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Pages of History
Editor’s Note: Roger Tryon is on vacation. This column originally appeared in a 2014 issue of the Laurel Advocate.
Cedar County had one less newspaper when the year 1934 arrived.
The Wynot Tribune, which had previously absorbed the Obert Times, was taken over by the Cedar County News. Along with other businessmen, the Tribune suffered when the railroad pulled out of Wynot in 1933.
“We have emerged from 1933 with plenty of bumps on us and whether we will get them knocked off this year or more put on remains to be seen,” said Sam Hollinger. “With our debt piling up at the rate of $50 million a week and the president calling for a $6 billion budget for the coming year we are wondering what next.”
Mrs. Josie Shearer started the year with a little less money than she had on the last day of 1933. While attending a New Year’s Eve dance in Hartington, someone stole her pocketbook containing $80 in cash and checks.
Alfred Mittelstadt began 1934 with a new bride. Mittelstadt became a widower when his first wife, the former Edna Clausen, was killed in a bus-truck collision north of Wayne in September 1930. They had been married less than three months at the time of her death.
The Laurel High School basketball teams were defeated by Belden in the opening game of the 1934 season.
The first team lost by a score of 17 to 7 while the second team lost 9 to 3. In the second game of the season, the first team lost to Wayne 39 to 9; the second team won 12 to 7.
Miss Anna Brasch, 22, died as a result of burns she received in a fire at the Herman Schaffer home on the morning of Dec.
17, 1933. While trying to start a fire in the stove, Miss Brasch mistakenly picked up a can of gasoline instead of kerosene. The can exploded in flames setting her clothing on fire and causing severe burns over 30 percent of her body. Miss Brasch was the daughter of Mrs. John Van Avery.
More tragedy occurred on Jan. 22 when two young mothers died of scarlet fever in northern Cedar County.
Mrs. Henry Jensen and Mrs. Joe Burbach both had given birth to daughters: Mrs. Jensen on January 11 and Mrs. Burbach on January 12. Their deaths left 13 young children without mothers.
Elmer Thompson purchased the Alderson filling station on Highway 20 just south of the high school. According to the Advocate, this station was the first highway station in Laurel. Thompson announced that he would provide 24 hour service.
C.D. Haskell was kicked in the face by a steer he was attempting to hold. Several stitches were required to close the wound.
Between 500 and 700 farmers attended a corn-hog meeting held in Harper’s Hall. Howard Morrison and John Fleming, members of the county committee, explained the plan and how it could raise prices by controlling production. Livestock producers would be encouraged but not required to participate. Albert Ebmeier and Walter Bass were in charge of the meeting.
Mrs. John H. Campbell was elected to replace Mrs. Otto Danielson as president of the Ladies Cemetery Association. Mrs. Ed Dimick was elected first vice president; Mrs. Roy Johnson, second vice president; Mrs. Charles Ebmeier, third vice president; Mrs. Will Steckling, secretary, Mrs. Clarence Ericson, treasurer; and Mrs. Jake Norris, solicitor. The Association’s total expenses for the 1933 year was $461.39 which included $43.97 lost in the Obert bank failure. The Association voted to cancel all unpaid dues and to keep the dues at 25 cents for the coming year. Sledding accidents on the south hill resulted in a number of injuries during the week of Jan. 17. Mrs. Harrison Coburn was injured when the sled on which she was riding struck and embankment. Mrs. Coburn seemed all right until the next day when she fainted and remained unconscious for most of the day. Little Marilyn Barton lost part of her middle finger when she got it under the runner of her sled. Vernon Knudsen received a broken wrist. There also were several minor injuries reported.
With such tough times in 1934, education presented a real double edged sword.
“School costs need to be reduced,” said the Milwaukee Journal. “The reduction. however, can be carried wisely only to the point where it begins to harm the schools by cutting out valuable studies, overcrowding classrooms, and making a bid for mediocrity rather than excellence in the teaching force.”
