Looking Back 8.16.23

1952The Jefferson County Fair Board put a call out for all "Old Settlers" who had lived in the county 50 years or more. They were asked to register for Old Settlers Day at the county fair.Fairbury's municipal power plant produced 51,700 kilowatt-hours of electricity. The largest one-day output since August 1951. The plant pumped 2,214,000 gallons of water in one day, which is the most in one day since August 1947.The local property tax levy was at an all-time high at $74.74 mills for state, county, city and schools. The year before had been $66.97. The Burlington depot at Reynolds was being moved. It was thought that the depot had been there since 1884.There were six cases of polio in the county, one of which was severe.The Chamber of Commerce agreed to take over the local Western Union Service. It was to receive a percentage of receipts for its handling of the messages. For years Western Union had operated an office in the Mary-Etta Hotel.1962The Rev Bryce Hecht of Zeeland, N.D. became pastor of Zion United Church of Christ, east of Gladstone. He succeeded the Rev Eugene Walther, pastor since May 1959. Ten years later the Rev. Mr. Hecht accepted a call from the church at Arlington.Members of the Fairbury High School FFA Chapter, directed by Harold Vance, chapter sponsor help fair board members and others finish the new metal frame, metal-roofed livestock barn in time for the county fair. The rows of pens for swine occupied the east half of the building.Jefferson County's early days were the theme of the "Echoes of the Oregon Trail" historical pageant at Rock Creek Station. A local cast of 150 presented the production in the blazing sun and 102-degree temperatures to less than 3,000 people compared to an estimated 6,000 the year before.1972Transportation costs for the larger-area made up the largest increase in the Fairbury school district's $1 million budget.Fairbury Kiwanian, Charles L. Grovert, was elected president.Food prices in Fairbury included bananas 9 cents a pound, round steak $1.09, American cheese 40 cents, coffee three pounds $3.19, Anacin tablets 100 for $1 and toothpaste 58 cents. Farmers were getting 15 cents a dozen for eggs, $1.95 a bushel for wheat, $1.70 for milo, $1.16 for corn, 60 cents for oats and $20-$22 a ton for alfalfa.Jean Marie Carlson, daughter of Rev and Mrs. C. LeMont Clarkson, was commissioned as a missionary to Indonesia at St. Paul Lutheran Church near Gilead where her father was minister.Hollenberg, Kansas celebrated its Centennial. It was named for G.H. Hollenberg, who came to Kansas in 1850. He was Washington County's first postmaster.1982Officiating at the grand opening of Wal-Mart's store in Fairbury was native Fairburian Ferold G. Arend, consultant and director of the company, who had been an officer for 15 years, seeing its number of stores grow from six to over 500.St. Paul United Church, four and a half miles north of Jansen, observed its centennial.Work began on the grade crossing safety program by the Union Pacific in Fairbury. This was to include crossing signals and gates, and closings of crossings at Fourth and A street.Stanley Kasparek was cited by the National Weather Service for 39 years of continuous and exceptional public service as a weather observer. He received the Thomas Jefferson Award for unusual and outstanding achievement in recording weather observations. This is the highest honor that can be paid to a cooperative observer.1992Becky Jantzen, 17, of Plymouth was selected to be among three candidates to represent the southeast Nebraska dairy district for the queen contest in September.Alexandria's men's fast pitch softball team finished third in a 29-team field during ASA Division IV softball tournament held in Fairbury's softball complex.Grocery prices at Schroeder's Jack and Jill included nectarines 58 cents a pound, rump roast $1.60 a pound, red and green seedless grapes 48 cents a pound and boneless round steak $1.97 a pound. 2002Meridian High School boys track and field coach, Lonnie Schwisow received a plaque for coaching High school athletics for 25 years. He received the plaque at the Nebraska Coaches Association Awards and Recognition Banquet held in Lincoln.Fairbury Civic Foundation has awarded over $6,000 in grants to area schools. Schools that received the funds were Bruning-Davenport, Diller-Odell, Fairbury Public Schools, Meridian, and Thayer Central.

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