Echoes-Feb 25 2004: Sheridan Co. NE GenWeb

Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications

Echoes of the Past
Feb 25, 2004
columns by Helen Selee

100 Years Ago - 1904

The opening of the Swigert Opera House took place Wednesday evening with the first show being put on by the Reno Novelty Company, and most of the numbers introduced by the company were very clever. The building has been repaired and is neat and clean, with a good new floor. The stage, while not large, has been tastefully fixed up and furnishes the best surroundings that Gordon has ever had in the way of stage arrangements. A fair-sized audience was present at the opening.

The ladies of the W.R.C. will entertain the public at the Swigert Opera House on Friday evening, March 4th. A program consisting of music by the Orchestra, vocal solos and recitations will be rendered. Games, consisting of Flinch, Pit, Carom and Checkers will be furnished. All are cordially invited. Admission is 25 cents.

W.W. Parsons is making arrangements to move to Hastings, and will leave by or before the first of next month. He will continue the work for the New York Life Insurance Co. The territory now given him is claimed to be the best in the state for this line of work. We are sorry to lose Mr. Parsons, his wife and her sister from among us, but heartily wish them happiness and prosperity in their new home.

Surely the time for winter is about past and the weather man evidently ran out of winter goods before he got around to these parts. Besides that, the playing of marbles has commenced in earnest, so spring is surely not far away.

Thomas Wamsley and wife called in last Saturday to pay a year's subscription and to make the acquaintance of the red-headed sinner who pushes the plumbago on the Journal. They reside on the Elmer Gilger place on the river, this being their third winter in the county. They are so well pleased here that they can't be content Geneva on May 16, in order to revise the Geneva with the view of improving the treat-ment of wounded men.

Cleveland, Ohio, was again a city of mourning on Friday. Business was practically suspended and a large proportion of the population paid homage to their distinguished fellow citizen, Senator Marcus A. Hanna. The funeral was held in the afternoon at St. Paul's Episcopal church. Senator Hanna was born in Lisbon, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1837, and died in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 15, 1904. He was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and the manager of Pres. McKinley's two presidential campaigns.

Judd Morey was able to be up and out of doors to do some walking this week. We are glad to know he is doing so well.

While in Harrison on Tuesday of last week we met Mr. Pontius and Floyd Jones. The former is county clerk and the latter has an interest in a drug store and says he is doing nicely, and has a good thing. While we were there Floyd came very near losing an eye. He was shooting with a 22 calibre rifle at short range with a knot on a tree as a mark. He hit the mark all right, and the bullet glanced backward, striking him in the eye causing some injury. Only a little more force would have put out the eye.

While talking to Lee Fritz, county treasurer, he tells us that the people cuss him like they consider him to blame because they owe taxes, because they are behind in payment and because they must be paid. It seems very hard for a lot of people to understand that the treasurer has nothing whatever to do with the assessment of taxes or the errors thereof, he is to collect them. He has nothing to do with the issue of distress warrants and forced collection of taxes, for the law provides that these things must be done and he is forced to do them whether he wants to or not. Bear in mind that the county treasurer is not to blame if you owe taxes, he is not to blame if you are behind eight or ten years, and not to blame if you are forced to pay them. Don't allow yourself to get the idea that a county officer should be abused just because you are in trouble, at least don't growl at him for something he is not responsible for. He has troubles enough of his own.

75 Years Ago - 1929

The large house on the farm of Mrs. A.L. Davis, northwest of Gordon, was destroyed by fire last Saturday morning, with a loss estimated at $20,000. Fire started in the roof, evidently from a defective chimney and when discovered was beyond control. The fire truck from Gordon went out but there was nothing that could be done to check the sweep of the flames.

It is said that Billy Fuscher is the best car driver in the country for on Wednesday he drove into town from the farm with a pan of freshly roasted meat sitting on the top of his car. It was not discovered until he reached town. We won't vouch for the truth of this ourselves, but it's said to be true, just the same.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Fuscher celebrated their wedding anniversary last Sunday by entertaining a number of their friends at their home in Irwin. After a delightful dinner the afternoon was spent in fishing in Gay Lake. Those present were: Dr. and Mrs. Larson, Mr. and Mrs., Don Taylor, Miss Marjorie Boyles, all of Gordon, and Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Brittain and Miss Hang of Irwin.

The fire department was called out again Wednesday night about 7 p.m. when fire was discovered in the pumping plant at the city water works. The fire was soon extinguished but not until after one unit of the pumping equipment had been ruined.

On Monday, Feb. 25, at Martin, S.D. occurred the marriage of Miss Gladys Trueblood and Ferd Shald. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sears. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Trueblood and grew to womanhood in the vicinity of Gordon and attended public school here. The groom has been employed for a year or more in the Jewell Stark Meat Market. The young couple have taken rooms at the Cap Hill Apartments. They have the best wishes of their many friends.

