130 Years Ago
February 22, 1895
Dr. R. Abbott returned home last Saturday morning and announced that he had traded his two-story brick building here for a stock of drugs in Grand Island. For the present he will operate the store there. He says it is a large one, and that he has made an excellent trade. A man from this city was sent down to take charge the first of the week, and Mr. Abbott left last evening to oversee operations for a few days.
125 Years Ago
February 23, 1900
Another of the landmarks of the early days in Alliance is disappearing. It is the old Chicago Store, which was erected in 1888 by Wm. Larson and E. M. Stearns and served as a general store several years on West Wyoming avenue. Mr. Stearns, the present owner, is causing it to be taken down in sections and loaded on flat-cars for shipment to Bayard, where it will be reconstructed and serve for store purposes again.
120 Years Ago
February 21, 1905
The case of Eph Corneal, who was arrested last month on two counts, that of obstructing the public view with screens, and for allowing gambling, was called yesterday in police court before Judge Berry. On the testimony of Marshals Boone and Cardwell, Mr. Corneal was fined $25 and costs. Mr. Corneal made no defense, but has filed notice of appeal to the district court, on the ground that the original information charged him with putting up a screen at his back door on the 19th day of last January, whereas the evidence introduced and for which he was find charged the use of screens last summer or fall on the front windows, which were used to keep out the sun.
115 Years Ago
February 22, 1910
What might have resulted in a very disastrous conflagration, occurred at the Spencer home in Hemingford last Saturday. Mrs. Spencer was cooking dinner and wishing to hurry the fire in the kitchen range, used kerosene which resulted in an explosion burning her hands and about the face and head quite badly, though not seriously.
110 Years Ago
February 23, 1915
It is just twelve years today since Ira E. Tash entered his duties as postmaster of the Alliance office. Mr. Tash has witnessed great changes in the system during that time and has seen the receipts grow from $7,200 a year to $15,000 of the year just closed.
105 Years Ago
February 20, 1920
Twelve of the largest locomotives ever in use in this part of the country have been ordered by Division Superintendent Griggs for use between Edgemont and Alliance. This type of engine is known as the M-2-A and is equipped with five drivers and a single superheater system.
100 Years Ago
February 17, 1925
Hobart McLaughlin of Hemingford paid a fine of $100.00 on a charge of possession of liquor and another of $75 for permitting a game of chance in county court yesterday morning before Judge Ira E. Tash. Other frills in the shape of costs brought the total assessment that was issued up to the two hundred dollar mark.
95 Years Ago
February 21, 1930
Charged with breaking into the Martin Hansen station at Hemingford on two occasions and taking money amounting to approximately $40, L. B. Wilson, 27, was arraigned before County Judge Ira E. Tash here yesterday afternoon on charges of breaking and entering, involving two counts.
90 Years Ago
February 22, 1935
City police nearly met their equal in the line of prowlers and trespassers Wednesday night on the east side and, being unable to get the offender into jail, simply tagged him and tied him to a billboard. The public menace was a horse against, against which many complaints have been made. With utter nonchalance, the animal tramped over lawns up and down Potash avenue.
85 Years Ago
February 20, 1940
Alliance Lodge No. 961, B. P. O. E., has completed the outline of a program which is intended to secure the additional funds with which to purchase an “iron lung” that will be available in emergencies in the entire Alliance district.
80 Years Ago
February 23, 1945
Fifteen new clubs and 175 additional members will be the goal for the 4-H membership drive which will open in Box Butte county Thursday, March 1, it was announced this week by Mrs. O. N. Solberg, chairman of the county 4-H club committee.
75 Years Ago
February 21, 1950
Hemingford Farmers Combine To Raise New Phone Line: Forty farmers whose properties are in the area east of Hemingford joined together Sunday to put the finishing touches on a new metallicized telephone line. Poles for the line were set two months ago.
