June 3, 1897 —
It pleases us to note the fact that our Catholic friends have about concluded arrangements whereby they will soon come into possession of their church building in this place. A village adorned with church spires is an attractive place in which to cast one’s lot.
LOST: Between the post office and the store of E. B. Hirschman, a black morocco pocket book with silver clasps, containing about $8, a small tin-type of a young lady and an itemized list of supplies to be bought. Finder will be rewarded by returning same to me. — Miss Rae Scott 100 Years Ago. . .
August Schroerluke moved his cream station and feed store from the old Post Office building to the Eggert building on the west side of the street.
While boxing with a number of his schoolmates, Wayne Taylor fell and broke a collar bone.
Our basketball boys made a good showing at the Norfolk tournament, winning from Stanton 17 to 6 and from Wisner 11 to 10, while they lost the final game to Plainview 16 to 4. The following was our lineup: Carver, Riessen, Cizek, Frank Landreth, Goeres, Morris Childs.
Paul Thomsen furnished some great radio music for the Osmond auditorium, with his DeForest set located in Moats Tire shop, and a wire from it run into the Osmond auditorium. Paul had sold 25 radio sets around Osmond and had prospects for the sale of many more. The radio concert furnished by Paul did not take the place of Osmond’s regular music, as the local musicians continued to furnish the same high class music as they had in the past, but Paul was giving these radio concerts in addition to the regular musical programs.
Andy Gregersen met with a bad accident when in the vicinity of the East ranch. He was driving at a good rate of speed when a spindle on his Studebaker, having become crystalized, broke, and his car rolled over, totally wrecking the machine. Andy escaped, the extent of his injuries being a bad bruise on one hand.
“Jumped out of my wagon, a hog, while I was hauling a load to town. Finder please notify E. T. Chindvall. Phone Red 2121.”
75 Years Ago. . .
According to a report of vital statistics by the Department of Health of Nebraska in 1950, one in 10 marriages ended in divorce over a three-year period in Pierce County, compared to one in three in Douglas County. It also showed a downward trend in marriages and proportionately in divorce in the state, from 14,726 marriages in 1947 to 12,743 in 1949. The decision of Pierce County mates to call it “quits” remained steady throughout the three-year period. There were 7 divorces in each year.
Ralph Schmitz went to Lincoln where he had been consulting a foot specialist and taking x-ray treatments for an abnormal condition of the feet resulting from cold and freezing while scooping snow under the direction of the National Guard during the winter of 1948-49. The condition was reported yielding favorably to the treatment.
Playing at the Osmond Theater on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, “Fighting Man of the Plains,” starring Randolph Scott, and on Wednesday and Thursday, “Little Women,” starring Elizabeth Taylor, Janet Leigh, June Allyson and Margaret O’Brien. Coming next: “Dancing in the Dark.”
A wash house and part of its contents was destroyed in a fire at the Emil Reed farm 3 miles east of Osmond. Osmond and Wausa fire departments fought the blaze. The fire was believed to have resulted from a defective brooder stove.
65 Years Ago. . .
While driving to Omaha, Mr. and Mrs. Delmer Gansebom hit an icy spot 10 miles west of Omaha which threw them into the path of an oncoming car. They were taken to County Hospital in Omaha and then transferred to Clarkson Memorial. Mr. Gansebom was released from the hospital, but Mrs. Gansebom was seriously injured and would be hospitalized from 7 to 10 days.
In response to a letter to the newspaper by C. J. Theisen suggesting further study by the school board and taxpayers in the matter of the selection of the most suitable site for a new school building, the board released a formal statement explaining, and in defense of, its decision. It said, in part: It is more economical to place a building on this site than others as it is the only site that gives the architect leeway to plan a building not limiting the arrangement of the building on a site. . . This property cost a little over $7,000; the Zetterman property was priced at $10,000. . . The present school property is entirely too small. . . The site near the swimming pool is too low. . . The site on the David Johnson farm was chosen because it has two entrances, slopes ideal for a building, has drainage which can be regulated to fit the situation, and is in an area that gives room for expansion. . . The board didn’t decide on this property flippantly.
Some of the questions discussed by the civic faithful at the regular meeting of the Osmond Community Club included: Are the pheasants starving? Should Osmond people go all out for a motel? How should interested farmers and others be approached to join the Community Club? How should the regular club dues be collected? What about a local cancer fund chairman? Should Osmond be analyzed by economics experts? What about a 1960 celebration?
50 Years Ago. . .
After viewing an educational TV program on nonsense poems, the first graders decided to write their own as a class project. As an outgrowth of this, the children wrote additional nonsense poems at home and brought them to school for everyone to enjoy. “Who knows, maybe we have an Edward Lear in the making?” Here was an example of a nonsense poem about a rhinoceros: “There was once a little rhino, a biny, whiny, hiny, tiny, finy little rhino." [These first graders in 1975 would have been 1986 OHS graduates. Does anyone remember writing this poem? Or any of the nonsense poems? Let me know!] The McLean Extension Club met at the home of Mrs. Duane Kumm, with nine members answering roll call by naming “what would be a good baby’s toy.” Mrs. Duane Kumm gave a reading from Farm Journal entitled “My First and Last Adventure with Chickens.” She also presented the lesson, “Impressionable Years,” and Mrs. Johnnie McClain gave the January lesson, “Low Cost Meals for Your Family.” Mrs. Ralph Mickley and daughter of Osmond were guests. Oatmeal griddle cookies were served as part of the lunch.
The Eager Beavers 4-H Club won first place in the window decorating contest held throughout the county in observance of 4-H Week. The first-place honors were given the club for its theme, “Wake Up America” and artistic design. The winning entry, which was displayed in the Stanosheck Hardware window, was selected by an independent judge over eight other county entries.
25 Years Ago. . .
The Norfolk Elks Lodge sponsored a patriotism essay contest with the theme “What the Pledge of Allegiance Means to Me.” Four Osmond sixth graders placed in the top 25: Laura Hansen, first place; Jordan Adamson, third place; Kayla Miller, seventh place, and Brooke Schomaker, honorable mention.
In honor of National Health Month, Dr. David and Sandy Jones came to Osmond Community School to talk to third graders of the Catholic and public schools. He also sponsored a poster contest. The first-place poster was made by Shanelle Stech, with second place going to Alex Gansebom and third to Trevor Doyle.
10 Years Ago. . .
“I never dreamed I’d live to be this old.” That was Clara Gutz’s comment as she pondered her coming party to celebrate her 100th birthday, which would be held at Osmond General Care Center. Earlier in the week, she enjoyed a picture-taking session as Mayor James Bessmer congratulated her on the milestone and presented her a certificate proclaiming March 20 to be Clara Gutz Day in Osmond.
