HITCHCOCK COUNTY – HOMETOWN HISTORY – WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5, 2026
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News of 1926
The Trenton Register
100 Years Ago
Celebrates Birthday
Mrs. Nettie Hammond was the guest of honor at a surprise birthday party at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Lawrence, Monday afternoon, February 1st. Twelve ladies were present to help Mrs. Hammond celebrate the arrival of her 67th milestone. A number of others had been invited but were unable to come because of illness. The time was pleasantly passed with social conversation and the making of a Friendship quilt for Mrs. Hammond. She was also the recipient of some nice gifts, remembrances of the occasion. Mrs. Lawrence, assisted by her daughters, served delicious refreshments. Upon departing, the ladies gave Mrs. Hammond their best wishes for many more such happy birthdays.
Sickness Reports
Lawrence Alt, a son of John Alt and wife, was operated upon for appendicitis at the Stewart Hospital in Stratton, Monday. He has a special nurse and is recovering nicely.
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Dr. and Mrs. F.S. Bonnell went to Hastings Wednesday evening for consultation with Dr. Foote regarding a throat affectation, which has been troubling Mrs. Bonnell for about a week.
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Mrs. Ed J. Rogers of our city is a patient at the Stewart Hospital in Stratton. Mrs. Rogers is suffering from diabetes, but is feeling much better and it is hoped that with the continued care and the correct diet, she will steadily improve.
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Elmer Hall and family, who have been living near Elmwood for some time, arrived in Trenton Wednesday. March 1st they will again take up residence on their farm southwest of Trenton, now occupied by Wib Seybold and family. The Halls left here on account of Mrs. Hall’s health, which we are glad to state is now greatly improved.
Has Twins
George Lonn and wife are the parents of twin boys, who arrived at their home, Friday, January 29th. Their combined weight was 12.75 pounds and both mother and infants are doing nicely. The family is very proud of the latest additions and friends are much interested because twins are so unusual. Mrs. J.M. McQueen of Fairbury, a sister of Mrs. Lonn is assisting in their care.
News of Men in Service
W.W. Barritt and wife received word this week from their son, Roland, who is in the U.S. Navy on the Pacific coast. He is to leave Sunday on the Battleship Maryland for a cruise to the Isthmus of Panama. Upon their return, they will dock at San Fransisco for about ten days and will then go to Seattle, where they will be stationed the remainder of the summer. Roland states that he is in excellent health and is very fond of life in the Navy.
News of 1946
The Trenton Register
80 Years Ago
Winter Storm Brings Light Snow and Cold
Following several days of bright, balmy winter weather, a January storm of blizzard proportions hit this area late Tuesday night without advance warning. A bitter cold north wind accompanied a two to three inch light snow, which drifted too much to be of real benefit. The storm abated by mid morning Wednesday, leaving temperatures near the zero mark. Skies are sunshiny and clear as this is written Thursday morning and the mercury is again slowly climbing upward.
Farewell Dinner
Mrs. Edna Carter, who has resigned her position as Visitor in the County Assistance Office, effective February 1st, was given a farewell dinner at Dillon’s Cafe Wednesday evening. The Court House officials were hosts at the affair, and a very pleasant evening was enjoyed. Mrs. Carter has been in the County Assistance Office for the past 4.5 years, serving as stenographer until September 1945, when she was given the position as Visitor. No successor has yet been named for this position. Mrs. Carters’ husband, Burdette, recently returned from the service, and in the near future they plan to locate on the late E.G. Carter farm north of Trenton.
Beaver Skins Profitable
George Rishling, Deputy Game Warden for this district, was at the court house in Trenton, Wednesday “tagging” the beaver skins brought in by trappers from various parts of the county. Rishling tagged 60 beaver skins, many of them exceptionally fine specimens, and a buyer from a North Platte firm was on hand to buy the skins, paying from $30 to $55 per hide, with the average price being $40. Other skins bought here Wednesday were mink, muskrat, rabbit, skunk, and possum, none of which required a state tag. Rishling whose territory embraces seven Southwest Nebraska Counties, stated that since January 1st, he has tagged 340 beaver skins in his district and that the trapping season is just beginning.
Begin Classification of County Real Estate
The Hitchcock County Commissioners have recently completed selection and appointment of three men who are to have the duties of a Real Estate Classification committee for this county. Members are: F.L. “Butch” Horvath, Trenton, chairman; Preston Harrington, Trenton; and Paul Confer, Culbertson. The committee will make an intensive study of all land in Hitchcock County outside the towns, and classify it in whatever number of divisions they deem necessary in order that lands of equal quality and value will be so classed for the purpose of taxation.
News of 1956
The Trenton Register
70 Years Ago
Continued Cold in Long Winter Week
While the Groundhog was looking for his shadow, people in Trenton, and in the high plains area in general were looking for some relief from the second week of intense cold weather. Coldest temperature of the week was -2 degrees on Sunday and Tuesday nights and Monday night ran a strong second with zero recorded at the Bureau weather station at the dam site. The cold snap came on Sunday with light snow falling nearly all day long and 0.07 inches of moisture was recorded. On Tuesday the light snow fell again all day and on Tuesday night became heavier with two inches or more of snow on the ground. The very highest temperature for the week was 45 on Thursday of last week. This compares with the high of 16 on Tuesday of this week to show the sudden change in temperature. The streets have been hazardous and the highways treacherous, although they were not closed at any time. A heavy fog last Friday night made driving a nightmare, and gave the oldtimers the assurance of a rain in 90 days.
Fire Department Called
Wednesday at about 12:45 the Palisade volunteer fire department was called to the Pat O’Brien home northwest of town. Little damage was caused by a blaze believed to have started due to a short in wiring.
News of 1966
The Hitchcock County News
60 Years Ago
Announcing New Arrival
Mr. and Mrs. Derek Jonson of Littleton, Colorado announce the adoption of a baby daughter on January 25, 1966. The little lady has been named Natalie Jean and weighed six pounds 7.75 ounces. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Bill Berger of Trenton and M/Sgt. and Mrs. Ed Feicht of Spokane, Washington. Great-Grandparents are Joe Berger and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cohrs all of Trenton. Mrs. Jonson is the former Sharon Berger.
Area Students Graduate from University of Nebraska
Jerry Dean Kotschwar of Culbertson and DeLynn Rodney Hay of Trenton were among the 500 students who received degrees at the University of Nebraska’s 4th largest mid-year commencement exercises Saturday, January 29, in Lincoln’s Pershing Auditorium. Jerry received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Home Economics. DeLynn received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering Degree from the College of Engineering and Agriculture. He received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves. He was granted a delay and will continue his education at the University towards his Masters Degree.
News of 1976
The Hitchcock County News
50 Years Ago
Betty Crocker Search Winner
Rick L. Brown has been named Trenton High School 1976 Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow. Mr. Brown won the honor by scoring high in a written knowledge and attitude examination administered to high school seniors here and throughout the country, December 2nd. He will receive a certificate from General Mills, sponsor of the annual Betty Crocker Search for Leadership in Family Living and becomes eligible for state and national honors. Rick plans to further his education at Wesleyan College at Lincoln after graduation from Trenton High School. He plans to study to become a veterinarian.
Celebrates 90th Birthday
Alvin Davis, with his daughter and birthday cake, celebrated his 90th birthday on January 25, 1976, at the home of his oldest daughter, Dortha Owens of Trenton. He is a resident at El Dorado Manor. Around 90 relatives and friends called on him during the Open House held in the afternoon in his honor. Mr. Davis enjoyed visiting with everyone and telling of his experiences years ago. His birthday cake brought back old memories to him. It depicted “Alvin on White Sox,” with a cowboy on a bucking horse. He was born at Olney, Kentucky and moved to Bryant, Colorado in 1887 where he went to school. He started riding when he was 13 years old and tells of a Rodeo that he and his brother had at the Pow Wow Grounds in 1906. This is when he rode White Sox, along with two horses that belonged to Ben Duckworth. Alvin traded his homestead in Colorado to Al Currens for the Cornell Store and Postoffice along with other land surrounding the store. He built a new Cornell Store and Post Office. He and his wife, the former Etta Johnson, whom he married in 1911, lived here until 1921 when they moved to a farm in Kansas, living there until he retired in 1950. He made his home at Loveland, Colorado until coming to El Dorado just a year ago.
