1905 — Pictured, left to right, are Charles H. Harris and his brother-in-law William Correll and Marie Correll by a building at about 130 E. Denver St. in Holyoke about 1905. Harris began installing telephones to the farmers in the surrounding area using the fences as telephone lines. As more people installed phones between business and home, there was a need for a central switching point, so he set up a plug board system in his home across the alley from the Catholic church, where his wife, Etta, was the operator. In 1903, a hand-crank switchboard was installed in this new location on East Denver Street. At that time there were no phone numbers, so the operator had to know everyone and what drop or plug they were on. Phillips County Telephone Company was incorporated in May 1906 and purchased the building from the Harrises in 1908 and hired George Sarver to operate the switchboard. — Source: Phillips County Museum
Peekin’ into the past
Five Years Ago
Nov. 22, 2012
Plans to enhance grain shuttle loading capacity on the Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway line are moving forward. Grainland Cooperative, a business unit of CHS Inc., announced Nov. 19 that construction details are being finalized, and it is anticipated that the project could break ground as soon as next month.
Minnie Rodriguez has been hired as the new bilingual home visitor for Baby Bear Hugs in Phillips County.
Holyoke Elementary School will hold a “Take a Stand, Lend a Hand, Stop Bullying” assembly Nov. 29.
Everything has been affected by this year’s drought conditions and high temperatures, including the pheasant population, impacting the hunting in the area.
Ten Years Ago
Nov. 22, 2007
As part of the celebration for Children’s Book Week Nov. 12-18, students in Holyoke Elementary School participated in a read-in Nov. 16, where everyone was encouraged to wear their pajamas, bring a pillow and cuddle up in the hallways with a good book.
Bee colonies across the United States are being affected by a strange phenomenon dubbed “colony collapse disorder.”
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Nov. 26, 1992
While much of the state of Colorado received a great deal of snow Nov. 23, Holyoke’s snowfall measured only about 4 inches.
Officials in all segments of government in Colorado are scrambling to find answers to numerous questions regarding the interpretation of all facets of Amendment 1, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which was approved by the voters of the state in the Nov. 3 election. The constitutional amendment not only limits what governments can spend but also limits how government entities can increase revenues.
Mark Finley turned 100 years old on Nov. 4 and enjoyed a belated birthday celebration at Prairie Vista Care Center on Nov. 17 during the nursing home’s monthly birthday party.
As a Universal Cheerleading Association All-Star, HHS freshman cheerleader Desiree Sprague will be performing in the 43rd annual Foley’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 26.
Jim Crist has begun his duties as the new pastor at Holyoke Assembly of God Church.
Fifty Years Ago
Nov. 23, 1967
Farm Supply Inc., a dealership of John Deere Corp., has purchased three Quonset buildings and four and a half acres of land just north of Holyoke from Joel Biddle and plans to move the business to the new location in about a year. Vernon Leffingwell, owner-manager of the business, said it is planned to erect at least one more building next summer, with the expectation of moving the business there by the fall of 1968. Farm Supply is now located on the east edge of Holyoke on U.S. Highway 6.
Rev. George W. Rieth, pastor of the Holyoke Baptist Church, has submitted his resignation from this pastorate and has accepted a call to become pastor of the Grace Bible Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Three swimming classes for women have been concluded during the past week, Holyoke pool director Gary Sperber reports.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Nov. 26, 1942
Ralph Nicholas, collector of internal revenue, calls attention to the fact that the new federal tax on transportation of property becomes effective Dec. 1, 1942, and applies to the amounts paid for transporting property by rail, motor vehicle, water or air from one point in the United States to another.
At a meeting of the air raid wardens and their assistants held Tuesday night in the Legion Hall, plans were made for covering of whole towns to explain details of blackouts and what to do during a blackout period. On Dec. 1-4, wardens will call and talk with homeowners in their districts to discuss blackouts and the “share the meat” program. There will also be a trial blackout sometime during the week of Dec. 7.
With a war bond quota of $23,300 for November, Phillips County residents, up to Nov. 15, had purchased only $3,393.75 worth of bonds, or 14.6 percent of the quota in one-half of the period.