Looking Back

1889I.N. Thompson and James Ireland, Republicans running for second terms as county clerk and sheriff, respectively, lost to Democrats John Converse and E.R. Bowman. All other Republicans won.1891Irregularity of train schedules on the K.C. 8Z 0. Railroad between Fairbury and Endicott resulted in poor mail service here.George Wilkins, in one day's hunting, killed 75 quail, 13 cottontail rabbits and five jackrabbits, and chased a wolf.1899With five cases of diphtheria reported in Fairbury, Mayor C.H. Denney had asked that all places “where children are likely to congregate” be closed. Schools were not mentioned in the request. The Fairbury Journal said that the local death rate had been only 20 percent compared with “the usual” 80 percent.1901The Fairbury Journal said this was the best chicken, egg, butter and milk country in the world.S.M. Bailey was preparing to retire as county treasurer, to become cashier of the First National Bank of Fairbury.Skunks caused the Powell school to have a "rather short session" one day.1904Theodore Roosevelt had a 3-1 in Jefferson County over Parker, and all state and county Republican candidates also won.1911"Tag Day" in Fairbury receipts enabled the public library to buy more books.The Rock Island's “Jersey" passenger train between Goodland and Belleville, Kansas, had its run extended to Fairbury.Corn was bringing 57 cents a bushel at Fairbury.1919The Willoughby or Beardsley farm of 373 acres on Rose Creek was sold for $120 an acre.J.H. Skinner, proprietor of the Reo Garage in Fairbury, advertised “radiator and hood covers to order.”Celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary were the Frank Pettits, and on the same day, the 25th anniversary of their daughter, Mabel and Frank A. Moon.1921Mr. and Mrs. Luther Bonham moved into their new home on Sixth.Admission was 50 cents at a football doubleheader Thanksgiving Day afternoon at the Fairbury City Park: Hebron and Fairbury varsities, Western and Fairbury reserves.1921A dry fate fall resulted in early completion of corn husking in the county.1929There had been over five inches of rainfall at Fairbury.Editor W.F. Cramb of The Fairbury Journal disagreed with the county's maintenance of roads “with trucks and tractors while farmers had idle horses which could be used for the purpose.”1931The local price of eggs had reached what The Fairbury Journal considered a “bottom price,” 24 cents a dozen.Farmers in the area had become impatient for the road to be reopened. 1939Earl Sweeney of Fairbury was appointed a United States deputy marshal at Grand Island.Fairbury High School's first annual homecoming was 1939. Jackson High School of Lincoln won the football game, 25-2.1969Concrete 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.1979Members 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 plague 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.1989Marv'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.1999Over 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.

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