March 31, 1898 —
Henry Mohr informs us that his wife’s sister was burned to death one day last week.
Found: A grain sickle on the road near the Lambert school house. Owner can have same by paying for this notice.
L. Schmitz has just purchased two bicycles, a lady’s and a gent’s wheel, which he presented to his son and daughter. They make fine presents.
Work on the creamery is being quite rapidly pushed by contractors Calundan & Friday. The gentlemen will do the Harding people as good a job as they ever had done.
100 Years Ago. . .
In the Foster Items, Tawney Holmes, son of Will Holmes, got his leg broken. He went to get off his horse he was riding, and his foot got fast in one stirrup, and the horse drug him quite a distance, breaking both bones of the ankle.
Hans Petersen had the misfortune to break his left collarbone, when one of his farm teams, which he was driving, ran away. He was getting along nicely.
The OHS team played exceptionally good basketball in the Lincoln tournament and established a record that we may well feel proud of. We won over Lexington 18 to 5, and over Minden 16 to 9. We lost the third game with Alma by the score of 36 to 18. Our line-up was Craven, G. Childs, M. Childs, Pochop, Goeres, Senift and Riessen. Riessen made 15 of the 16 points in the first game, and 16 of Osmond's 18 points in the final game. The Osmond Community Club sent a telegram of congratulations to the Osmond basketball team upon the excellent showing. Osmond was playing for a chance at the Class I cup in the 16th annual tournament.
C. F. Boye published the following notice: Stolen — A few days ago, some boy took the following from the show case in my office: Box of flashlight bulbs, one nickel-plated
spotlight, one alcohol torch, some flashlight batteries, one phonograph unit for radio, radio tubes and other articles. A liberal reward will be offered to any giving information leading to the recovery of goods, and conviction of the thief.
The village board of Osmond met in adjourned session with all members present, to-wit: Chairman L. B. Matteson, W. F. Schroeder, E. J. Huey, Chas. Rohrberg and E. G. Schauppner. The matter of graveling State street was discussed. Paul Thomsen was present and shoed samples of gravel which they could furnish and quoted prices on same. Upon motion by Rohrberg and seconded by Schroeder, the board adjourned, all voting aye.
75 Years Ago. . .
Two new members were voted into the Osmond Volunteer Fire Department. They were Cletus Becker and Vernon Meyer.
In 1951, 14 4- H clubs were registered in Pierce County at the time of National 4-H Achievement Week, with 130 members. Clubs in Osmond and their leaders included Cloverettes, Mrs. H. A. Goger and Miss Barbara Swanda; Teen Agers, Mrs. A. G. Swanda and Mrs. H. A. Goger; Jolly Seamstresses, Mrs. Walter Hoffman and Miss Rolanda Hoffman; Kontry Hicks, Andrew Blackmer and Norman Lorenz; Jolly Rogers, Clifford Nissen and Junior Riedel.
Out on the Jack Theisen farm a mile southwest of Osmond, there was a little, long-haired female dog, Taffy, who had given up a nice warm bed in the farm house basement to sleep alongside the hog barn on a pile of open air straw with an anxious eye to the barn’s doors. Since Taffy found out there were little pigs in there, her self-chosen duty was one of guardian. One night, she remained at her station though the temperature dropped below zero. When permitted to enter the hog barn, Taffy displayed a fondness for the little pigs that would be the envy of any pig-mother.
The season’s heaviest and worst snow storm descended over this territory during the weekend, and the digging out process began in earnest on Tuesday with efforts before that almost futile because of blowing light snow. Travelers were stranded in Osmond and most other towns in the hard-hit area Monday night. Occupants of some stalled autos trekked to farm homes for lodging and food reminiscent of the winter of 1948-49 when winter-long snow and cold played havoc with traffic.
An estimated eight inches of snow fell at Osmond. This came in addition to a similar amount a week before. Several persons reported hearing what apparently was a single motor small plane flying over Osmond at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The plane circled the town for nearly five minutes in the midnight darkness before departing.
65 Years Ago. . .
An Osmond young farmer did battle with a couple of skunks one morning. As he told the story in the Republican office, he had the odor to prove his point. Dearld Hamm, who farmed the Babe Theisen place west of Osmond, set a trap near his corn crib where he had previously caught five skunks that winter. The set was successful. As he approached the trapped animal, another emerged from a nearby hiding place and made directly for the trapper. In the ensuing battle, the attacking skunk was killed by blows from Hamm's rifle butt, making the day’s skunk tally two instead of one.
Fred Weiand Jr. advertised the Wilson Barber Shop was under new management: “We are pleased to announce the leasing with the probability of purchase of the Wilson Barber Shop at Osmond. Open five days a week and Saturday nights; closed Mondays. Experienced barber, cutting all styles — you name it, we’ll cut it! Flat tops, duck tails, Hollywoods.”
Tom Allen, World-Herald roving reporter, wrote a story about a young Osmond girl and an old horse, Barney. The story was reprinted in the Osmond Republican. It was the love story of DeLila Smith and Old Barney. DeLila was minus two front teeth and loved animals with all the adoration a tender heart of six years could summon. Old Barney was a big 23-year-old "plain farm horse" filled with tenderness for DeLila.
Jerry Petersen, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Petersen, underwent an operation for removal of a gangrenous appendix at St. Joseph Hospital at Omaha. His mother spent three days in Omaha during the ordeal.
Weekend specials at Osmond Drug included: Lilt permanent, $1.55; Aqua Velva and Lectric Shave, both for only 89¢; Aspirin, two bottles of 100 each, both for 59¢; Johnson & Johnson chest rub stick, 49¢; Vaseline hair creme, 55¢; wall paper close out, new patterns, single roll, 19¢.
50 Years Ago. . .
Mrs. Randy Gansebom and Mrs. Gary Lemke of the Osmond Woman’s Club presented Don Blecha a $10 check for designing the winning entry in a contest sponsored by the Woman’s Club for the 1976 Pierce County License Plate Directory which it was compiling. Thirty-eight cover designs were submitted in the countywide contest.
A late winter blizzard of rain, changing to snow, accompanied by strong winds produced only about two inches of snow, but the snow was driven by winds gusting more than 50 mph, which caused drifting and poor visibility. Highways and roads were drifted shut in some of the usual problem locations. Classes were again suspended for the day and school was not held that Saturday as was previously announced would be the case if school had to be cancelled during the week. The county superintendent had waived the one day of school missed.
25 Years Ago. . .
A two-car crash took place at the intersection of Second and Logan streets, according to Police Chief Jeff Wallick. A 1997 Plymouth Neon, driven by Traci Manzer, was westbound on Second Street. Her vehicle collided with a southbound 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme driven by Lori Wingert. Mrs. Wingert was taken to Osmond General Hospital where she was treated for injuries to the side of her head. No citations were issued.
At the March meeting of the board of education, a good deal of time was spent hearing a presentation on Power School, an administrative software package. In addition to student record keeping, report cards, transcript and other data, the program would allow parents to log on to check student homework.
10 Years Ago. . .
The move of Osmond Senior Citizens to their new home on the west side of State Street (formerly Petals and Pastries) began. Osmond High School FBLA members helped with the move on March 10. Come Monday, March 14, sons of the American Legion joined the seniors in completing the move across the street.
Plans were to hold the annual Community Club Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 19. But Mother Nature changed that. Residents awoke that day to the ground covered in snow. At the scheduled “hunt time, temperatures hovered in the lower 30s and a strong wind was blowing. So, Plan B, Osmond city hall. Winners finding the $5 eggs were Caydence Krienert, Jack Berg, Alexander Fritz, Aubrey Weyhrich and Rylie Weyhrich.
