130 Years Ago
June 19, 1896
The home of W. G. Zediker was invaded by that dreaded visitor, death, Wednesday afternoon, and took with him the darling of the household, a bright little girl of three years of age. She had complained for some time of her back hurting, but it was not considered serious until about two weeks ago.
125 Years Ago
June 21, 1901
The probabilities are that the barbecue which it was hoped to give in Alliance the Fourth of July, will have to be abandoned. This is due in most part to the failure of the committee to find anyone who will undertake to cook an animal in this manner and serve it to the people.
120 Years Ago
June 22, 1906
Excavation is in progress for a two story brick building on the southeast corner of Laramie Avenue and West Wyoming street. This building will be 50×80 with basement. George Gadsby is erecting the structure and will occupy the first story with a stock of hardware and implements. The second story will be used for lodge purposes.
115 Years Ago
June 23, 1911
A great many people are asking me about the Boy Scout movement. In a week or two we expect to have an article in his paper detailing our plans. Also we are working now on an illustrated lecture on the movement that will be given in the near future.
110 Years Ago
June 23, 1916
Alliance has the opportunity of supplying a company of national guards to fill one of the three vacancies in the Fifth Regiment, according to a message received by J. B. Miller from Governor Morehead. A recruiting office has been opened in the Commercial Club office and those who care to join for service in Mexico are urged to do so at once.
105 Years Ago
June 24, 1921
Joseph V. Taylor, a graduate of the Alliance High School, class of 1908, added another chapter to his already brilliant career this week when he secured his degree of doctor of medicine at Harvard University.
100 Years Ago
June 22, 1926
Vandals entered the Roof Garden between 6 and 8 o’clock Saturday evening, tore down a large part of the decorations, robbed the refreshment booth, mutilated the equipment and smashed glassware over the floor, quantities of cigarettes, candy, gum, soft drinks and glassware were carried away and large quantities of these materials were broken and thrown on the floor.
95 Years Ago
June 26, 1931
Police after making a raid at a rooming house at First and Sweetwater early Sunday morning found a young lady over near the tracks. She was bruised on the knees and a shoulder. Pollice said she was intoxicated and she was taken to jail.
90 Years Ago
June 19, 1936
The City of Alliance through its council, last night refused to accept a piece of Alliance property as a gift. True Miller, owner of a corner lot on East Third Street, replied to a city’s order for sidewalks to be built along the front of his property with the offer to give the lot to the city rather than to pay the back taxes, pavement assessments, sidewalk and other costs on the property.
85 Years Ago
June 20, 1941
Farmers and ranchers are becoming a trifle uneasy over the labor situation with the approach of the haying and harvest season. With more than 150 young men gone from the county in the defense and training service and some major WPA projects started this year, the labor situation is tightening up just when the farmers have one of the best crop prospects of recent years.
80 Years Ago
June 21, 1946
D. E. Walker of Mullen last night asked the city council to consider rezoning the district near 709 Laramie Avenue to permit establishing a new funeral home there. Mr. Walker said he likes Alliance very much and is desirous of locating here with his new business.
75 Years Ago
June 22, 1951
A woman, who works in a local eatery, the other evening had a problem. A gent came in, ate, and lifted her cigarette lighter. She followed him down the street to the depot, cornered him, and got the lighter back. Later he came in the eatery again, tossed a dollar bill on the counter. She asked him “how come.” He replied: “peace offering.” The woman tossed the bill on the floor and when the would-be thief stooped over to pick it up, she gave him a resounding boost in the posterior with her foot.
70 Years Ago
June 23, 1956
Plans for more adult education classes in Alliance next fall already are in the works in the wake of a successful first attempt this spring. Eighty-eight persons enrolled in five classes: typing, bookkeeping, current affairs, advanced elementary school methods and Spanish.
65 Years Ago
June 21, 1961
A feature act of the fourth of July Air Show which will be held at Alliance Municipal Airport, Tuesday, July 4, will be the nation’s top stunt pilot, Maj. Arthur J. Davis of Lansing, Mich. Major Davis, a veteran of World War I and II, has flown more air shows than all other stunt pilots combined.
60 Years Ago
June 22, 1966
Factory Engineer Art Johannes of the Federal Sign and Signal Corporation of Blue Island, Ill. Was here today checking Alliance’s new Civil Defense siren. After testing the system this morning, it was found that outside of a few minor changes and needed new parts the whistle was in good order.
55 Years Ago
June 23, 1971
Five speeding tickets were issued in Alliance Tuesday evening as a result of the new Decatur automatic speed detection radar purchased by the City Police recently. The new electronic device is valued at $1,385.
50 Years Ago
June 21, 1976
Congresswoman Virginia Smith today announced a Rural Electrification Administration loan of $705,000, at 2 percent interest, to the Hemingford Co-Operative Telephone Company of Hemingford. “This loan will permit the telephone company to connect 110 additional subscribers, construct 156 miles of new line, upgrade service throughout the system to one-party lines…” Mrs. Smith explained.
45 Years Ago
June 20, 1981
As a rule, being a farmer and a rancher doesn’t leave that kind of businessmen much time to indulge in any type of hobby. However, when you can make a hobby out of what you enjoy doing most, time seems to be the least of your worries. Richard Laursen, who farms six miles north of Alliance, has the unique distinction of being able to say “it’s a real zoo at his home” and mean it literally.
40 Years Ago
June 18, 1986
Members of the Alliance school board established a policy Tuesday night saying no bus driving contract may be offered to any individual older than 65. The approval soured a board recognition and trophy presentation for Kenneth (Dobby) Lee, long-time activity bus driver for the Alliance schools.
35 Years Ago
June 20, 1991
The roar of aerobatic aircraft will fill the skies at the Alliance Municipal Airport on Sunday June 30 during the Peterson-Krier Airshow. The Airshow is geared to high speeds and fast action. The All-American Airshow pilots will perform low-altitude aerial acrobatics such as the new “Jackhammer,” and end-over end, out of control cartwheels.
30 Years Ago
June 22, 1996
Members of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Alliance Parks Department gathered at Lain Lake early Wednesday morning to round up young geese. These geese were transferred to a lake near Crawford to become imprinted there and relieve overpopulation at Lain Lake.
25 Years Ago
June 20, 2001
The Grand Opening of Carnegie Arts Center’s Sculpture Garden will be Sunday, June 24. The Sculpture Garden features a deck, flagstone courtyard, brick “Memory Walk”, landscaped garden area and sculpture art. The unique iron fence and gate were created by Sidney artist/blacksmith Jerry Spiker.
20 Years Ago
June 19, 2006
The Third Annual Laing Lake Lunatic’s Race will be at Lain Lake on the 4th of July, 2006. In addition to the three categories from the previous two years – kid powered, oar/paddle powered, and muscle mechanical powered – there will be a fourth category: boats constructed with milk jugs, plastic pop and water bottles, milk cartons, or a combination of these.
15 Years Ago
June 23, 2011
Nearly 50 planes, part of the Air Race Classic, a cross-country race, that began in 1929, departed from Municipal Airport yesterday, with great fanfare, at noon. The race was originally scheduled to begin on June 21 in Iowa City, Iowa, and end on June 24 in Mobile, Ala., with Alliance being one of the 10 stops along the way. However, due to inclement weather in Iowa, the start had been moved to Alliance.
10 Years Ago
June 20, 2016
Saturday afternoon a crowd gathered at the BNSF Railway main office in Alliance for a special presentation. Andrew Johnsen, Vice President, announced that Alliance had been selected as a BNSF Railway Heritage community. The award honors towns that embrace their past, present and future ties to freight rail.
5 Years Ago
June 23, 2021
On June 16, people gathered at Newberry’s to hear from several Huskers who were visiting Alliance as part of the Big Red Blitz. Athletic Director Bill Moos, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Armon Gates and Head Wrestling Coach mark Manning made the trek to Alliance to speak to fans at a meet and greet session.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher