1885-1905

Fun Facts

• Palmer was one of the newest Nebraska towns. It is 110 miles northwest of Lincoln and 145 miles west of Omaha.
  
• There used to be an Opera House where Kunze's Repair Shop now stands. The Opera House was built in 1889. It contained a wholesale house, and the upper story was used as town hall and theater, with a stage. The Ed Penney Store was located in the first floor room.
  
• The first church built in Palmer was the Christian Church in 1888. It was a 30' x 50' building, made of wood, with a vestibule in the front of it. On July 7 1888, the building was finished and it cost them $2,000.
  
• In 1887,the Burlington Railroad, was heading out from Lincoln to the northwest. Palmer was chosen to be a division point; one branch was to run to the Black Hills and the other to the great Northwest.
  
• Palmer was named after Captain Henry E. Palmer, of Plattsmouth, a Civil War Veteran.
  

Natural Disasters

• There was a huge snow storm in 1888. The snow was piled up so high, that a two story house was covered. The snow was so deep and so cold, the cows froze to death and were burried in the snow.
  
• In 1896, the Loup River was at a high-flood stage for the first time in Palmer's History. It flooded the low lands and swept away the bridge north of Palmer.

Price Comparisons

• In 1888, wheat was $0.50 per bushel, corn was $0.34 per bushel, oats were $0.26 per bushel, eggs were $0.10 per dozen, butterfat was $0.14 to $0.18 per pound and potatoes were $0.65.
  
• In 1899, a loaf of bread was $0.05, a gallon of milk was $0.28, a pound of butter was $0.25, a gallon of gas was $0.04, a new home (average) was $3,395 and the annual income was $1,004.
  

New Technology

• The first incubator for raising chickens in the Palmer area was owned by W. L. McKenney in the year of 1905 or 1906.
  
• The first telephone service in Palmer was established in 1902 and was called the Palmer Telephone Company. The telephone book was a sheet of paper with two-digit telephone numbers. The first office was a wooden structure located where the Palmer Service Center gas pumps are now.
  
• In 1903, the French inventor Gustave Liebau, invented a protective device to use in motor cars and other vehicles. In other words, it was the first seat belt.
  
• One of the first dishwashers was manufactured in 1880 by a man named Benjamin Howe. It was hand powered at the time. In 1889, W. Cockran, a housewife, was the first person to attach a motor to a dishwasher.
  

Businesses

• In the early 1900's, Dick Yarmon owned the Haggert Hotel. Mary Haggert was the manager of the hotel.
  
• In the early 1900's, B & T's Market, which is located on Commercial Street, used to be a fancy resturant.
  
• The first Palmer Post Office was a wooden building where the Country Package Store is now. The Country Package Store is located on Commercial Street in Palmer. The first postmaster was Lawrence Brannen. He started on November 2, 1887.
  
• Palmer's first schoolhouse was built in 1888. The cost of constructing the two-story wooden structure in 1888 was $16,000. The first floor was grades first through fifth and then the rest was upstairs.
  

National Highlights

• On January 1st, 1892, immigrants began landing at New York Harbor in Ellis Island .
  
• In 1896, Henry Ford's first car was first driven on the streets of Detroit.
  
• In 1896, William Jennings Brian, Nebraska congressman, was unsuccessful presidential candidate of Democrats and Populists.
  
• In 1903, the air age began with a successful airplane flight by Wright brothers.
  
• In 1904, the Kinkaid Homestead Act furthered settlement of open range in northern and western Nebraska.
  
  

1906-1926

Fun Facts

• The presidential custom of throwing out the first ball of the baseball season began under President Taft in 1910
  
• In April 1921, the first gun club was organized in Palmer
  
• In 1926 five young Palmer boys were fined $12.05 for smoking cigarettes
  

Natural Disasters

• 1906: Earthquake destroys San Francisco
  
• 1914: Crime and violence breaks out in Chicago
  
• 1920: Flu epidemic breaks out in Palmer
  
• 1920: Hard winds on March 22nd damaged wheat and blew bark off of trees
  

Price Comparisons

• In 1907 a loaf of bread cost 4 cents. It now costs $1.19.
  
• In 1907 a gallon of milk cost 31 cents. It now costs $2.10.
  
• In 1907 a new Ford cost $600. It now costs$17,000.
  
• In 1921 a dozen eggs cost 40 cents. They now cost 89 cents.
  
• In 1921 corn was getting down to near the 25 cent level. It now costs $2.72.
  

New Technology

• 1906: Physicist Reginald A. Fessender was the first to transmit voice by radio
  
• The first Model T was manufactured on September 27, 1908
  
• 1910: Georges Claude invented the flourescent lamp
  
• 1914: Elmer Sperry invented the autopilot
  
• 1918: Paul Langwin invented Sonar
  

Businesses
In 1917, the following businesses were in Palmer:

• Palmer Telephone Company
  
• Dinsdale Bros. Grain Elevator
  
• Opera House
  
• State Bank with a capital of $25,000
  
• Commercial Hotel
  

National Highlights

• In 1907, Theadore Roosevelt was president
  
• In 1907, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series
  
• In 1920, women gained the right to vote in national elections
  
• The Deportation Act was passed on May 10, 1920. Congress authorized the deportation of aliens found guilty of sedation or of violation of any national security acts
• 1914 World War I began
  
  

1927-1947
Fun Facts

• September 2, 1935; The weather was so cold that the janitors had to fire up the furnace the first two days of school.
• July 4, 1936; Six boys from Palmer school wrote their names in a letter on a bottle and threw it in the Loup River. Three years later Rex Hancock received a letter from a girl in San Fransisco, California. She had found the bottle with a group of her friends in the Pacific Ocean under the Golden Gate Bridge.
• 1940's; In order to buy a tube of toothpaste or a can of shaving cream, the people in the community had to turn in an empty tube or can as a war measure.
• 1940's; Palmer Students bought war bonds and stamps to pay for a military jeep.
• 1945; The community of Palmer donated 1,090 pounds of clothing and shoes to Europe for the war.

Natural Disasters

• 1932; A tornado demolished standard oil tanks and tore up a good portion of S.A. Foster lumber yard.
• March 1, 1935; Local people in the community reported that they felt tremors of the earthquake which had shaken part of Eastern Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa.
• 1935; A dust storm blew 248,914 pounds of dust from Kansas and Oklahoma into sections of Nebraska. This was roughly six tons of sand per person in the area.
  
• 1929-1936; A severe drought created a dust bowl in the state.
• July of1947; A flood of the Loup River took away the approach of the bridge and changed the channel so much that they had to lengthen the bridge 180 more feet.

Price Comparisons

• New Ford auto - $495 in 1927 & $1,230 in 1947.
• Loaf of bread - $0.09 in 1927 & $0.13 in 1947.
• Gallon of milk - $0.56 in 1927 & $0.78 in 1947.
• Lb. of butter - $0.56 in 1927 & $0.81 in 1947.
• New home - $7,682 in 1927 & $6,650 in 1947.
• Gal. of gas - $0.12 in 1927 & $0.15 in 1947.

New Technology

• The road maintainer of this time was simply a blade pulled by a team of horses with an operator standing near the rear.
• 1928; The First color television was invented by Vladmir Zworykin.
• 1928; Jacob Shick invented the first electric shaver.
• 1929; The Quartz clock was invented by Warren Marrison.
• 1938; R.W. Harges invented the breath tester.

Businesses

• In 1926 Dr. J.Y. Racine opened his practice in a small office just off Main Street in the Loup Valley Bank Building.
• Dr. Crawford was a dentist that also came in 1926, and set up shop in the office next to Dr. Racine.
• The corner store supplied the community with groceries, meats, and dry goods.
• The Palmer Journal provided information for the people.
• Meals and short orders were eaten at The Little Diner.

National Highlights

• Great Depression
• 1940-1945; World War II
• 1936; The Boys Town in Omaha was founded by Edward Fladagan.
• 1939; Oil was discovered near Falls City.
  
  

• 1953; Palmer School started hot lunch
• 1953; Old Gym was built
• 1961; Present-day school was built in Palmer
• 1968; It was believed that pears could be grown in Nebraska
• 1968; 25 service men returned home safe and sound from war

Natural Disasters

• 1950; A blizzard hit Palmer
• 1968; 4-9 inches of rain hit Palmer
• 1968; A blizzard hit Palmer with 6-8 inches of snow
• 1968; A storm brought hail and rain destroyed many crops
• 1968; A wind storm came through Palmer

Price Comparisons

• Loaf of bread 1957-$.19 1967-$.22
• New Ford 1957-$2,157 1967-$2,724
• Gallon of gas 1957-$.24 1967-$.33
• Gallon of milk 1957-$1.00 1967-$1.15
• Pound of butter 1957-$74 1967-$.83

New Technology

• 1950; A new phone dial system was installed
• 1953; New street lights were installed
• 1953; The village board considered a new sewer system
• 1967; A new sewage system was completed
• They began working on bridge

Businesses

• 1961; The new Post Office was moved into
• The Journal installed a larger press
• 1964; Dallas Wegner bought the Gambles Store
• 1967; Dick Spiehs started a construction business
• 1968; A doctor was hurrying to open a building by May 1

National Highlights

• America became involved in the Vietnam War in 1950s
• 1957; Martin Luther King Jr. started to lead civil rights groups
• 1968; Nixon became president
• The first satellite was built "Explorer I"
• President Kennedy was shot twice and killed
  
  
  

1969-1988

Fun Facts

• Keith Kassing of Palmer, established an aviation school
  
• 1987, Palmer Centennial (1887-1987)
• 1987, The Palmer wrestling team received the class D State Runner-up trophy
  
• 1984, veterans flag pole was put up in Rose Hill Cemetery
  
• 1987, 187 students attended Palmer Public School
  
• 1974 and 1984, Palmer Boys Basketball won Class D State Championships
  
• 1976, Palmer Pool opened
  

Natural Disasters

• March 28, 1987, we received 15 inches of snow causing five-15 foot drifts
  
• 1971, freezing rain caused power outage
  

Price Comparisons-1977

• Loaf of Bread 36¢
  
• Gallon of Milk $1.67
  
• One pound of Butter 98¢
  
• New Ford Auto $4,785
  
• Gallon of Gas 65¢
  
• New Home $49,319
  
• Annual Income $15,070
  

New Technology

• 1981, new Ambulance arrived costing $28,000
  
• 1976, Coolidge Center opened
  
• 1978, Loup River bridge was built
  
• 1983, 1st case of AIDS was reported in Nebraska
  
• 1982, Camcorder was invented by Sony Corporation
  
• 1975, Personal Computer was invented by Edward Roberts
  

Businesses

• October 1988, Dinsdales had a fire
  
• 1979, The Country Package Store was built by Oren and Mildred Abbott
  
• Wesleyan Church was named
  
• 1974, Coolidge Hospital and Sanitarium closed
  
• 1986, Dinsdales bought new buildings
  
• 1976, Pooh's Place opened
  
• 1969, Palmer Vet Clinic was built
  

National Highlights

• 1969, Woodstock attracted 450,000 people
  
• August 16, 1977, Elvis died
  
• 1971, U.S. Public School enrollment was 46.1 million students
• 1970 and 1971, Nebraska Cornhuskers won National Championships

1989-2000

Fun Facts

• In 1989, the new Palmer Village Building was constructed, the Palmer State Bank was remodeled, and the Greenway - Palmer Funeral Home was opened.
• In 1989, 35 Nebraska counties, including Merrick, were declared disaster areas due to the summer's drought and storms.
• In September of 1990, Glen Beed, resident of Palmer, won the old Palmer Fire Department jeep.
• In 1990, the Palmer football team received the class D-1 State runner-up trophy.
• In 1992, Indian artifacts were found north of Palmer, near the Miller farm.

• In the summer of 1989, a drought affected Palmer in different ways.
• In 1989 Hurricane Hugo hit South Carolina, causing $8 billion in damage and killing 82 people
• In 1992, an ice jam at the river caused transportation problems.
• In 1992, a cold weather funnel destroyed a grain bin near Palmer.
• In 1993, a large hail storm stripped local farmers' crops.
• In April of 1997, a snow storm swept through Nebraska, dropping 4-5 inches of snow on Palmer.

• Sunkist oranges 1990-$.39/lb.,1992-$.49/lb.,1997-$.59/lb.
• Good Quality Hammer 1989-$15.99,1997-$19.99
• New mid-sized Ford Truck 1989 -$13,950, 1997-$16,950
• 2x4x8 Lumber 1989-$2.10, 1997-$4.40
• U.S. Postal Stamps 1989 -$.22, 1992-$.25, 1997 -$.32 -$.33

• In 1990, the new 18 speed power shift transmission came out for Case tractors.
• In 1990, air bags were installed in newly modled cars.
• In1992, keyless entry in new pickups and cars became available.
• In 1995, a new ambulance was purchased by Palmer.
• During the 1995-1996 school year, Internet was installed at the Palmer school.

• In 1989, the Palmer-Greenway Funeral Home opened.
• In April of 1991, Golden Rule Electric was sold after serving the Palmer community for 81 years. (1910-1991)
• In 1994, Maple Wood Corners opened.
• In 1999, B & T's Market changed hands and also changed its name to The Store.
• In 1999, A new gas station was built on the edge of town called Eiler's Oil.
• In 2000, The nursing home closed after years in helping the community.
• In 2000, The Branding Iron Cafe was sold but is still in business.
• In 2000, Gambles changed its name to Dave's Do it Best.
• In 2000, Ferrellgas was purchased by Bosselmans.

• In 1992, Clinton became president.
• The United States attacked Iraq after Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait in 1990. This caused Palmer residents gas bills to double in cost.
• In 1994, O.J. Simpson was acquitted for murder of his ex-wife and her male companion.
• 1994 in Boulder Colorado 6yr.old JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in her own home and no one was charged
• In 1995, Palmer residents sent aid to the Oklahoma City bombing.
• In 1996, Clinton became president for his second term.