Dec. 8, 1892. . .
The following Notice to Bidders was printed: Bids will be received for the construction of the Catholic church in Osmond until Saturday, Dec. 10th, 1892. Plans may be seen at Billerbeck Bros. hardware store. The board reserves the right to reject any or all bids. Osmond, Neb., Dec. 1, 1892. H. J. Billerbeck, L. Smith, C. K. Martini.
100 Years Ago. . .
Woodrow Waddell was suffering with a badly cut arm received two weeks before from falling on a nail which was sticking up through some ice.
The spring-like weather, which had taken off all the snow, came to a sudden end on Sunday, Feb. 3, 1924, when the day dawned with a mist and rain. About noon this turned to a snow, and shortly there was a raging blizzard, which lasted until Monday night. The passenger train on Saturday night was the last train until Tuesday afternoon when the eastbound passenger went through.
Attorney S. F. Thomas of Plainview located in Osmond and was going to practice his profession here, with offices in the Hoehne building, just west of the auditorium. Osmond had long needed a good lawyer, and the publisher said he was pleased to see Mr. Thomas locate here.
The night of Feb. 13, 1924, the stock room of the Huey Garage was broken into, entrance being made through a window, and a considerable amount in tires and auto accessories stolen.
Under the Public School Notes, in the Seniors column: “Folks need not think that because some of the senior girls have had their hair bobbed, we have lost our sense. We are still a dignified class with good sense." The juniors seemed to have a different view of bobbed hair, as they wrote: “The seniors are beginning to wake up and notice the new styles. Two of them have come to school this week with bobbed hair, and we think that by spring they will have enough sense to graduate."
75 Years Ago. . .
Theisen Bros. snow removal equipment was "in the army." The local contracting firm’s machines that could be or had been converted to snow removal went under army supervision on Feb. 2. How long it would remain so depended on the length of time it took to get roads open — and how long they stayed open. Road opening even with massive caterpillars and bulldozers was pitifully slow. Snow removal really meant ice and snow removal. The stuff was almost unbelievably hard. Army orders were to “get to the people." If that couldn't be done through established roads, snow trails were blazed through fields.
Two emergency patients had been brought to St. Joseph Hospital by plane recently. The first was a Creighton 2- weeks old baby. The latest plane arrivals were Lois Ann Herbolsheimer, 15-monthold daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Herbolsheimer, Osmond farmers, and Mrs. Herman Runge, living on the Chas. Chilvers farm northwest of Foster.
Someone told that a fairly practical snow-going vehicle could be made by a few structural changes on a Model A Ford car. The front wheels were fitted into skis while one or more extra wheels were attached to the rear drive wheels for buoyancy.
Local carpenters began the job of laying a new two-inch oak floor in the main section of the Osmond American Legion hall, according to Commander Ray Goeres. The second floor (balcony) would wait a while for its finish covering and a composition floor would be installed in the kitchen also at a later date. Bowling alleys in the basement were open as usual during the work period. The main floor lounge was closed. . . . A later update stated: A change in announced plans of last week gives the upstairs lobby of the American Legion building here a new oak floor along with that being laid on the main floor. The change made a slight shortage in lumber.
65 Years Ago. . .
Several local Cub Scout dens with their Den Mothers visited the Osmond Republican office and saw first-hand some of the operations that went into the printing of a weekly newspaper. Rural schools and other groups from time to time visited the local publication office.
For several years, the advisory board to St. Joseph Hospital at Osmond and the operators, the Dominican Sisters, had studied the possibility of constructing a new hospital wing. The project had been unhurried because present hospital facilities were not lacking in essential requisites for adequate hospital care. At a regular session of the board in January, a proposal was made that the matter of a complete new building be studied. The matter was under thorough investigation.
Over 300 interested rural and town people gathered in the city auditorium to discuss problems involved in school redistricting. As a result of the meeting, a committee was chosen to further investigate the possibility of a school district here. Members of the committee were chosen by the people present from the various rural school districts.
Nineteen students participated in the annual spelling contest conducted at the Osmond Public School. Mary Adkins and Bernita Dibbert, representing the public and Immanuel Lutheran Schools, respectively, were the winners in the seventh and eighth grade division. Lynn Edwards of the Osmond Public School and Mary Buckendahl of Immanuel were the winners of the fifth and sixth grade division.
Icy streets and walks were the result of snow received over the weekend and on Monday. The mercury dropped to 4 below zero on Sunday for the lowest temperature recorded that month. Highest reading for the month was a pleasant 42 degrees two days earlier. Osmond received an unofficial four inches of snow with light snow falling on three days, and near blizzard conditions resulted when the area received much blowing and drifting snow.
50 Years Ago. . .
Following the trend of many political subdivisions in the 1974 election year, the Osmond City Council at its January meeting voted to increase salaries of its members as well as that of the Mayor. Until recent years, Osmond was rated as a "village" and all five councilmen (one of whom served as chairman of the board) received the same salary — $10 per month — paid twice annually in April and October. How long it had been that amount of salary, no one was sure, except that it had been a long, long time. Effective with the reorganization of the council in June, salary of the Mayor would be increased to $300. Councilmen would get a salary of $20 per month.
The Osmond Skelly bowling team won itself $30 by winning the Thursday Night Men’s League bowling tournament. Total pin count was 2967. In second place was Marley's Standard with 2902 pins, which won that team $20. Third place of $10 with a 2862 pin count was Boice’s.
From all indications and reports, the Osmond area had not yet been inundated by the flu bug as some other area towns were reporting. The flu may have just been hitting this immediate area as a few cases had been treated, according to Dr. David Johnson Jr. As a precautionary measure and in view of the number of flu cases in the surrounding area, Administrator Leonard Frodyma announced that visiting at Osmond General Hospital would be limited to well members of the immediate family only.
The Osmond School Board decided to continue the wrestling program at Osmond High. It was set up for a two-year trial period in the 1972-73 year. The board further agreed to make provisions for having matches at the Osmond school which mainly involved buying a mat. In 1973-74, there were some 14 boys participating in the wrestling program.
25 Years Ago. . .
Officers of Osmond Community Club indicated the turnout for the annual appreciation pancake day was good. Attendance was estimated in excess of 500. Three winners won Osmond Dollars in the prize drawing — Cora Stratton, $50; Vernon Gansebom, $30, and Alice Kumm, $20.
Alton and Leoma Fuelberth were in attendance at the February city council meeting to visit wit the council about the possibility of providing 911 emergency call service to the community. Alton was secretary-treasurer of the Osmond rural Fire Protection District and had checked with other towns in the county about the service.
10 Years Ago. . .
Students in grades nine through 12 experienced a driving simulator at Osmond High School. The simulator was brought to the school by Trooper Bill Price and sponsored by the Future Business Leaders of America and advisor Beth Manzer.
The prize winners at the Osmond Community Club pancake day were Kelsey Stech, $50 in Osmond Dollars; Gerald Stech, $30 in Osmond Dollars, and James Stanosheck, $20 in Osmond Dollars.
Plans were taking shape for a St. Paddy’s Day Prom to be hosted by the HOME Team. During the coming weeks, the candidates would be featured in the Osmond Republican.
