BITS AND PIECES OF NEWS IN MULLEN

by Claudia Tompkins

Entry T108 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

The following news items in part, have
been taken from the Hooker County Tribune

September 1904 - A.G. Humphrey ar-
rived from Broken Bow, Nebraska to take the
job of principal in the Mullen Public Schools.

October 1907 - A.G. Humphrey bought
A.F. Hatch residence east of the school for
$1,000.

1910 - H.J. Lowe and Ed Catron bought
Walt Hardy's Polled Angus Cattle.

1916-`17 - A Community Club became
active.

1921, October - William Zepp built a little
house on a lot north of the Catholic Church,
carpenter, Ben Wiley. (north of the Standard
Station and immediately north of the Auto
Repair shop today)

March 1921 - The Ford and Buick Garage
and equipment changed hands from R.C.
Franke and C.A. Morrison to Otto Pearson
and the Ford Garage will be known a Pearson
Motor Co. The Buick agency transferred to
C.A. Morrison.

February 28, 1908 - Ernest Burke, photo-
grapher, with F.E. Taylor of Broken Bow, was
in the city, taking pictures of the town. He
took one from the top of the railroad water
tank, a bird's eye view showing nearly every
building in the place, and makes a picture
about 6"x30". Some of these pictures will be
on exhibition at the Post Office next week.

It was Wilson Hewitt with others in 1901,
petitioned for the first Post Office for Mullen.

The Senk Tourist Cabins were located on
the west side of the block on the southwest
site of the Roseberry building and east of the
courthouse. There were four cabins under one
roof with car parking space between. (late
20's and early `30s)

October 1936 - C.E. Butler and Lafe
Stoner put in a new office addition for the
Village.

June 1937 - New Engines were installed
in the Village Light Plant.

June 1940 - Farmer's Elevator installed
a 15 T John Deer Reliance Scale.

February 1951 - Bob Blakely, that has the
Mullen Motor Garage had Ray Sexton move
a house for him from southeast country and
located it west of his garage. (now Mrs.
Prentice's home.)

1953 - Alice Pool added two more rooms
to her nursing home.

1965, October - Franke Construction
began excavation for the basement of the new
Hooker County Library.

June 1, 1967 - A Centennial Exhibit
Caravan, a traveling exhibit of Nebraska
History, visited Mullen. It consists of three
38'X8' airconditioned house trailers. The
first 2 tell the story of Nebraska 100 years in
history and the 3rd contained the Art
Exhibition prepared by Joslyn Memorial.
The caravan was open to the public free of
change.

June 1968 - Dedication of Mullen's new
Swimming Pool.

1969 - State Patrolman Lloyd Trackwell
stationed here.

1970 - State Patrolman Lynn O. Nichols
stationed here as the 2nd patrolman.

May 1975 - 34 walkers earned $888.84 in
the Walkathon, ages 10 - 47 years of age. 134
sponsors paid from 10 cents to $4 per mile.
Sandhill Junior Miss, Darlene Long bringing
in the most money $106.15. & 5 percent will
be used in the doctor procurement fund and
25 percent to the Park fund.

1976 - Toastmistress Club hosted Council
IV at the Library for Whitman, Hyannis,
Crawford, Bridgeport, Gering and Scotts-
bluff, presenting an all day program on
officer and membership training and speech.

1975 - Hooker County Treasurer an-
nounces the new system of vehicle registra-
tion in the State of Nebraska, January 1,
1975. This system provides that vehicle
registration will expire one year from the
month in which they are initially registered.

1977 - Johnson Feed started construction
on the new fertilizer plant located east of
town, north of the railroad.

1961 - Offut AFB Jet Bombing crews of
the Strategic Air Command will begin flying
missions on September 16, 1961 against
simulated targets near Rhame, North Dako-
ta. The bombers will enter the route at high
altitude beginning over Swanson Lake, Neb-
aska. When the bombers arrive at a low level
entry point in the vicinity of Mullen they will
descend to an altitude of 4,000 and 5,000 feet
and fly over a route 20 miles wide into the
target, SAC Planes, making the simulated
runs, will be B-47 and B-52 jet bombers.

1978 - Twelve countries visit Mullen.
Graduate students from Colorado State
University studying Range Management.

April 1986 - Mullen Grade students re-
leased balloons with a message, name, grade,
address and a request to send the balloon
back to them if found. This is a Weekly
Reader Program. - Hooker County Tribune