Hitchcock County Hometown History – Week of June 5, 2025
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News of 1905
The Trenton Register
120 Years Ago
Trenton Local News
Judge J.M. Williams was aroused from his peaceful slumbers about 11 o’clock, Tuesday night, and upon investigation found the cause to be a young man who gave his name as Smith from Hayes County. He wanted the judge to issue a marriage license immediately and then perform the marriage ceremony. After plying a number of questions the judge decided it was a run-a-way couple and he therefore told the young man to come to his office in the morning and upon investigation, he found that it was alright to issue the license, he would take pleasure in doing so. Up-to-date the young man and the bride to be have not made their appearance. We think the judge ought to be fined for contempt of court, don’t you?
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Born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith McDowell, Sunday, May 30th, a baby girl. Dr. A.H. Thomas was the attending physician.
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Decoration Day was observed here as usual Tuesday, May 30th. Services appropriate to the occasion were held in the Congregational church, where splendid addresses were delivered by J.H. Powers and Rev. G.T. Noyce, which were respectfully listened to by a large audience, after which the cemetery was visited and the graves of departed loved ones decorated. The ranks of the defenders of our country are growing noticeably smaller each year. Nature, however, must take her course and the expected will surely happen.
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This has been the wettest spring in the history of Southwestern Nebraska. There has not been a week since the first day of March that it has not rained and they were all not sprinkles either. The ground is thoroughly soaked, so much so, that it cannot dry out all summer. Were it not for the fact that our soil is so very porous very little farm work could have been done. The pastures are simply immense and the small grain crop is a sight to see. It has been pretty cool for corn but we look for warm weather from now on and in a few weeks corn will tell its own tale. There is no better soil on earth than right here in Hitchcock County. We also have the finest climate and when we get plenty of rain, as we have this spring, we can show up the finest crops in the world.
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Leonard Hall came up from Culbertson, Wednesday morning, and in company with his father and County Attorney Shurtleff, went up to Stratton in search of some parties who he thought had stole his clothes from his room in the hotel at Culbertson. He failed to find the clothes.
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The attention of the county court was occupied last Friday afternoon, with a case wherein the State of Nebraska, Ira Hand, was plaintiff and P.A. Thrasher was defendant, being charged with assault and battery. It was tried to a jury who brought in a verdict of not guilty.
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We understand that Culbertson has refused to allow the Wray Telephone Company to enter the village limits. This is nothing more nor less than a piece of spite work and will do the company no damage. They can run around the village and tie in with the Nebraska Company, thus giving us eastern connection. If Culbertson can get along without the balance of the country, we are sure that the balance of the country can get along without Culbertson.
Stratton Local News
There was so much electricity in the air here, Sunday night, that something like forty phones were burned out. No other damage was done.
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Stratton drew a large crowd as usual, Tuesday, May 30th, attending the Decoration day services which were held in the Baptist Church, the address being delivered by Rev. Hos. Bennett, pastor of the M.E. Church, and those who were fortunate enough to hear it in saying it was a masterful address. At the conclusion of the services in the morning a large delegation, headed by the old boys in blue, proceeded to the cemetery, where the graves of departed loved ones were decorated. After dinner the church was again overcrowded to listen to the splendid program which had been prepared for the occasion. Thus another Decoration Day has passed into history and the respect due to the defenders of our country properly shown.
News of 1935
The Republican Leader
90 Years Ago
Flood Waters
Trenton suffered the most serious catastrophe in its history last Friday, May 31. When the Republican River flooded the town from the south and in the afternoon a heavy rain from the northeast filled the canyons and creeks, which overflowed and sent a flood which threatened to deluge the entire town. Twelve persons were drowned and the damage to farms, town property, railroad track and telephone lines will run into millions of dollars. Those drowned and their bodies recovered are E.C. Colver and son, George, Mrs. Owen Murtha, Mrs. Alva Stonecipher and niece, Miss Ethel Black. Miss Black is a cousin of Mrs. Elmer Hall. Those still missing are Owen Murtha, Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas and their son, Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith and Mildred Stonecipher. The Stonecipher family of six lived on the Ralph Glidden farm between Trenton and Stratton. They were rescued from the roof, but the boat capsized and the mother and one child and a niece of Mrs. Stonecipher, Miss Black were drowned. The river flood struck Trenton about four o’clock Friday morning. Warning of the rising river was wired to Burlington Agent G.P.B. Towle about one o’clock a.m. from Benkelman and he phoned residents in the south part of town and the south side of the river to get their stock and themselves to higher ground. Another warning was sent at four o’clock. By seven o’clock the river had spread out from its usual quarter of a mile to three quarters of a mile in width. The bridge south of town went out shortly thereafter and houses, all kinds of stock, machinery and automobiles were floating away. By noon the water had backed up into town on Main Street nearly to Railroad Street. Water flowed over the entire eastern section of the town to the Burlington tracks. From this high mark the water receded gradually. Trenton citizens, fearing the town would be washed away, sought refuge on the hills north of town, and many stayed all day and that night. About two o’clock in the afternoon a heavy rain came up from the northwest. The skies darkened until it was necessary to turn on electric lights to see to get around. The rain filled canyons and creeks which overflowed and rushed down into the west and north part of town, giving us two floods in one day. Three fourths of the basements and cellars in Trenton were filled with water and mud from an inch to three feet settled everywhere, covering gardens and lawns as well as walks. Many walks leading up to residences and sidewalks had to be shoveled off before people could walk on them. Thursday’s night rain amounted to 3.5 inches, while the Friday afternoon was so heavy the rain guage could not register it. Farmers north of town report as much as 14 inches. The homes north of the track were filled with people from down town all day Friday. Provisions were taken up and many spent the night. It some homes, standing room only was to be had. Toward evening fair weather prevailed and the water had receded so that people who could not walk to their homes were taken in trucks in order to see how much damage had been done. People who went to the hills Friday forenoon were able to get a good view of the swollen Republican River and stood watching the houses, the animals and other objects float away.
News of 1945
The Republican Leader
80 Years Ago
Rains Continue; Damage Crops-Roads
The “rainy season” is on Southwest Nebraska! Following the Memorial Day deluge last week on the 10th anniversary of the disastrous 1935 flood, which brought up to six inches of rain in the territory south and east of Trenton, the weather cleared for a few days. Saturday night the “rain maker” went into action again, with a steady downpour that evening which recorded 0.45 of an inch of moisture in Trenton. After a day of intermittent clouds, mist and clear skies Sunday, another heavy rain Sunday night brought 0.90 of an inch of moisture here, with up to three inches again deluging much of the territory south and east of town, causing further heavy damage to corn fields, washing out the bridge near the Roy Brown farm, and one or two other small bridges and culverts on county roads. Another 0.42 of an inch came late Monday night making the total precipitation in Trenton for the week 1.77 inches. The weather continues cloudy and threatening, with indications of more rain. Likewise temperatures continue much below normal for this time of the year.
Nuptials Solemnized
Miss Florence Lewis, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Lewis, became the bride of Cpl. G. Neil Ripenburg of the McCook Army Air Base, at high noon on Sunday, June 3rd. The single ring ceremony was performed at the Church of God by the pastor, Rev. J.C. Germany, in the presence of some 320 guests. Preceding the ceremony, Miss Mildred League of Grand Island sang “The Bells of St. Mary’s” The bride, who was attended by Miss Verelene Barnes, was dressed in a gown of white chiffon and lace, and carried a bouquet of talisman and red roses. Her veil was of finger tip length. The groom was attended by Ralph Lewis, a brother of the bride. A special guest at the wedding was Mrs. Ruth Ripenburg of Flint, Michigan, mother of the groom. Mrs. Ripenburg is a graduate of the Trenton High School with the class of 1942 and was a rural school teacher for several years after graduation. The past years she attended a church school at Gordon, for several months and since that time has been at home with her parents. The newly married couple will make their home in Trenton in a trailer house located back of Alt’s Cabin Camp. Congratulations are extended to Cpl. and Mrs. Ripenburg.
