1914

The Pleasant Ridge Telephone Go. has initiated a daily weather report at 12:15 P. M. One long party-line ring alerts patrons to this service. (During the early days of the telephone, party-line communication to all patrons in an area was quite commonplace. Merchants often used this service for giving daily markets or advertising sale bargains.)

The Ossian Red Men are off to a fabulous start on a successful basketball season: they defeated Lawler 55 to 24 and Charles City 35 to 31 in their first two games. The members of the team this year were: Lloyd Ean, Glair Limbeck, Arthur Andreson, Cornell Riveland and Wepler.

Sylvia Lukenbill, Rodney Nicholson and Selmer Hanson won their respective divisions at the local declamatory contest. In county competition, this trio won possession, for the school, of the championship trophy--a silver cup, donated by Ben Bear.

The annual school treasurer's statement finds teacher's pay rising to $2060 for the three person staff and contingency expenses of $1663.57.

The number of teachers was raised to four this year with the following being hired: F. E. Grouse, principal; Edna Haug, ass't principal; Alida Gunderson, intermediate; and Elizabeth Vipond, primary. Joseph Boyle was retained as janitor

The graduates this year were; Mabel Temple, Sylvia Lukenbill, Lillian Anderson, Mildred Doane, Merle Oxley, Ruth Gunderson and Rodney Nicholson.

The newly elected city officials were: J. J. McManus, mayor; E. H. Anderson, treas.; J. E. Boyle, assessor; F. C. Winn, Henry Johnson, G. W. Rathbun, Cornell Riveland and Barney Holtey, councilmen.

A. N. Schmitz officiated as host to 150 guests at Camp Huber. Both the Fort Atkinson and Ossian bands were present and rendered fine selections. Camp Huber was a popular camping area on the Huber property along the Turkey river near the "Old Mission". It was used for summer tenting by a number of Ossian campers. A. G. Heck was the original camp organizer and generally called the "Captain".

Hogs are dying by the thousands to the south and east. The disease is spreading ever closer to Ossian. This must have been the first Cholera outbreak.

The first Farmer's Jubilee was scheduled for three days in September. This street fair featured Dubee's circus, along with Happy Hooligan & Gloomy Gus, a comedy, act. There was baseball with the Boosters playing each day. The cornet band gave concerts several times a day. Cash prizes were to be awarded for many classes of racing and to the most gaily decorated auto, and the largest load of visitors.

This celebration was termed a great success with crowds numbering over a thousand. Prizes were awarded to : Gus Klisart—1st, Ed Remke—2nd, in boy's race; Esther Long—1st, Esther Spillman—2nd, in girl's race; Myron Vance—1st, Leslie Limbeck—2nd, in pony race; Otto Holder—1st, Leo Soltow—2nd, in open class;

James Sobolik—1st for best decorated auto; Matt Rodenkirch—$5 prize for largest carload (all family members). The Boosters split with the Chicago Union Giants, but the Calmar game ended in a rhubarb after a disputed umpire's decision.

Ossian residents are doing their part in aiding the Belgium war refugees. A group of ladies are sewing 70 dresses and other apparel for shipment on the Christmas Ship. This relief ship was a nation-wide effort to help the people of war-torn Belgium. Mrs. E. R. Webster, the leader of the sewing group, received a letter of thanks from Lillian Bell, a well known columnist, and chairwoman of the American midwest area. Mrs. Bell wrote that she believed Ossian's contribution was the most generous received from any town of 800 in the nation.

Mrs. H. P. Nicholson Jr. was discharged from the Decorah hospital after a lengthy stay. The Rock Island passenger stopped at the Larson crossing to allow her off near her home.

Republicans swept the county and state offices in the election of 1914. H. P. Nicholson, a life-long resident of the Ossian community, was elected a representative