70 Years Ago
February 22, 1955
A speech by Gov. Victor Anderson, airplane rides, a landing contest and perhaps a jet flying show are planned for March 20 at Alliance Airport. The occasion is the formal dedication of the new VOR (visual omni-range) radio navigation station.
65 Years Ago
February 25, 1960
A graduate of the Alliance Vocational School of Practical Nursing received the highest score in a recent State Board licensure examination held in Lincoln. All nine graduates of the Alliance school successfully passed the examination.
60 Years Ago
February 24, 1965
An evaluation of Junior and Senior High teachers here by administrators, assignments other than teaching for the faculty, and a review of teachers needed to fill the 1965-66 public schools faculty were acted upon by the Alliance Board of Education at a meeting Tuesday night. The assignments approved carry extra pay under a “unit” feature of the new Alliance salary program.
55 Years Ago
February 25, 1970
Alliance will host the state convention of the United Transportation Union on May 5, 6 and 7. This group is made up of four railroad unions which have united into one organization. It includes trainmen, conductors, switchmen and firemen.
50 Years Ago
February 25, 1975
A supply of coal to replenish the stockpile at the city power plant has been committed for Alliance, according to City Manager Robert Placek. He estimated that the coal committed to Alliance would provide about a 20-day supply.
45 Years Ago
February 23, 1980
Nebraska Gives Australia Couple A Change Of Clime: When Rev. Robert and Valmai Trigger left home, Taree, New South Wales, Australia, it was a warm 90 degree summer day. When they reached their destination, Alliance, Neb., U.S.A. it was in the midst of a late winter snow. It is quite a shock for people from a country which only experiences snow on its highest mountain peaks.
40 Years Ago
February 23, 1985
Construction on kitchen modification at The Good Samaritan Nursing Home started Friday, according to Clarence Wegenast, Alliance administrator
35 Years Ago
February 23, 1990
Dr. Dan Warlick, general surgeon, has sent letters to his patients stating that he will close his practice in early April. He started Aug. 1986. Bill Ferguson, Box Butte General Hospital administrator, said the board will start looking for another surgeon after a board meeting today.
30 Years Ago
February 23, 1995
Grants Given To Alliance, Chadron Entities: Gov. Ben Nelson announced Wednesday that $168,500 in Family Preservation and Support Services grants have been awarded to 24 programs in communities across Nebraska in an effort to strengthen and re-focus their child and family services.
25 Years Ago
February 25, 2000
Today at 12:30 p.m. a group of non-denominational youth from several Alliance churches began fasting until Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Projects during this fast will be a food drive and clean up project. “The youth are doing this out of compassion and to draw their own attention to world hunger and to youth problems in general,” Tara Wall, one of the organizers explained.
20 Years Ago
February 24, 2005
According to Box Butte Development Corp. Director Susan Baird, Box Butte County is a finalist to recruit an information technology company from out of state. The interested business, that contracts with national nonprofits to provide expert fundraising service programs, may locate a 100-seat call center in Alliance if there is evidence of a strong enough labor pool.
15 Years Ago
February 24, 2010
Box Butte County Sheriff Tammy Mowry responded Tuesday to several complaints from local residents regarding the U.S. Census. The individuals had been contacted by people identifying themselves as census workers who warned that if the forms were not turned in on time they would “send the sheriff out after them.” Callers presented no proof they were census workers. The census does not involve law enforcement to ensure participation, including the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office Mowry emphasized.
10 Years Ago
February 25, 2015
Another 19 students at Alliance High School are now published authors, with their work appearing in the Fall 2015 edition of “A Celebration of Poets.” Language Arts Teacher Roxie Smith said the student pieces were selected from 39,000 entries submitted for publication this year. Each submission is read, and judged as to whether it meets criteria for length, mood, effect on the reader and other factors.
5 Years Ago
February 26, 2020
As 2020 has been declared Year of the Nurse by the World Health Organization, we would like to take this time to focus on our great nursing staff. They are arguably the most important people in the organization, whether they think so or not. We appreciate the sacrifices they make to take care of us and our loved ones.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher