130 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 1892
It was a bad fire, but it might have been much worse. The list of corrections for our mailing machine was burned in the fire. If any of our subscribers do not get their paper regularly – please notify the TIMES by letter. The TIMES extends thanks to the gentlemen who labored so faithfully in trying to rescue a portion of its outfit. About $250 worth was saved. Tomorrow the TIMES will move into the rear half of the present post-office building until we can make other arrangements. The TIMES force mourns the loss of its big newspaper press more than any other one thing. The TIMES returns thanks to Bro. Broome, of the Grip, for the generous and hospitable manner in which he offered us office room, the use of presses and many other favors in this our time of dire necessity, and without which it would not have been possible for the paper to have been before the public so promptly. If our numerous family of TIMES readers will bear with us for a few weeks, we will promise to make up for all short comings when our new outfit arrives and we are again settled in a home of our own.
125 Years Ago
Aug. 13, 1897
The Boston Bloomers, a female ball team, will visit this city and cross bats with the Alliance boys. These ladies come in their own special car, erecting a high canvas wall entirely around the grounds, and an admission of fifty cents will be charged. According to the agreement entered into, they receive eighty percent of the receipts, the other twenty going to our boys. Their playing has been characterized by brilliant pitching and many neat double plays.
120 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 1902
Two strangers of the genus hobo went into the Norton store this morning, and one of them asked to look at some shoes. While this was being done, the other one proceeded to stow away a few pairs of pants, bolts of silk etc., underneath his coat. He was discovered however by the watchful clerks, and Horace Warrick proceeded to do a sleight of hand trick, and drew out all kinds of dry goods which were concealed about the stranger’s anatomy. The marshal was called, and both of the parties locked up, to await disposition by the properly constituted authorities.
115 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 1907
The Alliance Woman’s club at their last meeting elected officers for the coming year as follows: President, Mrs. J. Rowan; 1st vice president, Mrs. S. K. Warrick; 2nd vice president, Mrs. W. W. Johnson; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. L. H. Highland. The topic for next year’s study will be “Nebraska-History and Resources.”
110 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 1912
W. S. Barrett, former proprietor of the Drake hotel, has leased the Alliance cafe and is now getting everything in first class shape preparatory to opening. Mr. Barrett will open some time next week. The new proprietor will make extensive changes in the cafe and states that he will run only a first class establishment one which will pass inspection by the most critical and be thoroughly sanitary. Mr. Barrett is no novice at the business and will undoubtedly make a success of it.
105 Years Ago
Aug. 17, 1917
Women started to work at the Burlington shops Thursday morning for the first time in the history of the road. The first crimp of the scarcity of labor has been realized and had to be met in just this way. A good many more will be added from time to time as the men step out to take up arms.
100 Years Ago
Aug. 15, 1922
Ben W. Keach, who has been held in the county jail for the past three weeks on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses, was arraigned before District Judge W. H. Westover yesterday afternoon, pleaded guilty to the charge and received a sentence of one to five years in the state penitentiary. Following his sentence, Keach told newspaper men that he was anxious to go to the penitentiary and “get it all over with,” as quickly as possible. He said he deemed it best to plead guilty to this charge, as he was “afraid another charge might be brought against him,” and cause further embarrassment to his wife. He said he referred to a charge of bigamy which, he indicated, might be filed against him.
95 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 1927
C. W. Schafer, aide to State Sheriff Condit, and Harold Jefferys, special agent for the Burlington, were found guilty by County Judge Ira E. Tash of committing an assault upon Kermit Roland, farmer of near Hemingford. Roland testified that he and two companions were accosted near the Burlington station by three officers in a car and taken to the police station where he was struck on the nose by Schafer and a few minutes later slapped by Jefferys. He also said that he was kicked by chief of Police Horton while he was walking upstairs to the police office in the city hall.
