130 Years Ago
October 18, 1895
Mrs. C. E. Sanford reports a rushing business at the Boston Millinery store last Saturday, having sold $49 worth of hats that day.
125 Years Ago
October 19, 1900
On account of the extra large size of pump purchased by the city, it has been thought best to sink a couple more pipes at the city well, though it was shown that the four already down are ample for the present needs of the city. Alliance can not have too much water, and this is a move in the right direction.
120 Years Ago
October 20, 1905
Candidates Spacht and Brennan went to Hemingford yesterday, and are probably going to annoy the voters of the west part of the county a few days. No report has ever reached the public that these officials have surrendered their railroad passes, but we started an investigation to determine the matter.
115 Years Ago
October 21, 1910
Coote Mulloy is about Alliance’s streets again this week after some harrowing experiences in St. Joseph’s hospital, Omaha, where he remained three weeks. Several weeks ago an old injury to his hand was made a running sore by bruising while bridling a horse at his ranch south of here. Blood poisoning set in and it was feared for a time that he would lose his arm.
110 Years Ago
October 19, 1915
All slot machines in Alliance have been tabooed by Mayor Romig and Chief Jeffers notified all places where the machines were located that they must be faced to the wall if kept there. There were not a great many of them in operation and none of them were rushed very hard, but the mayor thought it best to adhere to the law in this respect and there could be no complaint.
105 Years Ago
October 19, 1920
The J. S. Adams family, 711 Big Horn Avenue, had a burglar scare Sunday night about 8 o’clock, when members of the family heard a noise in the attic and discovered a strange man rummaging through effects stored there. When the intruder saw them he made a hurried exit by a back stairs door and escaped.
100 Years Ago
October 23, 1925
Victor Bowen of Thedford will have 30 days in which to study the meaning of the word gratitude. Victor found himself in Alliance this week without funds and without the price of a ticket home. Friends of his family took him home and provided him with the comforts and necessities of life and in return he stole a wrist watch from the house and left suddenly.
95 Years Ago
October 21, 1930
While the use of the dynamite for making ditches has been employed for the past 30 years it is new in the Sandhills of Nebraska and surrounding territory. Last Saturday a crew of ditch blasting experts were brought to Alliance through the efforts of the Newberry Hardware Company.
90 Years Ago
October 18, 1935
When the Burlington railroad decided to make Alliance a division point on the main line between Kansas City and Billings, it laid the foundation for a city. A few frame shacks were thrown together and business started with a flourish. Men wearing Scotch caps, Rockford socks and Kentucky jeans made up most of the population. But those men had vision and they were willing to work to accomplish it.
85 Years Ago
October 18, 1940
Alliance and Box Butte County are not ungrateful for the federal assistance that has been extended to the aged, the unemployed and the drought-stricken farmers in the past decade. Had it not been for this relief it is difficult to estimate what might have happened to this fertile area that was so sorely tried during the years of the drought.
80 Years Ago
October 19, 1945
Immediately after the publication on Tuesday of the Alliance Milk shortage, the Roberts Dairy of Omaha called Mayor Walter Jones on the telephone and offered to ship 600 quarts of milk here every day until the crisis had passed.
75 Years Ago
October 20, 1950
The 12-minute parking meters at Third and Box Butte got a coat of black paint to distinguish them from the 2-hour meters elsewhere. Good thing, too, as quite a few people have had trouble trying to get more than 12 minutes out of one of the restricted meters.
70 Years Ago
October 21, 1955
The Alliance Junior Chamber of Commerce named Park Dobson, Jr., as its “outstanding boss of the year” Thursday night and then nine of its own members were given “sparkplug awards” by district officers.
65 Years Ago
October 21, 1960
The Alliance City Council Thursday night authorized City Manager R. W. Laing to proceed with the sale of up to $1,750,000 in electric revenue bonds to pay for the enlargement project at the municipal Light Plant.
60 Years Ago
October 19, 1965
Alliance will be the wheat capital of Nebraska on Thursday. That is the day the Nebraska Grain Improvement Association brings back the annual Nebraska Wheat Show, the first time it has been staged here since 1956. It will be the 23rd of the series.
55 Years Ago
October 21, 1970
One of the rarest wire displays in the United States will be on display Thursday and until noon Friday at the Alliance National Bank and then will be on display at the Nebraska Barb Wire Collector Association’s fall show in the City Auditorium Saturday and Sunday.
50 Years Ago
October 17, 1975
Consideration of a 75 cent a month rate increase for Alliance Community TV was delayed Thursday until the next meeting of the City Council. John Steinmark asked the Council for an increase in TV rates from $6.50 to $7.25 for Alliance residents, that would require an amendment to an ordinance. “We didn’t realize inflation would catch up with us this fast,” Steinmark commented.
45 Years Ago
October 21, 1980
Past experiences have made the Alliance Housing Authority wary of potential problems and Monday afternoon’s meeting indicated it is approaching business more carefully. The board has begun screening applicants more stringently before they are accepted for public housing assistance.
40 Years Ago
October 19, 1985
The City of Alliance is literally turning the lights out on its residents. During the course of the 1985-86 budget hearings this past summer, the council discussed a money saving process which would have certain lights throughout the city not considered essential be turned off. Since the turn-off program started earlier this fall, the city has disconnected 46 light fixtures. Of those 46, most of them are lights at intersections.
35 Years Ago
October 19, 1990
The walls of the former BooksPlus building will come tumblin’ down as a result of the city’s acquiring the deed to the vacated downtown business building. The acquisition of the land and building ends a year of contention between the building owner and the city to resolve the matter.
30 Years Ago
October 20, 1995
Alliance City Council members listened last night as residents objected to a lot sale, but the council is powerless to respond to their wishes. Ted Hempel, representing some home owners near the lot in question, said he and others are concerned about possible devaluation of their property if a double-wide mobile home is placed on the corner of Hammond Lane and Buchfinck Ave.
25 Years Ago
October 19, 2000
The Alliance Area Family YMCA will be supporting a National Y-Program, entitled “What’s Your Anti-Drug?” Campaign. This is a national drug-awareness campaign that invites young people to talk about the anti-drug in their lives – the person, hobby, talent, mentor – the thing that keeps them (our youths) away from drugs.
20 Years Ago
October 18, 2005
Students from Alliance and Hemingford High Schools visited the county commissioners yesterday, along with other county offices while taking part in County Government Day. Around 75 students altogether filled up the district court room yesterday around 9 a.m. and listened to Boy Stark, Box Butte County commander of The American Legion.
15 Years Ago
October 20, 2010
An Alliance man has been bound over to Box Butte District Court on two counts of burglary, a Class III felony, and theft by taking over $1,500, a Class III felony. According to court documents, between July 27 and July 30, Bradley G., 24, allegedly broke into the home of Andrea H. with the intent to steal a 32-inch flat screen television.
10 Years Ago
October 22, 2015
The final phase of the Alliance Municipal Airport project for runway 12/30 is underway, and soon aircraft will be using it once again. Before this final painting phase could begin, there was a lot to do to the runway.
5 Years Ago
October 21, 2020
Representatives from the Alliance Recreation Center gathered at the recent Alliance School Board Meeting as board members approved a proclamation for the Lights on Afterschool Event at the Center.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher