152 So. 8th Street
Address: 152 South 8th Street
Legal Description: Spears Subdivision Outlot 27, Lots 7 and 8
Building:
DATE State of Nebraska sold Lots 7 and 8 to E. R Spear.
DATE E. R. Spear sold lots 7 and 8 to James H. Bigelow.
DATE James H. Bigelow and wife sold lots 7 and 8 to J. M. Fisher.
DATE J. M. Fisher and wife sold lots 7 and 8 to Walter V. Fifield.
DATE Walter V. Fifield sold lot 7 to Louis S. Fiegenbaum.
DATE Walter V. Fifield sold lot 8 to James J. Lightbody.
DATE Louis S. Fiegenbaum and wife sold lot 7 to Samuel W. Light.
1892 The Sanborn Maps showed this to be a vacant lot.
1897 The Sanborn Maps showed this to be a blacksmith shop.
1897 Miles Flick and D. G. McGaffey erected a blacksmith shop on the west side of the square. The name of the business was McGaffey & Flick.
1899 Silas Bailor bought the John Gustafson Blacksmith Shop and moved it to Lot 7 between George Bauer’s and J. H. Camp’s places of business on the west side of the square. He moved his blacksmithing tools to the new shop from the old place north of the photograph gallery.
1900 Samuel W. Light sold lot 7 to William H. Henderson.
1900 S. J. and W. H. Henderson purchased the blacksmith tools and buildings of Miles Flick and Paul Dusik. They moved the old stand away and built a new larger building.
1902 The Sanborn Maps showed this to be a blacksmith shop.
1904 George F. Beeson purchased the Henderson blacksmith Shop. Wesley Beeson, son of G. F. Beeson ran the shop. A Nebraska Signal article stated the shop was located the first door south of Lamb’s Livery (Lot 7). Earlier in the year, the George Beeson family of Shickley moved to California, however they remained only a few months and returned to Nebraska settling this time in Geneva. Mr. Henderson will take temporary employment in the Bentley blacksmith shop.
1908 Volney Beeson, son of George, returned from the navy. He helped his father in the blacksmith shop and learned the trade.
1909 The Sanborn Maps showed this to be a blacksmith shop.
1911 George F. Beeson moved his blacksmith shop from this location to the five lots he purchased north of Hourigan’s livery barn. (145 No. 8th)
1911 J. J. and C. S. Lightbody contracted to build a brick garage building on the west side of the square for the use of the Brown Auto Co. We are assuming the building was at 152 South 8th Street.
1912 Fire broke out at the Bedford Ice and Creamery plant next door to Peg Brown’s garage. Due to the quick action of Peg using a fire extinguisher, the fire was quickly put out.
1913 The Brown Auto Co. transferred its business to J. E. Elliott. J. E. Elliott’s son, Raymond, came from Blackfoot, Idaho to assist his father.
1913 In November, W. E. Bruce purchased the machinery and repair department of Elliott’s Garage.
1913 W. E. “Peg” Brown of the Brown Auto Co. organized and incorporated a company for the purpose of handling blaugas in the county, the parent concern being the Nebraska Blaugas Co. of Omaha.
1922 The Sanborn Maps showed Lot 7 to be auto repair and Lot 8 to be a garage.
1927 Iryl Shaner and R. O. Sigman purchased the local Chevrolet car agency from Brown & Dixon Chevrolet of Geneva and Fairmont. The name used was S & S Chevrolet and was located on Court Street (G) in the room formerly occupied by the Central Café, between the Vogue Clothing and Hrubesky Furniture.
1930 Bruce’s Automotive Service, William Bruce Owner. The business must have closed in 1944.
1933 The Sanborn Maps showed Lot 7 to be auto repair and Lot 8 to be a garage.
1934 According to the phone book, Bruce’s Automotive Service was locate here.
1943 The Sanborn Maps showed Lot 7 to be auto repair and Lot 8 to be a garage.
1954 Huss-Laird Motors was located here. They repaired all makes of cars and had a 24-hour wrecker service. They must have discontinued business in 1969.
1979 Velma and Bob Bock purchased lot 7 and part of lot 8 from Clarice (Frank) Tice. Prior to their purchase of the property, they had rented it for several years. Bob was an owner/operator trucker.
2017 Roberta Bock Itzen, (daughter of Bob and Velma Bock) sold the building to Ryan and Krista Hamburger.
2017 In July, Ryan Hamburger established South Central EMS LLC ambulance service at 156 South 8th Street. It performed inter-facility transports, 911 response, and assisted local Basic Life Support units. The station was staffed 24/7 with a paramedic and emergency medical technician.
This was ongoing as of the last posting.