Congratulations to Violett Workman

Congratulations on being Haigler's Number ONE citizen. You are privleged, and may others look up to you and be proud of you.

-- SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

Violett Workman our Oldest Citizen

Violett Workman, the oldest resident of Haigler, Nebraska is known to everyone who has lived in and around this community for over 90 years. On her next birthday, January 30, 2007, she will be 95 years old.

She still lives in her own home and drives herself to the post office every day to pick up her mail. She is in good health, but does use a cane to steady herself when she walks around her home to cook and clean as she has always done. She enjoys having visitors who like to talk about people and things that happen around town.

Violett has always been known as an excellent cook and a meticulous housekeeper. Her crocheting is expert, she enjoys the lost art of tatting and her paintings are colorful and interesting. She also enjoys reading.

Violett was born in Lenora, Kansas on January 30, 1912, to William Alva and Dora Bell (Arnold) Samson. She was the second oldest of seven children with 4 sisters and 2 brothers: Gladys, Violett, Leona, Alice, Bernice, Guy and Willie.

After moving from Lenora, Kansas to a homestead south of Yuma, Colorado, where her sister, Alice, was born, the family lived for a while just north of Haigler when Violett was in the 5th and 6th grade. She walked to Haigler to school. They moved back to Lenora for awhile. When Violett was 12 years old, they moved by covered wagon to Beecher Island, where Bernice started school. Then they moved west of Haigler to a place close to 3 corners and the 4 youngest children went to Sanborn School. Violett began doing housework for people at a very young age. The last place she worked before getting married was the Ashton Wilson Ranch. It belonged to Ashton’s Grandfather.

Violett and Cecil Workman were married in 1932 and worked for Marvin and Gladys Mills, who owned a large cattle ranch between Haigler and St. Francis, Kansas. Cecil helped with the farming and cattle and Violett helped with the cooking and housework. Marvin moved the bunk house off the basement to a location near the creek and that was their home as long as they worked there. A roof was built over the basement and became the bunk house where the hired men slept.

Orval Carr was working for the ranch at that time and Sylvia Freemyer was his girl friend. Orval cared for a garden down by the creek that furnished vegetables for the meals prepared for the family and hired men. Lee Mills was a baby when they worked there. They were working there when the flood of 1935 came through and scattered the cattle far and wide. It took them weeks to gather them all up again, but the water didn’t come near the house. They needed extra hands to gather up the cattle and this is how Richard Gregory came to be working for Marvin Mills. Richard was Violett’s cousin and Cecil got him the job which was supposed to last a couple of weeks. Richard worked for Marvin for about 5 years and it was with Marvin’s help that he was able to get his own farm.

When Pearline, Cecil & Violett’s daughter, was born, they lived on the George Brown place about 3 miles south of Haigler, where Dale and Dode Faylor live now. Later, they bought a farm about 5 miles west of Haigler, where they lived until 1980 when Cecil’s health became such that he couldn’t continue to work on the farm. They moved into the house where Violett still lives today. Cecil passed away in April 1982.

Pearline, is married to Hollis Gillett from Wray, Colorado. They live in Page, Arizona. They have two daughters, Teresa and Cindy and one grandson, Kevin. At the present time, Hollis is very ill and Pearline spends all her time at his bedside.

Cecil Workman was the son of Charley and Rose Workman. He had 3 brothers and a sister; Raymond Workman, who married Violett’s sister Gladys, Ervin who married Jennie Faylor (Harry Faylor’s sister), Roy who married Permilla Holt and Mildred (Millie) who married Lloyd (Whitey) Bragg.

Violett’s grandfather, William Martin (Bill) Samson, was born in Brown County, Kansas the year after Kansas became a state in 1861. He married Mary Frances Goodin on October 5, 1882 in Cass County, Nebraska where they began raising their family: George Emmet, William Alva, Leonard Eli, Mary Frances and Thomas L Samson. After her death in 1894, he married Margaret (Maggie) Archer, who had 2 sons. The family moved to Long Island, Kansas, then to Haigler in 1906 where they owned and operated a hotel and café that stood on the corner of Porter Avenue and Highway 34 where Trembly’s Grocery store was later built in the late 1940s. The light and flagpole and water trough that used to be in the intersection was just outside the front door of the hotel. Bill Samson was also a blacksmith.

George Samson married Slyvesta Mahala Mitchell and they had 13 children: Lucille, Oscar, Erma, Ralph, Elmer, Wayne, Maxine, Georgia Rose, Don, June, Verna, Vula, and Emmet Ray. This family migrated to Wyoming but the families all kept in touch.

Leonard Eli (Lennie) Samson left home at an early age and the family didn't hear from him for many years. His father got letters from an Eli Walker, who we later found out, was Lennie, so he did try to keep in touch.

Violett’s father, William Alva Samson, was born in Rockbluff, Cass County, Nebraska and came to the Haigler area when his father moved here from Kansas. He married Dora Bell Arnold.

Mary Frances (Mollie) (Samson) was first married to Dave Gregory, then to Horace Roach, so Larimers, Stassers, Gregorys, Craft and Roachs are Violett’s cousins. Mollie’s children were Frances (Gregory) Larimer, Margaret (Gregory) Stasser, Richard Gregory, Marlin Roach, Quentin Roach, Ollie (Roach) Loop, Virginia (Roach) Craft, Betty (Roach) Winden and Lowell (Bud) Roach.

Thomas (Tom) Samson married Rose Marquardt and they had three children, Clarence, Roy and Albertta

Alva's and Mollie's families were together nearly all their lives. Their kids were almost as close as brothers and sisters. During the homestead years they were within shouting distance of each other. Marlin and Quentin Roach and Alice Samson were born there on the homesteads south of Yuma. Only for a few years after they all left their Colorado homesteads when the Samsons returned to near Haigler and the Roachs went to Oxford, Nebraska for a short time were they separated. The Roaches moved back to Haigler and the kids all grew up together.

Many other families in the area are also her family. Iva (Samson) who married Glen DeGarmo was a cousin to Alva Samson, making Wilma (DeGarmo) Ferguson a second cousin. Her sister, Leona (Samson) married Wesley Trembly, making Delmar, Delford, Don and Dorline nieces and nephews. Other family names are Stute, Tiff, Bowker, Brown. If anyone is interested in finding out more about the family genealogy, contact the editor of the Haigler Blog. Violett is related in some way to many families around the area.

~Written by Sherri Gregory, Richard Gregory's daughter.

Happy Birthday, Ward Wonder

Had a note today from Dallas saying that Ward Wonder will be 90 on October 13, 2006. I WONDER what he would do if he had a hunderd birthday cards in his mail???

Lets send him a card and let him know we are thinking of him!

Ward Wonder
General Delivery
Haigler, Nebraska 69030

If you know of anyone else that is 90 or older, if you will let me know who they are, we will get a list going of their birthdays and maybe find someone who can interview them and get a "story" posted about them. Our list can include anyone who you remember that has ever lived in the Haigler community. (I made this rule, because my mother will be 92 and she now lives in Tucson)

Just click here to send an email: The Haigler Blog Email

The List so far:

Name - Next Birthday - age

1. Violett Workman - January 30 - 95
2. Lillian Mahon - 93
3. Alice Gregory - November 30 - 92
4. Ward Wonder - October 13 - 90

The Caddy was Brown

I was curious about the color of Dallas's Caddy, so I wrote and asked him. I had put a picture of a blue caddy in his little story and should have asked him first.

Here is his response:

My Cadillac was chocolate brown with gold flecks mixed with the paint. It had a big bug deflector on the hood (brown). Drive that car all day and never be tired from eye strain or tiredness.

I forgot to mention that I had a '55 chevy V8 when I was in the Army. A '63 Chevy convertible (Daytona Blue with a white top). Also had a '61 Corvair Spider Monza just before entering the Army. Sometimes the brain just don't want to work in order of events and/or times.

I gave that caddy to my son and he kept it for about 3 years then sold it. Now I wish I had it back. It was a beautiful car.

Cat Fishing??

Grit Ellis was catfishing up at Sutherland Reservoir, near Ogallala. It was a nice sunny day and he fell asleep on the banks of the lake. He was startled by being awakened by something wrapping around his neck. It was a bull snake of pretty good size. I think the adrenalin gland probably kicked in and the snake was probably found in the next county.

Grit never said if he stayed or prolonged his fishing trip?? I do remember one catfish he brought back to Haigler that was longer than I was tall. I was about eight years old and that was a BIG fish!!!

--DALLAS

Dairy Business & Bill Wall

I got an email from Dallas today as follows:

Another Inquiry -- Did Bill Wall have a dairy in Haigler? I didn't associate Bill running the creamery in Haigler.

The original house north of the railroad tracks was moved to Benkelman and is still standing in Benkelman.

Bill had a stockyard on the west end of Haigler, I remember he had a two headed calf with six legs (two legs were on the back of the spine). Never did hear what happened to that calf? I am sure it had a short lifespan.

THANX FOR A RESPONSE IN ADVANCE
-- DALLAS ADAMS

So, I wrote to my mom to ask her:

Mamma,
Do you remember if Bill Wall had a dairy? And do you know what house Dallas is talking about? Bill Wall’s house probably. Do you know where it was sitting north of the tracks? The only house I remember over there was Bannisters.
Thanks,
Sherri

and here is her response:

Yes, I remember about Bill Wall having a dairy. I think that it was north of the tracks on the east side of the road. It could have been north of the river too. Not sure about this.

He sold milk in town. It was his main occupation before he had the pool hall. I don't know the exact location. There doesn't seem that there is space between the tracks and the river for that sale barn and another place. OH!!! Maybe he just turned the sale barn into a dairy. That sounds logical.

Yes I remember the stock yards at the west edge of Haigler. They were there until the 50's I think. Maybe longer. But not used much by that time.

I do know that Bannisters house was new. Bannisters first lived west of Haigler. I remember that we drove past the place . Sometime in the 40's. And she started to teach school. Maybe that is when they moved to near-Haigler--I don't know. It was when my kids were little.

I remember that there was a sale barn north of the tracks on the east side of the road. They even had community gatherings in it. Like a Christmas program and sold tickets for a cash prize. We went to a program once . I don't remember a thing about the program but I remember Mrs. Woods name was called for the prize. It wasn't used for cattle sales anymore by that time. Mom

Snakes

This is probably not my story to tell, but I will whisper quietly.

The mailman at the time that they were hanging the mail at the railroad tracks was Rudy Zweygardt. He was a very busy man as always, moved briskly and quickly about his business.

One evening, he opens his back door to his car and throws this mail bag in the back seat. Then opens the driver's door and quickly enters the automobile. A shrilling EEEEIIIIIGGG

GHHHHGGGGG!! He quickly exits faster!

I hear there was a bull snake wrapped around the steering wheel of his mail vehicle.

Myself; I think I would have had a heart attack on the spot. Skid marks are probably still implanted on the streets of Haigler to this day -- left by Rudy.

What a frightening adventure. Heh!!

Cal and Al's story reminded me of the Zweygart's.

--SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

Comment left by Nicci Beauprez - Zweygart

This is funny! I am Rudy and Edith's granddaughter. This story hit home as Pop still isn't fond of snakes. And I've heard that same sound just a few times in my life. It's great to find a blog such as this and to read and hear things of back when. My grandfolks live in Denver, my brother and I near Brighton Colorado, they always would talk about Haigler and I have many Christmas ornaments that were purchased from the local drug store in the 40's I believe. I am the daughter of Ronald Zweygardt (Tebbie McLaughlin NKA Kramer). Thank you for a good laugh and memory, I'll pass it along to Rudy (he doesn't get on the Internet) and I'm sure he'll giggle about it. I too have done a very small scale of ancestry but through facebook with the younger Zweygardt's and have had no luck. These days I guess it's strange to get an email from someone claiming to be family... I hope to connect with some of our younger members to re establish the gap in our family. Being so far away in Colorado and very young on family trips leaves the memory pretty sparse. You can email or message me if you desire through facebook search my name Nicci Beauprez. Thanks Haigler for this blog!!! 

Farming

Back in the '40s and '50s, things were different on the farm.

My dad had all of the machinery necessary for running a farm--a Massey-Harris tractor, a drill, a oneway, a plow, a Gleaner-Baldwin combine and a lot of baling wire. Later, he upgraded to Minneapolis-Moline tractors.

Harvest-time was always exciting, especially in the years when weather conditions were good. My uncles, Marlin and Quentin Roach, liked to came back from California just to help Dad in the harvest. I guess they considered it a vacation. I remember that we got to ride up in the bin where the wheat came in. Nowadays, the government would probably have a rule against that, but I think we were pretty well-supervised.

My dad made a machine from an old truck chassis that I don't even know how to describe. The radiator and the wheels that steered were in the back, which made it a very unique looking vehicle. We called it the "farmhand". It was a primitive forklift, but a lot bigger. He used it to lift hay bales. We got to ride on that, too, and I'm sure the government would have something to say about that, also.

We had a graveyard for old broken-down machinery and vehicles. It was down past the barn, and we used to play there a lot. We called them "the dead cars".

Steve and Tammy Workman own that farm now, and I'm sure they love it as much as we always did. When my dad died in 1995, Tammy let us come out and wander around and reminisce. We thank her immensely for that!

Leone (Gregory) Carlson

Thanks to Dallas

I'd just like to thank Dallas Adams for his many humorous and informative entries. He is very instrumental in keeping this site so interesting. I know that many others are reading these stories, and like me are probably saying "I'll find time tomorrow to write".

Anyway, thanks Dallas!

-- Leone (Gregory) Carlson

Trapazoidal Objects in the Sky of Haigler

My first view is that a cardboard box can't fly!!! Too weird to see this on a blue sky day with a slow moderate breeze.

It is so! One of the Trembly boys, Vernon, I think, was flying this kite south of Haigler; a box kite he had constructed and built was flying. I must have been 9 or 10 years old, but could not believe a box looking thing flying up by the standpipe.

Pretty ingenious, I must say. It made my day! Heh!! I'm talking, late '40s, folks -- Never seen such a thing!! Now a days is different!

-- SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

The Haigler Creamery

I don't know the year the Green's started or ended the creamery. I don't know the year the Medlocks had the creamery. I was in first grade with Cora Marie Medlock until they moved. I remember Ed and Mary Odenbach having the creamery, but don't know when they left.

I remember Ed Heye and his shoe shop in Haigler and later in Wray.

Claudine (Wiley) Sterner mentioned the G.O.C (Ground Observer Core) with her merit badge -- don't' think I got one! But, I think we radioed Air Traffic to North Platte.

I further went to the U.S. Army Armed Forces to be assigned to NORAD, (North America Radar Air Defense); so GOC must have been instrumental, thinking the Communists might bomb us during the Cold War, as I spent a short time on a missile site, and the majority of my time at headquarters.

Dundy County, Nebraska, Cheyenne County, Kansas and Yuma County, Colorado had several enlisted personnel -- men and women enrolled during the war years. We have several golden boys who gave their lives for their country, from our area for the freedoms we have today. They are honored every year on Memorial Day at the Haigler Cemetery.

The Veterans of Yesteryear.

-- Submitted by Dallas Adams

Thanks for the Memories

My hat goes off to the the Don Harford family, Floy Ruggles, Alice Gregory, Sherri Gregory, Karen Lindell, Cal Frehling, Al Zuege, Claudine Wiley, Leone Carlson for getting the History of Haigler recordings started and for the authenticity of Haigler and Haiglerites of the future. Many have passed on that have left a legacy to our roots.

Therefore, I thank you for all your endeavors to making this such a fun site. It's not like going to a dentist that most of us don't look forward to. It is the exact opposite - a fun experience, and good for a few laughs; to be able to laugh at ourselves and of the memories we had when we were growing up.

Thank you again.

-- SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

The Haigler Jail

My dad, Emmons Adams, was Mayor of Haigler for about three terms, possibly four.

Vagrants often stopped in Haigler for gas or a meal and then moved on down the road. The city of Haigler always saw to it that the people who needed help, got it through the city budget.

One time, my dad encountered a very unruly patron passing through. Dad had to pull a loaded pistol and march this man to the Haigler Jail.

The next day, the town Marshall, I think was Al Williams, proceeded to transport this man to the Benkelman jail or to be assisted by the county Sheriff in this matter. . I think Al got most of the windows in his car kicked out by this unruly patron of the Haigler jail. Anyways, I think that was the last usage of the Haigler jail for our most elite citizens with outstanding citizenship.

I'm only working on memory, the best I remember, folks! A lot of years has gone by and the recall don't work too well!

-- SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

I Am A Haiglerite!

I sometimes get those forwarded emails that you all receive. I try not to pass them on unless they are something that really strikes me as important, very interesting or very funny. I got a really good one today about immigrants, which I'm not going to post here, because I want to keep this blog about Haigler and the memories that it invokes. But the subject of "Immigrants" got me to thinking about the people we rubbed shoulders with when we were putting up hay or cutting wheat in the hot summer days, cutting silage, picking corn in the crisp fall or who we called when we were having trouble with a heifer birthing her first calf or got a tractor stuck in the muddy muck of the three corners area of northwest Kansas/southwest Nebraska/eastern Colorado.

The people around Haigler when I was growing up were those kind of neighbors that you could count on to help if you needed it and weren't afraid to ask for help if they needed it.

Some of them were first generation immigrants and some were descended from people who sailed on the Mayflower. They were a mixture of Democrats, Republicans, Independents and those who choose not to register with any political party. Methodists, Lutherns, Baptists, Catholics, Holiness, Seventh-day Adventist.

They were a MIX of hundreds of countries, creeds and ethnicity. They were/are FRIENDS!

They took care of each other. (Sometimes teased each other, made fun of each other, fought with each other), but they took care of each other!

They came from Germany, England, Ireland, Some of them came back with their new husbands from Japan, Italy and Russia. They supported each other, they married each other, they grew up together. They settled the plains country!

I am proud to have lived in the Haigler community and to call myself a "Haiglerite."

More About CARS!

My dad was born in 1891. He homesteaded 1/4 mile west of the VanHorn place south of Haigler in Kansas. I think it was called "The Steinhaggen Place" after the former owners. I am not sure how accurate I am.

My dad remembered the first fist fight in Haigler when a car would not yield to a horse and buggy.

Dad had an old REO, I think, in the garage in Haigler. He later sold it to Fritz Zuege.

Men always seemed to be fascinated by anything that had wheels and a motor. The OOOGA!!OOOGA!! horn was the horn to attract anybody's attention in them days, and the headlights sure needed improvement!

One of my cars had a whistle siren that I purchased from the J.C. Whitney catalogue. I hooked it up to the manifold to create a vacuum when a wire was pulled by the dash next to the steering column. (a girl whistle)

I remember Elmer Wilkening from south of town had a cut-out on his muffler. To operate, you had to pull this little lever near the floor boards to bypass the muffler -- indeed, it did sound like a big tractor!

I wish I had the ability to have my old cars back for the reminiscing of the '39 Plymouth coupe I bought from Art Klinzman for $10.00 and the '39 Ford Sedan I bought from Trembly's (all black with lots of chrome)

I had a '42 Pontiac straight 8, bought a used motor for $10.00 and installed it in this car. Then a 1948 Pontiac formerly owned by Biers out south of town. Then I bought this 1951 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 -- nice shiny dark blue. Then a 1958 Chevrolet 348 cu. in tri-power - all white.

The ultimate car that I ever owned was this 1976 Cadillac Coupe De Ville with a 520 cu. in. engine. You could land a Boeing 747 on the hood of that car!!! or it looked that way!!

One of the Workman boys from south of town had this Henry J, and he put a big engine in that car. The back end always wanted to beat the front end around in the direction of travel. TOO powerful, indeed!!

The stock car races were held in Benkelman at the Fair Grounds. What a blast it was for entertainment to watch the crash of the day!

What would we men be like if we didn't have powerful sooped-up cars for horsepower?!! heh!!

Now, look at the cars we drive today. We pay more for them than we paid for our first house!

I'm sure we all remember our very first car! Too many stories to tell about cars.

Anybody remember the purple tail-lights until they were outlawed? Yes!! I remember the Studebakers, Kaisers, Frazers, they were neat looking cars.

To this day, I have never wrecked or collided a car. Came close a few times, but never wrecked one!. Maybe I drove a wreck!! Ha!

-- SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

Open for Business

I got this note and image from Floy Ruggles today. It was such a surprise to me to see that my Grandpa Frank Crabtree once had a produce station in Haigler. I don't remember ever hearing about it. At any rate, thought I'd share it with you because it is a bit of Haigler History!


This is a copy of an envelope addressed to Floy Crabtree, Shelton Academy, Shelton, Nebr.(Envelope Postmarked October 22, 1943, 6 PM, Haigler, Nebr.)

"I found this while looking through my old keepsakes. The envelope dates the document. Don't know if you have it already or not. Anyway here it is." -- Floy Ruggles

The document reads:

OPEN for BUSINESS

FRANK CRABTREE

PRODUCE STATION

Haigler, Nebraska

Located in the McVey Building

***************************

TOP PRICES

for

EGGS - CREAM - POULTRY

Also a full line of feed

**************************

FRANK CRABTREE

is well known to all of you. He is your friend

and neighbor and would deeply appreciate a fair

chance to prove to you that he has the cream

market that will net you the greatest satisfaction.

Each delivery, large or small, will receive the

same dependable accuracy that means so much to

the producer that has cream to sell.

Yours truly,

Frank Crabtree

Limburger -- Haigler!

I was interested in Dallas Adams information on Limburger Cheese. It reminded me of a joke that I thought surely every one in Haigler knew.

