I REMEMBER...60 years ago
From the files of the "Aurora News"
1999
- February 17, 1999 - O.S. Norris and Sons are opening a furniture exchange on the north side of the square. They will buy, sell and trade used furniture there.
Bamesberger and Parpart submitted the low bid of $16,750 for building the Hampton City Auditorium. Work is expected to being on the project, WPA approval from Washington, D.C. is still needed.
The name of the Aurora Presbyterian Church of America, established in 1937, has been changed to the Aurora Orthodox Presbyterian Church after a decision by the church's general synod.
- February 24, 1999 - The Hamilton County Farmers Telehone Company has been awarded the contract to install lines from the KMMJ Radio Studio in Grand Island to the new transmitting tower, located one and a half miles west of Phillips.
When telephone company stock holders voted down a waiver to the REA on adding metallicized phone lines, the REA vowed to stop progress of adding rural electric lines in Hamilton County.
Fay Dobbs, Aurora mortician, city clerk and secretary of the chamber of commerce, announced he is selling his interest in Dobbs-Peterson Funeral Home and moving to Denver to work in the coroner's office there.
- March 10, 1999 - A.C. Enderle, employee of the Aurora Elevator Co., sustained cuts, bruises, a broken nose and had his arm pulled partially from the socket when he was caught in the machinery in the line shaft of the elevator. Although his clothes were pulled off and shredded in the accident, he was able to free himself, shut off the equipment and go for help.
Rural boys and girls, ages 12 - 18, are eligible to receive 30 free 30-day old chicks by joining the Aurora Chick Club. After raising the chicks, the members will return for an October show, where prizes will be awarded for the best and heaviest birds.
Nineteen year-old Leonard Johnson lost the end of one of his fingers to an enraged hog as he and his father were in the process of killing the animal to butcher it. He lives with his family north of Aurora.
- March 17, 1999 - Frank Henthorn and John Shaneyfelt are working to set up a baseball league covering about six counties. Early response has been positive. The John Faber home in Hampton remains under quarantine because the couple's daughter, Shirley has scarlet fever. Mrs. Faber was allowed to send a letter out of the home by having it fumigated in the office of Dr. O.M. Troester before it went into the mail.
- March 24, 1999 - The farm home occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Buller south of Hampton was destroyed by fire. No one was at home at the time of the blaze.
Aurora debate team members Betty Newman and Charles Eggert won state wide regonition when they finished second to Lincoln in district competition this week. Both teams will advance to state competition later this month.
An increasing number of farm families are expected to plant early gardens this year. The editor noted that garden produce saved many farm families through the drought years, allowing them to feed their families even when cash crops failed.
F.E. Edgerton has provided a room in the basement of the Safeway store as a club room for elderly men. The public was being asked to bring in chairs, tables, books, and magazines they are no longer using.
Aurora water users will get a break on watering their lawns and gardens this summer. Water Commissioner Fred Mills announced reduced rate for the next fiscal quarter, beginning April 1.
- March 31, 1999 - A Stockham man was fined $25 and costs for using traps to catch fish from the Blue River. The fisherman didn't have the money to pay off the fine, so is sitting out the time in the county jail.
Local sportsmen gathered at a meeting last week and organized the Hamilton County Game Protective Association. The group, which charges annual membership dues of $1, will be cooperating with the State Game and Fish Department of a pheasant project in Hamilton County.
Workmen completed planting 2,000 Chinese elm trees on a vacant city lot. The trees will be watered all summer and sold to Aurora residents next fall to be planted in yards here.
The temperature in Aurora dropped from 81 to 31 in one week and the change brought along snow that brought .28 inches of needed moisture to the area.
Two men were sentenced to time in the state penitentiary for stealing coal from Rural School District 64 southwest of Aurora. Both men had previous criminal records and had served time in Nebraska and Wyoming.
- April 7, 1999 - The Aurora Chamber of Commerce met with the city coucil, recommending that the summer band programs be dropped in the summer downtown to be replaced by free movies to be shown on the courthouse lawn.
A furnace concussion was reported at the Woodbine Apartments. The oil burning furnace failed to function before a surplus of oil was deposited. The small explosion blew off the furnace door and took out two basement windows, but no fire broke out.
- April 14, 1999 - Hamilton County School District #2, located three miles east of Stockham near the Blue River, sought a restraining order against Guy Miller, Abbie Figi and Robert Figi, who planned to dig a gravel pit near the school. The school board feared the pit would be dangerous to the children playing near-by, that there would be a chance of water seeping under the school's foundation, and that the noise of the equipment would be a nuisance during class time.
Marvin Scott and Malcom Torgerson started a trip to Omaha by bicycle to visit Dr. Hardy Scott, Marvins's father. The two planned to make the trip in two days, and teturn home in a week either by car or back on their bicycles.
T.B.Hord Grain Co. is ready to start construction on a new 60X24 foot warehouse.
Although gardeers are ready for spring, the temperatures aren't cooperating, with lows in the 20s several days and a light dusting of snow one night.
