130 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 1892
It was probably about 2:30 o’clock Sunday morning, August 7th, when whistles were blown, cries of fire, fire, were heard and citizens hastily donned their clothes and ran in the direction of the flames which were already lighting up the sky. At that time the flames were bursting through the roof of the rear part of C. SHELTER’S MEAT MARKET and the interior was already so badly a fire that nothing could be saved and it was useless to think of putting out the flames on that building. So intense was the heat and dry the frame buildings that the fire spread both east and west with terrible rapidity. In their west ward course the flames next encountered the two-story frame building in which was MRS. HELLING’S MILLINERY STORE. This edifice was one of the first erected when the town started and burned very rapidly. VANDERPOOL’S HARNESS SHOP, but this was nothing for the fire fiend and was leaped without the least trouble and in defiance of all efforts to save the structure. The red fiend next seemed to take especial delight in licking up the mammoth general merchandise STORE OF W. W. NORTON. East from the meat market the flames spread rapidly, and at the same time they were licking up everything west of there, until stopped by street and herculean efforts of many hands from catching to the Alliance Grocery company’s building. Across the alley they first devoured the small frame structure owned by the Bank of Alliance, before used as a millinery store, and only moved into a few days before by PAT. F. COLLINS as a living room. Next came the ALLIANCE TIMES OFFICE, and there wasn’t any hesitation about the way it was gobbled up either. We know whereof we speak, for we were in there until it became rather sultry and then only managed to get out enough stuff to put the paper together in poor shape. The old vacant building first door east, owned by R. H. WATKINS next went. THE POST OFFICE BUILDING had to follow with the rest of the procession as a matter of course, but nearly all valuable mail was saved. THE OFFICE OF E. COTTON was soon burned. The flames now reached something that was too much for them, and that was the high brick wall of the Bank of Alliance. This is, however, very badly damaged and will probably have to be rebuilt. And so ends the history of Alliance’s greatest fire.
125 Years Ago
Aug. 13, 1897
The construction of the second story of the McWhinney building, over the photograph gallery, is well under way. It will be occupied by Dr. W. S. Bellwood and wife when finished. The building in course of construction by Watson & Watson has been delayed for a time on account of a scarcity of brick.
120 Years Ago
Aug. 8, 1902
The Burlington limited was held up by two masked robbers, who are reported to have secured $20,000. The train was stopped by means of torpedoes on the track. At daylight this morning the dead body of one of the robbers was found near the robbery. It is believed that he was killed by Express Messenger Byle, who fired four shots after the retreating men. Byle counted at least six members of the gang.
115 Years Ago
Aug. 9, 1907
A gentlemen stole a ride on No. 43 this morning and arriving in Alliance was sighted by Night Watchman Cox. He was told to surrender but instead made a hot foot down the track with Cox after him. The sight of a revolver in the hands of the officer finally brought him to time and he was taken in tow. When he was brought up before Judge Bullock he was assessed $25 and costs and will work for the city until the fine is paid.
110 Years Ago
Aug. 9, 1912
The Crystal Theatre was sold this week to H. A. Dubuque and C. E. Calder of this city and they are now in possession. Mr. Dubuque also owns the Empress Theatre and will in the future manage both the Empress and Crystal and see that everything is handled in a business like way. It will be his endeavor to see that the machines are properly used and the very best pictures and vaudeville features obtainable are secured. A new picture machine has been purchased for the Crystal and other improvements are planned.
105 Years Ago
Aug. 10, 1917
Deputy Sheriffs Jones and Miller rounded up fifteen hobos this morning and took them out to the show grounds where they were put to work. If they fail to stay with the show and are found here in the morning they will be put in jail.
100 Years Ago
Aug. 11, 1922
Charles Benjamin was fined $5 and costs by Police Judge L. A. Ferry on a charge of assault, which was preferred against him on complaint of G. M. Burns. The men had an altercation and Benjamin struck Burns, it was stated Benjamin pleaded guilty to the charge.
