Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications
Echoes of the Past
Jan. 7, 2004
columns by Helen Selee
100 Years Ago - 1904
[*Due to some missing issues of the first month of 1904, this issue will be lacking some of the personal society notices, and will be replaced by some of the general local, state and national news items of the last weeks of 1903 that lack of room prohibited inclusion before.]
Prof. Morey, superintendent of the Institute for the Blind at Nebraska City, is so proud of the work done by his pupils and so anxious that the public should know what a blind boy or girl may be taught to do that he has asked the governor s permission to select a company of the inmates and give entertainments in the larger towns this winter.
Miss Stella Mayhew, an actress, is enjoying a season of deserved popularity at St. Paul. When the company with which she is playing arrived in the city, the streets were in a filthy condition. Miss Mayhew advertised for a force of fifty volunteers to clean them and at the head of the gang that responded to her call, she gave the down town thoroughfares a thorough scouring. Now the entire population is singing her praises and she is playing to crowded houses.
I am going to my grandma in Iowa if I have to walk all the way, said little Kittie Cameron, a 13 year old girl of Petersburg, Nebr., when something went wrong the other day, and she has not been seen at home since. One neighbor passed her a day later eight miles away walking toward the state of Iowa as fast as her little legs could carry her frail, cold form, but nothing else has been heard from Kittie.
Nebraska's figures on crops for 1903 show the following:
Wheat 43,660,318 bu.
Corn 169,693,965 bu.
Oats 66,619,504 bu.
Rye 10,105,700 bu.State Superintendent of Schools Fowler had made his report of the appropriations of funds to the countin to Rockville for trial. Harmon recognized them as friends of McCann, who had sworn to take his life, and the sheriff refused to give him up. The men returned to Darlington, wrecked the home of the marshals son, Shelby Harmon, and drove his family into the street. They have not been arrested. Harmon was taken to Rockville and placed in jail there. (*Note: And we wonder where Hollywood got the ideas for all those grade B westerns???)
The way patent medicines grab people and snatch them away from death and disease, it is a wonder that any are sick and that the great army of doctors are able to make a living.
In Fremont, Nebr., the fine for a man being drunk seems to be $1 and the fine for a woman who is bad $5. A woman down there arrested for being bad was fined and ordered to leave the town, but the fellow found with her seems to have no record in the police court. If the woman was bad we fail to see why the man was not just as bad. It is a strange equality that we see dealt out in this world sometimes.
The smart people who KNOW that typhoid fever does not prevail in the winter time will take notice that the doctors report 1,200 cases at Butler, Pa.
At Plattsmouth, Albert Nyden met with a peculiar accident while hunting. He was in the act of shooting at a rabbit when his shotgun suddenly exploded--a piece of the barrel passing with terrific force so close to his head as to carry his cap into the air.
It will be good news to the mothers of small children to learn that croup can be prevented. The first sign of croup is hoarseness. A day or two before the attack, the child becomes hoarse. This is soon followed by a peculiar rough cough. Give Chamberlain's Cough Remedy freely as soon as the child becomes hoarse or even after the rough cough appears, and it will dispel all symptoms of croup. In this way all danger and anxiety may be avoided. This remedy is used by many thousands of mothers and has never been know to fail. It is, in fact, the only remedy that can always be depended upon and that is pleasant and safe to take. For sale at Saults Pharmacy in Gordon.
The Chadron Times informs the public that a man named Hugh Perkins has learned that Clarence Three Stars has discovered coal in Nebraska soil northeast of and in proximity to the oil well. As this afore-mentioned oil well is not marked on the map, we are not certain as to where it is, but suppose it is near Chadron. In regard to Three Stars correspondence with the governor, the Times says as follows:
He wrote to Gov. Mickey inquiring in relation to the award for the discovery of coal, and the governor replied that the state would pay $4,000 providing the opening of the vein was twenty-six inches. Returning to the locality where the coal was found, Three Stars measured and ascertained that he not only had the required thickness, but six inches to spare. He also dug about half a bushel and carried it on horseback, and sent a sample to the governor and claimed the bounty. The governor in reply informed him that the specimen was pure coal, and that an inspector would be sent to make examination. This officer was to be there last Saturday, but we have not heard whether he arrived.
It is claimed that Mr. Perkins has seen the coal burn and says that it is O.K. If this proves to be a false alarm, we move that the Times be sued for damages. It will be quite a jar to the feelings of the people in Northwest Nebraska to think there is coal here and then find out there is not.
