HITCHCOCK COUNTY – HOMETOWN HISTORY – WEEK OF JULY 2, 2026
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News of 1926
The Trenton Register
100 Years Ago
Small Fire Tuesday
The new fire siren called forth quite a number of our people Tuesday afternoon, when a call was sent in from the J.W. Reutzel home. The small blaze, started by the young son of the family, had been extinguished by Mr. Reutzel before help arrived. No great damage was done except to burn a part of a small table and scorch some of the siding boards. Little Paul was supposed to be taking his afternoon nap, but instead was experimenting with matches found in the basement.
Wednesday Election
Votes totaling 279 were cast at the election Wednesday. The issue was, “Shall the school board build the new school building on Block No. One (being the location of the present school building)?” Votes amounting to 143 were in the affirmative and 136 in the negative. Thus the new building will be located on the same site as the old building.
Little Clial David McDonald Taken from Grandparents Home
Clial David McDonald, 20 months old, was brought before Judge Wheeler of the district court Wednesday morning on a writ of habeas corpus, issued on the petition of the mother, Violet McDonald, who alleged that the baby was taken from the home of her mother, Mrs. D.W. Leopold, at Trenton, on June 28 by the father and brought to Lancaster County. Clial, Jr., gazing about in wonder, was brought into the court room by his father, Clial McDonald, Sr. Hearing on the writ was set for July 12 at 9:30am. In the meantime Clial Jr. is to be kept in the custody of his father, who was ordered by the court not to take the youngster out of Lancaster County until further order of the court. The mother and her attorney came to Lincoln Tuesday and filed a petition for the writ. With the writ in his possession, Deputy Sheriff Hughart went in search of the baby. He wisited the home of a sister of McDonald, but the baby had been taken from that address. The mother concluded that the father had left with the child and gone back to Trenton. This morning Deputy Sheriff Hughart made a visit to the Engleside apartments and found the father and baby. They were taken into court. The mother was notified and a date fixed for hearing. Mrs. McDonald in her petition stated that she and her husband had not lived together for six months on account of the alleged misconduct of the father. The baby had been in the care of the mother until the father, the petition states, went to Trenton and took it from the grandmother, leaving in an automobile with the child. The mother claimed in the petition that she is the only one who can give the child the attention that it needs and that the father is not a fit person to have its custody. Mrs. McDonald was attending summer school at the Kearney State Normal and her parents and Attorney J.F. Ratcliff drove to Kearney at once. Mrs. McDonald and Attorney Ratcliff went to Lincoln Tuesday and when the baby was not found, came home Wednesday. They will return to Lincoln for the hearing July 12th.
Trenton Local News
A. Gillaspie has been quite seriously ill for more than a week, threatened with blood poison in his limb. He is being cared for at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joe Grovert, and at present is greatly improved.
Robert Burkholder, the new carrier on the Star Route, assumed duties Thursday, July 1st. Mr. Burkholder succeeds Joe Grovert as carrier on this route. His family will move to town next week, taking up their residence in the property vacated by Mrs. Martha Boyd. Mrs. Boyd will live in her house, which was moved in from the farm.
The condition of John Sadler who is suffering with heart trouble, has been the cause of much alarm the past week. Some days he is better, others not so well. All possible is being done for his comfort. His brother, Charley Sadler, arrived last week from Honolulu, Hawaii, and is visiting him and assisting in his care.
News of 1946
The Trenton Register
80 Years Ago
News Briefs Here and There
The largest single contribution of waste fat made in this community, and perhaps in any community, was made Saturday when Mrs. Frank Bartosvosky brought 162 pounds of it to the Farmers Co., Inc., who paid her four cents and two red points a pound for it.
A White Plymouth Rock hen on the Willard Rippen farm, west of Culbertson, is deserving of a metal of some sort for her practical and effective ideas about the proper way to relieve the food shortage. According to the Culbertson Progress, said she is apparently became disgusted with the bungling methods of OPA bright minds and took the food problem into her own hands by producing four eggs very decidedly oversize. The prize egg of the lot measured three and one-quarter inches in length and was further notable in containing not only a white and yolk of its own, but also a perfectly formed egg of normal size with a hard shell.
Shower Saturday Night
A hard shower of rain late Saturday evening brought 0.35 of an inch of moisture in Trenton. After remaining cloudy and cool both Sunday and Monday, the weatherman turned on the “heat” and gave this territory a real taste of summer on Tuesday and Wednesday. A dust and wind storm Wednesday evening caused a decided drop in temperature, and a cool breeze is much in evidence as this is written Thursday morning.
Local Boy Graduates from Naval School
Ward M. Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Clark, Trenton, was graduated recently from the Naval Air Technical Training Center located at Norman, Oklahoma. While at the Norman school he studied the aviation specialty field for which his recruit training aptitude test showed he was best suited. This training has been designed to fit him for a Pacific War ahead and also for skilled work in industry when peace comes. He is now eligible to earn a petty officer rate. The newly graduated man is now awaiting further duty orders either to sea or to a Naval base.
News of 1956
The Trenton Register
70 Years Ago
Strong Winds Do Much Damage
Everyone who lives here is accustomed to strong winds but the two day storms on Sunday and Monday, kept even the strong hearted busy watching clouds and looking for a good low place to hole up. Both storms resulted from thunderstorm activity and damage was severe throughout the county in Monday’s “blow.” Sunday changed from a day of beauty to one of extreme turbulence in the early evening. In Trenton, the result was mostly wind with only 0.04 of an inch of moisture recorded at the State Bank of Trenton gauge. Winds reached tornado proportions during the storm and sizeable tree limbs were blown down throughout Trenton. Highway signs were blown down Highway and “Duck” Holmes of northeast of Trenton, reported the loss of four steel grain bins in the “twister.” Main street of Trenton was littered with debris form the storm and many of the side streets were nearly blocked to traffic. City crewmen spent Tuesday and part of Wednesday removing the limbs and trash. Harvest operations were halted with the half inch of rain on Monday, but by Wednesday most farmers were back in the wheat fields. The strong winds also took their toll in crop damage. Some wheat fields were badly shattered and early planted corn was damaged with the high winds.
Mishap Sunday
Four people were hospitalized Sunday night, the result of a six car pile-up west of the Highway 34/6 intersection. Blinding dust was the cause of the accident according to the investigating officers. Hospitalized were Don Rheinheimer, Mrs. Don Rheinheimer, Ben Frank and Forrest Dillman all of McCook and all occupants of a car driven by Dillman. Louis Ulrich of McCook had stopped his car and pulled over to the side of the road and was struck by a car driven by Russell Barnes of Arapahoe. The Dillman car, trailing a boat, struck the rear of the Barnes auto and Herbert Hoersch of Glendale, California, crashed into the rear of the Dillman boat. Unable to see the accident, Marvin Norss of Bellevue, crashed into the Hoersch car and Orville Shul of Culbertson struck the Norss car, Rheinheimer was the most seriously injured, suffering a broken leg and lacerations. The other four passenger suffered lacerations. The autos involved in the accident were all badly damaged except the Ulrich car. The Dillman boat was almost completely demolished. Traffic was tied up for about 45 minutes until wreckers could be secured to remove the wreckage.
Friday Accident Results in Auto Damage Only
An unusual accident on Friday afternoon of last week resulted in damage to only to the automobiles involved. According to County Sheriff Wayne Hovey, the 1955 Chevrolet four door Sedan driven by Chas. C. Foley of Oshkosh was struck from the rear by a 1955 Chev. Station Wagon, driven by Hudson Francis Wather of Denver. The accident occurred about 1.5 miles west of Trenton on Highway 34. The Colorado car struck the Nebraska car at the left rear and Mrs. Wather was thrown into the windshield, suffering a severe bump on her head. Mr. Foley had stopped because of two flat tires and was seeking assistance at the time of the accident. None of the occupants of the two cars were hurt seriously. The estimated damage to the two cars was from $125 to $150 according to Sheriff Hovey.
Buys Palisade Shop
Mr. Harold Morris, Oshkosh, made final arrangements in purchasing the Palisade Barber Shop from C.D. Marrs, former barber. The deal was closed this past weekend. Mr. Morris’ wife and five year old son plan to move to Palisade in the near future. Mr. Morris is a barber with several years experience and will cut ladies hair as well as the mens. The C.D. Marrs family have moved to Arnold, where he plans to sell insurance. New Funeral Chapel V.B. Johnston, Wauneta mortician, announces that he has opened the Johnston-Sailors Funeral Chapel in Palisade for the convenience of those wishing his services in this vicinity. Mr. Johnston, a mortician for the past 29 years, graduated from the Gorshams Embalming College in Chicago. He will continue to take his home in Wauneta.
Hit by High Winds
The farm buildings on the Spickelmeir, Handel McClatchey and Merle Sailors farms suffered heavy damage Monday night when high winds ripped the roofs and doors off several sheds and barns. REA crews worked through the night Sunday, all day Monday and part of Tuesday repairing broken poles that had been hit by the winds.
News of 1966
The Hitchcock County News
60 Years Ago
To Move to New Location in Fort Collins
Announcement was made in the Sunday issue of the Fort Collins Coloradoan that the City Drug Co. owned by Arthur and Harold Grovert had purchased the Poudre Valley Nation Bank Building on the corner of College and Mountain Ave. and will remodel the building and move their store into the east portion of the main floor. The Bank will move into a new building the first of the year. City Drug was purchased by the Groverts 20 years ago. They also own the Center Drug in Fort Collins. Arthur and Harold grew up in this county and both are graduates of Trenton High School.
Hired by Harvard University
Dr. Rex Cross has accepted a position as Veterinarian at Harvard University Research Center, Boston, Mass. He will be Head Veterinarian of the Canine Dept. and other small animals colonies. Dr. Cross will be discharged from the Army July 1st. He has completed a two year assignment at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. where he was Head Veterinarian, in charge of the Canine Department. After spending a month with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Cross, he will leave for Boston to assume his new duties.
News of 1976
The Hitchcock County News
50 Years Ago
Kids Attend Day Camp at Lodge
Approximately 120 youngsters attended the Day Camp at We-So-Braska Lodge near Stratton on Tuesday, June 29th. This was sponsored by the Extension Service of Hayes, Dundy, Chase, and Hitchcock Counties. Howard Wiegers, Wildlife Specialist for the University of Nebraska at Lincoln instructed the youth on water safety, canoeing, gun safety, and mini Olympics. They all took a sack lunch for noon and had a Hobo supper. Group singing was enjoyed by everyone.
Wheat Harvest Delayed
Heavy rains in some parts of the county last week delayed the wheat harvest for most area farmers. South of Stratton where there wasn’t much moisture, the first cutting of any large amount of wheat was reported. Clyde Daniels of the Stratton Co-Op reports that they took in around 10,000 bushels of wheat on Monday. Leo Wickizer brought in wheat that tested 60 to 61 pounds with 12.5 percent moisture, which was making around 50 bushels to the acre. Bob Derauf at the Trenton Co-Op reports that some sod wheat was cut by Lew Hidy which yielded 29 bushels to the acre that tested 60 pounds with 12.4 percent moisture. Harvesting will be well underway in the next couple of days, weather permitting.
Engagement
Hazel Schilz, Culbertson, is announcing the engagement of her daughter, Mary, to Larry Fahrenbruch, Trenton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Fahrenbruch. Mary is employed in McCook and her fiance is engaged in farming. An October wedding is being planned.
News of 1986
The Hitchcock County News
40 Years Ago
Constructs New Grain Facility
Construction is now underway on a new grain handling facility at the Culbertson Elevator here. The structure is being built in anticipation of this fall’s corn harvest. According to Al Holub, manager, it is a new system similar to that at Perry Grain Co. with the exception theirs is air and this one will be an oxygen depleted system. On Friday workmen of the Harry Hixson Construction of McCook began pouring a huge slab of concrete to the northeast of the elevator office. The slab is 120 by 420 feet. Also to be constructed are cement sides. Holub said the grain will be piled in huge piles on the slab and covered over with a moisture resistent material, then the oxygen removed from the grain. Expectations are for completion of the new facility by mid-July.
Thundershowers, Hot Temps
Hot, dry weather mixed with cooling thundershowers have been the weather picture the past week in Hitchcock County. And those life-giving showers have been scattered to say the least, with some areas getting little or no rain while others getting heavy downpours with little pea sized hail thrown in for good measure. Showers on Friday were well scattered. While Culbertson at mid-afternoon was experiencing a hard downpour that left 1.25 inches in a short time, other areas north and south of town got little in the way of moisture. At Culbertson, the rain for some time came down in sheets with a small spell of pea sized hail. At first there was little or no wind, but then the wind came and blew the sheets of rain in all directions. During that same thunderstorm period there was a shower in Trenton that left about a quarter of an inch. Sharp lightning accompanied the storm at Culbertson and a bolt is thought to have hit the transformer near the post office causing a power outage for a short period of time. At the Culbertson Elevator where wheat trucks were waiting in line to unload, the power was not entirely off with 110 still percolating but 220 off that run the augers at the place so the trucks had to wait out the storm and return to normal electrical service before they could be unloaded. Every evening saw a thunderstorm forming in the area although no rain may have fallen. They were visible mostly in the southwest and south over the border in Kansas. Saturday and Sunday were extremely hot days with the temperatures soaring into the century mark. Expectations were for more of the same Monday but Mother Nature fooled everyone with cloud cover and cooler temps which were enjoyed by the local residents.