95 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 1927
C. W. Schafer, employed by Chief Condit of the state law enforcement department, went to trial this forenoon on a charge of assault. The officer is alleged to have beaten up Kermit Roland, young farmer of near Hemingford, the courtroom was packed beyond capacity. The crowd, very largely of Hemingford people and acquaintances of the farmer, alleged to be the victim of the beating, reached far out into the lobby of the courthouse and curious spectators crowded at the windows on the outside of the courtroom.
90 Years Ago
Aug. 9, 1932
Thieves broke into the Eighth Street Market last night and stole $29 in cash, a sack of sugar and a carton of cigarettes. Entrance was gained by prying open a window lock. The store is operated by Dean Wisdom. Discovery of the robbery was made this morning and it is believed that the break-in occurred sometime after midnight. Police investigated the robbery and are following some clues.
85 Years Ago
Aug. 10, 1937
Four firemen were injured and the Ford fire truck wrecked when it overturned at West Third street and Cheyenne avenue as Peck Woods, the driver, swerved to avoid striking a car which had pulled into his path. Woods suffered a compound fracture of the left leg just above the ankle, and his leg was badly crushed under the overturned machine. The other Alliance firemen were F. D. McCormick, who suffered bruises, and John Blume who was severely cut on the back and bruised. The fourth man was Orin Martin of Scottsbluff, the fire truck driver, who was visiting the department here. He incurred minor cuts and bruises. The car which caused the accident was driven by Oscar M. Carey of Alliance.
80 Years Ago
Aug. 11, 1942
It cost Bill Vogel, farmer residing six miles northwest of Alliance, $1,000 to smoke his pipe Saturday.
Mr. Vogel was harvesting a field of wheat and decided that he needed a “refresher” in the way of a smoke. So he filled his pipe and struck a match. The head of the lighted match flew off and started a fire in the wheat field that burned over 20 acres of grain before it was under control. The estimated value of the grain is $1000. About 40 neighbors dropped their work and rushed to Vogel’s aid or the fire would have swept the entire field.
75 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 1947
Another prisoner escaped from the Box Butte county “cheese box” jail, probably with the aid of an accomplice, ran wild through the territory in two stolen cars, and was finally picked up by a state highway patrolman and a Scottbluff county deputy sheriff late last night. The latest escapee is Eugene Raymond Frank, 18, who was bound over assault with attempt to rape a 15-year-old girl. He is being returned this afternoon from the Scottsbluff county jail in Gering, with Harvey Yoder, 21, of Apache, Okla., who was arrested with him, and will be charged here for the second time in a week with auto theft.
70 Years Ago
Aug. 14, 1952
Dick King, Daily Times-Herald sports editor who took a leave of absence to do a hitch in the army including about 15 months in Japan and Korea, arrived back in Alliance Wednesday night. Dick’s getting his separation from the service the middle of September, but will spend several days now visiting his family and friends . . . Imagine the surprise of an Alliance man when he found out, after making a purchase in a local store, that the clerk had forgot to break the string after tying up the package. Unaware of that fact, the man walked a half-block down the street trailing string before someone called his attention to it.
65 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 1957
Lt. Sam Ushio, commander of Alliance Company L. 134th Infantry of the Nebraska National Guard, terms this year’s training session at Camp Ripley, Minn. a big success. The guardsmen trained in squad tactics and learned methods of attack and defense. A big share of the time was spent on the firing ranges where all types of weapons were used. The four men are Sgt. First Class Danny Simpson, Sgt. First Class Kenneth Cattlet, Sgt. Will Shackleford, and Pvt. Bob Henderson.
60 Years Ago
Aug. 10, 1962
Two purple ribbons awarded at the District Dairy Show here went to Bruce Messersmith, Alliance on his jersey heifer and to James Heisher, Chadron, on his Holstein cow. Sharon Mayes was named Dairy Queen at the annual show. Miss Mayes has been in Dairy Club work for six years. She has exhibited at County, District and State Shows throughout her 4-H career. She will represent Western Nebraska in competition with dairy show queens from other districts for the title of Ak-Sar-Ben Dairy Show Queen.
55 Years Ago
Aug. 14, 1967
A 1967 Hemingford High School graduate, Miss Diane Gordon, 17, will reign as Box Butte County Wheat Queen during the coming year. Diane was selected as Prom Queen this year at Hemingford. She also served as president of the Honor Society for HHS and was Band Captain. She will attend Chadron State College this fall in preparation to become a teacher. She plans to major in music or psychology.
50 Years Ago
Aug. 10, 1972
Happiness is seeing the Fort Robinson Post Playhouse production of “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.” During the two-hour, two-act comedy, the audience follows the actions and learns the philosophies of Charlie Brown, played by Charles Schdwinkel of Alliance.
45 Years Ago
Aug. 13, 1977
Jeffrey F. Worm, Soil Scientist, for Fon Du Lac, Wis., recently joined the staff at the Alliance Soil Conservation office. He is filling a position vacated by Gayle Wentling who has assisted in mapping soils in Box Butte county for three years. Jeff Worm is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a major in Soil Science. He will be assisting Charles Mahnke, Soil Conservation Service Soil Scientist in developing a complete soil survey for Box Butte County.
40 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 1982
Officials from the City of Alliance and Dicon, Inc., the general contractor and development subsidiary of The Dial Companies of Omaha, were on hand for the ground-breaking ceremony at the site of the new K-Mart store. The store is being built on West Third Street and Rambling Road. At the ceremony were Dan Dickinson, owner of the land; Jim Thorburn, Dicon project manager; Glen Witte, assistant vice president of the Alliance National Bank; Mayor Mike Garwood and Mike Day, president of Dicon.
35 Years Ago
Aug. 13, 1987
Joe Grimes of Alliance entered an Oscar Mayer Contest and won a five minute shopping spree. Dave Goldberg, Oscar Mayer district sales manager from Englewood, Colo., said Grimes was one of 150 who won a five minute shopping spree and one of two people in the Nebraska Panhandle. He said there were 400,000 entries. Oscar Mayer will pay for Grimes groceries and, Goldberg added, for every dollar Grimes spends, Oscar Mayer will donate 25 cents to Safeway’s selected charity, Easter Seals. Alliance representative for Easter Seals, Ryan Hallauer, 7 was present at the shopping spree. Bill Brey, Oscar Mayer account supervisor of Englewood Colo., wrote $250 onto a giant cardboard check made out to Easter Seals.
30 Years Ago
Aug. 10, 1992
The Box Butte County Chapter of the American Cancer Society will hold its second annual “Jail and Bail” at the Alco Store. Volunteer participants will be “arrested” by an off-duty police officer and taken to the “jail” in the store, where they will be “tried” and bail will be set. Those arrested will then call friends to give pledges until the bail is met. It will cost $10 to have an individual arrested. Arrangements may be made in advance by calling Wendy Fierstein during the Jail and Bail. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
25 Years Ago
Aug 14, 1997
A bright red World War I era biplane taxied to a stop on the runway, standing out from similar modern planes used to dust crops. Bill Phelps landed at the Alliance Airport in his WACO (Weaver Aircraft Co.) Model KNF 1930 biplane for repairs on his way back to Sacramento, Calif.
20 Years Ago
Aug. 12, 2002
The American Legion Post No. 7 float won first place in the Adult Organization division at the 2002 Box Butte County Fair Parade this past Saturday in Hemingford.
15 Years Ago
Aug. 9, 2007
Sara Marsteller, daughter of Robert and Sandy Marsteller of Alliance, has been awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Biology, magna cum laude, at Cornell College. Marsteller, a 2003 graduate of Alliance High School, also was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
10 Years Ago
Aug. 10, 2012
Ashtyn Shrewsbury was crowned the 2012 Box Butte County Fair Queen with her court, First Attendant Kelsy Wood, Second Attendant Ellie Applegarth and Miss Congeniality Jayleen Forgey. The four young ladies will represent the fair and their county for the next year starting with appearances at today’s fair events.
5 Years Ago
Aug. 5, 2017
Meg Craig took over as manager of the Registration Department at Box Butte General Hospital. Ms. Craig manages a staff of nine employees who handle admissions for appointments to various departments in the hospital and emergent care in the Emergency Department. These Registration Department Staff members are: Gabby Conley, Karen Lookwood, Codi Lashley, Tammy Heckman, Natasha Keane, Brittany Keane, Kelly Keller, Lora Herian, and Yenisey Heredia.