(First appeared in Nebraska City Magazine in January, 1997)
(Spelling in the following text matches the original.)
BEGINNING THE NEW YEAR
The Day Quietly Observed Little of Interest
From Saturday's Daily
"Happy New Year" was the pleasant welcome that greeted each one yesterday morning
as they appeared on the street, and if well wishes could be realized there would
be none who would have any sorrows or troubles in 1897. It was not such a day
as is expected for January 1st, there being no snow on the ground and the weather
so warm that overcoats were unnecessary. In the morning the stores were open
as usual but nearly all closed at noon and the afternoon was given over to pleasure.
from The Nebraska City News, Friday January 1, 1897
Yesterday and today geese have been very numerous in this vicinity and the hunters
will now have some fun.
The petition being circulated by John Steinhart asking the board of education
to submit a proposition to vote $25,000 bonds for a new high school building
is being signed by almost every one, ...
A petition was circulated today and signed by all milliners, where by they agree
to close at 6:30 p. m., with the exceptions of Saturday evening and the evening
of the 3rd of each month.
You might have Fred Kuwitzky tell you about the drive he enjoyed Christmas into
a well in Peru, and just how he was rescued by a young lady.
R. O. Marnell and J. A. Rooney are both running a race as to the amount of flesh
they can accumulate. Mr. Rooney now weighs 195 pounds, while Mr. Marnell tips
the scales at 196 pounds, thus overreaching him one pound.
The hard times of the past year affected about every person in this country
and Judge Eaton has his tale of woe. During the year 1896 he only issued 164
marriage licenses, which is about 80 short of last year.
January 8, 1897
The county commissioners today re-appointed J. B. Haney as superintendent of
the poor farm, and judging from his annual report we should judge that the selection
was a good one. ... According to his report sixteen inmates were received during
the year, fourteen discharged, the average was thirteen and the same number
are at present inmates. The only bad luck during the year was a visit from hog
cholera which killed forty or more young pigs.
Judge M. L. Hayward and Hon. J. C. Watson went to Lincoln this morning to watch
the convening of the legislature.
Owing to a gorge in the river north of this city, the fall in the water thereof
was four and a half feet yesterday. The steamer Bauer was left in a very dangerous
position by the sudden fall of the water and had to be propped up to keep her
from going over on her side.
George W. Paar went to Lincoln this morning to help run the legislature and
to put spikes in a few political coffins.
Other Items from January, 1897
An employe of one of the railroads has offered to turn over to the Public Library
several valuable works of reference of which he is the owner, and which he thinks
will be safer in the library building than at his home, besides being of more
use.
The library board has decided to give two entertainments in order to secure
periodicals for the library. The first will be Prof. Emmerson Brooks, the poet
and elocutionist, of California, who will be here on the 27th inst., and the
Jubilee Singers will be here February 5th.
Now that there is a crusade against the Sunday funeral, if someone will start
a movement against the week day funeral we will not have to die at all.
The ice men are getting things in shape for their harvest and will go to work
as soon as the ice is thick enough and clear.
John McIlreevy has had the lagoon at Morton park flooded and it will be ready
for skaters as soon as the weather turns colder.