From the Osmond Republican Files
July 23, 1896 —
Banker Smith has been wearing a novelty in the way of a shirt front. It has a photo of McKinley and Hobart neatly surrounded with American flags and inscribed "sound money and protection.”
All the inhabitants of town were called into the court of Justice L. P.
Cox at Foster yesterday, where the case of Pogunse [sic] vs. Fischer, for the wrongful detention of property is being tried.
John Jefferson has finished plastering the new farm house of V. Cizek’s in Thompson [Precinct].
This is one of the best buildings in the settlement and Mr. J is proud of his job.
100 Years Ago. . .
The program for the May 30, 1924, Memorial Day Service included a selection by the Osmond Concert Band, remarks by Post Commander Ben L. Schmitz, Invocation by Rev.
M. Braunersreuther, special music by a quartet, the Memorial Day address by Hugh Boyle, standing silent tribute to the heroic dead for 30 seconds, "Star Spangled Banner” by the band and audience, and benediction by Rev. Keckler.
Formation of the line of march was: Colors, music, firing squad, Civil War veterans, Spanish War veterans, American Legion, Legion Auxiliary, and other patriotic bodies. There were services at the Osmond cemetery and services at the Catholic cemetery.
The Nissen School, District 79, closed with a picnic, a bountiful dinner and ice cream was served to 60 children and patrons. The men came in from the field, which showed that they were interested in their children.
At 3 o’clock, the boys against girls played a game of basketball, which the girls won. The women played a game of croquet and then lunched.
An automobile auction was held Tuesday, May 27, 1924, at the E.
J. Huey Garage. The public was asked to "come and help make this a permanent affair.” A partial list of the vehicles included: 1 Fordson tractor; 2 Ford trucks; 1 1920 Special Six Studebaker; 1 K 45 Buick; 1 1919 Dort Touring; 1 1919 Oakland Six; 2 1920 Ford Tourings with starters; 1 1922 Ford Touring with starter; 1 1921 Ford Touring with starter; 1 1919 Ford Roadster; 1 1923 Ford Coupe; 1 D 45 Buick Touring; 2 1918 Ford Tourings; 2 1917 Ford tourings; 1 1916 Ford Touring; 1 1920 Cleveland 6.
The pump at the cemetery was out of order, but there was a wagon there with water in it for the use of those who needed it.
Harold Grau was suffering from a broken arm, received while playing at school.
While playing one Sunday, Will Schaeffer’s little son dislocated an elbow.
75 Years Ago. . .
"Most names around Osmond begin with S or B. How do we know?
Well, we don’t for sure but there is a preponderance of evidence as disclosed by the Osmond Republican subscription list. Names beginning with the letter S total one less than 100, while the Bs have an even 80.
Other popular names begin with K, P and H. The most frequent single name on the Republican’s mailing list is the name Kumm. There are 17. They are Lawrence, Harland, Henry, Wm., Edwin, Elmer, Robert, Rudolph, Paul, John, Irvin, August, Milton, Harry, Ferdinand, Nellie and Norman.” [There are currently about 68 names beginning with ‘S’ in our list, and about 18 Kumms — although not all are up-to-date.]
"No rain is forecast," said the weatherman Friday. "4.22 inches," said the Osmond recording station at midmorning on Saturday. One was a forecast, the other a fact.
There was more rain in prospect.
And with the unpredicted rain came the customary flooding of Osmond's branch of the Elkhorn River which heads in the Wausa vicinity. By Saturday afternoon, water was pouring across the north-south road in South Osmond, threatening a repetition of the disastrous flood of 1944. Thereafter a slow recession in the water level set in with the top level already reached and just below the first floors of a number of South Osmond homes.
65 Years Ago. . .
Electors residing in a proposed school district surrounding Osmond would decide on June 2 whether or not to adopt a new plan. The proposal would consolidate 14 districts including the present Osmond city district [42] into one. The "Osmond plan” had been given intense study by school patrons in the area in recent months. Thousands of sheets of information had been distributed to inquiring persons. Hundreds of people interested in efficient education had attended one or more public meetings to discuss multiple aspects of the situation.
