The Colfax County Press publishes a weekly column entitled Peeking into the Past, which is comprised of articles taken from earlier Colfax County Press files, written by Helen C. Evans. A special thank you to the Colfax County Press for allowing me to reprint those articles! The following are selections from that column:
August 24, 1922 - reprinted October 19, 1994Misses Libbie Novotny and Adella Severa were passengers to Scribner this morning. The former went down to make arrnagements for a rooming place during the coming school year, having been employed as a teacher in the city schools of that place.
A ceremonial program appropriate to the breaking of the sod for the new Presbyterian Church took place here Sunday afternoon under the direction of the Ladies' Aid Society. Rev. Jos. Havlik delivered a fine sermon which was followed by several other numbers, composed of vocal and instrumental selections, the Clarkson band boys having rendered their services for the cause.
Rev. Filipi also responded with a few well chosen words. Adolph Dudek, president of the building committee, was given the honor of "breaking the sod." A large number of church members and guests were present to witness the ceremony after which all joined in and spent the afternoon with Rev. Filipi, whom they gave a warm farewell before his departure for Czechoslovakia where he will visit for some time.
Before dispersing for their homes, all wished him a safe voyage and early return. A reception in the form of a six o'clock dinner was also given in honor of Mr. Filipi at the comodious home of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Folda Wednesday evening.
Mr. Filipi leaves tomorrow for Melnik, Wisconsin, delegated as one of the representatives of the local congregation to the national Presbyterian conference. From there he will leave direct for New York City.
He will sail on the S.S. America and expects to leave the harbor sometime the latter part of the month. May his visit to Bohemia be a pleasant one.Richtig Bros. reports the following new car sales for the months of July and August: John Wagner, Paige Four; Mack Schearer, Page Four; Emil Folda, Sport Model Oakland; Alfred Taylor, Oakland Four; Henry Bahns, Oakland Four; Frank J. Richtig, Dodge Four; Frank Vrba, Dodge Four; Frank Kolar, Buick Four; Mrs. Anna Misek, Buick Coupe; Eddie Philips, Cadillac Four; Frank Prokap, Jewett Four.
Thel also sold used cars to the following: Adolf Richtig, Scripps-Booth; Alton J. Kastanek, Oakland; Meeks Auto Co., Hudson; Frnak Pacas, Overland truck; Jerry Tomka, Dodge.Henry Schwartz, a nephew of F.E. Schwartz, was here from LeRoy, Illinois, visiting at the Schwartz home.
He purchased an old Ford from his uncle and last week in company of a friend left for his home.Emil Cinfel and family and John Rosicky spent Sunday with relatives at Bee.
A birthday party was given at the Frank Faltys farm home in Midland precinct last Saturday in honor of Miss Stella Tobias and her brother, Stanley of Clarkson.
The celebrants are twins and attained the age of seventeen years on that day. Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tobias, reside in the extreme east part of town. A barn dance served as the main diversion and it is needless to speak of the jolly time all enjoyed.Clarkson Markets. Wheat, $.82; Oats, .22; Corn, .44; Hogs, $8.00; Butter, .20; Eggs, .17.
Vaclav Telecky and his grandson, Alvin Teply, arrived here last week from Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a brief visit with relatives. Alvin is a student at the Coe college and is doing well in his studies.
William Rosicky arrived here last Sunday from Harlan, Iowa for a few days visit under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Farnek were passengers to Omaha this morning, going down to pay their daughter, Mrs. Wm. Wittgow, a visit. Mrs. Wittgow is confined at one of the city hospitals following an operation for appendicitis.
August 24, 1922 - reprinted October 26, 1994Clarkson Markets were: Wheat 82c, Oats 22, Corn 44c, Hogs $8.00, Butter 20c, Eggs 17c.
Alois Hauk of Leigh has filed his application of intention to become a citizen of the United States. He is a native of the Czecho-Slovak republic.
Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Wankmiller, formerly of Colfax County, arrived at their home in David City after a wonderful trip through South Dakota by auto.
