From The Journal Archives: 125 Years Ago - Sioux City Brass fire, 100 Years Ago - Distiller fined (2024)

125 Years Ago

Fire Less Hot Than Supposed: By herculean efforts yesterday the Sioux City Brass works will be able to resume work today notwithstanding the fire which burned the main building to the ground yesterday morning. It was found the boilers and engine and some of the heavy machinery were not ruined by the fire and the loss was figured at only about $6,000 or $7,000. The property is owned by the Nilson-Woodruff company and occupied by that firm and the Hawkeye Electric company. The companies put a large force of men to work removing the heavy machinery from the ruins to a smaller building at the rear. The theory is still advancing that a bolt of lightning fired the building. Employees of the company were busy in the morning searching for their lost tools.

Talbot Makes New Attack: D. H. Talbot has opened fire upon the First National Bank from a new point of attack. This time he wants a full and complete investigation of the affairs of the bank and its management back to the year 1890, that the court shall appoint a receiver to make a such an investigation, and that the bank and its individual directors, T. J. Stone, E. H. Stone, T. R. Galbraith, George Murphy, and A. Groninger, be enjoined by the court from disposing of any of their property or assets until this investigation is closed and the questions involved adjudicated. Litigation between D. H. Talbot and the First National Bank has been going on in the court for several years, as Talbot maintains the bank owes him about $100,000. This litigation has been in the district court of this county and in the supreme court of the state, and is now in the United States Supreme Court. The whole trouble arose in the issuance of bonds by Talbot secured on his property north of the Sioux River. The bonds were foreclosed by the bank, and the property was sold under special execution. Talbot claims fraud in the foreclosure of the bonds and the sale of property.

100 Years Ago

3,000 Autoists Get a Warning: Approximately 3,000 delinquent automobile owners of Woodbury county have received warnings from County Treasurer W. L. Sedgwick to purchase 1924 licenses for their cars or suffer the penalty of having their cars seized by the sheriff and sold to pay the fees due. About the second week in May, Sheriff Paul T. Beardsley will receive a certified list of cards, together with full descriptions of each car, which have not been provided with 1924 licenses. The sheriff will then be authorized to seize the cars and then dispose of them for the amount of the licenses due. The delinquent list will be published in the official county newspapers.

Home Distiller Draws Big Fine: The largest fine for maintaining a liquor nuisance ever handed out by Judge Joseph Hays in police court was assessed Saturday morning when Henry Anderson of Sergeant Bluff entered a plea of guilty to the charge. Anderson was fined $160 and costs under city ordinance, and ordered held to the grand jury under the state law. His appeal bond was fixed at $150. Anderson was arrested at 600 Rustin street Thursday night when officers William Howes and C. B. Heaton raided his place. They found a still of 160-gallon capacity in operation, 300 gallons of lemon sugar mash, 13 gallons liquor, five empty barrels, and a large copper coil. They also found a large oil stove and a complete cooling system at the place.

50 Years Ago

Historical Experts Begin Restoration of Landmark: Loren E. Horton, Iowa State Historical Society Specialist, says the first phase of restoration has been completed on the Abbie Gardner Sharp log cabin in Arnolds Park. Horton said the work so far completed includes removal of the canopy which covered the building in recent years, lowering the cabin by three logs, and renewal of log rafters where needed. The second phase of restoration will include removal of old plaster and concrete chinking added many years after the Spirit Lake Massacre. The final phase will include restoration of the interior, removal of whitewash, natural rechinking of the logs, and use of both insect and water repellants throughout to achieve permanent protection. It is planned to carpet the restored dirt floor with a covering as identical as possible to the one used by the Rowland Gardner family when the cabin was built.

'Outstanding Volunteers' Honored: Four individuals and one group were honored at the third annual recognition luncheon of the Greater Sioux City Volunteer Bureau Friday at the Normandy. The individuals were Julie Hassenger, youth award; Miss Saundra Laurson, woman's award; Bernard Rosenthal, man's award; and Mrs. William Merrill, senior citizens' award. The group award went to the Sioux City PTA Library volunteers with Mrs. Ross H. King accepting for the group. Present for the honors and speaking to the luncheon crowd of over 150 persons was Mrs. George Romney, a member of the board of directors of the National Center for Voluntary Action.

25 Years Ago

Truck Smashes into Moville Home: A semi-trailer truck smashed into the home of Virginia and Denis Connelly Monday evening. The couple had been sleeping in bed when they heard the noise and were covered in plaster board, 2 by 4s, and all kinds of debris. The accident happened at 2:59 a.m. Monday when Larry M. Phillips, a driver for Anderson Erickson Dairy of Des Moines, lost control of his rig, according to the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office. The Connellys managed to get out of the house and to a neighbor's to call for help and discovered from the dispatcher the truck driver had just called. The impact pushed the couple's dream house off its foundation, and there isn't a room in the house without damage.

Bomgaars Grand Slam Lets NW Split With BC: Megan Bomgaars clubbed a grand slam in the top of the 10th inning to help her Northwestern College teammates salvage a split in a college softball doubleheader against Briar Cliff Monday at Bishop Mueller Field. The Raiders prevailed 8-5 in the nightcap after Briar Cliff won the first game 5-2. Bomgaars, a freshman from Orange City, cleared the bases with her round-tripper after the Raiders filled the sacks with no outs. Kristi Kimbell and Pam Scott each laced two hits for Briar Cliff. Northwestern grabbed a 2-0 in the first inning, but Briar Cliff pitcher Missy Jordan was in control the rest of the way.