News of 1986
The Hitchcock County News
40 Years Ago
Wins First in Klondike Derby
Stratton Boy Scout Troop 219 won 1st place in the Klondike Derby held at Camp Opal Springs on January 25. Camp Opal Springs is near Wellfleet. The Klondike Derby is a yearly event open to all Boy Scouts in the Tri-Trails Council. The Council covers an area of 19 counties from Holdrege in the east to Benkelman in the west to Arthur and Thedford in the north. There were 11 patrols who competed in the derby this year. During the derby race each patrol pulls a sled they have built around a course that has been laid out with six Alaskan city sites. At these sites, the Scouts are tested on a scout skill. The Scouts are given gold nuggets for how well they performed the skill and also the amount of time it took. At one site, you had to put up a tent blindfolded. Then at another you had to give first aid to a person who had fallen off a roof, also at this site, the Scouts were given extra nuggets for transporting the person to the hospital properly. At another site, they had to measure distance without a measuring tool. Then at a nother site they had to use a compass to find a certain point. At the next stop, the Scouts had to boil water within ten minutes. At the final stop, the Scouts had to throw a rope to a person on the sled. The person on the sled had to tie a knot so the Scouts could pull the sled to them. These Scouts received special badges for staying overnight: Ervin Schlesselman, Mike Shulz, Mark Merril, John Philo, Matt Eden, Chris Edwards and Brain Edwards. Boy Scout Troop 219 likes to thank the sponsors who made it possible for us to go: Duane Egle, Scoutmaster and Don Merril, and Brain Edwards. Area Woman Begins
Business Enterprise
Marlene Strigel, R.R. 2, Trenton, has become an independent distributor for the Conklin Company. Conklin, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, offers independent business opportunity through the marketing of agricultural, building and consumer products. Marlene joins a national network of more than 33,000 active distributors who sell a diverse line of over 100 Conklin products – from acrylic roofing systems to fuel conditioners, liquid fertilizers to laundry detergent.
News of 1996
The Hitchcock County News
30 Years Ago
Culbertson Lady Honored
At the joint annual meeting of the Four States Irrigation Council and Upper Missouri Water Users Association, held January 10-12, a Culbertson woman was recognized as the recipient of the prestigious 1995 Headgate Award. Norma Sitzman was honored by her colleagues for her 30 years of outstanding service and expertise in water operations. Beginning her career in 1966 as secretary for the Frenchman Valley and H&RW Irrigation Districts, she was promoted to Manger in 1985. She has served skillfully in that capacity since. Norma is only the second woman to receive this award since its inception in 1957. Virginia Smith was the 1991 recipient. In addition to her local involvement in water management, Norma has served as Secretary/Treasurer for the Nebraska State Irrigation Asso. for the past six years. She also has taken an active part in initiating the N.S.I.A. Medical Insurance Program (a self funding program). Mrs. Sitzman’s other credits include an appointment to serve on an Advisory Board for Future Operations on the Harlan County Dam by Governor Ben Nelson, as well as, serving as Secretary of the South Platte Frenchman Project and as Treasurer for the Irrigation Projects Reauthorization Council. Born in Berwyn, Norma moved to Culbertson at a young age, graduating from Culbertson High School. She and her husband, Don, have four children, all of whom were able to attend the award banquet honoring their mother’s accomplishments. Randy Weaver, Las Vagas, Nevada; Tonya Holthus, Sidney, Montana; and Viki Bauer and MeLinda Palic, Culbertson, were on hand to applaud their mother’s dedication to water management and recognition by her peers.
Self-Taught Cartoonist at Trenton
Trenton High School has played host to an artist in residence this past week. Ken Valentine, an Omaha cartoonist, spent the week working with junior high and high school students on creating storyboards for their individualized cartoons. Janelle Johnson, Trenton art instructor, expressed her appreciation to the Nebraska Arts Council for their cooperation in securing Mr. Valentine’s talents for the project. Says Mrs. Johnson, “Ken has a wonderful sense of humor and a rapport with the students.”
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