The first stop of a new Zephyr on the Burlington Northern Railroad in Aurora will bring a trainload of 160 representatives of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber mem ers will meet with business and professional people from Aurora.
- April 21, 1999 - Dr. H.L. Casebeer, whose mother-in-law, Mrs. W.T. Ronan lives in Aurora, received publicity for restoring the sight of a 75-year-old man through a delicate operation to remove a hyper-mature cataract and removed a corneal scar. The Casebeers now live in Butte, Mont.
A job of a substitute clerk-carrier with the post office was being advertised. The job would pay 65 cents per hour, or $1,700 per year at Aurora.
- April 28, 1999 - Elmer H. Feldt lost his lawsuit against the Farmers State Bank. His lawsuit challenged the terms of repayment of deposits after the bank was reorganized in 1934. The bank had been closed by state and federal proclamation in March 1933, and was not reopened until March of 1934, with settlement to depositors. The judge ruled that Feldt had originally agreed to terms of the settlement, and also that the statute of limitations had expired on the issue.
Workmen who were planting a tree on the courthouse lawn uncovered an old well, which had been capped by an old sprinkling can. The well was estimated to drop 39 to 40 feet to water. It is believed the well predated the city water system, which was built in 1889.
All school children in the county were being offered an inoculation against diptheria. A minimal charge of 35 cents was being charged for the inoculation by the Hamilton County Medical Association.
Work is beginning on the local rural electric lines; the cost is estimated at $313 per mile to string the wire and put up the poles.
- May 5, 1999 - The senior class of 1939 of Aurora High School was listed in the paper. The class has 58 members, including 25 boys and 33 girls.
An old clay pit, ownded by Hamilton County Farms, will be leased by the city for a dumping site. The it is located on the southwest edge of Aurora.
The Rural Electrification Association lines will be going up soon in the county. There are 75 miles of line to be staked out in the next 10 days before the work can begin.
A lack of interest has caused the Lester Harter Post of the American Legion to drop its junior legion baseball programs.
Eighty acres of Hamilton County land sold for $16 per acre and a house in Giltner sold for $410 in a recent referee's sale.
- May 12, 1999 - A twister struck the Rudy Niklaus farm west of Giltner, toppling a granary and taking down a large barn. It was estimated that 15-20 other farmsteads in that area had damage from the same storm. Mr. Niklaus was running between his barn and his house when the storm hit; he survived by laying flat on the ground while the debris flew over him.
Local volunteers are getting ready to put up equipment to raise pheasant chicks for release into the area.
One hundred members attended the spring gala opening of the Aurora Country Club. Dinner music, skits and food were all part of the evenings's entertainment.
Aurora native Volta Terry, who is now the news review editor of the Associated Press offices in New York, has been named one of 12 journalists to receive a Nieman fellowship to Harvard University. He will study economics and government at Harvard.
Most of the Hamilton County rural schools will be ending the school year this week. The four eight-month schools in the county have been done for two weeks.
- August 18, 1999 - Firefighter in Aurora were pleased with a good year within the city limits. They had answered 14 total calls over the past 12 months, with an estimated loss to fire of just $570.
Large billboards have been put up at Seward and again outside Grand Island to urge travelers to use a route along Highway 34 to Grand Island and then west on Highway 30 as the best paved route to Colorado.
A rodeo and a full slate of town team baseball games have been added to the schedule of the Hamilton County Fair later this month.
- September 1, 1999 - J.A. Doremus has resigned as the superintendent of schools at Aurora. He has been with the district for 22 years; the board named his superintendent emeritus in recognition of his successful service. Del Danker was named the new superintendent of schools.
Congressman Carl T. Curtis gave the dedication address at the new Hampton Auditorium. The stage of the building will be available for community and school events; the Hampton Basketball team will be playing its home games there.
The Hamilton County Fair was underway. One popular activity was a pulling contest between fire departments form each of the towns in the county and a team of horses, owned by Art Enderle.
Hopes for a better crop year in 1939 were dashed when just .78 inches of rain fell here during August. Huge cracks could be found everywhere in the ground. Despite the drought the Zavgren brothers were harvesting a bumper crop of plums at their home on the east side of Aurora.
- September 9, 1999 - Forty-two prospective Aurora football players have reported for fall camp. There are eight lettermen returning from last year's squad.
Livestock judged from Hamilton County grabbed four first place team awards. The top winning teams included the crop judging team, Donald Vetter winning, George Kemper placing third and Malcom Torgerson placing seventh. The top girls room judging team was made of Jean Cole and Beatrice Groom; and the top baked good judging teams included Jean Castle and Lenora Jennies. The county's swine judging team was also first.
Charles Egret has built a baseball diamond at his farm west of the fairgrounds. The diamond helps fill a void since the diamond at Strata Park is no longer available after football practice started.
Aurora High School opened with approximately 250 students enrolled in the four grades.
- September 15, 1999 - Stockhan pioneer Septimus F. Lentz, 71 died in a car-train crash west of Adams. He was on his way back to Hamilton County after visiting his son, Levi, in Missouri, who had sustained injuries to his eyes after burning then with battery acid recently.