News of 1955
The Republican Leader
70 Years Ago.
Serious Injury Averted
Sidney Porter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Porter of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was slightly injured in an accident at the lake Sunday, when the car of K.C. Miller of Trenton rolled down the bank and knocked him into the lake. The little two year old was pushed into the lake by the impact of the car and suffered a cut on his right arm and bruises on his scalp. His little sister, Jo Ella, was pulled out of the path of the runaway auto by her grandfather, Ross Hawkins, and not injured. Harve Chapman made an effort to get the little fellow out of the way but was unsuccessful. After the car came to a halt, spectators around the edge of the lake noted the little fellow’s foot under the car – pulled him out and administered first aid. he was taken to the Stratton Hospital, treated and then released that evening. The Miller car, driven by their daughter, Dixie, was left parked on the hill overlooking the lake. For some unknown reason, the auto took off traveling a total of 80 feet to reach the lake water. It traveled 51 feet before hitting two cars that were parked in the area. Damage was only minor to the cars, owned by Wm. Myers of McCook and Wm. Metz of Culbertson. Sidney came out of the accident with a bump on the head, a laceration on his right arm and a sincere hatred for automobiles. A number of people were in the path of the runaway, but were warned from the bank in time to get out of the way. Sidney was pulled from the water by a Mr. Hardy of Stratton, who was a witness to the accident. Mrs. Porter and the two children are vacationing at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Hawkins of Trenton and Mr. and Mrs. L. Porter of McCook.
News of 1965
The Trenton Register
60 Years Ago
It’s a Girl
A baby girl, weighing six pounds 6.25 ounces was born to Mr. and Mrs. Keith Miller May 20, 1965 at the Hitchcock County Hospital in Stratton. Little Sandra Jill has one brother, Scott, 3.5 years old. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Miller and Mr. and Mrs Ross Hawkins. Great-grand parents are Joe Berger of Trenton and Mr. and Mrs. John Warrick of Imperial Beach, California.
Stratton Alumni Banquet
The Stratton Alumni Banquet held their annual banquet in the High School Gym Saturday evening, May 29. The Woman’s Society of Christian Service served the meal to 283. The theme this year was “Moon Flight.” The menu consisted of Blast Off, Earth Apple, Space Capsules, Rings of Saturn, Moon Wedges, Meteorites, Nose Cones, Ice Crystals and Moon Dew. The program consisted of group singing, a business meeting, Count Down, a trumpet solo by Ronnie Reagan, Satellite Song by a Quartet, Space Speech by Paul Forch, and Meteor Novelty by Jackie Wickizer. New officers elected for the coming year were Janice Williamson, Dick Hannah and Joy Eller. Alumni of Trenton High Attend Banquet Many former Trentonites returned home for the Alumni Banquet Saturday night. For some of them it was the first time in their old hometown in years. Cars with out of state license plates were a common sight with the Memorial Day weekend combined the banquet. There were 294 alumni and their wives or husbands gathered at the high school for the occasion. A delicious ham dinner was served by the Methodist ladies in the grade school building. Devonnabelle Reynolds and Leo Frank led the group singing and the program and business meeting was then held in the high school building.
News of 1995
The Hitchcock County News
30 Years Ago
PJ’s Country Flowers and Gifts Open
PJ’s Country Flowers and Gifts opened in Stratton on June 5. Located in the northwest corner of Diamond Country, the flower shop’s proprietors are Pam Burks and Jolene Heldenbrand. The store will specialize in fresh cut and silk flower arrangements, green and blooming plants, cards and gifts. Patrons will also find balloons, jewelry, Watkins products, and T-shirts, supplied by “Barb’s T-Shirts” of Benkelman. Delivery to individuals and area hospitals will be available. Jolene is a licensed floral designer and has worked in, and owned, floral shops in Imperial and Wauneta over the past several years. She will be the shop’s primary floral designer. Pam brings her knowledge and experience in book and record keeping to the enterprise. Sometime down the road, the ladies hope to expand to include their own greenhouse and bedding plants of all types, perhaps edging their way into the wholesale side of the business. As with any new venture, expansion will occur as business permits. The new business has been a family project with Pam’s husband, Geoff, doing the remodel work necessary for the display room and the work room on the lower level. The women’s two oldest daughters, Dawn and Jessie, will also be called on to help out in the shop this summer and hopefully will pick up some knowledge of floral design in the process. A late summer or early fall grand opening is planned. Pam and Geoff Burks have owned and operated Diamond Country since 1989. In addition, Geoff is the designer of the “Calf Caddy,” which has become a popular piece of cattle equipment throughout the country. They have three children, Dawn, 17, Aaron, 14, and Becky, nine. Jolene and husband Rick are Wauneta natives. Besides PJ’s Country Flowers and Gifts, Jolene is part time cook at the Grandview Retirement Center and Rick is custodian at Stratton Schools. They have three daughters.