Joseph Fairhead was able to be taken out for a car ride last week after his long and serious illness. Mr. Fairhead's many friends are glad that he has improved to such a degree.

Lola May, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Morgan died Sunday morning, February 24th at the home of Mrs. E.M. Felix. She was 4 years, 11 months and 26 days old. The body was shipped to Creighton, Nebr. for interment.

Mrs. Chris Jensen entertained twelve friends Sunday in honor of the twelfth birthday of her daughter Ruth. A very pleasant time is reported by the little folk, who were pleased to be able to help Ruth celebrate her birthday.

Hudson Clayton, the Bayonne school teacher, is quite sick with the flu, so school is closed there for now.

The Fred Gardner home, south of Merriman, was burned to the ground last week. Only a few of their belongings were saved.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Christensen of Batesland are the parents of a baby girl, born Feb. 19th. The young lady was named Geneva June.

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Preble of Blizzard Hill are the parents of a new baby girl, born Feb. 24th.

Lyle Hull accompanied a shipment of cattle to Dunlap, Ia. Wednesday night. From there he will go to Texas to buy cattle.

Joseph Fairhead was the recipient of a postal card shower last Saturday, the 23rd, that day being his birthday. Mr. Fairhead was very much pleased at the number of cards he received, showing the best wishes of his friends.

The term penny has been in general use in this country since the Revolutionary War, but it has never been the official designation of any coin minted in the United States. It is and has been a recognized coin of Great Britain and the coinage of England was used in this country for a number of years after the Revolution, and the use of the term became an established custom at that time and the name became applied to the cent as it was about the same value. The first cents actually minted under the Constitution appeared in 1793.

H.M. Jamison and Ed Gregg left Tuesday for Fort Morgan. They returned Friday. Mr. Jamison, while there, looked after his ranch. Mr. Gregg brought back a goat, as their little daughter has not been well.

George Jackson, secretary of the state fair, has a scheme for enlarging the seating capacity of the grand stand, provided the legislature will grant him authority to do so. If George doesn't have any better luck getting legislators to do what he wants done than some of the rest of us have, he had better notify his patrons to bring along their milking stools if they want to sit down.

Monday, Herbert Hoover will become the president of the greatest country in the world. He will go into office with the best wishes of the entire people of the United States. Having been selected after a warm campaign, almost carrying the entire total of states, he had a great job before him. To date, he has even surpassed President Coolidge in the matter of silence. But Herbert Hoover's past record has been one of accomplishment and not of conversation. The past few years have shown that a president need not be a great conversationalist -- congress attends to that. So, after next Monday, it is President Hoover.

Harlan Young of Denby fell on the ice while skating last Sunday and injured his shoulder quite badly.

Frank Hummel suffered a painful injury on Tuesday when he slipped and fell on the icy sidewalk, breaking a rib.

50 Years Ago - 1954

The Gordon Broncs suffered their third loss of the basketball season at Bridgeport Thursday night by a score of 56-48. This loss knocks the Broncs from the upper rating of the conference with almost no chance for first place. On Friday night they posted their 12th victory over the Rushville Longhorns with a score of 81-55. Then on Tuesday night the Broncs traveled to Chadron and lost with a score of 44-42.

John Oster was awarded first place in the Americanism essay contest sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. Martin Hess earned second place and Phyllis Marshall, third. The topic for this year was My United States Citizenship - What It Means to Me. Young Oster's prize-winning essay will be entered in state competition.

Mr. and Mrs. Bland Thompson of Belfair, Wash. welcomed their first grandson, born Jan. 14th to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Thompson. The baby, John Louis, is the first male child in the Thompson family in 38 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Finkey entertained in honor of Capt. and Mrs. William A. Finkey of Laredo, Tex. at a dinner Saturday evening, Feb. 20. Mrs. Oma Finkey and Elizabeth of Rushville were also guests at the dinner. Capt. Finkey is visiting friends and relatives here while on furlough.

Mr. and Mrs. Hisel Martin entertained at dinner Thursday evening, Feb. 18 honoring the birthday of their son Paul. Guests for the occasion were Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Turnbull, Gary and Wayne Cobb and Miss Marion Martin. Later in the evening Mr. and Mrs. William Cobb and Carolyn joined the group.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Middleton are the parents of a daughter, Sean Marcy, born Febr. 19th.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hartwig are the parents of a son, Gregory Paul, born Febr. 21.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Capler are the parents of a son, born Febr. 23rd.

Ernest and Everett Holmgrain, students at CSTC, Miss Marie Blundell and Mrs. Helen Thompson were Sunday guests at the Floyd Holmgrain home in Gordon.

Miss Darlene Shuster RN and her fiancé Bill Barker were houseguests in the hoe of her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Shuster, from Wednesday until Sunday of last week. Miss Shuster is a nurse in Omaha and Mr. Barker is stationed with the armed forces there.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bartow returned Wednesday from a 4,000 mile trip that took them to Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Alabama and Arizona. The Bartows brought 500 pounds of radioactive uranium ore home with them and plan to operate an uranium center in Gordon. The ore was secured from an uranium mine in Nogales, Ariz., and is allotted under government supervision.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rash enter-tained in their home Sunday, Febr. 21 at a dinner honoring newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nyffler of Rushville. Other guests included Mrs. Alfred McCollister of Valentine, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Hull and family, and Mrs. Ross Rash. The Roy Rash's also held a reception for their daughter and son-in-law during the afternoon. A bride's cake decorated with pink rose buds was a feature of the refreshment hour.

M/Sgt. Robert K. Havener, son of John Havener of Gordon, is now a student at the army language school, Presidio of Monterey, Calif. He is enrolled for a concentrated six-month course in the German language. Sergeant Havener, a veteran of more than 13 years army duty, has among his awards the good conduct ribbon, American theatre campaign ribbon, World War II victory medal, army of occupation medal for duty in Germany and the UN and Korean service ribbons.

M/Sgt. and Mrs. Keith Smith and family were guests in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.I. Smith on Tuesday, Febr. 16. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Anderson were also guests for the day. Sgt. Smith has been stationed with the armed forces in Rapid City, S.D., but now has his assignment for three years in Japan. Mrs. Smith and family expect to join her husband there as soon as transportation can be arranged.

Mrs. Leonard Galyen of Merriman received word that her husband had arrived in the states after spending six months overseas with a marine division.

Pfc. James H. Hickman, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry F. Hickman, Bayonne route, Gordon, is now at Camp Hale, Colo. taking part in Exercise Ski Jump, the army's 1954 mountain and cold weather maneuver. Hickman is a cannoneer in the 4th field artillery battalion whose light mountain guns provide artillery support for an aggressive force waiting to pounce on U.S. friendly forces. Last unit of its kind, the battalion is equipped with pack mule-borne guns for fighting in unusual terrain such as mountains and jungles which cannot be penetrated by vehicles. Exercise Ski Jump, which will continue through March, began last month high in the rugged Colorado Rockies around Camp Hale.

25 Years Ago - 1979

Thirty-four Vocational-Agriculture and FFA students of Gordon High School traveled to Chappell on Febr. 21st for contests. The ribbon placers in livestock selection on the first team were Dan Otte, George Ehlers, and Bob Mills and the team placed second. Shane Fish, Erik Frandsen and Glen Bostock who were on the second team, placed fourth. Individually in this contest, Bob Mills placed fifth for a red ribbon and Dan Otte was 15th for a white ribbon. Livestock management teams placings were as follows: in dairy, Kim Letellier placed first for a blue ribbon; in beef, Jeff Anderson placed ninth for a white ribbon and Scott Berry split 10th place; in sheep, Carol Iske placed fifth for a red ribbon; in swine, Rick Burleigh placed third for a blue ribbon. Overall livestock management team placed fourth for a blue ribbon. The agronomy team consisted of Kirk Stone, Fred Ehlers and Josh Jamison. Kirk Stone placed sixth in individual efforts and overall the team placed sixth for a white ribbon. By Don Kruger - reporter.

Mr. and Mrs. James Sullivan, of Gordon, are the parents of a daughter, born Feb. 19, 1979.

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Schwaderer, of Gordon, are the parents of a son born Feb. 23rd.

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Gealy and Arden hosted a birthday dinner on Sunday honoring Raleigh Barker, who will be 85 on March 6th, and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Gealy, who recently celebrated their 80th birthdays. Entertainment was furnished by Lester Gealy who show slides of their trip to Scotland last year.

Mrs. Bland Oldenburg and Elmer Holzberger attended the Chadron college High Plains music festival concert Friday night at Memorial Hall in Chadron. Karol Oldenburg spent Thursday and Friday at the chorus clinic and sang in the choir.

Miss Candi Otte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Otte, has been accepted for the fall term at the National College of Business in Rapid City, S.D. Miss Otte is a senior in Gordon High School. She will be enrolled in the medical administrative assisting program.

Obituary: Chauncey Mitchel Crawford, son of Elliott and Adeline Crawford, was born of pioneer parents May 10, 1890, and died in the Gordon Memorial hospital Feb. 21, 1979. He married Christine Eitler in Hay Springs on June 2, 1920. They farmed for 36 years before moving renting out their farm and moving into Gordon. Memorial service were held at the First Presbyterian church of Gordon on Feb. 23, 1979, and burial was in the cemetery at Hay Springs.

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