Nov. 12, 1896 —
On Saturday morning while the domestic in the home of Merchant Foreman was attending to the bedroom work, little Walter, 3-yearold son of Mr. Foreman, was discovered playing with a revolver. The young lady cried out to the child, “put it down!” and the little fellow gave the pistol a fling. It happened to go off, the bullet striking the child on the left arm near the elbow glancing off. Dr. Long was hastily summoned and upon examination assured the frightened parents that the wound was not serious and that the boy would be using the injured member in a few days. Right now would be a splendid time to deliver a discourse on the care of firearms in the homes where little people are. We believe that guns are dangerous even though they have neither lock, stock, cock or barrel.
100 Years Ago. . .
The boys of Henry Schroeder’s Sunday School class entertained the girls of Mrs. Horstmann’s class at a lawn party at the Schroeder home. Tennis and other outdoor games were played. The boys served ice cream and wafers.
Some lowdown skunks had again been at their dirty work robbing the graves of their flowers in the public cemetery. One would think if they had no feeling for the living relatives they would at least respect the sacred memory of the dead. The newspaper publisher wrote, "If the parties who persist in helping themselves to the flowers and plants in the cemetery will enquire at the Republican office, the editor will tell them where they may obtain a few more choice specimens to add to their rare collection.”
Osmond and Brunswick ball teams crossed bats on the Macy ball diamond three miles west of Osmond. Our boys won the game 11 to 8. John and Carl Thompson were the pitchers for Osmond and both threw a good game, holding the Brunswick boys down a small number of hits. Otis Gore was in the game and got two three-baggers and one single, bringing in four runs. Carl Thomsen had the honor of hitting the only home run of the game.
Mrs. Henry Hinrichsen was still seriously sick with typhoid at her home in South Osmond. Two nurses, Miss Grace Thomas and Mrs. Solman, were on the case.
75 Years Ago. . .
Something long needed at the Osmond Public School was being installed - new lights. In the past, inadequate lighting was one of the bad features of the school, but now the school would have proper lighting and wiring. Electrical work was being done by local electricians. Goeres Bros. had charge of the two top floors while John R. Kumm wired the basement floor.
A sidewalk superintendent’s dream was the Osmond paving project. Dirt moving, sidewalk grubbing, form setting, pouring and all went into the entertainment process of the “sidewalk generals.” Asked if the contract workers listened to advice of the extra superintendents, one replied, “Sure they do — and then do just as they d*#n please.”
A tired Osmond team, which had played two games already that week, gave in easily to the Osmond Rockets, the Negro baseball team. The game went the Negroes’ way early with 15 scores in the first four innings. Final score was 21-0. Osmond used three pitchers and three catchers: Tunink, Thomas and Waddell on the mound and Cox, Becker and Thomas behind the plate. The Tigers got three hits against 22 for the winners.
65 Years Ago. . .
Some of the events at the 1959 Pierce County Fair, held Friday through Sunday, Aug. 14-16 with entry day on Thursday, Aug. 13, included stage attractions by Marlo Productions, baseball and kittenball games, horse races, band concerts, adult tractor driving contest and 4-H tractor driving contest. Marlo Productions included acts such as roller skating acts called “The Flying Buddies,” and an adagio and controlled acrobatic act by Roby & Dell.
Osmond Tigers virtually cinched a first place finish in the Elkhorn Valley Baseball League by knocking over second place Bloomfield by a score of 4-3. The visiting Tigers exploded for all of their runs in the second inning and then made it stand up as Bob Wiltse mastered Bloomfield batters.
There were approximately 30, including boys and girls, men and women, in the junior and senior life saving classes at Osmond municipal pool, according to a statement of one of the instructors, Donivan Huwaldt, who was tutoring the junior division. Gerald Thomsen was instructor for the senior class.
Two adults and five children received Holy Baptism at Immanuel Lutheran Church in a private ceremony on Aug. 16, 1959. The adults were Mrs. Chas. Runge and Mrs. Marvin Jensen. The children baptized were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Jensen: Linda, age 9; James, age 7; Charles, age 3; Daniel, age 2, and Steven, age one month.
50 Years Ago. . .
Five girls who completed the 30-hour nurse aide training course established and conducted by Osmond General Hospital were pictured in the Osmond Republican. The girls were Pam Warneke, Jody Buol, Jolene Gibbs, Julene Kumm and Jeri Kumm.
The 1974 Pierce County Fair featured something new in county fair entertainment: Chuckwagon and chariot races! Other events included a tractor pulling contest, youth rodeo, Shetland pony races for riders 13 years and younger, half Shetland races for those 15 and older, horse races, kids races, softball games, stage attractions by J. C. Michaels Shows, and dances with music by the New Swing Kings, Joker, and Papa-Doo-Dah.
A miniature farm, built by Marion Christensen, was featured at the Pierce County Fair in 1974. The buildings were complete to the finest detail on the exterior, and they were done in detail on the inside. The house was complete with rooms, furniture and appliances, all handmade, carpets, drapes and electric lights. The outbuildings were finished in the same detail. The chicken coop was complete with nests, roosts and chickens utilizing both; the bars was replete with stalls, pens, sliding doors, wind cock, lights and just about everything found in the finest barns.
Coach Al Porter welcomed 41 football hopefuls to the Tiger football camp for twice-a-day practice sessions. Will Hoestje and Randy Jochum were serving as assistant coaches. Seventeen of those young men were returning lettermen.
The latest winners in the Lawn of the Week contest were Mr. and Mrs. Dan Garner. They were pictured on the front page of the Osmond Republican in front of their home, located one-half block north of the Main and Sixth Street intersection.
25 Years Ago. . .
During the events of Osmond Summerfest '99, a number of rolls of film were “shot” to get a cross-section of the activities. All went without a hitch — except for one. As the roll with pictures of parade winners was being removed from the camera, the end cap popped off, exposing it to light. . . and you know the rest. Thanks to several individuals in the community, pictures of the winning entries were located.
10 Years Ago. . .
The Pierce County Sheriff’s department was investigating a crash involving a semitrailer and a motorcycle that occurred on Highway 121 about three-quarters of a mile south of Osmond.According to County Sheriff Rick Eberhardt, Anthony Higgs of Plainview died when his motorcycle struck a southbound semitrailer driven by Daniel Hoffman, also of Plainview.
