Looking Back
1894
The United States issued $50 billion in 5 percent bonds to make up for government revenues decreased by hard times. Corn and wheat were selling for the same price at Republican Kansas, 50 cents a bushel.
1908
Honor pupils in District No. 100 were Anne, Carl, Eliza and Marie Michels, Ethel, Lee, Marie and Mattie Cramb, Bertha and Minne Gussman and Clark Hackathorn.
1918
For being the first city in its population class-5,000 to 10,000-to report an over-subscription to the Fourth Liberty Loan, a government tank was to be named “The City of Fairbury.”
Jake Ritzhaupt of Idaho, son of Henry Ritzhaupt of Fairbury was killed in the final days of World War. I.
Local market prices were wheat $2.10 a bushel, corn $1.45, oats 70 cents, hogs $15.40-$16.05, butcher steers $9-$10, baled prai-rie hay $20, alfalfa $28, butterfat 59 cents and eggs 62 cents.
Questions of patriotism still festered in this county, even after the Armistice. Several residents were called before the Defense Council to explain non-purchase of Liberty bonds; one had his allotment doubled.
Daykin was left without a general store, when H.W. Holtgrewe closed out his $30,000-$40,000 stack, sold his building and moved away. The only food store left in the town was J.E. Presnell’s meat market.
1928
T.E. Evans of Fairbury became the owner of a large eagle which had been wounded and captured in the hills between Endicott and Steele City by William Banahan and C.A. Marcellus. It didn’t survive long in captivity, however.
Top local market prices were hogs $8.30, cattle $16.25, corn 73 cents, wheat 94 cents, oats 35 cents, prairie hay in stack $6, al-falfa $11, butterfat 45 cents, eggs 34 cents and hens 20 cents a pound.
1938
Fairburians voted overwhelmingly to issue $5,000 in bonds to pay local right-of-way costs for a new viaduct over the Rock Island tracks. The K street structure replaced a wooden span on L Street.
Five hundred Fairbury fans rode a special train to Lincoln to see FHS play Jackson High, later incorporated into Northeast. Jackson won 14-0.
The George Garbers served “Ye Old English Dinner” the Sunday after Thanksgiving at the Merchants Hotel. There were 117 reservations for the 50-cent family-style
1969
Concrete surfacing on Highway 136 between Jansen and Fairbury was opened to traffic.
Ferdinand Harms’ corn and Delmar Ebbers’ milo won Fairbury Chambers of Commerce awards.
When they accidentally swung at right angles to the rail cars on which they were riding, gun barrels of several Army tanks damaged Rock Island signal and switch standards between South Bend and Plymouth.
Four railroad cars were loaded with milo at Harbine and Jansen, results of Jefferson-South Saline counties’ CROP drive.
1979
Members of the fall play by Meridian High School players included Jeanie Allen, Dean DeWald, Lance Hamm, Todd Jarchow, Tammy Meyer, Larry Miller, Ron Schmitt, Robin Niederklein, Darla Pfeifer, Kirsten Rife, Clint Ridpath, Ron Schmitt and Wayne Walls.
Pam Gregory and Tammy Johnson had been top servers on the FHS volleyball team.
Tri County High School actors presenting the play “M A S H,” included Mike Burger, Gary Connors, Paul Ossowski, Dave Schroeder and Kyle Spilker.
The Oregon Trail Club was named “4-H Club of the Year” by the Fairbury Optimist Club. Accepting the plaque from Optimist President Ed Kujath were club officers Angie Edwards, Todd Knobel, Alan Scarrow and Dave Schleif.
Fairbury School board authorized a trades and industry vocational program, proposed by Jim Cabrera, industrial arts instructor.
1989
Marv’s Liquor Store, later KezD Liquor, was robbed by a lone gunman, and Fairbury police officers, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Nebraska State Patrol were involved in the investigation.
Beginning their 1989-90 seasons, the Meridian Lady Mustangs hosted the Diller Lady Eagles in a battle of area schools; Meridian won the closely contested game, 48-43.
An open house was held to celebrate the dedication of the new addition and the 80th birthday of the Fairbury Public Library.
Disregarding a couple of “snow trace” entries in the weather record, November 1989 ranked with 1954 and 1976; each of those Novembers was equally arid.
Fred Maatsch of Fairbury was presented with a plaque for 40 years of service with Amoco; Maatsch began working for Amoco in 1949 as an oil bunk agent in Diller.
1999
Over 70 percent of the deer checked in at the Fairbury fire hall during rifle season were bucks, according to Scott Hein, assistant fire chief.
Blue Valley Community Action’s “Living Tree” program had sixty six families qualify, half of the forms sent out were returned. Then the stockings are hung on the trees and a person who wants to participate in the program selects a stocking and then buys a gift for that child.
2003
Stacy Dein, daughter of Tom and Theresa Dein of Omaha, and granddaughter of Phyllis Jordening of Daykin, graduated from Naval Training Service Command at Great Lakes, Illinois, on November 25, 2003.
Flu hit early in 2003, and had a lasting effect on hospitals, health boards and schools in Jefferson County. The Jefferson Community Health Center in Fairbury posted signs at entrances discouraging visits to patients or residents of Gardenside from anyone with signs of illnesses including cough, fever, runny nose or other symptoms.
