130 Years Ago
December 1, 1893
The cook book which some of the ladies of the Presbyterian church have been laboring so hard to compile is nearly all ready for the printer and work will commence on it at this office the first of next week.
125 Years Ago
December 2, 1898
That portion of the McWhinney building vacated by Caldwell’s photograph gallery is being remodeled for the occupancy of Drs. Bellwood & Bellwood. It will be divided into four rooms, and the skylight used to light the operating room. This will make very commodious and much more convenient quarters than they now have upstairs.
120 Years Ago
December 1, 1903
There is probably no Alliance railway employee more popular than “Billy” Manchester, and when it became known last Saturday that a portion of his left arm had been seriously crushed while switching at Mitchell, on the Guernsey line, his friends became feverish with excitement. The accident occurred there between ten and eleven o’clock and Charley Glensdale, formerly of Alliance, seemed the most competent person available there to dress the injury.
115 Years Ago
December 1, 1908
Charles Brower and Frank Augustine who were given a hearing the latter part of the week before Judge Bullock were bound over to district court, when their case will be tried. Charles Brower was charged with shooting with intent to do bodily harm. His bond was fixed at $500 and same having been furnished he is now at liberty. Augustine was charged with statutory rape and his bond was fixed at $1000. He is to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and as the evidence is very strong a long term in the penitentiary is doubtless awaiting him.
110 Years Ago
December 2, 1913
Work stopped on the new Box Butte county courthouse last Saturday evening, owing to the fact that foreman Chas. H. Fuller, left in charge of the work by Contractor R. A. Matthews, when he threw up the job, had no more money to pay the men. The men are still in the city and an early resumption of the work is expected. No word has come from Matthews explaining his act.
105 Years Ago
December 3, 1918
Sentiment is rapidly crystallizing among the railroad and business interests of the city for the adoption of the city manager form of government and the question will doubtless be submitted to the voters at a special election called in time to permit the election of a commission and the adoption of a charter at the regular city election, to be held in April.
100 Years Ago
November 30, 1923
When every man in Box Butte county becomes a salesman of Box Butte county potatoes—never neglecting an opportunity to speak of their quality—the growers will be able to find quick sale for their crops. If every man in the county would make it his business to spread the news of Box Butte county and its produce the potato crop could be sold and everybody would be better off.
95 Years Ago
November 30, 1928
Alliance, through the Chamber of Commerce, city administration and farmers of this community, is arranging the stage for an outstanding farming conference upon which will be focused all eyes of agricultural western Nebraska. This city will be the meeting place of the third annual session of western Nebraska Organized Agriculture this year.
90 Years Ago
November 28, 1933
A total of 50 additional laborers on civil works projects were at work this afternoon in the Alliance city parks under a program to be completed this winter which will complete all of the city park work the park board had hoped under ordinary conditions would be done in the next three or four years. Thirty men were put on the job this morning and 20 more were being started this afternoon.
85 Years Ago
November 29, 1938
Alliance is one of 10 Nebraska cities designated by the Civil Aeronautics authority at Washington as the proper locations for regulation airports in order that the state might be properly served in the final plan of the authority, according to word received by I.V. Packard, secretary of the Neraska Aeronutics commission. The other cities are Chadron, Scottsbluff, Valentine, Beatrice, Grand Island, Holdrege, Lincoln, Omaha and North Platte.
80 Years Ago
November 30, 1943
Rialto and Alliance theatres have been redecorated, the Alliance gets a new electric lighted letter board and the Rialto a new marquee all within the week reports James E. Hughes, manager. The show houses have been handicapped by shortage of help but have maintained a good service in the entertainment field. The new front appearance is in line with modern theatre architecture.
75 Years Ago
November 30, 1948
Box Butte county taxpayers will pay well over $2500 for the first degree murder trial of James G. Makris—who was acquitted by a district court jury Nov. 13. Biggest single item of expenditure against the county for the trial was submitted Monday by Rush C. Clarke, North Platte attorney who aided Box Butte County Attorney Wade H. Ellis in prosecuting the case. The claim submitted by Clarke is for $1661.95—this includes $1500 as a fee for his services, and $161.95 for his expenses. This claim is now in the hands of the commissioners.
