130 Years Ago
July 28, 1893
The editor and wife dined at the Clifton hotel last Sunday by invitation of Landlord Dismer. We found the place seemingly enjoying all of its old time popularity and a variety of choice viands, fruits, et cetera provided that would tempt the appetite of almost any human. Mr. and Mrs. Dismer are a genial couple and making friends every day.
125 Years Ago
July 29, 1898
Times enters its twelfth year of existence with this issue, more than half of this under the ownership of the present proprietor. During all of that time we have endeavored to work for the best interests of Alliance and her citizens, though here, as everywhere else, there are some who show but little appreciation of this fact. We shall continue the same policy in the future as the past nevertheless.
120 Years Ago
July 28, 1903
W. O. Barnes and Percy Cogswell had a violent little set-to in the street just in front of the TIMES building yesterday. We are pleased to say that the best of friendliness still prevails between them however. It was only a bike collision, which caused Barnes’ handsome visage to plow up the earth for about a rod, while Percy is endeavoring to negotiate for the purchase of a suit at wholesale.
115 Years Ago
July 28, 1908
Charles Hill has on exhibition at his grocery store a cabbage that is an astonisher. It is of the Late Flat Dutch variety and weighs thirty-four pounds. The head proper is solid and well-shaped – much better than those on the shoulders of some men – and is surrounded by large, spreading leaves that give this monstrous specimen of the vegetable kingdom an impressive appearance. This cabbage was grown by George Hill in the eastern part of Alliance, and it is certainly a convincing proof of the wonderful prolificacy of Western Nebraska soil.
110 Years Ago
July 29, 1913
An argument over a horse terminated in a fight on the Budweiser corner Monday afternoon and cost the participants, Adolph Brost and R. A. Thompkins, $5 and costs each, when they appeared before Judge Zurn to answer to the charge of disorderly conduct.
105 Years Ago
July 26, 1918
The Butler and Anderson store on lower Box Butte was robbed of about $40 worth of merchandise some time during the night, Saturday, according to a report given the police. When Chief Stafford and Marshal Reed arrived, the front door was open and goods and records were scattered about the room.
100 Years Ago
July 27, 1923
A small tornado cloud struck the ground at the farm home of R. C. Willis, 14 miles north of Alliance, about 7:30 Wednesday night. During the twister, which lasted only a few minutes, out buildings collapsed, cattle and horses wandered away and chicken on the place disappeared. The horses and cattle were later discovered on the A. E. Hann property, some distance away. The storm moved a new Buick car around to the other side of the house, but so far as could be discovered, the machine was not damaged.
95 Years Ago
July 27, 1928
Two Gypsy maids put the bee on the Sack Lumber company for $50 during the brief visit of a caravan to Alliance Wednesday morning, but within a few hours, the entire tribe who were traveling in half a dozen automobiles, were under arrest at Bayard. Sheriff Geo. P. Jones took the train and proceeded to talk turkey to the Gypsy king bee. The missing $50 was produced, though not without argument, and the caravan was permitted to proceed.
90 Years Ago
July 28, 1933
L. E. “Toots” McPherson and Carl Ayers were arraigned before Judge Ira E. Tash in county court this afternoon and pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering a box car from which two bunches of bananas were stolen. The sentence on this charge is from one to five years in the state penitentiary. While they were working on this case a call came that the McPhersons were passing a flock of forged checks written on the account of Arvilla M. Redfern at the Guardian State bank. Mrs L. E. “Toots” and her mother-in-law were picked up a few minutes later at an apparel store. Several of the checks were found on the elder McPherson woman, one in her shoe.
85 Years Ago
July 29, 1938
A fire, believed due to a short in wiring, caused an estimated $300 damage in Newberry’s Hardware store’s tractor department Tuesday night. An electric testing bench and some magnetos on the bench were burned. Volunteer firemen extinguished the blaze, which broke out at 9 o’clock, within half an hour.
80 Years Ago
July 27, 1943
Pvt. Wm. J. Black of the Alliance Air Base was apparently enjoying himself while peeping under a curtain of the house at 710 Laramie Saturday night at 10:55, unmindful of the fact that police were sneaking up on him with the caution of a cat. Pvt. Black is in the stockade at the Army Air Base where he will cogitate for many 10-minute periods that “crime never pays.” Or does it?
75 Years Ago
July 27, 1948
A car driven by Jaff Ralls, a harvester of Mt Shasta, Calif., smashed into the rear of one driven by Cecil L. Athey of Hemingford. The Athey car was parked off the paving beside the road and was facing another car driven by Kenneth Athey, a brother of Cecil’s. They were repairing a tire when the accident occurred. Cecil Athey was the more seriously injured. Both his legs were badly cut and required 15 stitches. The Ralls car was upset and was damaged to the extent of $500. Athey’s car was damaged to an estimated $65.