The 1959 Elkhorn Valley Baseball League season play got under way.
Under the lights at Osmond, the local Tigers edged the Wausa Swedes 3-1. The Tiger lineup for the opener was: Wiltse, pitcher; Goergen, catcher; Lerum, first base; Huwaldt, second base; Steckelberg, third base; Thompson, shortstop; Erb, left field; Hoffman, center field; Fuelberth,
right field.
An early morning fire did more than $5,000 damage to building and contents at Dawson Oil and Transport Co., here. The fire occurred several hours after a deluge of rain which may have been a contributing factor to an electrical short which was thought to have caused the fire.
Two cars crashed together on top of a hill some three miles southeast of Osmond and as a result Miss Phyllis Thayer, 18, and her two brothers, Leland, 20, and Clifton, 21, were hospitalized at Norfolk with severe cuts and bruises. Miss Thayer was reported to be driving one of the cars and one of the brothers the other.
Donivan Huwaldt, U. of N. graduate, signed to teach at Byron, NE, for the 1959- 60 term. Mr. Huwaldt completed his first year at Byron in Thayer county near the Kansas-Nebraska line.
50 Years Ago. . .
Fifteen members of the 1974 Osmond High School graduating class received scholarships, awards and/ or special recognition for scholastic achievements during commencement exercises held May 19, 1974. Valedictorian of the class was Monica Peschel, while the salutatorian was Diane Blunck.
Vandalism during the weekend at Thomsen Sand & Gravel in south Osmond brought a warning from the owners, Harry and Earl Thomsen. An ad in the paper warned of prosecution for persons apprehended at the site. The Thomsens kept the gravel pit area gates locked at all times, they said. Sometime between 5 p.m. Thursday and noon on Sunday, the pit area was entered and, in addition to breaking and entering, the Thomsens reported theft and destruction of property.
Monica Peschel, valedictorian of the graduating class at Osmond Community School, was given the annual award of the Reader’s Digest Association for students who by their successful school work, gave promise of attaining leadership in the community. Miss Peschel received an honorary one-year subscription to the Reader’s Digest and a personal certificate from the editors.
Father David F. Liewer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Liewer of Osmond, was ordained into the priesthood on May 25, 1974, by Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral in Omaha. Father Liewer was one of nine priests ordained.
An open house was held Sunday, May 26, in honor of Miss Catherine Goeres who retired at the end of the school term, having served the teaching profession 43 years.
25 Years Ago. . .
The 1999 Osmond Community School prom king and queen were crowned on Saturday evening, May 8, in the gymnasium before the start of the prom dance. Nick Hansen and Darnell Schuettler were named the prom king and queen. Other candidates for queen were Amy Blunck, Shauna Jones, Melissa Kudera and Gretchen Theisen. Other king candidates included Tony Johnson, Jesse Kumm, Ryan Wattier and Eric Weyhrich.
Thirty young persons became alumni of Osmond High School on May 16, 1999. Eric Weyhrich was the valedictorian of the Class of ’99.
The salutatorian was Marie Moes.
The class motto was "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." The class flower was the lily, while the colors were empire gray and navy.
10 Years Ago. . .
Giving the Memorial Day address in 2014 was Father Mark Beran, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wayne. In 2004, he became a Nebraska Army National Guard Chaplain and, two years later, was called to active duty for a tour in Iraq. Other speakers at the program were Boy Stater Cameron Moes and Junior Law Cadet candidates Dominic Schmit. Poppy droppers were Carmen Reyes, Reese Johns, Ella Broekemeier and Jessa Backer, while Shelby Stelling and Kelly Schuettler placed the wreath at the Cross of the Unknown.
Residents of the area had an opportunity to tour the recently remodeled Osmond Family Practice clinic and meet the staff members at its open house on June 4, 2014.
