130 Years Ago
November 30, 1894
Citizens of Alliance were startled last Sunday night at about eleven o’clock by the dread alarm of fire. Both hose teams and the hook and ladder truck were gotten out, although the latter was not needed. A collision of freight trains in the yards was found to have resulted and the way car and wrecked cars had ignited.
125 Years Ago
December 1, 1899
Mrs. F. M. Phelps entertained a part of sixty ladies at tea from 6 to 8 o’clock last Saturday evening. The affair was most carefully arranged throughout and reflected much credit to the hostess. Diversion consisted in guessing the number of seeds in a lemon. Mrs. W. O. Barnes and four others guessed thirteen, which proved the lucky number, but Mrs. B. won the tie and secured as a prize a handsome silver cold-meat fork. Mrs. Coutant made the poorest guess and was given a lemon squeezer.
120 Years Ago
November 25, 1904
In a scuffle at one of the saloons last night a revolver was accidentally discharged, the ball grazing the flesh just above the ankle of a travelling man and causing a slight flesh wound.
115 Years Ago
November 26, 1909
Spectators at the foot ball game yesterday afternoon, between the Alliance and Havelock gladiators on the local grounds, certainly got their money’s worth. The teams were about evenly matched, with the home boy having a shade the best of the argument, and every inch of ground was hotly contested.
110 Years Ago
November 27, 1914
The correct way to fit a corset will be shown in moving pictures at the Imperial theater next Friday afternoon by the Horace Bogue store. Mr. Bogue has leased the theater for this occasion and will give free tickets to those who will call at the store during the next week. Only ladies having tickets will be admitted free of charge. No men will be admitted to this performance.
105 Years Ago
November 28, 1919
Pinkerton men who have been on the trail of Carlisle since his escape from the Wyoming state penitentiary have reasons to believe that the train bandit was in Chadron Tuesday and that he drove across country to Alliance, taking the Burlington south to the Union Pacific.
100 Years Ago
November 28, 1924
Don’t try to develop unnatural physical strength. In the first place it is bad for the health. In the second place, vitality used up by over developed muscles is taken from the brain which is more important in modern days than muscle.
95 Years Ago
November 29, 1929
Automatic coal stokers are becoming very popular in Alliance and are rapidly replacing the old method of hand firing in both residences and business blocks. The chief advantage of the new system is that a much cheaper grade of coal can be used to advantage in the stoker and better results obtained.
90 Years Ago
November 30, 1934
About 85 poor Alliance families were not able to have turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner, but were supplied with rabbit meat instead, due to the marksmanship of a group of farmers living in the west part of the county.
85 Years Ago
November 28, 1939
Equipment is being moved in and riggers have started work on erecting the 84-foot standard steel rig for the Nebraska Oil company’s first deep well test well on the Bonner Land & Cattle company lease eight miles southwest of Alliance.
80 Years Ago
November 28, 1944
Adjutant Olin Brigman today issued a public invitation to all servicemen discharged from the armed forces to take advantage of the splendid USO facilities in Alliance. He revealed that 122 Box Butte county boys have returned after having their honorable discharge from the armed services.
75 Years Ago
November 29, 1949
The reserve champion bull sold at the Western Nebraska Hereford Breeders sale today for $6700, a new top price for registered cattle at the Alliance sales ring. The bull, consigned by Wilford Scott of Chadron, was bought by Hubert Forney & Sons of Lakeside.
70 Years Ago
November 26, 1954
Action of the Railway Commission in allowing West Nebraska Express, Scottsbluff, to use an alternate truck route to serve Alliance was affirmed by the State Supreme Court today.
65 Years Ago
November 24, 1959
Alliance merchants are preparing to treat thousands of youngsters at the annual Santa Claus visit and Christmas “opening” scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28.
60 Years Ago
November 28, 1964
Shoppers swarmed into downtown Alliance Friday for the official start of Christmas buying featuring a “treasure hunt”. More than 600 children attended a double-feature program shown in the morning and afternoon at the Alliance Theatre while mothers visited stores.
55 Years Ago
November 28, 1969
Monday will be the first day of registration in the 6th annual Alliance merchants and Daily Time-Herald – sponsored “bowl holiday” with the 1969 winner to receive two expense-paid trips to sunny California and the 1970 Rose Bowl football game.
50 Years Ago
November 26, 1974
A 25-year old man was arrested for breaking and entering by Alliance police early Tuesday morning after Patrolman Ken Jordan caught the man in a foot race when two subjects fled from the rear of the Lager Inn after an apparent break-in.
45 Years Ago
November 30, 1979
New snow-removal ordinance No. 1,601 was passed unanimously by the Alliance City Council at a special meeting Thursday evening. It includes provisions for the declaring of snow emergencies, emergency snow routes with no parking during storms, prohibitions against moving snow from private property into cleared public streets and alleys, no-parking zones year-around during certain hours downtown, and penalties for violators.
40 Years Ago
November 26, 1984
A number of Alliance cable subscribers have signed a petition written by Harold Warthen, that will be sent to a division of the Federal Communications Commission, in Washington D.C., that handles complaints and problems of cable systems.
35 Years Ago
November 29, 1989
Area 1 Special Olympics will sponsor an all-day bowling tournament, Saturday at Bowl-Mor Lanes. Between 80 and 100 competitors, ages 8 years old and older, from Ogallala, Sidney, Valentine, Scottsbluff, and Alliance will be qualifying for state.
30 Years Ago
November 23, 1994
The 7th Street Dan Studio’s performance of “The Nutcracker” in Alliance on December 4 will be more than holiday entertainment. It will be part of a national tradition.
25 Years Ago
November 27, 1999
The affect of increased Internet use in the Panhandle has been positive for over-all mail handling at the Alliance post office. “I have no hard figures, but all mail was up 2.5 percent for fiscal year 1999 over 1998, which was a big increase for us,” Harry Schaffert, Alliance post master said. This is probably due, in part, to buying over the Internet and catalog sales.
20 Years Ago
November 26, 2004
The Alliance Municipal Airport will benefit directly from the recent 2005 (omnibus) fiscal spending bill that has passed through Congress. The airport will receive $1 million in funding to install an Instrument Landing System.
15 Years Ago
November 25, 2009
Applications are now available for the Miss and Teen Alliance pageants set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan 3, at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance.
10 Years Ago
November 26, 2014
Dr. Stacy J. Childs, F.A.C.S. will join Greater Nebraska Medial & Surgical Services beginning as early as December 29014. A board-certified urologist, Childs is educated and trained to treat disorders of the male and female urinary tract (bladder, ureter, kidney, and urethra) and the male reproductive system
5 Years Ago
November 27, 2019
Every year, Keep Alliance Beautiful hosts a scavenger hunt for America Recycles, and this year, Lori White was declared the winner of the hunt, earning $100 for her efforts.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Baum