Historic Happenings

Nineteen thirteen
Hobos find jobs with the circus
15 years ago
June 15, 1998
 Webster and Waubay got a taste of Sturgis June 6 when the Clark County Riders Poker Run brought over 150 riders through Day County.
At a time when much of the news of Day County seems dark, one business in town is not only looking at the bright side, it is planning for an even brighter future. Dakota Fiberglass, which came to town two years ago now has 11 full-time and four part-time employees.

 25 years ago
June 13, 1988
 Webster city aldermen passed a resolution changing the name of the Webster municipal airport to sigurd Anderson Airport. a dedication will be held in August 1989 to coincide with an air show and centennial events.
The team of Lowell Looyenga, Webster and Jerry Sjomeling, sioux Falls walked away with first prize at the Izaak Walton League Enemy Swim walleye challenge fishing derby.
About 50 area youngsters participated in the Minn-esota Twins baseball clinic. Glen Gostlick and Ken Staples helped with the hour and a half session. Each youngster received a souvenir from the Twins.
50 years ago
June 12, 1963
Doris Hardy was selected from a field of nine candidates as northeast area dairy princess at the Dairy Day program at Waubay School auditorium.
The summer recreation program got off to a damp start with all activities under way except the swimming program with the Red Cross. A new feature is a series of evening activities for boys and their dads.
Webster Chamber of commerce completed plans for the fireworks program July 3. There will also be a dance at the fairgrounds pavilion.
75 years ago
June 16, 1938
A violent wind and hail storm which in certain areas assumed tornadic proportions struck Day County and left in its wake wrecked and twisted buildings and flattened fields of small grains.
With transfer of title to the property from the Mary Ann Deering estate to the Webster School District approved by the circuit court, work on the new athletic park in the northwest part of town was started. Work has been going forward rapidly on a 24-hour schedule. Most of the machine-moving of 14,000 cubic yards of dirt has been completed. The remainder will be done by WPA labor. It is believed the park will be ready for use this fall.
100 years ago
June 12, 1913
Gollmar Bros. big circus which exhibited in this city provided a big drawing card and by noon the streets were crowded with people from the country and neighboring towns. The day was the hottest we have had but the heat did not seem to worry the crowd and only augmented their enthusiasm for attacking the circus lemonade.
The circus management was handicapped by the fact that the majority of their canvasmen and roustabouts had gone on strike at madison the day previous and after a row with the management, had left the show. The superintendents and performers were obliged to put up the tent and do the various other jobs which usually fall to the lot of roustabouts. The management tried to fill the places of the strikers while here and managed to pick up a few hoboes.
125 years ago
June 7, 1888
The Bristol people celebrated memorial day in a manner that did credit to the citizens of that thrifty, bustling, enterprising city. The Bristol Independent has this to say of the address by Mr. Sharretts: After Mr. hambly closed his address, Sharretts was introduced and in a pleasing manner proceeded to deliver one of the most eloquent addresses ever listened to by a Bristol audience.
Mr. Halzer has commenced operations on the new addition to his hotel, The Commercial. He proposes to swing the old building across the back of his lot and will erect a new building in the place vacated by it. The new building will be an addition of 25 percent to the hotel facilities of webster and will be a great improvement to Main Street.
