130 Years Ago
February 15, 1895
E. S. McWhinney informs us that he has purchased a stock of shoes for his dry goods store. They are expected in about a week.
125 Years Ago
February 16, 1900
A rumor is well founded to the effect that the government has rented the room now occupied by Standen’s meat market, and that the postoffice will be moved therein about the first of April. Just where Mr. Standen will be located is as yet uncertain.
120 Years Ago
February 14, 1905
“Jack Gorman,” who real name is Bohme, was shot and instantly killed in the depot at Whitman at about six o’clock Saturday morning. The trouble started with a saloon row and a fight a few hours before, several said to have mixed therein. Gorman is said to have been a sort of bully, feared by everybody. He entered the depot and seeing Phillips stretched out on a bench, grabbed the stove poker and made a rush at him, the agent giving a cry of alarm. Phillips dodged and pulled a revolver, firing two bullets though the body of the other.
115 Years Ago
February 15, 1910
Next Saturday evening the high school auditorium promises to be the scene of a very spirited debate between the Alliance and Broken Bow schools. The question will be “Resolved, That Labor Unions are on the Whole Beneficial.” Alliance will be represented by Ewalt Otto, Ethel James and Ethel Johnson. An admission of twenty-five cents will be charged.
110 Years Ago
February 16, 1915
The deep snow and cold weather has caused the Box Butte county hen to go on a strike with the result that the stores are about out of fresh eggs and have little hope of getting any for several days.
105 Years Ago
February 13, 1920
Warren Albright, whose wife and five children have died within the past week of pneumonia following the influenza, and who was reported to be in aserious condition the first of the week, is no longer in danger, according to Dr. Bellwood, the attending physician. The father is the only one of the family to survive the ravages of the disease.
100 Years Ago
February 10, 1925
City Manager N. A. Kemmish announces changes in the Alliance police force effective at once, following an inquiry into the conduct of officers at the time of the investigation of the Fashion Shop robbery. Mr Kemmish interviewed a number of the business men and they stated that they did not consider they were receiving proper protection and that more drastic measures must be adopted to clear the city of its undesirables.
95 Years Ago
February 14, 1930
Mrs. Mary Stewart, who lives here, says she gave Mrs. Blackburn $25,000, to help her carry on the work of “The Divine Order of the Royal Arms of the Great Eleven.” And Clifford Dabney gave $45,000 to the same worthy cause. Mrs. Blackburn, you must know, has in her possession the “sixth seal.” When that is broken, everything will be revealed. Who would not pay $45,000 or $45,000,000, to know everything, assuming that he would know what it was all about when he heard it.
90 Years Ago
February 12, 1935
The latest thing in railroad inspection cars, a 1934 Ford sedan, V-8 type, started work on the Alliance division of the Burlington Saturday after arriving in a box car from company shops in the east. Rubber tires with steel flanges to hold the wheels on the rails and solid steel axles are special equipment on the car.
85 Years Ago
February 13, 1940
Local officers are on the lookout for 104 turkeys stolen Sunday from a farmer near Valentine, which the Cherry county sheriff warned might have been brought here for sale. No trace of the birds, however, had been discovered here as yet.
80 Years Ago
February 16, 1945
No Candidates For Police Magistrate: Only five days remain in which to file petitions for election to the office of police magistrate in the City of Alliance. The job pays $50 a month and requires only an hour or so a day.
75 Years Ago
February 14, 1950
The Nebraska Stock Growers Association has recommended to the United States Air Forces that the proposed Air Forces Academy be located in Alliance. This unanimous action came at a weekend meeting of the Association’s executive council here.
70 Years Ago
February 16, 1955
A man who gave Alliance as his home address was arrested in Jacksonville, Fla., Tuesday with another man in connection with a $25,000 jewel robbery early this month in Fitchburg, Mass. Jacksonville police were checking the story of Alvin Kenneth Sweley, 33, that he came from Denver recently and knew nothing about the Massachusetts robbery. Alliance Police Chief Doug Thomas today said he could find nothing in the police records about Sweley and had never heard of him.
65 Years Ago
February 15, 1960
Mrs. Paul Ross, 1019 Cheyenne, escaped serious injury this morning when her head scarf became entangled in the stoker on a furnace. The scarf came loose but Mrs. Ross suffered a head cut and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she was treated and released.
60 Years Ago
February 18, 1965
A number of 18-year-olds in Box Butte County have failed to register on time in recent months, it was announced here today by the Selective Service board. Under the federal Selective Service law all young men are required to register within five days after their 18th birthday. A fine is provided in the law for failure to do so – however, this has never been imposed here.
55 Years Ago
February 21, 1970
Alliance Group Plans Trail Ride Project: The Cow Country Trail Riders, an organization of Alliance businessmen and Sand Hills Ranchers, have organized to sponsor an annual trail ride project to attract visitors to this area each summer.
50 Years Ago
February 19, 1975
The amount of coal on hand at the Alliance Municipal Power Plant has dwindled to about a three-day supply, and prospects fr getting additional coal in the near future appear bleak because of strikes in the coal fields.
45 Years Ago
February 16, 1980
Alliance Schools, CSC On Grant List: Gov. Charles Thone said Friday 120 Nebraska public and private schools, hospitals and nursing homes have been recommended for a share of $1.2 million in federal energy improvement grants.
40 Years Ago
February 15, 1985
Alliance Area Residents Report UFO Sightings: Lights of an unknown nature and identity were seen in the Alliance sky Thursday evening by several area residents including members of the Alliance Police Department, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Department, and a radar operator at the Alliance airport.
35 Years Ago
February 16, 1990
Former Alliance resident Kathy Woodward has been named Optimist of the Year for the Nebraska District of Optimist International. Miss Woodward is the first woman ever to receive the honor.
30 Years Ago
February 13, 1995
The Alliance High School speech team placed second at the North Platte Invitational Speech Meet on Saturday.
25 Years Ago
February 19, 2000
At 88, Howard DeWitt considers each morning the beginning of another “good day.” A week ago Wednesday, Feb. 9, the Alliance Chamber of Commerce recognized DeWitt for his optimism and continuous civic and volunteer contributions with their Lifetime Service Award.
20 Years Ago
February 17, 2005
Knight Museum – Celebrating Forty Years: Forty years ago, in 1965, the Knight Museum became a reality born from seed money donated by the Knight Family Foundation. The museum has seen changes and growth for four decades.
15 Years Ago
February 18, 2010
Carhenge Model Part Of Museum Exhibit: Beginning Feb. 20, there will be a new location for people to view Carhenge. Though not the actual famous Alliance landmark, the Durham Museum will have, in its new “Are We There Yet?” display, a Carhenge model made of pedal cars.
10 Years Ago
February 19, 2015
Siblings Place First, Third At Spelling Bee: Alliance Middle School seventh grader Joel Baker, son of Michael and Valerie Baker, is the winner of the 2015 Box Butte County Spelling Bee with the word “Flemish.” Eighth grader Jensen Curtiss, daughter of David and Lori Curtiss, placed second followed by Baker’s eighth grade sister Rachel in third.
5 Years Ago
February 19, 2020
Documentary to Feature Red Nest: The chilly wind failed to keep youth from gathering at the Alliance City Park on Sunday for a lacrosse match – a common scene at the park thanks to the efforts of Edison Red Nest III, who has been spreading his passion for lacrosse across the Panhandle for the past five years. His passion has caught the attention of a group developing a documentary film focusing on positive stories of people from the Pine Ridge Reservation.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher