1931
E.R. Salisbury, Publisher
Jan 9 this Banner is 44 years of age. This issue begins Volume XLV and the 45th year of service to the Royalton community.
Jan. 9 “CAFÉ OWNER SHOOTS IT OUT WITH THREE HOLDUP MEN.” On Tuesday night H.C. Lewis, six week owner of the Lewis Café, was ordered to “stick-em up” instead Mr. Lewis pulls out a revolver and starts to shoot it out with 3 bandits. In the end Mr. Lewis is unharmed and he hits two of the bandits before they make their escape. NOTE: The whole story can be found printed out in the museum. This makes for great reading.
Jan. 9 safe crackers were in town Sunday night and paid a visit to the Energee Service Station, owned and operated by Ed Christle. $50 in currency and $5 worth of accessories were taken.
Jan. 9 Carl Eix has opened his feed grinding mill in the Johnson building adjoining his implement shop.
Jan. 30 Extensive improvements are underway at the Lewis Café. The building of several booths with table tops topped with linotile and the whole to be finished in dark oak.
Feb. 2 since the library opened in its new location of the Lion’s Club hall in August, 782 books have been loaded out. The library has 900 books in its collection.
Feb. Louis J. Litchy purchased the Schwartz building on Center Street. The building stands between the Meyer Cream Station and the Bouck Department Store. M.J. Biros ran a soft drink place in it and before that it was a harness shop used by George Pavitt.
**Mar. 6 Gas prices dropped three cents to 16 cents for low test gas, the lowest price in two years.
Mar 20 Work of pouring cement for the floor and foundations of the L.J. Litchy’s new blacksmith shop started this week.
Apr. 10 The annual Easter dance at the Palace Theatre Monday night showed 190 cars parked on the streets with 576 tickets sold as reported by manager William Gilmer.
Apr. 17 A new 38 X 16 foot with 12 foot ceiling addition is being added to the L.B. Billig gasoline station. It will be used to repair cars. The building was built by the Stodolka Brothers 8 years ago.
Apr. 17 450 – 500 persons packed the Palace Theatre April 15 for the Royalton Lion’s Club minstrel show. $140 was made. The entry show was written and acted out by the members.
May 1 A.J. Orth drug store was sold to C.F. Taplin. The business is to be known as Taplin Drug Company. The business is located in the Kiewel building on Front Street.
May 1 Alphonse Schwartz became the sole owner of the S& M sandwich shop, located in the Bouck building. Mr. Schwartz bought out his partner Harold “Mike” Milbery. Mr. Schwartz then sold the whole business to Miles Borman.
May 1 Carl Eix has taken over the stock of farm implements and parts formally carried by A.C. Bouck and moved then to his feed milling business.
May 6 the Meyer Cream Station has been sold to Joseph Brausen.
May 22 a new 700 foot woven fence has been installed on the north side of Riverside cemetery.
May 29 a class of eight seniors will receive coveted diplomas tonight. This the smallest class in a number of years.
June 19 a 28 X 16 foot new oil station is being built by Victor Paradise on lots adjoining the pavement opposite of Fussy Mill. The business will be known as Northwestern Oil Co. Mr. Paradise will also build a home on the same site for his family.
June 26 Patrons of the Palace Theater were given a pleasant surprise when W.H. Gilmer, proprietor, presented a talking picture instead of a silent drama.
July 10 July 4-5 saw a celebration and a Homecoming with a grand parade, horse races, sports, amusements, all day airplane flights, a 48 gun salute with 75 millimeter field artillery pieces, an old time dance the evening of July 4. On July 5 the day was spent with a reunion picnic on the banks of the Platte River in lower town.
July 10 A.V. Miller, proprietor of Miller Meat Market, had a narrow escape from being held up and robbed. He has two bullet holes in his front window of his shop as souvenirs.
July 24 A.W. Schwartz won first prize in a contest held at the Banner newspaper. The prize was a new $634 Chevrolet two door sedan. Over $1,300 worth of prizes were given away to the people who sold the most subscriptions to the newspaper.
July 31 M.J. Schneider, tin smith, has purchased the Broker building also known as the Bank Bar Building.
Sept. 11 robbers enter the Holy Trinity Church broke the lock on the votive stand and pilfered the contents. They also entered the office of the parish house. They found no money but stole a fountain pen. It is believe a police dog chased them away.
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Oct. 12 J.S. Goodwin will open a four table pool hall and a two chair barber shop in the Graham Building formerly occupied by the Orth drug store.
Oct. 23 for the first time in the history of Royalton there will be a bakery. Albert Traump has rented the C.H. Werner building and plans to open for business the first week of November.
Oct. 30 H.C. Lewis, owner of Lewis Café for the past eleven months, has sold his business to William L. Pratt.
Nov. 6 robbers entered two places of business in Royalton Sunday night and made away with cash and merchandise totaling about $100. Meyer’s Café and Miles Broman’s lunch room were the two places broken into.
Dec. 4 twenty-two new books have been added to the Royalton public library bring the total number of books now in the library to 852.
Dec. 4 W.B. Hill has bought the feed mill portion of Mr. Eix’s implement business.
Dec. 11 S.R. Grouse will soon open a grocery store in the Fred Galley location of the Graham building. The store will be known as Grouse and Son.
Dec. 18 Coenen Grocery and Garber’s stores were broken into with cash and merchandise of about $40 taken.
Dec. 25 it is estimated that 800-1,000 person’s attended the free movie at the Palace Theatre, 600 bags containing candy, cracker jacks and an orange were handed out to every child under the age of 15.