They left David City June 24th, and got as far as Yankton, S.D., the first day. They took their camping outfit with them and stayed in a hotel but one night on the whole trip.
On the second night they had pitched their tent at Lake Andes. This is a summer resort and can boast of five artesian wells. It looked quite delapidated at the time they were there as it recently had been visited by a cyclone and many of the buidlings were wrecked.
They ferried the Missouri river at Chamberlain, S.D., and camped at Quinn, not a great way from the Badlands. There were no shade trees at this place so they stayed that night in what was once an old jail, located on the tourist camp.
Mr. Wankmiller is firmly of the opinion that the Badlands are lightly named for it was the worst land that he had ever seen.
When they reached Rapid City, they were cordially greeted by a member of the Commercial club, who recognized them as tourists.
This gentleman took them around and introduced them to different businessmen until they felt perfectly at home. The camp is about three miles out of the city but each evening some member of the Commercial Club comes out to the camp and gets acquainted with the tourists.
Wireless reports of road conditions can be had at Rapid City, making it most convenient for the tourists to stop there. About 100 campers were on the ground that night. The David City couple visited the School of Mines min Rapid City, which proved very interesting.
From there they went through Needles, long slender rocks hundred of feet high up Hanrey's Peak, which is 800 feet high.
After 700 feet up the mountain is Sylvian Lake, a most beautiful resort. They went through two tunnels through solid rock, in reaching this place.
Then they went [to] Hot Springs, and on to Ardmore, where they visited a few days with Mrs. Wankmiller's cousin.
The made the return trip by way of Alliance and Bridgeport, following many trails.
They visited the Kopac boys, who have a ranch near Oshkosh. The boys use modern machinery and take care of 80 acres of land a day.Three of Leigh's business houses were entered last Friday night, or early in the morning, and small merchandise and some money was tkane.
The three places broken into were the Leigh Motor Co., J.J. Hinchik and Steven Gloser.
The Michaelsen bloodhound was sent for Saturday and put on the trail. The dog first took the scent at the Gloser store, went out the front door, across the street and up the alley west of main street. From there he went to the road west of the Thomas Mortimer home, and then came to a sudden stop. Here footprints indicated that the thief had a car and the dog could follow the scent no further.Henry Barjenbruch passed away suddenly at his home in Leigh. He awoke as usual that morning, aroused the family and informed them that he was not feeling well.
He went back to bed and a few minutes later he was dead. Death was due to heart failure. He has been in a precarious condition for a number of years with a leaky heart.While threshing at home, Harvey Schuster suffered a sunstroke. Dr. Eby of Leigh was immediately summoned and gave him the necessary assistance. There were several others, who suffered from the heat.
Leo Kamensky is out these evenings trying to take on a little speed preparatory for the chariot races at the fair. Several young ladies also seem to be taking to the speed fad.
So far Ira Fussleman of Leigh claims to hold the championship belt.The village of Leigh selected Ben Callies as village marshal and street commissioner. He will also do the street sprinkling.
Miss Louise Phelps has just completed her tour through the east and arrived in Clarkson. She has been storing her Ford here during her vacation and before school opens she plans traveling about in this part of the state.
Yesterday, she left for Lincoln.Mr. and Mrs. Otto Sobeslavsky and Mrs. Anna Sobeslavsky went by car to Omaha, where they visited until the following day when they proceeded to Brainard on the same mission.
Otto's cousin, Emil Janak, came up with them for a few days visit. The young man left yesterday for his home in Brainard.When we tell our readers that Albin Misek received a young coyote from Valentine, they will realizehow deeply Albin mourned the loss of the coyote, he lost in an accident some weeks ago.
It is a fine animal and Albin will train it for a pet.As a start for farming next spring, Rudolph Nemec has invested in a Samson tractor, having purchased the same through J.R. Vitek & Bros.