Johnson Hardware is having a stock reduction sale before moving to the south side of the square next month in the building now occupied by the Kelly Shoe Shop.
More than 300 people attended the Hamilton County Farms annual field day. The crowd included hybrid seed corn dealers who came to inspect the results of this years test plots.
- September 22, 1999 - J.A. Doremus, 69, who retired last month as Aurora's superintendent of school, died at his home after an illness of about three years. He served as the president of the State Teacher's Association in 1929.
The publishers of the Republican Register responded to the drought conditions by offering a one-day subscription special of $1 per year. The normal rate is $1.50 per year.
J.A. Michel has purchased the McGregor Grocery at Marquette, and will open his business this weekend giving away free coffee and donuts.
- September 29, 1999 - An inexperienced Aurora Football team lost its first game of the season to Harvard, 9-0.
A group of area ministers enjoyed a salmagundi dinner in honor of a new minister in the area, Rev. Nathan J. Sundberg.
The city council voted to complete the graveling project to gravel J Street. The project was halted that year because of a pressing need for gravel on other streets.
- October 6, 1999 - Actual damage to the nursing home managed by Margaret Moore was less than $500 wen fire hit there late last week, but the dense smoke from the fire was deadly to one of the nine patients there. Marie Johansen, 81, formerly of Marquette, died later that night from shock and exposure. The foremen were already gathered for a meeting when the alarm was sounded, so responded quickly to put out the fire and assist the Patients as they evacuated the building.
Carrol Featherstone, a traveling salesman from Tennessee, was charged with soliciting a teacher for funds during school hours. He sold magazines to a teacher in a rural school between Marquette and Aurora; then forged one of the board member's names to the check before cashing the check at a gas station.
- October 27, 1999 - The Doniphan School built in 1911, lost its first floor to a serious fire, which caused $10-15,000 in damage. School records were saved, but there was a huge amount of loss in damage to books.
Twenty-six wild coyotes will be turned loose in an afternoon of dog and coyote chases at the Sol McHargue farm near Central City. Dog owners will have their pets compete for speed and hunting skill in the chase.
November 24, 1999 - A water main to the courthouse, plus a lawn sprinkling system will be installed through a WPA project scheduled to begin this week.
The Nebraska Attorney General ruled that it was illegal for schools to charge fees to take certain courses. Aurora had joined many other schools in the state in charging for some courses, such as typing; the price had become a hardship for some during the Depression.
Milton Gustafson of Aurora won the livestock essay writing contest at the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture. As a prize, he wins a trip to the International Livestock Show in Denver.
Residents all over the state continue to debate the route of the new Highway 2, west from Lincoln. Others throughout the state are asking for equal treatment and paved roads all over Nebraska.
Mild November weather had led to reports that rose bushes, ash trees and some fruit trees are leafing out this week.
- December 1, 1999 - Harold Beins of Phillips, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Beins, was one of six Nebraska farmers honored for outstanding recognition in the 1939 Nebraska pasture-livestock-forage program. The honor came for having a well-balanced livestock operation.
The annual Red Cross drive ended on Thanksgiving day with more than $257 in donations this year, according to Ella Anderson, county chairman.
Albion defeated Aurora in football 33-6 to end the Huskie’s season. The Huskies, with few returning starters, were unable to win a game this season.
Seven 4-H Club Members leave for Chicago this weekend to compete at the 4-H Club Congress. They include Beatrice Gorham, Jean Cole, George Kemper, Malcolm Torgerson, Kenneth Herold, Gail Hendricksen and Archie Madsen.
The Iowa-Nebraska Power Company was advertising a 99 cent "Modernlite", complete with bulb. It had a attractive reflector and glass diffusing lens.
- December 15, 1999 - County Treasurer Hattie Jones announced that 3,200 new automobile license plates have arrived. The new plated have arrived. The new plates have a bright blue background with orange lettering, including a picture of the capitol between the county number and the plate number.
A high bid of $800 was accepted for the Aurora hotel at a sheriff’s tax foreclosure sale. The hotel will operate under current management until the sale is verified. It was noted that the county could have razed the building for materials and netted far more than the $800 sale.
The first rural electric poles were set about six miles north of Aurora. The first went up on the Fred Weedin farm; the second, just across the road at his brother, Frank’s home.
Work man have been busy the past week digging trenches to install new water mains on the courthouse yard.
Aurora stores will begin staying open until 9 p.m. every night next week until Christmas to accommodate the extra shoppers.
- December 29, 1999 - Wm. B. Cheyney, 79, at prominent Wheeler County businessman died on Christmas afternoon at his family’s business, a service station located six miles west of Aurora. WPA. and Frank Cheyenne recently took over the business.
WPA workmen have drawn the ire of many county residents for severely trimming back trees on the courthouse lawn. The workmen say the trees are full of grubs and needed the trim.
Ray Thomas of Clay Center has been named to fill the vacancy in the legislature created by the death of Jay Hastings.
R.A. Brummond, who lives north of Giltner, was found dead after an apparent suicide this week. He had been questioned in the shooting death of his brother-in-law, Adolph Shipman last week.
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