90 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 1932
Dorothy Borden of Redington, noted girl parachute jumper, visited in Alliance last evening with Mrs. C. H. Davee. She was on her way to Hay Springs where she is jumping Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. She will try for the world’s record at Lincoln this fall.
85 Years Ago
Aug. 17, 1937
A man and a woman are in critical condition in St. Joseph’s hospital as the result of an automobile accident early Sunday morning. They are Carl (Swede) Swanson of Alliance, who has a skull fracture and other injuries and Lillian Cohrman of north of Alliance, who has a possible fracture of the back. They were riding in a car with Mrs. Swanson and the Swanson’s small son, Leroy, when it overturned at the 19 mile corner on Highway 19. Sheriff’s officers said Swanson was driving when a car driven by Charles O’Dell passed him and he lost control and his car overturned in the ditch. Mrs. Swanson and child was treated for cuts and bruises and released. Riding in the O’Dell car officers said, were Mrs. O’Dell and Victor Herbert. All had attended a dance at the “Roundhouse” and later decided to drive to Dunlap.
80 Years Ago
Aug. 14, 1942
Exasperated by the third appearance of Chockley Wilson on charges of intoxication, Police Magistrate Walter Dishman meted out a bread-and-water diet for five days in the hope that he could get the desired results. Wilson had been fined twice within the past ten days and on his third appearance he was given the third and final degree.
75 Years Ago
Aug. 19, 1947
The 2-year-old son of Mrs. Helen McKenzie, 324 ½ Box Butte avenue, went exploring yesterday and toppled out of the second story window. He lit on the sidewalk in front of the Fourth Street Market and Louis Buechsenstein picked him up. Dr. James F. Kennedy was called but he wasn’t needed. The youngster had some scratches on his hand and was otherwise unharmed.
70 Years Ago
Aug. 14, 1952
Plans for the building of a bowling alley in Alliance are now definite, Quiven Fortner, Alliance contractor, said today. Fortner is building a new building in the 200 block on Niobrara avenue and said it definitely will become a bowling alley. Installing of eight alleys is expected to start about September 1 and work will probably be completed in time for league competition early this fall. Fortner said today that he plans to operate the alleys himself.
65 Years Ago
Aug. 16,1957
America’s newest railroad will be born Saturday, and a couple of Alliance Burlington men will take important roles in its operation. The railroad, called the Black Hills Central, is a new tourist attraction connecting Hill City, S. D., with a Black-Hills place called Oblivion, five miles away. The quaint narrow-gauge steam engine will make it’s first run with engineer Earl Coupens and fireman Fred Mackey, both of Alliance.
60 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 1962
Two prominent Alliance athletes, James L. Kettelhut, 19, and Richard L. Stephens, 20, suffered numerous minor injuries when the car in which they were riding smashed into a tree early this morning. The mishap occurred when Kettelhut, going west on Tenth Street, attempted to turn south and collided with the tree. Stephens was thrown from the car, according to the accident report. Stephens is scheduled to be married Saturday to Miss Sharon Hamilton. His physician reported he might be released from St. Joseph’s Friday night. Stephens will be a Junior this fall at Doane College in Crete. He is a 2-letterman in basketball. Kettelhut, probably will be released from the hospital on Friday as well. He is attending Kansas State University on a track scholarship.
55 Years Ago
Aug. 17, 1967
Two Alliance girls will return to Chadron State College this fall for their senior years. Sherry Mundt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Mundt, is majoring in English and Math education and will student teach during the coming year. Cynthia Kosmicki, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kosmicki, will finish work on an elementary education major and will also student teach.
50 Years Ago
Aug. 17, 1972
The Alliance Emergency Unity was sent to the Glenn Kooper Ranch Wednesday evening at 6:42. Paul Stavropoulos, 16, was burned in an accident and taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Stavropoulos suffered first degree burns on his hand, face and arms from an apparent chemical explosion. The youth was released in satisfactory condition from the hospital this morning to go home. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stavropoulos of Alliance.