Rudolph has rented the Anton Ruzicka farm northwest of town which he will take over as soon as the Ruzicka family moves to town. Mr. Ruzicka has already commenced the erection of a modern home on the lots west of the W.J. Moore home.Rudolph Faiman returned to his home in Omaha after a visit with his sister, Mrs. E.J. Kriz.
August 24, 1922 - reprinted January 25, 1995The third open-air concert the season will be given by the Clarkson band on Tuesday evening, August 29. The boys have prepared an excellent program which is entirely different from the previous concerts. You will greatly enjoy the treat so tell your friends about it and take them along. The bigger the crowd will be so much more will the band boys appreciate your presence. No admission charge.
The local Post of the American Legion has made arrangements to show one of the greatest war pictures ever produced. This wonderful and costly spectacle will be shown at the Clarkson opera house on the evening of Friday, September 1st.
This film has been secured from the Photographic Section of the United States Army. The pictures are our army in action over-seas. All scenes of American dead and other scenes of horror on the front, have been entirely eliminated from this film, this making a picture that from an educational point of view is unsurpassed. This picture is made up of five reels of film and the showing time is one hour and thirty minutes.
One hundred thousand American soldiers are thus shown in action and making American History in France. A brief review of some of the scenes shown, is as follows:
"Embarking for the great Adventure."
"Periscope on Port Bow."
"Depth boms to annihilate the hidden terror of the sease."
39th and 58th Inf. advancing under machine gun and artillery fire. SEpt. 28th, 1918.
We can't describe it - the whole picture is made up entirely of these battle scenes which is worth traveling many miles to see.
Find out of [sic] your own soldier boy, friend or relative who went overseas, the exact unit and Division in which he served, because you may see "him" in his war paint-and mud.
August 31, 1922 - reprinted February 1, 1995The people of Clarkson and the county in general are looking forth with profound interest to the second annual Colfax county fair to be held at Leigh, September 7, 8 and 9.
Our neighbors on the west have taken great pains to make this event worthy of our attendance and to that end have provided a large variety of attractions for amusement purposes. The directors of the association and the people back of the movement spent many days of hard and earnest labor preparing for the fair which promises to be a record-breaker in more than one way. A large list of entries has been recorded in every department and with the liberal purses offered as premium money the success of the fair may easily be foretold. The people of Leigh are known to be dyed-in hustlers and have always been successful in their public events.
An efficient manner in which they conducted last year's fair won them the confidence of the entire community. In view of the friendly feeling existing between our towns we feel it is our duty to urge the people of this and the surrounding community to attend the fair next week. The Clarkson band is one of three bands engaged to furnish music for the fair.On Monday morning the toll of the bell will announce the termination of the summer vacation and the beginning of a new school year. The board worked conscientiously securing a corps of teachers equivalent to that of last year and one that assures the success of the coming term. They are positive their selection of teachers for this year will also meet with the approval of the school patrons. Some months ago we published a list of teachers elected for the ensuing term, however, several of these did not accept and the board was obliged to elect others in their place. This made a considerable change in the list.
Herewith is the revised list of teachers to take up the school work for the ensuing year:
High school-R.B. Hohn, Supt.; Louise Phelps, Goldie Johnson, Merle E. Silloway and C.S. Jones.
Grade shool-Inez E. Young, Albina Musil, Louise Lower, Ruth B. O'Neil, Clara Tomjack, Genevieve M. Tomjack, Mrs. C.S. Jones and Mrs. Helen C. Reinecke.On next Monday and Tuesday, September 4 and 5, the public will have the opportunity to see Skeen's Wonder Show at the Clarkson Opera house. The Skeen juveniles were here on two previous occasions and proved to be highly talented musicians and splendid entertainers.
On their present tour they are strengthened by the assistance of their father, S.W. Skeen, who with his magical effects, spirtualistic mysteries and illusions adds greatly to the entertainment.
This is without doubt one of the best amusement organizations coming to our town and we hope they will be repaid by a large audience. The management guarantees to please or will refund your money.
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