Blast from the Past March 27, 2024

130 Years Ago

March 30, 1894

One of Alliance’s draymen is adorned with a pair of blackened eyes as the result of a fistic encounter with a dissolute woman.

125 Years Ago

March 31, 1899

County Commissioners Proceedings March 23rd board instructed treasurer to bring suit against Bank of Hemingford for recovery of tax of $63.93 for year 1890 of Adams & Davison, which stock had been sold as part of assets of said bank.

120 Years Ago

March 25, 1904

W.S. Ridgell has returned to his old time avocation of manipulating the paint brush in conjunction with Mr. Reeves. Tom Campbell is in charge at the bowling alley.

115 Years Ago

March 26, 1909

Arthur Brann, an old-time Alliance schoolboy who has now become as big as anybody – in Taft’s class, as it were – was greeting his Alliance friends Wednesday for the first time in several years. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Brann, on leaving here, engaged in the general merchandise business at Wabash, Nebr., and are getting along nicely, though age is beginning to tell on them somewhat.

110 Years Ago

March 27, 1914

A resort to the old Western code of honor that demands blood satisfaction for an insulting epithet and the drawing of a weapon were the chief causes of the shocking crime at Bingham Wednesday afternoon hat has already cost one life and may produce another’s death.

105 Years Ago

March 25, 1919

After receiving fourteen “regrets” from the war department, the Alliance Times has been advised that the big aerial circus will stop here for a day on its trip from the west coast to the gulf. It took a continuous flow of messages from Alliance to Washington for seven days before the war department realized that we were in earnest and took proper cognizance of the invitation extended, but the messages were kept up until the department precipitates and the request was granted.

100 Years Ago

March 28, 1924

The Eagles lodge last night authorized the building committee of the order to proceed at once with the erection of a 50×50 modern two story building with full basement on their two lots just north of the Golden Rule store on Box Butte avenue. The entire structure will be used by the lodge for club rooms and lodge rooms, it is said.

95 Years Ago

March 26, 1929

Merchandise identified as part of the loot of the robbery of the Joe Corey store at Hemingford last December was found this week cached in an old discarded threshing machine engine boiler six miles west of Hemingford. More than $400 worth of goods were located by two hunters and it included two suitcases, four sheepskin coats, shirts, scarfs and dry goods.

90 Years Ago

March 27, 1934

Councilman Tom Campbell told the people of Alliance some important facts in connection with city obligations and while the voters went right ahead and approved the obligation for the swimming pool they can at least thank Mr. Campbell for giving them information that was not forthcoming from any other source.

85 Years Ago

March 28, 1939

A welcome answer to farmers’ prayers was the snowfall of the last two days. Coming just at the time when moisture was needed to condition the soil for spring operations, the snow spread a wet blanket over a large portion of Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado. In Alliance, the snow measured seven inches, three of which fell Sunday night and the rest from 7:30 a.m. Monday to 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

80 Years Ago

March 28, 1944

Col. Tracy K. Dorsett, new commanding officer at the Alliance Air Base, was tendered a reception at the Officers’ Club at the base last night at which a number of Alliance officials joined with the officers of the base in extending a hearty welcome.

75 Years Ago

March 25, 1949

Property owners on the west side of the city want new paving. Thursday night petitions were filed with the city council asking for pavement on Black Hills avenue from Third to Tenth street and Platte avenue from Tenth to Twelfth street. The petition of Black Hills avenue property owners had the signatures of 34 signers, more than 63 per cent of all owners.

70 Years Ago

March 27, 1954

Improvement of recreation facilities at Box Butte Dam north of Hemingford will be mapped and an attempt made to enlist the interest of organization and clubs in the project. At a meeting held in Hemingford Friday night, representatives of several groups from Alliance and Hemingford, the Bureau of Reclamation and Mirage Flats Irrigation District, discussed recreation possibilities and have called for another meeting on April 9.

65 Years Ago

March 27, 1959

A restraining leash was thrown around door – to – door peddlers Thursday night by the Alliance City Council as that group passed unanimously an ordinance regulating solicitors, peddlers, and canvassers. In addition, the Council was informed the Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company plans to increase the industrial gas rate used by the city by approximately 10 per cent. Action on this matter was tabled until the next meeting.

60 Years Ago

March 20, 1964

As an aftermath to the crash of light airplane in western Box Butte County during the noon hour Thursday, arrangements were being made here today for funerals of the five victims, and investigators for two federal aviation authorities were checking the wrecked plane.

55 Years Ago

March 27, 1969

Robert (Bob) Vallejo, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Vallejo, has been awarded a $200 scholarship by the Alliance Woman’s Club. The announcement was made this morning by Mrs. Donald Taylor, chairman of the scholarship committee.

50 Years Ago

March 27, 1974

When the Box Butte County Commissioners meet in regular session next Monday, one of the items on the agenda will be consideration of asking the State Office of Planning and Programming to assist the county in writing a comprehensive land use plan.

45 Years Ago

March 27, 1979

Saturday’s warm weather brought scores of people out of their houses and into the sunlight. Some played with their dogs in the park, others rode bikes.

40 Years Ago

March 27, 1984

The Gary Ward family faced an unpleasant surprise when they returned to their home at 2824 Laramie Monday evening. Pulling into their driveway, the Wards, who had been out of town since Thursday, were met by a group of neighbors and Alliance Fire Chief Roger McGrath who told them that while they were gone their home had sustained an estimated $15,000 damage from a fire “of suspicious origin.”

35 Years Ago

March 27, 1989

Box Butte County Civil Defense in conjunction with the Nebraska Civil Defense Agency and the National Weather Service will again sponsor Tornado Awareness Week in the state.

30 Years Ago

March 28, 1994

Alliance Middle School sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands will present a spring concert in the gym at the middle school at 7 p.m. Tuesday. There will be 220 students participating.

25 Years Ago

March 27, 1999

With the on-going trouble in the Middle East and the current crisis in Kosovo, you would think that the parents of American serviceman would be suffering from angst over their children’s safety. But no the parents of three Alliance sailors, Mark and Donna Pryor feel nothing but pride for their sons Zachary, Kylee and Quincy.

20 Years Ago

March 27, 2004

The Alliance Arts Council announced recently that they were among a select group of Midwest presenters chosen to receive a Heartland Arts Fund grant. This award will support an upcoming performance of FLY Dance Company at the Alliance High School Auditorium. FLY will also be involved in education and outreach activities at Alliance Middle School and Alliance High School.

15 Years Ago

March 27, 2009

Yesterday evening, Alliance Police officers assisted in the apprehension of three inmates who escaped from an Indiana prison. On Friday, March 20th, three felony offenders assaulted an employee and escaped from the Branchville Medium Security Prison in Branchville, Indiana.

10 Years Ago

March 27, 2014

WESTCO has purchased the convenience store and car wash to expand their coverage of the Alliance community, explained David Briggs, WESTCO General Manager. WESTCO, as of April 1, will officially own K-C’s Short Stop located on the corner of 25th Street and Box Butte Avenue.

5 Years Ago

March 27, 2019

Recent rain and snow events have led to flooding in much of the area which may have impacted domestic wells. The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District is encouraging rural residents with concerns, to have the wells tested for both nitrates and bacteria to ensure the drinking water is safe for consumption.

*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by staff.