45 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 1977
Alliance’s school crossing guard program still needs at least two additional full-time crossing guards. The guards will be stationed at Central School, 10th Street and Black Hills, 3rd Street and Grand, and 6th Street and Flack. The program, aimed at providing safer street crossings for school children, was initiated last spring after several Alliance citizens requested such a program. It is operated by the city and the public school system under the supervision of the Police Department. Crossing guards work about three hours each day, working at the crossings in the morning when children are walking to school, at noon and in the afternoon when children are heading home. Guards are paid $2.30 per hour. Persons interested in the program are asked to contact the Police Department for applications.
40 Years Ago
Aug. 19, 1982
Barbara E. Callan, Phelps County deputy sheriff, was among 25 students who recently completed eight weeks of basic training at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island. She was required to take 341 hours of comprehensive instruction consisting of basic law, human dimension, patrol, investigation and skills including firearms, driving and practical exercises. Callan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hashman of Alliance.
35 Years Ago
Aug. 17, 1987
Miss Denlaud, 18-year-old of France, arrived in Alliance on August 7. A picnic with the local American Field Service adult and student organizations was held Sunday evening just north of the city conservatory. Her host family is Jim and Melba Dickenson of Alliance. He is employed with Burlington Northern Railroad and she is a fourth grade teacher at Central School. They have one daughter, Vicki, 17, who will be a senior at Alliance High School this fall.
30 Years Ago
Aug. 17, 1992
State Senator Bob Wickersham of Harrison addressed the Box Butte County Democratic Party rally in Alliance Friday evening. The other candidates who spoke were Lowell Fisher, candidate for Congress; Don Hansen, candidate for Box Butte County Commissioner; and Jeff Kirkpatrick, candidate for the Nebraska Unicameral, 43rd District. Three hundred fifty persons attended the fund raiser.
25 Years Ago
Aug. 19, 1997
As the United Parcel Service strike reached its 15th day Monday, company officials said they decided to close another seven offices in Nebraska. The office in Hastings was closed last week. Tim Sullivan, human resources director for UPS in Nebraska, said Monday that offices in Norfolk, Auburn, Beatrice, Broken Bow, McCook, Valentine and Alliance would be closed by end of the week.
20 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 2002
The kids of Alliance won one last night when they gained the City Council’s approval for their long-awaited skate park, which will be built on the north side of Lang Lake, east of the shelter house area. Members of the Alliance Skate Club circulated petitions and raised money for the project. In addition the city set aside $40,000 toward the skate park. “If it weren’t for Pat and Jason, we’d never got the park,” Kalin Krohe, club member declared, referring to Pat Adriance and Jason Wentworth, two adults who serve as advisors and fellow skateboard enthusiasts.
15 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 2007
Duane and Barbara Jespersen of Hemingford receive the 2007 Pioneer Farm Family Award from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and the Nebraska Fair Managers Association last week during the Box Butte County Fair. They were among the 189 honorees statewide. To qualify for this distinction, members of the same family must have owned a parcel of land consecutively for at least 100 years. Each honoree receives a plaque and gatepost marker as permanent recognition of this milestone.
10 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 2012
Chief Justice Michael Heavican presents Luis Sanchez with the Nebraska Supreme Court Friend of the Court Award Wednesday afternoon. Sanchez received the award because of his work he does as a Spanish language court interpreter, and his volunteer work with the On-Call Interpreter Program.
5 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 2017
Phil Colella of Gordon re-creates the Rhoads’sign at Fourth and Box Butte, painting the three women prominent in the original. Rod Romick commissioned the work. Colella noted Romick wanted to dedicate it as part of his class reunion in September. The sign refreshes what had become an increasingly faint “ghost sign.” Rhoads Exclusive Women’s Store occupied the building for more than 60 years, starting in 1924. Original owner William Rhoads also designed the sign.