Looking Back

1893A Fairbury celebration didn't persuade St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad officials to promise Fairbury that it would become a division point.Fairbury Postmaster Smith reported local receipts for 1892 had been $8,223, an increase of 26 percent over 1891.1903J.W. McDonnell of Fairbury had been elected Colonel of the Nebraska National Guard Second Regiment.A Jefferson County Medical Society was formed. Day visits by physicians were $1.50 and $2 at night.Twenty four carpenters met to form a union in Fairbury.1913A Fairbury bond election proposed to raise $13,000 to buy hospital grounds and building for the high school.It was hoped to raise money by popular subscription to finance a Fairbury city band.Mame Ward of Helvey won the $350 piano in the Journal's subscription contest.Mayor Frank Tincher forbade a benefit dance for the Fairbury department.Gus Helvey was manager of the new Farmer's Elevator at Helvey; Frank Marschman dumped the first load of wheat, Jan. 10.1923Reynolds and Gilead were supplied with electricity from the Fairbury plant for the first time.The strike of Rock Island shopmen was over but few returned to their old jobs here. Most had found employment elsewhere.1933The Rev. Mark Noble, 97, pioneer Baptist pastor for 21 years in Fairbury, died in Oregon.Although there was surplus wheat here, and facilities for milling it, tow carloads of flour, made from “Farm Board Wheat,” were shipped into Fairbury.Jack Fitton sold his interest in McDonnell's department store in Fairbury and moved to California.The county commissioners had many offers for the job of courthouse custodian; eventually hired a man for $45 a month. It had paid $70.Stores and dairymen at Hebron set milk prices at 7 cents a quart delivered, or 20 cents for three quarts to the same address.1943A total of 53 were enrolled in Fairbury Junior College, considered satisfactory in view of the number of young men in the Armed Forces.Schools were closed for two days after the temperatures plunged suddenly from 62 degrees to minus 17.Mrs. Helen Boone was made high school librarian and J. W. Markin former librarian, began teaching science. Vivia Cadwalllader, later Mrs. C.H. Pitzer was the new physical education instructor for girls.A call for hunting knives, to be given to soldiers, was made.1953Capt. Ralph C. Powell announced an intensive recruiting drive to bring the National Guard's local company up to authorized strength.A break of 11 feet near the west end of the Little Blue River dam left water level low.Ninety were enrolled in Fairbury Junior College, plus about 40 attending special classes on Saturday.1963An early morning fire gutted the Plymouth Cafe and Mel 85 Edna's Tavern. Among 4,000 attending the Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD., were Fairbury Midshipman 3-c Dennis A. Jones, son of the F.W. Jone-ses and Midshipman 4-c David C. Denney, a son of the Robert V. Denneys.Alexandria and Hebron firemen assisted the Fairbury Department in checking a blaze that damaged the Continental Baking Co. distribution center. Six of the route trucks were moved to safety, but all other contents, including several antique autos, were destroyed.1973Fairbury Presbyterians started the centennial celebration of their congregation, with an “old-fashioned” worship service.Twenty-one members of Fairbury Junior College's first practical nursing course received their caps.Best-decorated cakes at Plymouth's annual bake-off were made by Jay Preston and by Gary and Allan Wasserman. The event raised $3,559 for the March of Dimes.It was announced at the Dairy Herd Improvement Association meeting that Happy Harbiners had been the top 4-H dairy club in Nebraska. Dan Hirschler was leader.Elks lodge free-throw contest winners were Rick Moore, ages 12-13; Darrell Ebke, 10-11; and Hunter Harman, 8-9. Runners-up were Bill Sell, Ron Klaus and Rick Johnson.Doug Shultz was 185 pound winner for FHS in the Twin Rivers Conference wrestling tournament.1983The Fairbury school board reelected Judd Boechner president and Richard Zabel vice president.Mr. and Mrs. Ray Forney of Daykin received the “Pat on the Back” award at the annual Extension Service and 4-H leaders recognition banquet. Honored for five years, 4-H leadership were Juliann Endorf, Judy Gar-ton, Aldene Goeking, Har-old Logan Jr. and Cathy Scheele.1993The Bonham Theatre officially changed hands as Jeff Pettepier, who also owned a theater in Rockport, Missouri, took over ownership from Kendall and Renay Robison Scheer.Fairbury Sears 85 Roebuck store manager Diane Wurm announced the doors to the catalog business would be closing after more than 10 years.Winning their first-ever Central Conference championship, the Fairbury Jeff's boys basketball team defeated Columbus, Lakeview, 53-31.Jansen, Steele City, Daykin, Diller and Reynolds agreed to join Fairbury and Endicott to form a 911 system for the whole county.2003Dennis Zabel, a Daykin resident, was a member of the Lincoln Camera Club. He was the featured artist with black and white photographs titled “Future Ghost Towns” at the New Earth Clay Art Gallery.Refurbishing of the Jefferson county Courthouse neared completion. A new drop ceiling and newly painted walls along with new carpet was part of the refurbishment. The complete project totaled $70,000.Steve Ebke of Daykin was elected vice president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association

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