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Old Humphrey Concert Bond.

Winners in Omaha Bee News Contest and Omaha Diamond Jubilee Contest. Humphrey Concert Band, 1928, Championship Bond in the State of Nebraska.

THE SPELLING BEE

SOCIAL LIFE

In the days of long ago when we had no motion pictures, no radio programs, and no television sets to amuse us, it was up to the people to amuse themselves.

One of the most popular forms of social amusement in that day was the old fashioned spelling bee.

The following stories are excerpts from newspaper articles:

From The Columbus Journal

May 19, 1875:

THE SPELLING MATCH

At half past seven o'clock Saturday evening, the brass band repaired to the Court House, climbed out at the sky-hole and with excellent stirring music called the people to "Ye Spellin' Skule." There was not a very lively turn out, but quite enough to make it an enjoyable affair. We noticed our good natured friend, Colonel George W. Stevens in from the country, but he didn't take any. but a spectator's interest in the matter.

H. J. Hudson acted as presiding officer, stating the object of the evening's meeting in a few words. Charles A. Stevenson, Esq., in a somewhat lengthy speech, desired to be informed as to whether it was the intention of the conductors of the evening's performances to give out any words in foreign or dead languages, or if any such were given, whether there should be any except those that had been anglicized, or, in other words, and in the common phrase are we to spell United States. He was informed that it was the intention to spell regular United States, and the president hoped the gentleman had got through saying all that he ought to say.

Mr. C. A. Hill served as pronouncer, uttering the words very distinctly. Reverend McCune, Mrs. Fifield and Professor Zerbe served as referees, and their decisions gave universal satisfaction.

The first contest was in defining fifteen words being given out to each contestant, the words and definitions to be in writing. Reverend Armstrong passed around papers and the work proceeded, such words as concise, expedite, congeal, fusible, etc., being pronounced, definitions to be brief.

This contest was decided in favor of M. K. Turner, editor of the Journal, and the president announced that the honor in this case was sufficient prize. The reading of the successful definitions was called for, which showed two words not spelled or defined, and two others graded each at one-half.

Oral spelling was next called for, but the audience was not very rapid in coming forward, a considerable quantity of "drumming" being necessary; however, we give to James North and Judge Higgins the credit of volunteering to start the ball. At last, the contesting classes of gentlemen and ladies were formed, consisting of the following ladies: Miss Serena Oleson, Miss Nelia Matthews, Miss Rocky Marble, Miss Captoria Lampson, Miss Jessie Simmons, Mrs. Benjamin Spielman and Miss Maggie McAllister (later Mrs. W. N. Hensley); gentlemen, James E. North (Mrs. C. D. Evans' father), J. G. Higgins (Andrew Higgins' father), John Early (Edward Early's father), John Schram (Albert Becker's uncle), C. A. Stevenson, John Lampson, Walter Phillips (Walter Phillips, Jr.'s grandfather), George Smith and Mr. Hayes.

An incident occurred during the "drumming" up for this class that we can scarcely refrain from mentioning. Mr. Hudson was urging members of the audience to come forward, and seeing in the back seat a young man with a large head and an intelligent looking countenance, he very coaxingly and withal urgently said "Come, Byron, come up," supposing that he was addressing Byron Millett. As Frank Hollar couldn't answer to that name, he declined the urgent request.

Well, the class being formed, the contest began, North going down at "Aboriginees"; several followed him on the same word. John Early stepped down on "Absinde," John Schram ditto "Abeind." Hays quit with "Absturge," Rocky Marble stopped with "Academy," "accelerate" quieted several, "accessory" was spelled at by several Charles A. Stevenson's rendering of it being the most laughable. Charles A. is an old printer, has been more than thirty years in the -business, and he arose to his feet and with a very confident air, gesticulating emphatically as he very deliberately intoned the word in a deep bass voice a-c ac (there's your ac) c-e-s ces, (with a strong failing inflection) s-e-r-y-, sery "accessery" the last rather rapidly; as though he was apprehensive that he had altogether lost his grip on the word, and such a hooting and laughing and yelling as went up from the audience we don't remember having heard for some time. "Accordeon" was variously spelled by the remaining members of the class --- the pronouncer declaring it mispelled by all. Some one in the audience suggested that judge Higgins had spelled the word correctly, under the rule that any spelling given by either Webster or Worcester would be taken. The matter being referred to the referees, it was decided that either "accordeon" or "accordion" must be taken and judge Higgins and Walter Phillips, the last remaining contestants were called back and proceeded to finish the contest, which resulted in Walter's sitting down on "acquittal," which, of course, was spelled correctly by Mr. Higgins. The president presented the judge with the prize and called a recess minutes for rest. Mr. Higgins took wrapper after wrapper off his prize, but at last found a pocket edition of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

After recess, Miss Maggie McAllister and James North were chosen as "captains," who selected the following persons to assist them in the last contest of the evening. Miss McAllister's class: Judge Higgins, Miss Serena Oleson, F. P. Burgess, Mrs. Benjamin Spielman, Miss Nelia Matthews, John Mahoney, George Smith, John McAllister, Mrs. J. E. North, Miss Rose Rickly, Miss Lou Hudson, Miss Rocky Marble, John Schram, C. A. Stevenson and Mr. Webster.

North's Class: M. K. Turner, John Lampson, J. A. Turner, F. P. Hollar, Mr. Hays, Mr. Burgess, John Early, Gus Schroder, W. N. Hensley, Mrs. Webster, Mrs. Armstrong, Walter Phillips, Mr. McGlinchey and Master Early.

The contest continued until midnight, the class wrestling more or less successfully with such words as "counsellor," "adagio," "alcohol," "adducible," "alkali," "afeard," "crupper," "alpaca," "admissible," "connoisseur," etc., both classes twice failing entirely once on "adipocere" and again on "deleble," the third round leaving Judge Higgins on one side against James North on the other. North quitting on "anemone," leaving the prize, two volumes of Whittier's poems, to Judge Higgins, (who donated them to the church).

From The Columbus Daily Telegram

January 30, 1923:

SONS VANQUISH DADS IN A SPELLING BEE

Elk Fathers and Boys Break Bread Together and Enjoy an Informal Program

Two by two, one short and the other tall and occasionally a couple whose variance in height was not so marked Elk dads and their sons, and Elk "big brothers" and their smaller brothers, assembled promptly at the hour of seven last evening in the basement of the Federated church to enjoy the first "Big Brother Banquet" of the local lodge, served by the ladies of the Federated church. Places were made at four long tables for one hundred and twenty-five, and there were few vacant chairs when all were seated, after the invocation by Reverend William L. Blaker.

The bunch of grownups and future grownups was not slow in heeding the admonition appearing on the program, "Grub Surround It," and hungrily made short shrift of the excellent meal.

With Toastmaster Howard Clarke in charge, Exalted Ruler Harold Kramer led off the short after-dinner program with two or three good stories, followed by the speaker of the evening, J. G. Masters, principal of the Omaha Central High School. Professor Masters' address was of an inspirational character in which he administered sound advice both to his youthful auditors and to his older listeners, interspersing it here and there with a humorous incident which served to retain the interest of his audience through a somewhat lengthy discourse.

Merle Rathburn brought many a smile with a brief recital of his impressions of "An Elk Dad," in which he injected some good-natured digs at the Elk dads in general for their numerous "committee meetings" and all the other ruses a good Elk is supposed to employ when he wants to enjoy the attractions at the club.

A paper not on the program was that of Zack Howell, Jr., on the life of William McKinley, the martyred president whose birthday anniversary happened to fall on the day scheduled for the banquet.

The closing event was an old-fashioned spelling contest, Bert Phillips organizing two opposing teams for testing their mettle over some of Noah Webster's jawbreakers. Dads and sons were chosen for both teams, but, to the chagrin of the old-timers, only two of the sons, Lester Carrig and Earl Hardy, and none of the dads, remained standing at the conclusion of the contest.

All through the evening, with Otto Walter at the piano and Doctor Carroll D. Evans, Jr. to lead, voices were raised lustily in the singing of a dozen old favorites printed on the program. The whole occasion was one which fathers and sons will recall with considerable pleasure, and helped cement that growing feeling of companionship between the older generation and the younger.

The Creighton Alumni Banquet at the Evans Hotel, February 18, 1939. Left to right: Jesse L. Dougherty, L.L.B.; Marchmont Swartz; Reverend P. Zuercher, S.J., President of Creighton University; Reynolds J. O'Donnell, M.D.; William H. Fritz, M.D.; Reverend Thomas H. Bowdern, S.J., Dean of the Creighton University Graduate School; Hugh Higgins; Mrs. Hugh Higgins; Hugh Fogarty; Thomas Gorman; Mrs. John Torczon; Judge C. L. Stone.

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY ALUMNI PARTY

Among the colorful and entertaining social affairs in Columbus a decade ago was the Creighton Alumni dinner-dance which was held at the Evans Hotel in Columbus on February 18, 1939.

Gathered together for this occasion were two hundred guests from twenty-four east and central Nebraska counties including Platte, Colfax, Madison, Holt, Antelope, Boone, Nance, Merrick, Polk, Butler, Saunders, Knox, Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Thurston, Wayne, Pierce, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Washington, Dodge, and Douglas. The guests were all assembled in the main dining room of the Evans Hotel at 6:30 P.M. for a banquet dinner.

When all were seated and the banquet was in progress, seven men clad in the Bluejay football togs huddled in the corner, and on coming out of the huddle, they were identified as Raggy Marohn and his Loup River Public Power District orchestra. They played the school songs and entertained throughout the banquet and for dancing later in the evening.

The guests of honor present included the Reverend Joseph P. Zuercher, President of Creighton University, and the Reverend Thomas S. Bowdern, Dean of the Creighton University Graduate School.

Also present from Omaha were: Hugh Higgins, Director of Public Relations at Creighton University; Hugh Fogarty, Director of Publicity at Creighton University; Marchmont Swartz, the 1939 football coach of the Bluejays; Thomas "Kitty" Gorman, 1939 Bluejay football line coach; and Julius "Duse" Belford, freshman coach and the director of inter-mural activities at Creighton University.

Other distinguished guests were: The Honorable James M. Lanigan, of Greeley, Nebraska, the 1939 President of the Nebraska State Bar Association, and a former member of Congress and Creighton Alumnus; Charles B. Fricke of Columbus, a former member of the faculty of Creighton University, the first president of the Loup River Public Power District of Columbus and also the first president of the Consumers District of the state; Doctor Ezra E. Koebbe of Columbus, a member of the faculty of the Medical College of. Creighton University; and the following alumni: Doctor L. S. Stack of Norfolk; Doctor David T. Martyn, Jr., and Doctor Frank G. Rohde of Columbus.

Acting in the capacity of general chairman and toastmaster of the affair was Doctor Reynolds J. O'Donnell of Columbus. The executive committee included: Jesse L. Dougherty, Columbus attorney; Doctor A. J. Schwedhelm; Doctor R. M. Mueting of Norfolk; Doctor W. H. Humbach of Grand Island; Doctor William H. Fritz of Schuyler; Doctor Arthur W. Abts of Humphrey; Paul E. Ernst, Columbus Daily Telegram sports writer; and Alfred E. Tooley, Columbus pharmacist

The address of welcome was given by Jesse L. Dougherty. Reverend Thomas S. Bowdern, Dean of the Graduate School, was the principal speaker. Others on the program were: Coaches Marchmont Schwartz, Thomas Gorman, and Hugh Higgins.

Gifts were presented to each member of the University group by the toastmaster, Doctor Reynolds J. O'Donnell. Reverend Joseph Zuercher received a little red school house with a brick for a foundation. The gift was a "hint" for the erection of a new University medical school. A bowl of roses and a football went to Coach "Marchie" Swartz.

"We hope in the near future that Creighton will be represented in the Rose Bowl," said Doctor O'Donnell in passing the gift to the coach.

"We want to be sure and keep Gorman at Creighton," explained Doctor O'Donnell in handing the Creighton line coach a monogrammed ball and chain.

An umbrella was given to Hugh Higgins, emblematic of the "Chamberlain" or appeaser to the alumni; a whip and driver's hat to Hugh Fogarty, the man in the front seat who does plenty of driving; and Reverend Thomas Bowdern received a signal flare as the one who travels far in spreading the light of Creighton University.

As we turn to the pages of the Guest Book where the names of the Alumni members were recorded that night in 1939, we find the names of some alumni who have gone on and of others who have since been scattered over these United States.

IN. DAYS GONE BY

PROGRESS 42 YEARS AGO - SEPTEMBER, 1907

No use denying the fact that there is intense prejudice on part of many farmers against the automobile. Yesterday a prominent farmer, residing near the city, declared that six farmers on his mail route had pledged each other to have no business relations with any man who should be seen driving on the country roads in an automobile. It looks like an unreasonable prejudice, but then we must remember that many farmers have suffered annoyance and injury by horses frightened by careless auto drivers. However, it would seem that the auto has come to stay, and the prejudice of the horse-owner must finally give way to the march of progress.

David Schupbach returned Tuesday evening from Switzerland where he has been for the purpose of finding a market for Texas lumber. He reports a very satisfactory business and plenty of money in the European markets to make the trade profitable.

Union Pacific physicians at Columbus report an epidemic of typhoid fever among the workmen employed in the installation of the signal service. Three cases of the fever are now being treated in a local hospital.

Walter Schroeder writes that he is now located in Denver, still employed as a fireman on the B. and M. He has been laid up for a week or two with a sprained ankle, which he received while jumping from his engine.

Miss Nell Evans returned Wednesday afternoon to the National Park Seminary, and Miss Dorothy Post left the same day for Chicago to enter a training school for nurses.

Howard Clarke, Charles Dack and August Wagner and their families made the round to Creston, Humphrey and Platte Center in an automobile last Sunday afternoon.

37 YEARS AGO - SEPTEMBER, 1912

Arrangements for the publication of a high school paper semi-monthly under auspices of a high school publishing association were made this week. The name was changed from the "Sandbur" to the "News" and the sheet will be put out in newspaper form, eight pages. Members of the staff have been selected as follows: Editor-in-Chief, Leland Evans; associate editor, George Brown; society editor, Miss Paul Kavanaugh; sports editor, Fred Rector; alumni, Miss Mary Wilson and Miss Hazel Miller; city editor, James Colton; exchange and foreign, Miss Helen Dineen; senior class reporter, Miss Anna Bonner; junior class reporter, Miss Cecil Smeal; sophomore reporter, Miss Louisa Rusche; freshman reporter, Miss Lorena Evans; business manager, Francis Echols; advertising manager, Oscar Schmocher; subscription manager, Bert Phillips.

A new steel combination mail and baggage car has been brought here by the Union Pacific for use on its Spalding line, but cannot be put in service till a change is made in its lighting system.

Craig Turner's team took fright near the Maier blacksmith shop Monday afternoon and tore things up generally before it came to a halt near the Hagel residence. One of the horses was severely injured.

Mrs. R. Neumarker and daughter, Miss Emma, left yesterday morning for a month's visit with Mr. and Mrs. John Neumarker in New York. They will take several side trips while in the east, including one to Niagara Falls.

© 2005 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller