From the Osmond Republican Files
April 14, 1898 —
On Friday and Saturday of last
week, the Jones sisters had their spring millinery opening. The show windows were very tastely [sic] decorated for the occasion and attracted the attention of all who passed by. A souvenir was given each caller, and according to the record there was over 100 called during the two days opening.
Why doesn’t Osmond have a ball
team, and try to keep within fifty years of the times.
Agent Busfield has his front window full of gold fish which he brought from Sioux City, on his last trip.
100 Years Ago. . .
One Tuesday afternoon, the house on the C. A. Kissinger farm northwest of town, occupied by Henry Koppelmann, was burned to the ground. The origin of the fire was unknown. Mr. Koppelmann was in the granary shelling seed corn when
he discovered the blaze. An alarm was sent in to Osmond and the fire department, accompanied by a large number of others, was on the ground as quickly as possible, but the house was burned to the ground and there was nothing to be done. Fortunately the house was situated southwest of the other buildings or the complete set of farm buildings would have been taken. It was a terrible day for a fire, owing to the high wind.
Miss Kathryn Devlin, one of Pierce County’s school teachers and who was principal of the Foster schools, had filed for county superintendent.
This made two in the race for this
office, Miss Ruth Kile being the other candidate.
While at Allen visiting the Theisen road grading outfit, Johnny Theisen smashed the thumb on the left hand, when a wheel, which he was helping raise, fell on it. The whole end of the bone was smashed, and Johnny
would have a sore hand for a while,
but he was lucky to save the finger.
The following Card of Thanks was
printed in the Osmond Republican:
"We take this means of thanking the Osmond Ku Klux Klan, also the many individual friends for their liberal cash donations, and also all those who have helped us in other ways because of our loss from the fire. Your kindness will never be forgotten. Henry Koppelman and family." [Editor's note: The Ku Klux Klan had a brief surge of influence in Nebraska during the 1920s, peaking around 45,000 in 1923, but declining by the end of the 1920s.]
75 Years Ago. . .
New stamp vending machines
were placed in the Van Ackeren Pharmacy and Thomsen Pool Hall.
The machines dispensed three-cent and one-cent stamps. The machines were privately owned and were purchased as a public service with the shortening of local postal hours a few weeks earlier. The machines dispensed 4 one-cent stamps for 5 cents or three 3-cent stamps for 10 cents. The margin of profit on the stamp sales had postal department
sanction.
Mrs. C. A. Middleton had been cherishing an orchid plant for seven long years and had at last been rewarded. Two weeks earlier, it burst into bloom, lasted one day, then again
recently had born another flower.
Workmen were in the midst of a
full-scale interior remodeling job at the Huey Garage here. The firm was the local dealer for Ford cars,
trucks and tractors and Dearborn implements. The business, long
established at Osmond and operated by E. J. Huey, was located across the street south of the Thomsen Pool Hall.
65 Years Ago. . .
The Redwood Broaster Inn, owned and operated by V. Glaze Reed, opened its doors to serve the public during the summer months. The Broaster, newly built the previous year and situated on Highway 20, featured broasted chicken and shrimp and also soft drinks, sundaes, etc. The Broaster had car-hop service.
The Osmond Tigers traveled to Wayne to participate in the Corntassel Conference track meet, and walked off with first place in the meet. This was the first time that Osmond had ever won the conference track meet. Individuals placing first were Charles Timmer in the 440-yard dash (new record); Darrell Steckelberg, 880-yard run (new record); Dick Hagelstein, mile run; Roger Francis pole vault, and the relay team of
Darrell Steckelberg, Dennis Johnson, Dick Hummel and Charles Timmer.
The entire student body was able to attend the track meet.
50 Years Ago. . .
The annual running of the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby was held at the pack meeting in April. Making the winning car was Dennis Kuhl. Placing second was Mike Buchanan, while Paul Petersen was third. There were 13 hand-carved derby cars en- tered by the scouts. The three winners received large trophies and all other entrants received small trophies for participation. Awards were presented during the meeting to those selling s pecific numbers of tickets to the Scout-O-Rama: Pocket patches were received by Mike Wingert, Mike Wanke, Dennis Kuhl and David Johnson; patch and neckerchief slide went to Joe Blecha; patch, slide and neckerchief went to Darrell Kahler, Doug Fox and Tim Buske. Winning the patch, slide, neckerchief and belt buckle were Kelly Bruckner and Mike Buchanan. Kuhl later placed sixth among 268 pinewood derby entries in the Diamo nd Dick competition in Norfolk.
25 Years Ago. . .
Personnel of Osmond’s emergency response teams took part in a mock di - saster drill. An "explosion" was staged at Osmond Farm Supply after which ambulance, fire, police and hospital personnel went through their plans of action for such a disaster. Individuals were made up as victims for the drill.
Pierce High School was the site of the 2001 Lewis and Clark Confer - ence track meet. The Osmond boys' team had been runner-up the last two seasons, but this time they took the top spot, even without one of their top scorers and with high winds and warm temperatures .
10 Years Ago. . .
Andrea Schmit, competing on a
strong field of 200-meter springers at the Norfolk Track and Field Classic, won a fourth-place medal in a very tight finish.
Seventeen seniors completed their secondary education on Saturday, May 7, and received their high school diplomas. The valedictorian of the class was Caleb Krohn, while the salutatorian was Samantha Aschoff. Ranking third was Erica Slagle; fourth was Ryley Kumm; fifth, Karli Ferry, and sixth, Dante Schmit.
The Osmond Republican earned statewide recognition at the Nebraska Press Association Convention in Kearney. The Republican received a second-place plaque for its special historical section promoting Osmond’s Q125 celebration.