70 Years Ago
July 29, 1953
An inquest was being held here today into the death of a former Alliance girl. She is Mrs. Darla Jane Ayers, 18-year-old wife of Gaylord Ayers, 20. An autopsy revealed the young wife died of a skull fracture. Officers said the girl and the 15-year-old wife of her brother-in-law, Dannie Ayers, 16, had exchanged blows during an argument Monday night at the Buckingham Box Factory where they were employed. Gaylord Ayers told officers that after returning from work at 1 a.m. Tuesday, his wife complained of a headache. He found her dead when he tried to awaken her late Tuesday morning.
65 Years Ago
July 31, 1958
Dr. Edward A. McNulty will join the staff of the Copsey Clinic here on Friday. He has been associated with the Slagle Clinic here since 1949 as a physician and surgeon. Dr. McNulty is a graduate of St. Agnes Academy, Regis College and the St. Louis University School of Medicine. Other members of the Copsey clinic are Dr. James F. Kennedy, Dr. Robert J. Morgan and Dr. D. D. Shannon, all physicians and surgeons.
60 Years Ago
July 26, 1963
A small, black Chihuahua dog disappeared from its home at 1100 West Third in Alliance last Saturday – and by Monday its owners, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Ditsch, had almost given up hope of seeing it again. They called the Police Department and Humane Society, and tried an air media announcement without results by Monday. Then Mrs Ditch decided to telephone The Daily Times-Herald classified department and place an ad. It first appeared Tuesday. Within half an hour after the newspaper deliveries were made by carrier boys on Tuesday, Mrs. Ditsch received a call from the lady who had found the dog. The Chihuahua is home again, thanks to an inexpensive classified.
55 Years Ago
July 31, 1968
A clearing operation at East Third and Sweetwater in Alliance for the new Artic Circle Drive-In Restaurant to be constructed within the next few months. The demolished house is one of two being removed from former Jim DeBerry property. Next door, the Ethel Nation house, 305 East Third, is being prepared for moving to a site in the rural area south of Alliance. The demolition work, completed Tuesday, was done by Herb Henderson and Sons while Jake Boness is in charge of the moving operation. The new business will be owned by the Arctic Circle company which headquarters in Salt Lake City and will be under local management.
50 Years Ago
July 26, 1973
The steel is being put up this week for the new building for Gibson’s at Third and Flack Avenue. Peltz Construction Co. is the general contractor.
45 Years Ago
July 27, 1978
The first annual Community Education pet show in Alliance was held Saturday afternoon at the AHS practice football field. Craig Schadwinkel served as director; Mrs. Cheryl Marker was the Judge; and Leonard Glarum provided flags and standards for the arena.
40 Years Ago
July 26, 1983
A payloader dumps chunks of concrete and dirt onto an Alliance City dump truck as a bulldozer continues to rip up the parking lot of 4th and Niobrara. The workers are making way for a new asphalt-paved parking lot which is part of the Downtown Improvement Plan funded by a 1983 block grant from HUD.
35 Years Ago
July 26, 1988
The Box Butte Commissioners Tuesday morning said they reached a compromise with county employees over a dispute in wages. The commissioners agreed to give 53 county employees a $20 a month raise effective July 1. The raises will total $12,720. The raise will not include elected officials or appointed deputies who will get a raise on January 1, 1989.
30 Years Ago
July 26, 1993
Twenty-six Alliance students and their chaperons began leaving Saturday afternoon for China. The first caravan of students included 13, with the rest following later Saturday. The students spent the night in Denver and left for China via Los Angeles Sunday morning.
25 Years Ago
July 27, 1998
Mary Kober took over as executive director of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce on the same day as Heritage Days kicked off this summer, and she said she was pleasantly surprised.
20 Years Ago
July 26, 2003
The Heritage Research Room of Alliance’s Knight Museum contains pictures of all tombstones and obituaries, along with many photographs, of individuals who are buried in Box Butte County cemeteries and some surrounding areas. These items have been placed in albums by staff and volunteers. They are available for viewing or copying.
15 Years Ago
July 28, 2008
Five people received Lifetime Presidential Volunteer Service Awards at the annual RSVP awards banquet. They are Coleen Ellis, Edith Weed, Marriah Miller, Dorothy Stull and John Leon. Bobbie Banjoff received an award for 30 years of service. Dancers from the 7th Street Dance studio provided entertainment.
10 Years Ago
July 26, 2013
Climb a flight of stairs, navigate a couple turns and the summer sunshine leads the visitor to the heart of Cultivate Dance Conservatory. Home to the Eagles Club, then a Union Hall before hosting Main Street Players productions, the entire 6,000 square feet above Roller Hardware has been a dance conservatory for a year. Owner and Artistic Director Molly McConkey Vergil will host her second annual open house July 30.
5 Years Ago
July 28, 2018
Following the Heritage Days Parade, the Alliance McDonald’s hosted senators Tom Brewer and Steve Erdman in the restaurant where they had the opportunity to make Egg McMuffins and work the drive-thru window. More importantly, the senators were in the restaurant to promote all the changes McDonald’s is making, such as the removal of artificial ingredients in all core menu items. McDonald’s is proud to be offering tuition assistance after 90 days of employment.