75 Years Ago - 1929
James Babe Wasmund, Rushville, who last fall was elected president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Thea at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln has been further honored by being chosen to represent his fraternity at the national convention at Nashville, Tenn. This is an honor sought by many but attained by only one and it must be a source of great satisfaction to know that his honor has been given to one of our own boys.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fairhead entertained at a family Christmas dinner when the guests were Mr. and Mrs. Roland Fairhead of Rushville, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Brown and family, Mr. and Mrs. N.D. Kent and children, Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Timm and Miss Anna Spall.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Baker entertained at Christmas dinner on Wednesday last week for the immediate family and Mr. Carter Alexander of Lincoln. Four generations were represented at the dinner: Mr. J.H. Baker, father of Mr. Lee Baker, who now makes his home here, Mr. Lee Baker, Mrs. Wayland Case and children, Richmond and Cathryn.
Mrs. Winters of Merriman held the number that drew the Lindy Spirit of St. Louis miniature airplane given away Monday by the Golden Rule Store at Gordon. Her number was 009811.
Frank Holderberg's Dry Cleaning and Tailoring says:
Impress Your Boss
Many a good man of careless attire,
Has brought on his head the boss' ire,
And many a man who could prove his stuff
Has lost his job through a dirty coat cuff.
So, when with the boss in executive session,
It's up to you to make a decent impression.The Golden Rule Store is offering the following specials for you to start the new year right: Men's dress shoes and oxfords at $3.98; Flannel 36-inches wide at 13 cents per yard; bleached or unbleached 81-inch sheeting at 33 cents per yard; Men's union suits at $1.39 each; men's and boy's sheep lined coats at $4.98 each; and Men's and boy's suits at $19.
Grandpa Gates, who has been quite ill at the home of his daughter Mrs. Otto Pfeiffer, is improving slowly.
The Ballard family of Albany have certainly had a siege of flue; one right after another for about five weeks now. We hope they get through and give some one else a chance.
A crew of engineers have been working on the South Dakota end of Highway 62, north of Gordon, preparatory to grading it up to Federal specifications. The road will be widened, curves made longer and improved up to the standard of the south end. It will probably be among the first contracts let in the spring and it is expected that it will be graveled immediately after re-grading.
A resolution was unanimously passed at the Wednesday noon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Gordon endorsing the work of George Britton as Highway Commissioner and requesting his re-appointment. Mr. Britton is considered a valuable road man to Sheridan county, and is highly rated by both the State and Federal departments. It is understood that a fine position with the State Highway department is open to Mr. Britton if he will consider leaving his present work.
In Billing last week, Miss Gladys Harris, accompanied by her sister, Miss Susie, called at the home of her respective pupils Saturday, where she left a gift for each child. Her thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated.
As green feed disappears and the garden stuff is cleaned up, the laying hens will need some other sort of green feed. Many practical poultry keepers depend upon green, leafy alfalfa hay during the winter months. Hay for hens may sound unreasonable, but it does help them keep in thrifty condition and in high production. Some folks stuff the hay into buckets and pour boiling water over it, then feed it hot. Others build racks with sides made of two inch poultry netting and let the hens pick off the leaves. These racks should be made so the hens cannot get into them or roost over them. Hay may also be cut up or ground with a cutter or a grinder. The hens will eat more of it in this form.
The Merchants Hotel, under the direction of proprietor Ray Decker, served the following Christmas dinner to guests at the price of $1 per person: Roast Goose with Baked Apple or Baked Turkey with Oyster dressing, Cranberry sauce, Creamed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, Creamed Asparagus tips, olives, salted nuts, Pumpkin pie with whipped cream or plum pudding, hot rolls and coffee.
50 Years Ago - 1954
Time marches on---and 1953 takes its place with the ages.
Reviewing the files of The Gordon Journal for the year past, there are found the stories and items, not world shaking perhaps, but stories that tell the history of a community. There is recorded joy and sorrow, accomplishment and progress---all the minutia of everyday living.
Looming largest--and blackest --in the events that made news in 1953, was the disappearance of a Rushville girl, the uncertainty, the suspense, then the shocking confession of a popular youth of her home town with all the details of the brutal murder. And finally his being sentenced to life in prison.
Progress was served and Gordon marked as enterprising and forward looking when the ultra modern, ranch style elementary school was completed, dedicated and occupied by hundreds of appreciative children and teachers.
Athletic-wise, too, the school found a place in the sun when the Broncs, last spring, won a regional basketball champion-ship and, this fall, the football squad took the Northwest conference crown.
New homes were built, new businesses opened here& and the post office moved to different quarters ending a 38-year tenure in the IOOF building.
The governor of the state honored the town, visiting here during the fair and rodeo& there were feathers in his crown when the Sioux Indians adopted him into their tribe.
A 24-mile stretch of oil on Highway 27 south was dedicated and stands as an example of what perseverance and co-operation can accomplish& the road brought from a dream to reality by the determination of ranchers of the neighborhood.
Births, deaths, weddings, celebrations, accidents, tragedies& the warp and woof of day-to-day life in a typical American community are recorded here:
Recaps for events during the month of January are found in this issue. The rest of the year's recaps will be continued next week.
January
Miss Barbara Grundman and Carl W. Sasse Jr. were married.
Opal Maude Lowry and George Albert Collins were married.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Lein.
Rose Ann Reid Clarke, 89, and Carl Stettler, 67, both died on Dec. 28, 1952.
The mercury plunged to 12 degrees below zero on Jan. 14.
Ralph Culp, Joseph Saub, Allen Sanders and William Capstick died. Also Mrs. Emma Ladd.
Mrs. C.K. Johnson retired after 38 years with the Post Office department.
W.R. Annett Jr. joins Messenger and Milburn sales staff.
The city council okays a new city well in developing a recreation area in that portion of the municipal airport south of the city hangar and east of the entrance to the airport.
And new babies were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bob Connealy, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Sanders, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Havener and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Pisacka.
Prices in Gordon on various and sundry articles ended the year 1953 as follows: muslin sheets, 81 x 99 full size $1.66; wavy chenille bedspreads, $5; Miracle Whip dressing, 49 cents a quart; Butter-Nut coffee, 89 cents a pound; passenger car license plates, $6 or $8, depending on weight; theatre tickets, all seats, 60 cents.
25 Years Ago - 1979
Time Marches On---the Passing Parade!!! And another year closes. Brief recaps of the months of 1978 look something like this:
January: Cost of local government equals $690 per capita. Broken water main sends water gushing down Main Street. Janelle Leigh Mulcahy is Miss Gordon 1978. Gordon Police department equipped with radar. Gordon High School has an exchange student from Brazil. Deaths: Ever Jensen, Eddie Buresh, Elsie Schaer, Harry O. Henderson, Gene Harris, Thomas Chamberlain, Roy Leonard Jelinek, John Leach Jr., Henry (Hank) Gynac, Mildred Schroeder, Walter Eugene Harris, Lloyd E. Iske.
February: Gordon C of C brings membership to 170. Terry Johnson heads Little Theatre. Council renews manager's contract. GHS celebrates FFA 50th anniversary. Plans adopted for fairgrounds stadium. Deaths: Orpha McCray, Frederick Wm. Grover, Calvin Westover, Helen Mills, Rufus Roberts, Eugene L. Ellis.
March: Youths are just bruised when car rolls over. Joan Wellnitz top county speller. Mini-riot in county jail. Bomb threat proves to be a hoax. City workers reclaim dump area. Vandals hit Chief Drive-In Theater. GHS electronics class builds TV set. Broncs lose hops for state berth in basketball. Board of Education mulls faculty contracts, coaches salaries and lunch programs. Deaths: Charles Gibbons, Fay C. Hill, Dorothy Kime, Bruce V. Becker, Florence Duerfeldt, William Reddy.
April: Suspect arrested on shooting charge, probe continues. Lad survives terrifying accident, Gordon site of Legion district meet. Hospital installs heart diagnostics aid. Downtown parking reserved for handicapped. New police chief for Gordon; Lane assumes duties. FFA banquet features honors, awards and coronation. Deaths: Stanley American Horse Sr., William Russell, Ethel Mae Wells, Marie K. Andersen, Ransom Hamilton, Mrs. Lloyd Morton, Eletta Merrill.
May: Bauer delivers state-of-city address to C of C. Starla Sholl, organist, wins trip to Wisconsin. Traci Benson and Matt Kratovil 1978 prom queen and king. Retirement dinner honors Chalen Gibson. GHS graduates class of 74. Ron and Louise Finke, new managers for Gordon cleaners. Deaths: Nell Matthews Hill, Charles Ladely, Joseph Wm. Cerny, Harland Milligan, Nellie Hardin, Mildred Forester, Frank Vollintine, Helen E. Sanftner, Charles Houtman.
June: Niobrara canoe race set for June 18. Kim Prusia crowned Miss Nebraska Teenager. Hail blasts north country, crop damage severe. Jan Varn heads school board. Tornado hits Gordon. Gordon Memorial hospital seen as mighty fortress in the storm. Deaths: Frank Maynard Roth, Lelah Jewell, Victor Hoffman, Annie Lee Curless.
[Recap of remaining half of year to be in next week's issue.]
This page was last updated on
Tuesday, 10-Mar-2009 19:59:58 MDT
submitted by Helen Selee
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