, the school had received its new bell, and orange and black were chosen school colors for the year.
Jan. 6, 1898 —
Judge Hoes came in from the sunny South on Wednesday evening. He reports a splendid time and plenty of alligators and bear.
The Short Line carpenters are erecting a coal house near the track, and in future Osmond will have a coal station.
H. J. Billerbeck has just put in a new Bleckensderfer typewriter. This is an improvement long needed in his business as his correspondence is large and growing.
100 Years Ago. . .
A. L. Kissinger sold to the Kitselman Commission Company a steer, one year old, which he raised, that weighed 810 pounds, and brought him $72.90. This was a record to be proud of, and that would be hard for a farmer to beat.
Jerry Sazama was not going to hold a farm sale. He had his bills all out and then found out that he could stay on his farm another year, so would not have the sale.
Wm. Eirenberg’s store was having its two big dollar days sale, with everything listed here for $1: 10 cans pork and beans, 3 dozen oranges, 4 lbs. fancy cookies, 7 large cans kraut, 9 cans sweet as sugar corn, 9 cans sweet peas, 2 gallon cans of dark syrup, 3 large cans sliced pineapple, 8 lbs. puffed raisins, 5 large cans of tomatoes, 4 cans Royal Ann white cherries, ladies’ silk hose, any men’s work short, 2 men’s silk and knitted ties, 2 pair men’s silk hose, men’s ribbed Union suits, 6 yards bleached or unbleached muslin, 5 yards percale, pattern oil table cloths, 5 yards dark or light outing flannels, 6 yards crash toweling.
75 Years Ago. . .
A Kansas trucker accompanied by his son literally had 10 tons of hay thrown at his vehicle nine miles east of Osmond at the No. 20-81 intersection. The huge load was dumped on the halted Kansas truck as it waited at a stop sign at the intersection as the other truck was making a turn. Both occupants of the stricken truck were brought to the Osmond hospital. One man required several facial stitches. Both suffered bruises. Damage to the truck was estimated at more than $600.
The Osmond librarian, in her weekly column, advised that the library had a new publication, “The Prairie Schooner.” She commented, “The selections are from American writers, some of them Nebraska writers. It is hoped this magazine will appeal to some readers. To the writer [speaking of herself], it is on a par with much of the modern art, worthless. Judge for yourselves.”
Little Helen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kuhl, visited her parents through the holidays. She was a pupil at the school for the deaf in Omaha. [Helen would have been about 12 years old at this time. Her obituary said she attended the school until she was 16 years old.] Confusion in a matter of the utmost importance to family and friends was the picture in the case surrounding Robert “Shad” Wortman, 20-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Wortman of Osmond. Robert had been with the army in Japan and Korea, and his parents received a telegram from army headquarters in Washington reporting him “Missing in Action in Korea since 2 Dec. 50.” But his parents had a letter from their son, written in longhand and signed by him, dated Jan. 4, 1951. At least one other letter had been received by friends here dated later than the reported missing date. The letter to his parents, among other things, stated that, “I spent Christmas in Japan and had a fairly nice time.” The local Red Cross chairman wrote Washington in an attempt to clarify the matter.
65 Years Ago. . .
Some 114 pints of blood were collected by the Red Cross Bloodmobile at the city auditorium here, exceeding the quota of 100 pints that had been set. The weather was fine, and this together with an increasing appreciation of the importance of the blood program because of a plan of education, was believed to be responsible for the noteworthy turnout.
A 36-section coyote hunt was held Jan. 22, 1961, which drew hunters from a wide area in an attempt to rid Logan Precinct and several adjoining sections of numerous coyotes. A game warden had advised that no hunting license was required to shoot either coyotes or jack rabbits. They were turned in at the roundup where they were sold to defray expenses, and net proceeds were given to the March of Dimes. At the end of the day, seven coyotes were shot and at least six were known to have escaped. Some 210 jack rabbits fell before hunters’ guns and were sold at auction, along with the predators. The jacks brought 41¢ each for a total of $86.10. With the money received for the coyotes, the total was $146.60. Unlike the county on the animals, the estimates on participants varied greatly. Reports said the people numbered from 450 to 3,000. Lower estimates, it was explained, counted only actual participants, while the higher figures included persons in automobiles who came only to see.
50 Years Ago. . .
Extremely cold weather did not stop potential blood donors from getting to Osmond when the Red Cross bloodmobile was here. Of the 117 persons who came to the blood center, 106 were accepted as donors. The quota had been set at 94 units. It was estimated that 120 would be needed to meet the quota. However, the number of deferments was low, giving a total that surpassed the goal by 12.
Some of the furnishings of the old Methodist church were sold at auction. Items included 10 10-ft. pews, two 9-ft. pews, 1 6-ft. pew, 14 children’s chairs, pulpit chair, choir wall lamp, two bathroom lavatories, Silent Sioux oil burner with blower, eight steel folding chairs, 12 wood folding chairs, nearly new porcelain double kitchen sink, as well as the following antiques: desk, bath tub, round oak table, Hoover vacuum cleaner, book cabinet, dressing table, China cabinet, two wood filing cabinets, Tidy Maid carpet sweeper. Proceeds would go to the building fund.
25 Years Ago. . .
Members of the Osmond High School boys’basketball team emerged victors of two tournaments — one at Stanton just after Christmas and the other at Wausa.
Seating of new members took place at the January meeting of the District 42R Board of Education and the city council. Newcomers to the school board were Jason Bahr and Terri Kumm. Dennis Haselhorst joined the city council to fill the unexpired term of councilman Henry Schmit who resigned to become mayor.
10 Years Ago. . .
Donations of blood at the Jan. 12 visit of the Red Cross bloodmobile to Osmond nearly reached the goal. Some 49 individuals volunteered blood with six of them being double red cell donations. The grand total was 55 units, just four shy of the goal of 59.
The Osmond Police Department was awarded a highway safety grant to assist in obtaining one mobile radar unit. The mobile radar speed detection equipment provides the agency with a state-of-the-art system that enhances speed control efforts.
