130 Years Ago
September 20, 1895
Judge Fields is taking in the fair, while Mrs. Fields stopped off in Lincoln to visit friends.
125 Years Ago
September 21, 1900
The electric light plant was started working the latter part of last week, and the quality of light furnished is entirely satisfactory to all customers. Alliance has a metropolitan appearance at night now in keeping with her true position.
120 Years Ago
September 22, 1905
On account of the recent breaking of the siren fire alarm whistle, which has again been put in place, it is desired to test the same. This is to be done Saturday at noon and notice is given in this manner in advance in order that all may know it is a false alarm.
115 Years Ago
September 20, 1910
As is frequently remarked, Alliance has no industry that is more worthy of assistance and encouragement than the Alliance Creamery, with its numerous substations covering a wide extent of territory, and the patronage it commands is shown by the dispensation of hundreds of checks to producers every week, and frequent shipments of butter in car lots to distant cities, as well as the local demand.
110 Years Ago
September 21, 1915
Emmett McNeal and Ross Watson were fined $5 and the costs in Judge Roberts’ court Tuesday morning. Each had been found on the streets in a drunken condition without a visible means of support.
105 Years Ago
September 21, 1920
Local passenger trains Nos. 35 and 36, daily between Alliance and Edgemont, will be discontinued Sunday September 26. Lessening of the summer tourist traffic to the mountains and parks is given as the reason for discontinuing the extra service, which was put on to handle this business during the summer months.
100 Years Ago
September 22, 1925
The Alliance ball team won undisputed claim to the western Nebraska as well as South Dakota and Wyoming baseball supremacy when they defeated Yoder 7 to 2 Sunday in one of the fastest, cleanest, and most interesting games of the season.
95 Years Ago
September 23, 1930
The Alliance Fire Department was called to the Snyder Transfer and Storage company when fire broke out in the large transfer truck today. The fire originated from a short in the battery and the damage is estimated at $25.
90 Years Ago
September 20, 1935
Sheriff George P. Jones, after receiving hundreds of complaints from the public at large, now feels it is his turn to complain. He asks that Charles Benjamin of Alliance either keep his mule off the highway, or hang headlights and tail-lights on it.
85 Years Ago
September 20, 1940
Trying out the theory of “learning by doing” 14 high school lads are at present working half of their school days in apprenticeship in various business and trade firms in Alliance, school authorities announced.
80 Years Ago
September 21, 1945
Nearly 120,000 persons from every state, Mexico and several provinces in Canada used Alliance’s city park facilities the past summer, Park Supt. Warren Maxwell estimates. The total, according to Maxwell, is above any previous year.
75 Years Ago
September 22, 1950
Two readers were discussing the item in this column Wednesday telling about the lost and found $5-bill. One of them said, “That’s a wonder.” The other asked, “What, that he found it?” And the first replied, “No, that anyone had a $5-bill in the first place, on a Wednesday afternoon.”
70 Years Ago
September 20, 1955
A 2-alarm fire early this morning destroyed a large building at Alliance Airport and made charred ruins of several cars and trucks and automotive parts stored there by Borror Chevrolet. Drenching rain probably prevented serious spread of the fire to nearby buildings and tinder-dry grass.
65 Years Ago
September 21, 1960
Ten Alliance charitable and service organizations are included in the 1961 United Fund Campaign which will be staged here in the near future. The goal this year is $18,400. Officials of the Alliance organization are suggesting that hourly workers give one hour’s pay per month and that salaried workers give one percent of their yearly salary.
60 Years Ago
September 23, 1965
Issuing of motor vehicle operator licenses started today at the Box Butte County Treasurer’s office. The forms, which had not been received at the beginning of the 60-day renewal period on Sept. 1, arrived Wednesday afternoon.
55 Years Ago
September 23, 1970
Hatch Drug’s “Big Two Sale” starts Thursday and Virgil Hatch has again selected The Times-Herald to insert his special section advertising for the event which runs for a 10-day period. The Walgren agency circular features health and beauty aids, houseware items and special coupon offers.
50 Years Ago
September 20, 1975
A rate increase can be expected by customers of the Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Association (PREMA) it was announced by Manager Paul Phaneuf Friday. The jump in rates is due to an increase in the cost of power purchased from Tri-State Generation and Transmission, power supplier for PREMA, of 42.8 per cent and inflation, Phaneuf said.
45 Years Ago
September 19, 1980
You could have heard a pin drop in the old Hemingford gym during pauses of some of the 32 persons who commented at Thursday night’s marathon power plant gathering. REA moderator Donald Zimmerman asked that those who had signed up to speak limit themselves to eight minutes.
40 Years Ago
September 18, 1985
The Alliance city board of education approved a fall pilot interscholastic high school boys and girls tennis program during the regular meeting Tuesday evening.
35 Years Ago
September 21, 1990
The City of Alliance appears to be making some progress in getting the way cleared for the demolition of the former Books Plus building in downtown Alliance after a portion of the building gave way almost a year ago.
30 Years Ago
September 23, 1995
There are lots of special activities on tap today as the community celebrates Iron Rail Days. There will be puppet shows, pony rides and a tour of the shop area in the BN yards. There also will be a model train display and hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be available.
25 Years Ago
September 21, 2000
The Alliance Volunteer Fire Department recently received an $8,000 contribution from the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Foundation to help purchase a Lifepack 12 Cardiac Defibrillator/Monitor for the Fire Department’s new ambulance.
20 Years Ago
September 22, 2005
World history went down in the books on Sunday, Sept. 18. The longest baseball game ever played – in the entire world – took place in Alliance. This record-setting event lasted for 24 hours, 16 minutes and 17.68 seconds.
15 Years Ago
September 22, 2010
Katie White, principal of Alliance Middle School, is excited about the new advisory program that has begun this year. Staff members at the middle school have each chosen a group of ten students, and each teacher or “advisor” will have charge of these same ten students through all four years of middle school, from fifth through eighth grade.
10 Years Ago
September 22, 2015
Saturday Keep Alliance Beautiful partnered with Kmart to host what they hope to be the first of many flea market/farmers market events in the parking lot of Kmart. The registration for the event was not as high as event planners had hoped but the community response has been overwhelmingly positive.
5 Years Ago
September 23, 2020
The Alliance Police Department is set to obtain new equipment for their officers after receiving a $20,000 donation from WESTCO and the Land O’ Lakes Foundation during the Sept. 15 Alliance City Council Meeting.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher