Looking Back

1924Durant, Flint and Star were automobiles sold in Fairbury by the new dealership of Fred Schoenrock.E. Bervin moved his business into the south side building he had bought from Vine Pease and later built up a large wholesale business in auto parts and hardware.E.R. Henrichs of Deshler had become Ford dealer here, succeeding C.G. Catlin, who was retiring after having sold Fords since 1909.1934Big margins were frequent in the election in this county, except for repeal of prohibition, where the margin was only 170. The one-house legislature was favored by 925-vote margin here; the horserace betting issue lost by 186, but carried state-wide. Margins of over 1,000 and up to 2,000-plus were enjoyed by Democrats C.G. Binderup for congress, over James W. Hammond, Republican; Albert C. Schoenrock for state legislature, over C.H. Brandes; Frank Wells for state senator over R.J. Liliedoll of Thayer County; and by over 800 votes, George Skultety for county attorney over Frank M. Rain; Fred Jones over E.H. Jones for county assessor and F.E. Deffer for commissioner over A.E. Pennington. Gladys Hughes, Democrat, defeated Julia Newton for district court clerk; George W. Patterson had no opposition for commissioner, First District. On the Republican side, the big margins were for William H. Nider for county clerk over Fred Busing, C.G. Catlin over August Kroll for county treasurer and Emil Ackman for sheriff over Dwight B. Young, Mrs. Genevieve C. Clark was reelected county superintendent with 4,512 votes.Short-wave radios for Fairbury police were ordered by the city council.1944Precinct assessors elected were W.F. Bersche, Plymouth Precinct; Herbert Koenig, Gibson; Charles Schwisow, Washington; Ed Houser, Eureka; A.L. Landis, Meridian; Charles Coffin, Richland; William H. Nider, Cub Creek; William Beckman, Jefferson; A.A. Eick, Pleasant; J.W. Rohrbaugh, Rock Creek; Fred A. Ridder, Fairbury; Ernest Schoenrock, Lincoln; Joseph H. Mosher, Buckley; Harold Bower, Antelope; and Charles Waddell, Newton. Bersche, Houser, Schoenrock and Mosher had also been elected at the 1934 election.For the fourth time, Jefferson County voters rejected an ag extension agent as a county office.Grace Lutheran Church of Fairbury started the Sixth Ward Bond drive, buying bonds with a total maturity value of $1,525.1954An open house was conducted at the new club house at 16th and D streets, remodeled by the Optimist Club from the former utilities building at the trailer camp. A new play-ground was adjacent.Francis Lynde Kroll, Fairbury native, autographed his new book, “Young Crow Raider,” as a feature of Library Week observance at the Fairbury Public Library.“Rubinoff and His Violin” were featured in a concert, sponsored locally by the Business and Professional Women's Club.1964The Reverend Warren Herrick and family came from Gillette, Wyoming, to Fairbury. He was to be pastor of St. Charles Episcopal Church.The Kiwanis Club sponsored community musical production of “New Moon” was presented with Dick Wood as director.Steele City's $19,000 municipal water system was put into use.Condemnation proceedings were to provide a site for the senior citizens' housing building, later to be named “Park View Manor.”1974Tim Fairley of Fairbury was one of 31 Nebraska 4-H'ers earning trips to the National 4-H Congress. His award was in dairying.James McKernan's write-in campaign elected him as Jefferson County attorney over William Panec, incumbent. Winners of other contested races were Clyde Kellie over John Thorp for sheriff, and Mary Schmal over Howard Klinginsmith for clerk. Other winners were Dwaine Siemsen, treasurer, Elsie Wood, district court clerk, and Irene Hunsberger, assessor. Elected county commissioners were Willard Gumaer over Don Bakewell and Con Callaway over Sig Quam. Dr. Gordon Johnson, William Zimmer-man and Gwen Schwab were elected to the District No. 8 school board; Henry E. Jantzen, Max L. Waldo and Louie Esau Jr. in Tri County school wards and John H. Westerhoff in Meridian district.1984In a report published by the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska, Jefferson County took a sharp jump in the decade from 1972 to 1982 in per capita income, from $3,731 in 1972 to $9,896 in 1982. This moved the county up to a rank of 42nd among the state's 93 counties.The Ben Franklin, Coast-to-Coast business, located in the Hested's building, was advertising a going-out-of-business sale, with everything in the store at 20 percent off.1994Mike Gapp, tenor sax player from Fairbury, was selected to the Nebraska Music Educators Association All-State Band.Melissa McGee showed the reserve champion Hereford heifer at the Nebraska State Fair 4-H Show.A proposed city renovation project for the west lake at Crystal Springs Park was one step closer to reality. Larry Naiman, assistant superintendent of utilities, reported to members of the Fairbury City Council that a grant application submitted for the project has received a favorable preliminary report.2004Second Wind Dreams, Heritage Care Center and two students representing FBLA and FCCLA granted Mary Earhart her wish. Earhart's dream was to see Bette Midler in concert. She attended the concert November 10 at the Quest Center in Omaha. Presenting her with the concert tickets were Tammy Suey, Heritage Care Center's Activity Director, Teresa Hansmire, FBLA Advisor, Casey Welsch and Staci Butcher.The Fairbury Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors hosted a ribbon cutting on November 12 at Den's Meat Distributing. The ribbon cutting was in honor of their 25th anniversary and newly remodeled facility.

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