This photo of Sawyer House was taken around 1888. The only person identified in the photo is Jennie Riley, Florence (Trego) Kepler’s aunt, pictured standing second from left on the balcony. The hotel was built in 1887 by J.G. Sawyer. It was built close to the train depot so travelers could easily walk to their lodgings. Shortly after Sawyer died in 1889, the name was changed to American Hotel for several years. Lucy Sears then bought it around 1900 and changed the name to Sears Hotel and used the north addition as her apartment. The hotel was expanded to the south around 1910. An elaborate addition was made in 1919, adding another story to the building and extending it to the south and west and giving it its current stucco Spanish Mission-style exterior. P.F. Burge purchased the hotel in December 1925 and soon changed the name to Burge Hotel or Hotel Burge. The Burge later saw another expansion around 1949. — Source: Phillips County Museum
Peekin' into the Past
Five Years Ago
Jan. 29, 2015
The Lions Club Mini Park at the stoplight in Holyoke has been largely deconstructed. Tuesday morning, Jan. 20, City workers began the removal of the long-standing structure that had been declining in appearance as well as safety. Plans for the new Mini Park include a gazebo area similar to the previous one but outlined with iron fencing rather than wood. A major difference in the design is a solid steel roof that will canopy a majority of the park.
Phillips County Economic Development board president Nici Akey addressed Holyoke City Council at its regular meeting Jan. 20, announcing that PCED executive director Julie Worley has resigned from her position.
At a special presentation last weekend, Anastasia Conklin was awarded fifth place in the state competition for her Voice of Democracy speech.
Ten Years Ago
Jan. 28, 2010
Seeking to avoid reducing students’ grades due to attendance, a JR/SR high attendance committee has drafted a new policy for consideration. Teacher Kyle Bules reported from the six-teacher committee at the Jan. 19 Re-1J school board meeting, pointing out that the draft policy makes attendance a behavior issue and not an academic one.
The idea of letting the public decide whether or not to shut off the daily whistles around town was generated at the Jan. 19 city council meeting. Feedback from the community concerning the council’s Jan. 5 decision to shut off the daily whistles on the siren located downtown was addressed. Council members agreed to put the issue on the ballot.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Feb. 2, 1995
Persons interested in taking an active role in shaping the future of Holyoke are encouraged to attend a public forum to share ideas on what might help propel the community into the 21st century. Sponsored by Holyoke Revitalization Inc., the forum will be held Feb. 8 at the high school auditorium.
Eighty-five years of Scouting in the United States will be celebrated during the month of February by Boy Scout troops across the nation.
The dispatcher staff at the Phillips County Communication Center is in the process of learning a new system called Emergency Medical Dispatch. In the past, dispatchers haven’t been able to give medical advice during an emergency before emergency medical technicians arrive on the scene. Now the dispatchers will learn more about the computer-aided dispatch system, which became active in the Comm Center on Jan. 15.
Fifty Years Ago
Jan. 29, 1970
At their regular meeting on Jan. 26, the board of directors of the East Phillips County Hospital District voted for March 31 as the change of operation date for Melissa Memorial Hospital, the date for the Lutheran Homes and Hospital Society to cease operation of the hospital. The board hired Miss Ethel Hagemann for the position of hospital administrator when the district board assumes active operation of the hospital on April 1.
The extremely unusual weather conditions during the 1969 sugar beet campaign were blamed today for a 35% loss in sugar production at the Colorado and Kansas Sugar company. The figure was disclosed by Robert R. Owens, president of the Denver-based subsidiary of Great Western United Corporation.
Sometime between closing last Friday night and early Saturday morning, Gene’s Standard station was robbed of $100 in cash.
The idea of towing icebergs from the arctic or antarctic to water-short areas deserves further exploration, say Interior Department and Army scientists. Photographs taken from satellites could be used to locate suitable bergs which could be towed by tugs to arid areas for use in irrigation systems.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Feb. 1, 1945
A total of 22 representatives of the counties which comprise the Northeastern Association met at the Phillips County Court House here to plan for county fairs for the fall season. Seven counties represented at the meeting were Washington, Logan, Kit Carson, Sedgwick, Lincoln, Yuma and Phillips. The association plans to arrange a schedule of fair dates so there will be no conflicts between the fairs and to discuss ideas for bettering the annual celebrations.
Colleges are anticipating a great increase in enrollment in most courses after the war, largely due to the G.I. Bill of Rights. The increase is going to overcrowd present facilities. State legislatures are being asked to provide funds for more buildings for classes, laboratories, dormitories, teaching personnel and equipment.