Looking Back

1883The Jefferson County Agriculture Society leased the fairgrounds, now City Park, to Ringling Bros., for $50 (presumably for a one-day circus appearance.)John Heasty was elected Fairbury mayor, with W.H. Barnes as clerk.1910The Fairbury Journal had an item headed “Cattle Bring High Price.” The item shows that the said cattle brought $7.70 in St. Joseph, Missouri.The editor of this paper was a member of the good roads committee. He served in that capacity again in 1930.Dry weather prevailed at this time, with many dust storms.1913The proposal for a city scale carried by over 200 votes, and the town voted “wet” by 210.The City Council approved sending $22 to the victims of Omaha's March 24 tornado.1923The council had metal standards placed at the center of each intersection around the square to direct traffic into “square turns.” The police hung a red lantern on each of them each night. These later were replaced with “turtle” signs.A west front was approved for the new high school building, facing J street rather than K, as previously selected, The slope of the block made this more feasible.1933W.F. Mathis, owner of the Electric Shoe Shop at Sixth and E streets, bought the Frank Frisbie harness shop and moved it to the shoe shop site.1943Reported to be Japanese prisoners of war in the Philippines were Raymond Meyer and Sgt. Marvin Green of Fairbury. Meyer later died of malnutrition.Lower local natural gas rates were announced by Frank Keeline, local Peoples Natural Gas manager, Savings ranged up to 80 cents per month.The USO center in Fairbury was formally endorsed by the national organization, and $900 allotment sent for maintenance. Local officers were Glen R, LeRoy, Mrs. Jess Lee, Mrs. W.L. Hull and Earl Howell.Some 50 Fairbury young women were enrolled as Kaydettes, hostesses for events at the USO.1945Sgt. Rudolph Cerveny, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cerveny of Fairbury, died of wounds received in Germany while serving with General Patton's Third Army. Cerveny had an army career of over 16 years.A craft and hobby show was held at the USO Center.1953Fairbury Rotarian's elected the Rev. A.W. Johnson president. Other officers-elect were John Aasen, Lloyd TeSelle, and Chester Bonsall for a 21st year as secretary.The Fairbury Utilities Department bought 20 acres of the Campbell farm just west of the swimming pool.The Rock Island's Western division increased to 975 miles, extending from Des Moines to terminals in Colorado. Division headquarters were at Fairbury.George Galbraith was elected president by Fairbury Veterans of Foreign Wars, succeeding Charles Brock.1963Mrs. John A. Friesen and Mrs. R.R. Ruhnke of Jansen were hostesses to the art exhibit there of District Four, Nebraska Women's Clubs. Fairbury exhibitors included Mrs. Frank Girdner, Annabelle Stocker and Helen Green and a number of elementary school pupils.Entrants in the Miss Fairbury pageant sponsored by local Jaycees included Cynthia Lucille Newton, daughter of the George Newtons; Barbara Ann Junker, daughter of the Irvin Junkers; Pamela Lee Powell, daughter of the Delmer D. Powells of Hebron; and Rose Mary Woodside, daughter of the Gerald Dean Woodsides of Chester. Charles Glaze retired after 45 years' service with the Railway Express, the final 40 at Fairbury.1973Dale and Dennis Flagle of Fairbury won the Nebraska father-son bowling championship.All nine members of Steele City's 1918 graduating class attended the 55-year reunion.Julie Ellen Francis of Tobias was Nebraska's Homemaker of tomorrow.Fairbury Rotarians elected Roger Judd president.St. Michael's Catholic parish's new social center, north of the church, was blessed by the Rev. Francis J. Murphy, pastor.1993Members of the Fairbury Veterans of War Post 3113 and Commander Melvin Nespor gave the Nebraska State Patrol $2500 to be used toward the purchase of a drug dog for the canine unit.The Daykin Lumber volleyball league, consisting of Missi Rohr, Staci Zoubek, Ellen Long, Linda Johnson, Dennis Johnson, Mark Rohr, Lymon Hamm and Bob VanWesten, won first place in the Hebron Volley-ball League's season-ending tournament.2003The American Red Cross Bloodmobile goal of 110 units was surpassed by 135 units, approximately 40 volunteers helped with the drive.Blue Valley Community Action sponsored a clean-up day as part of Youth ServeAmerica Day, and 17 youths from throughout the community helped clean at Camp Jefferson with AmeriCorps and Southeast Nebraska Youth Empowerment Council members.

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