70 Years Ago
November 30, 1953
C.T. (Cemy) Young, an international director of Lions from Pender, will be the guest speaker tonight at charter night ceremonies for the Alliance Lions Club. Young will highlight a simple ceremony that will be climaxed with the presentation of the local charter to President Ward Hall, Jr. Young will fly nto the Alliance airport later this afternoon.
65 Years Ago
November 28, 1958
Alliance was well-stuffed today. The bicarbonate of sodas were flowing freely and pained expressions were evident on many following a bountiful Thanksgiving Day celebration Thursday. A light snow added a festive air to the occasion and provided the hunters with some good opportunities.
60 Years Ago
November 30, 1963
Shoppers can find valuable prizes in 21 Alliance stores today by matching their number from Thursday’s Gift Guide section of The Daily Times Herald with numbers to be posted in the stores. Last store to offer prizes in the “treasure hunt” was Furman’s on Friday afternoon. More than 60 prizes plus a grand prize are offered.
55 Years Ago
November 29, 1968
The Christmas lights go on at 5 o’clock this evening in Alliance to officially open the 1968 holiday season. In addition all business houses will be open until 9 o’clock for the convenience of shoppers. Meanwhile today residents of Alliance and Northwest Nebraska area were recovering from overeating on Thanksgiving Day and many had a case of swollen eyeballs from watching a full day of college and professional football on television.
50 Years Ago
November 29, 1973
The Nebraska Certified Potato Growers non-stock Cooperative Association has been dissolved. The final distribution of assets was being made today. The organization was formed in March of 1924 with the late William Morrow elected as the first manager. The Association has been active through the years in promoting the sale of quality seed potatoes and also in the sale of table and chipping potatoes.
45 Years Ago
November 29, 1978
The possibility of paving East 10th Road was discussed by the Box Butte County Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday, as they received a petition, signed by 88 people, asking that the road be paved. The petition, which was presented by Ray Jesse, asks that the road be paved from one mile east of Alliance to the Sheridan County line.
40 Years Ago
November 29, 1983
The St. Joseph Gerontology Center’s emergency fund drive total is now at $150,043.36, according to Cindy Metz, the center’s Activities Director. The goal of the drive, which was kicked off in August, is $200,000. St. Joseph has been operated since 1911 by the Sisters of St. Francis, first as an acute care hospital and now as a skilled care nursing home.
35 Years Ago
November 29, 1988
No decision was made Tuesday morning by the Box Butte County Commissioners who met as the Board of Equalization concerning erroneous taxation on some property located about 4 ½ miles east of Hemingford. Box Butte County Assessor Susan Hansen said the erroneous taxation was the result of a sale of land to Roy Lilley from Frank Dee of Grand Island.
30 Years Ago
November 29, 1993
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church’s float won the church division and ‘best of parade’ in the float competition in this year’s Alliance Christmas parade, sponsored by the Kiwanis and Chamber of Commerce. The temperature was 36 degrees and the sun was shining at parade time, a big improvement over the three previous days when wind chills were well below zero.
25 Years Ago
November 30, 1998
Alliance’s District No. 6 School Board held a special meeting to consider the appointment of a new board member to fill Randy Gould’s resent vacancy. All current board members were present. The board unanimously chose Paul Mottl, rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, to fill the unexpired two years vacated by Gould.
20 Years Ago
November 29, 2003
Alliance High School will present one-act “If Boys Wore the Skirts,” by Anne Coulter Martens, at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1 in the AHS multi-purpose room. Director Alicia Boller, AHS speech/debate teacher, 20 cast members and a nine-member crew will lease the next day to compete at 6:45 p.m. at Scottsbluff.
15 Years Ago
November 29, 2008
A local church group has been working to provide medical supplies to a hospital on the other side of the world. The project, known as White Cross, creates and sends supplies such as bandages, drapes and children’s clothing.
10 Years Ago
November 29, 2013
There has been a recent rash of missing batteries from farm equipment and around shops, and law enforcement is asking the community to report any missing batteries. Vehicle batteries can be returned to stores for a small payment for the core charge.
5 Years Ago
November 28, 2018
Not quite “Back to the Future” or “Groundhog Day,” though new Alliance Deputy City Manager Jeff Sprock has been here before. Three weeks at city hall, and he has returned with a new perspective. City Council hired Sprock this fall, weeks after he applied for the position.