(The following article is taken from the November, 1909 issue of The Firth Echo. It was re-printed in The VOICE newspaper on August 16, 1979 in honor of the Firth centennial.)
FIRTH DIRECTORY
A few words about the best little town in Lancaster County.
Firth is a little city of 500 inhabitants. It is located in the southeast corner of Lancaster County, 22 miles from Lincoln, our county seat and the capitol of our great state of Nebraska. We are located in the midst of some beautiful scenery – our shady park to our east, the Nemaha river on our north, west and south with its banks thickly covered with huge trees, furnish the best recreation for the sportsmen who enjoy hunting and fishing. We are also justly proud of our farmlands, our industrious farmers, and their estimable wives and children, who assist them in their daily toil. Lands for many miles around us, if sold at all, are valued at $90 to $150 per acre. Numerous and costly improvements dot the premises of these happy and contented farmers and their stock continues to make hay even if the sun has gone down. We are on the main line of the Burlington railroad from ST. Louis to Billings, Montana, and have no kicks to register for the railroad service that we do not receive.
In our city we have a public school worthy of the admiration of our entire populace. The schools support four able teachers, and our children are obliged to finish ten grades before leaving to take up a course in some business college.
The Firth Bank is located in the heart of the city and its business is looked after by two energetic, hustling young men, who greet you with a smile and look after your interests in a businesslike manner. Their deposits at this time are $170,000.
McElvain & Damrow are proprietors of the new Firth Roller Mills. This business started up about the middle of January, 1909, and during eight months shipped out 503 cars. Their daily payroll amounts to $50 per day – Thirteen men being employed steady. They are at present shut down making repairs and when they start up again will have in rels to their already large capacity. This is an enterprise that our people in general should appreciate.
We have four churches, viz: Christian, Presbyterian, Holland and Christian Scientists. They are all blessed with increasing membership and, able pastors. Their good work the past year has been recognized by our people
We have three general stores, all owned and managed by young, wide-awake hustling business men.
The balance of our enterprises are as follows:
Two drug stores
One lumber yard
One barber shop
One furniture store
Post office
Volunteer fire department
One livery and feed barn
Cement block factory
Two implement houses
One butcher shop
Bell and Independent telephones
One physician
One veterinary surgeon
No saloons or gambling houses
Three rural mail carriers
Five carpenters
Two masons
One well equipped printing office
Gas street lights
City water
Masonic, I.O.O.F., M.W.A., A.O.U.W., R.N.A., and D. of H. lodges
Hon. Town Board – City Marshal
Best amateur baseball team in the state – no josh
Plenty of old maids
A few (?) gossips
Sidewalk politicians
Only four hypocrites
One jolly, fat stock buyer
No drunkards
And last, but not least, some of the best people in the world.
If you are looking for a home, a place to trade or the best markets for your stock and produce, come to Firth where we always have the best. |