The story goes that the conductor of the passenger train got drowsy and went to sleep. As the train was rolling along, one of the passengers opened up his lunch in which was a limburger sandwich; upon which the conductor was immediately aroused from his sleep and called out the name of the (supposedly) next stop-"HAIGLER"

-- Submitted by Floy Ruggles

From Dallas's Universe

Once upon a time, back around 1949 (close enough), Haigler had this diabolical Superintendent of Schools. (before my time)

Low and behold! In the shadows of darkness, projectiles of rotten eggs landed upon his residential premises.

I think the message came through loud and clear, as he did not renew the school contract the following year. (I wonder why???)

Haiglerites had a way of problem solving with tough individuals. I am too young to remember any names or otherwise I would have to plead insanity and/or the vigilanties of the community may start proceedings against me. UFF DA

-- SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

Limburger CHEESE!

These episodes, I think happened probably 10 to 15 years prior to my licensed driving time of 1955.

Most Haiglerites did not support bad behavior such as arrogance, rudeness, attitudes or other deviant behaviors that supported anothers ego in local public relations or other bad behaviors.

Somehow, mysteriously, a block of Limburger cheese could be set on the exhaust manifold of the older cars because the side cowling of the engine compartment was easily accessible.

The one or two percent of these violators would get a very bad odor of gassy proportions into the passenger coach as they drove down the road. I remember some of my elders in Haigler making remarks about Limburger cheese and how bad it smelled when heated up. It's phenomenal, that this sort of activity existed prior to my driving days and I never experienced any of these charmed experiences. However, driving through the Monfort cattle feed yards is probably as close as i want to get!

Only in Haigler, U.S.A!!

-- SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

The Beef State

Remember when our license tags said "The Beef State" on them?

From 1956 through 1965, "The Beef State" was imprinted on them, then in 1966 they said "Centenniel" In 1972 our tags began showing the "Cornhusker State" on them.

I thought the state became known as the cornhusker state in 1971 when Johnny Rogers, early in the game, on Thanksgiving Day, kicked a 72 yard punt return and the team went on to win with 35-31 against Oklahoma propelling him into a legacy of football history.

But, with further study on the subject, I discovered that in 1945, the legislature changed the official name of the state to Cornhusker State after the name caught on when a sportswriter in 1900 called the University team, The Cornhuskers.

Sometimes what we "think" isn't necessarily "the way it really was."

Chicken Thieves in Haigler

Al and Cal were buddies, they were also chicken thieves.

Two old Germans in the town of Haigler, Nebraska each kept a flock of laying hens. One was Reinhold Keller who happened to be Al’s grandfather and the other one was John Zweygardt (known as Little John, as Big John lived a few miles in Kansas.)

Al and Cal on a certain night would steal a few hens from one and put them in the other one’s chicken house. After a few days had gone by they would reverse the act; of course they never got the same chickens.

When the two old gents would meet at the post office one would say “Mine Gott, I am missing some hens das morgen,” the one that had too many would never admit it. I guess the one with too many would enjoy collecting extra eggs for a few days until the role was reversed.

One night the local town marshal, John Corder, stopped the boys and asked what they were up to that night. He was told we are stealing chickens to which John replied, “no one steals chickens any more.”

Cal reached in the sack and pulled out a hen which started squawking and said, “we do!" John shook his head and drove off.

Years later over a six pack or three of beer Al and Cal decided they were doing the old fellows a good turn by keeping their flocks from getting inbred.

-- Submitted by Cal Freehling

PS: Cal says this is a true story and is told with permission from Al. He says they pulled many "stunts", some of which cannot be published until they both die!. haha

OUR Cars!

I've been composing this blog entry in my head for a couple of days now. It was going to be called "our cars".

I had a picture of the Kaiser and the Ford. And was hoping you had one of the Studebaker. I guess what they say about great minds is true!

I was going to tell about you and I learning to drive in that old black and white Studebaker pickup. And how we would conveniently "forget something" when we went to the field, so we'd have to drive back to the house and pick it up. hehehe

-- Submitted by Leone (Gregory) Carlson

The Cars

The first car I remember our family driving was a Grey 1948 Ford Sedan. It had cloth seats and the back doors opened from the front.

The next was a 1950 Nash Ambassador. We thought it looked like an upside down bathtub. It was painted a Midnight blue, the paint was oxidizing so it looked multicolored. The seats folded down so you could make what seemed like a very large bed. There were no seat belts in those days and we would stand up in the back seat, or on the floor of the back seat and hang our arms over the back of the front seat. Leah always got to ride in the front seat between Daddy and Mamma because she was the oldest. When she wasn’t along, Leone and I would fight about who got to sit in front.

Then we had a 1951 or 52 Kaiser. Daddy bought it from Vic Stasser, who was the dealer in Haigler for Kaisers, Frazers and Henry J’s. One icy day, we were attempting to get up the hill on the old highway 27 and were slipping and sliding when Frank Chartier came over the hill and hit us. Luckily, both cars were creeping along so no one was hurt, but the car was totaled. We got another Kaiser instead of fixing the wrecked one. About this time, my grandparents had a 1950 Frazer and I believe my uncle Lloyd Crabtree was driving one too. My aunt floy’s family were driving a green 1949 chevy coup, and my aunt Ethel Rath and her husband were driving an old grey 1948 dodge pickup.

Our baby sister, Eunice, was born while we had the Kaiser and she rode on mamma's or Leah's lap in the front seat. Leone always sat behind mamma and I sat behind daddy and we made Dick sit in the middle. If we mis-behaved, daddy would reach around and thump us on the head. We were such good kids, that this rarely happened. (Yeah, right!! haha)

After that, we had a 1953 Nash Rambler. We drove this car for quite some time, because it is the one I learned to drive in. Of course, in those days, we learned to drive when we were pretty young. I actually got my driver's licence when I was 14 years old.

It was the year I was in the seventh grade at East 10 grade school. I remember this because I was driving this car a few days before we had school pictures taken. Dick and I were taking the car along the fence of our east pasture to go get the cows to bring them in for milking one evening and I got the bright idea that I wanted to drive really fast, so I took off across the field south of our barn and stepped on it!! Dick was in the back seat and when I decided it was time to slow down I misjudged the strength of the brakes and pushed too hard causing him to fly into the dashboard with his face. Those flip down front seats didn’t slow down his projected body one bit! As a result, he had his picture taken that year with a black eye from a broken cheekbone.

The next car was a white 1960 Chevrolet Biscayne sedan. My dad drove that car for over 200,000 miles with only minor repairs.

I remember Don Smith drove a green two tone Plymouth and Paul and Hanna Zuege drove the first 1957 Chevy I had ever seen. I thought that was the prettiest car ever made!

Being the oldest in our family, Leah was the first to have a car of her own. It was a red 1953 Ford Fairlane. Daddy helped her pick it out and she made payments on it until it was paid for and paid the insurance premium. Dick was the next to get his own car. We were in college by that time and he got a yellow 1958 Ford Fairlane convertible with a white rag top and glass pipes.

The coolest car that I remember was owned by Norman Beeson: a 1949 red and white Ford Crown Vic convertible with glass pack pipes. There was nothing that sounded better than those glass packs! You just weren’t cool if you didn’t have them on your car!

The Chivaree

I bet if you asked your kids or grand kids what the word "Chivaree" meant, they would have to look it up in the dictionary! In fact, my spell checker didn't even know the word! And what they find in the dictionary doesn't tell them the full impact of the word:

"Noun: chivaree - a noisy mock serenade (made by banging pans and kettles) to a newly married couple."

What a lame word description is that!?

The chivarees that I remember and those that my mother told me about, were far from lame! The newly weds would hardly get in the door and get settled in their new home before they were surprised by family and friends who really did make lots of noise, play instruments and shout and sing, then invite themselves in to hide things and do things like putting sugar in the salt shakers, sprinking pepper under the pillows, taking the labels off of cans in the cupboards and generally making a nuisance of themselves. The ones I remember were done in good fun and did no harm to the new couple. In fact, presents were brought that the couple could well use to get started with their housekeeping.

Traditionally, the chivaree began with the french who would play romantic music for the couple on their wedding night. It progressed into a night of making noise and keeping the couple awake to stealing the bride and riding off with her, and other pranks at the couples expense.

What got me remembering about the Chivaree was the note Dallas wrote:

Days gone by -- when a newly wed couple thought they were settling in to a nice lively-hood life, low and behold, did they get a surprise!! A chivaree party of about 10 to 15 people would shortsheet the bed or pour itching powder in the sheets, would haul the couple away in a wheelbarrow or other surprises. Folks must have gotten awfully bored to seek out entertainment on the unsuspecting newly weds!

If you want to read more about the tradition of the Chivaree, visit this website:
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1032538

Looking for Former Haigler people

There are several people who have mentioned that they would like to know where their friends and aquaintances are now. Here are some of the people looking:

Dallas Adams:
In first and second grade was a classmate named Billy King, from the Haigler Ranch.
In fifth graade was Dave Burris, Jack Sanford, who lived north of Haigler, as well as the Cooleys.

The Dust bowl and low production of crops forced a lot of people to leave the area. I've often wondered where some of these folks moved on to.

Leone (Gregory) Carlson:
I am wondering about some of my former friends and classmates. Calvin Zuege and I graduated from 8th grade (at East 10) together in 1956. Shirley (Walter) Gooder and Karen (Zuege) McLinn? were friends of mine around that time, too. I wonder where they all are now?

Hoe Down Time with the Wall Family

I come from Trenton, Nebraska. My mother was Helen E. (Wall) Cross. She was W. E. Wall's daughter.

My brother, Roger, and I visited our grandparents, aunts and uncles on a regular basis... at least twice a month from 1945 to 1958.

We would ride the CB&Q "Puddle" jumper, which was a three car passenger freight train that ran daily, each way, between McCook, Nebraska and Yuma, Colorado.

Many fond memories were formed in Haigler! Dallas Adams and I are of the same vintage and he is a cousin of mine.

I really enjoyed the description of "Haigler- Saturday Night". I remember all the Walls, Pete Sacket, Peg Darby, Reinholt Keller, Dick Wheaton, Workmans, Mr. Geece, Vic Stasser, the Brunswick (Brunswig) family, Mr. and Mrs. Spears.

I especially remember the little jailhouse out back of the General Store on the corner of main and Hiway 34. It was pretty rustic and spartan. A good place to stay out of. My brother and I always dreaded the thought of being locked up in Haigler, so we were pretty good boys. Last I heard, it was still there, but in disuse. It should be preserved.

One of my uncles was Donnie Wall. A very good athelete until he was injured in a tragic car accident. He and I were the same age.

I remember the Haigler Eagles.

My grandfather had an icehouse and hauled ice from Benkelman, Trenton, McCook and Wray to supply the community with ice. I bet many of you remember buying ice from him. He could tote those huge blocks of ice like they were nothing. His strength was legendary. I have seen him stand a railroad tie on its end and reach down to the grounded end and throw the tie on top of a truckload of railroad ties stacked 15 feet high onto a flatbed truck! This was when he was in his mid-sixties!!

He was quite a fiddler and loved to play at family get togethers. All the Walls played some instrument or sang a good tune. It was always "Hoe Down Time" at family holidays. His final song of the day was always "Redwing." You knew it was all over when he started to play that tune. I seldom hear that tune anymore, but an old negro violinist, here on the streets of Key West, played it for me at my request and a five dollar bill a few months ago. It still brings tears of joy to my heart and eyes.

Yessir!! I do have fond memories from Haigler!

-- Submitted by Rex E. Cross, Sr.

The Pinball Machine

Does anyone remember Jerry Karn's Cafe on Main Street?

Every Saturday night his pinball machine had members mesmerized at the hands of the present player to see who could rack up the most games before a TILT or Tilting the machine in play.

This pinball machine would now probably qualify for the archives of Haigler History or the nearest museum. Things that were said to that machine when a show of dis-satisfaction occured!! Unbelievable!!

SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

Ka BOOOM!!

I am sure many stories can be told here that could last a week or so.

This memoir is from my dad, Emmons Adams. I will tell it best as I remember it.

Emmons was sitting in his truck watching a kid at a vacant gas station one day around the 4th of July. There was this empty underground storage tank and this kid, who was probably about 10 or 11 years old, removed the fill spout of the underground tank and dropped an M-80 explosive into the tank.

Dad heard this "KABOOM OOOPHF! !!!

The blacktop pavement over the tank raised about two feet into the air and the kid turned and ran as fast as he could go for a couple of blocks --- without even looking back, mind you! Without looking back!! Probably scared as a scare crow -- eyes probably as big as saucers!!

No one got killed or hurt is the amazing thing.

Dad chuckled every time he told that story. I believe God was looking over this child that day, because he is a very lucky child / man to live through this ordeal.

My dad had a special charisma and charm to expedite a story in that Nebraska drawl to make a story sound so funny!

SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

Snipe Hunt

I was glad to see Dallas Adams had remembered the Snipe Hunts.

I was going to bring that subject up also. I was lucky to have a couple of brothers to warn me about the "then famous hunts", so I was never on the receiving end of the hunt, however, it was pretty exciting to see a new student come to town in hopes they didn't know what snipe hunting was.

I believe we had 2 hunts when I was in high school. I shouldn't say, but the cemetery seemed to be the best location for a snipe hunt. It was not too far from town and very quiet. Unlike Dallas, we would go back and pick our hunter up and of course, there would be nothing bagged, only a very scarred hunter.

For any one that doesn't already know, Yes, there really is a snipe bird, just not in our area. Oh yes, you would think this would be for boys only, but guess what, us girls thought it was fun also.

--Karen (White) Lindell

Pranks

Haiglerites and their associates had this splendid little game of Snipe Hunting.

This little bird was hunted in the evening hours; the hunter was given a burlap bag, a flashlight and possibly a club and was placed alongside the road. The reciprocate was to wait beside the road as the snipes would be headed towards him.

Guess what??? The reciprocrate would end up walking 2-3 miles back to town!! AAUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!

SUBMITTED BY DALLAS ADAMS

The Oldest Living Haiglerite CONTEST

Who is the oldest living Haiglerite?
(A Haiglerite is someone who has or had a Haigler mailing Address)

I think it might be Violet Workman?

Or it could be Alice Gregory?

Let's see if we can figure out who is the oldest person still liveing in Haigler and who is oldest living anywhere else.

Let me know who you think could be the oldest.

The winner(s) will have a short story about them published in the Haigler Blog.

Haigler Blogger Map

Hey, sometime in the next day or so, go check out this sight, The HaiglerBlogger. If you want to join, you can add yourself to the map and might even catch another Haiglerite there and be able to chat with them. You can scroll down to leave a note in "The Forum" or upload a picture to share with the rest of us.

If it is something that works, I'll create a link to it from this blog and it will be another way for Haigler People to connect with each other, no matter where in the world we all are!

Let me know what you think through email or comment or guestbook.

The Guest Book

If you are skipping the guest book lately, you are missing out on a real treat! There are some great entries there.

On the weekend, I am thinking of transferring them over to a regular post, they are so interesting. Do you think that would be a good idea?

Have a great day!

Saturday Night

I'm sure everyone who lived around Haigler in the 1950s and 1960s remembers Saturday Night in the summertime!

It seemed as though everyone for miles around would converge upon Haigler. Parents would sit in their cars or stand on the sidewalk or sit in the cafe to "visit". Mamma usually sat in the car so she could keep an eye on us and visit with another lady or two. They talked about their kids, what they were doing that week or spread "news" about someone or something that happened.

My dad would usually sit in either Bill Wall's Pool Hall and "visit" with the other men and watch wrestling or "the fights".

The little kids would make up games to play, run up and down the block between the highway and the hardware store. (we were afraid to go any further north, because nothing was open "down" there and it was dark.

The teenagers would drive up and down Main street, as we called Porter Avenue in those days. We didn't even know it had any other name. They would stop off at "the standpipe" or the park or "other" places around town. Some couldn't stay too long, because they were expected to "drive by" wherever the parents were sitting.

Kids from other towns would drive over to "cruise" the Haigler main street.

Those of us who didn't have cars would walk up and down the sidewalks, but venture a little father than the "little" kids. We would even venture as far east as the "Bay Station", which was a gas station and cafe located on the east edge of town, and buy a hamburger and malt,.

Sometimes there would be a "picture show" that we could attend for 10 cents. This was because one of the adults in town would rent a movie that came on a big real and shown from a large projector.

One summer, the kids got together and made a "Youth Center" in Burnswig's old John Deere Building. Patty Wheaton brought her 45 records to play for dances in the abandoned showroom. A pool table and ping pong table were moved into the shop area.

Saturday nights in Haigler was a FUN place to be!

Does anyone else remember those fun summer nites?

The Haigler Churches

The Haigler community used to have more churches than it does now.

The Methodist Church is located in the southwest side of town on King street between Norfolk and Norman. It was organized in 1888 and was the only church in town for many years. Many community gatherings were held in this church and it is still known for its generous hospitality.

The Zion Lutheran Church is located down the street north on the corner of Norfolk and King streets. The congregation met elswhere for the years between 1910 when it was organized and 1949 when the present building was built.

I believe they are the only two churches left in Haigler. However, there used to be several other churches in town.

A Holiness Church was located on the corner of Porter and Norfolk.

The Seventh-day Adventist church was built in 1950 and was active into the 1970s or 80s. Sometime after the congregation moved to Wray, the church donated the building to the town of Haigler to be used for a Senior Center. It is now known as the Golden Inn, which provides hospitality to community seniors.

There was a Catholic Church on Hiway 34 between Hiway 27 and East Avenue. It had a large steeple and and big bell that would ring every Sunday morning.

Parks also had a Methodist Church and there was a church in Laird and several dotted around the countryside amoung the farms.

Many people met for church in the country schoolhouses that had been built on almost every section of land in the settled areas of the county.

Do any of you remember any other churches, or a story about your church?

Dundy County Alumni

Found an interesting place tonight called the Dundy County Unofficial Alumni Map. If you graduated from Highschool in Benkelman, you might want to check it out.

The Dundy County Unofficial Alumni Map

Rotten Water?

Does anyone remember the rotten water they used to have in town? After they got the new well north of town things were better.

My brother Gilbert Smith used to work at the locker plant at the end of Main Street.

When I was a kid there was alot to do when you came to town on Saturday night. I remember they used to have movies there on Saturday night in one of those buildings on Main Street

Does anyone remember the dance they held at the school building across the Kansas line when the Douglas boys, Lloyd and Lawrence used to play. Lawrence Douglas married my sister Berniece.

The water tower on top of the hill used to be quite a meeting place for us kids. I used to think that was a big hill? haha

I check this site out every day and sure enjoy hearing the stories from everyone.

I now live in Waterloo Iowa where we have such good sweet corn and tomatoes.

I like to see the weather report each day for Haigler!Looks like you are colder there than here, cool for this time of year. Lloyd Smith

Haigler News--November 1, 1934

You can stop by John Kamla's Store and buy:

2lb. box of crackers for .18
Salt fish 7 for .25
Soap, 8bars for .19
Coffee, 1 lb. for .18
Onions, 1 lb. for .03
Candy, 1 lb. for 12 1/2 - .15


I hope you noticed this was in 1934
Submitted by Calvin Freehling

Great Info!

Thanks so much for adding your comments and sending email about the Haigler Filling Stations.

It is great to get other's comments and added memories to get the story straight.

Be sure to read the comments under each post. I have been copying and posting them up to now, but would like to encourage everyone to click on the comments link.

When you click on the comments link, you can read the comments left by others and add your own. It gives you three choices to identify yourself. You can comment as a google member, an anonymous person or OTHER, which allows you to enter your name. I hope you will enter your name, so we know who you are, but either of the other two options is ok, too.

I cannot edit your comments, so if there is something inappropriate, it will probably be deleted... just so you know.

OH, by the way, if you want your story to appear as a post with a headline, just email it to me and I will post it. If you have pictures to go along with it, you can attache them or upload them to a place like Photobucket and I will go get them.


Thanks for your interest!

Update on Haigler Filling Stations

Wally McKay didn't own the "66" Station in Haigler. Wally's dad Hugh McKay who had come to Haigler from Canada did. Wally owned the Chrysler/Plymouth Dealership on the south side of the highway. Hugh had the service station and the Chevrolet/Buick dealership on the north side of US HWY 34. Hugh passed away January 21, 1955. When I was a lad I thought he was one of the older/senior citizens of Haigler. He was 61 when he died, that doesn't seem so old anymore as I am 64. Ha, how time changes on perspective.

In the winter of 54/55 Wallace McKay took over the Chrysler/Plymouth Dealership in North Platte, Nebraska that he ran for about fifty years. Jack Shinn from Laird took over the dealership in Haigler and ran it just a couple of years. Wally had a very successful business in North Platte. Wally is retired and living in North Platte. Wally still comes to Haigler on Memorial Day, the last couple of years a grandson has driven him down. Wally and my dad Paul Freehling Sr. were the best of friends, Wally was the best man when my dad and mother (Gladys Douthit) were married at the DOUTHIT RANCH north of St. Francis, Kansas on June 15, 1938.

Henry Gies had the Texaco Station and Jim Dexter worked for Henry. Henry leased the station to Jimmy Smith and Jimmy obtained the Texaco Franchise in the deal. Jimmy later built the station on the west edge of Haigler and moved the Texaco Franchise with him to the new station, Jim Dexter worked for him. My uncle Roy Walter ran the old station with a Champlin Franchise for a while. If I am correct after Jimmy closed his west station. Jim Dexter then ran the station Henry still owned but I don't remember what franchise it was under. Henry and his wife had moved to Benkelman where they lived until they died.

I can remember in the 1950's when Haigler had five service stations. There was the Phillips 66, Bay, Conoco, Texaco and Champlin. The Bay and Texaco Stations stayed open twenty-four hours a day. What caused all this to change? When the US Interstate Highway System opened across Nebraska it signed a death warrant for many of the small stations between Omaha and Denver. In the boom years of post WWII and through the mid 1950's US HWY 34 was the most direct route from Omaha to Denver. The trucks that ran that route were the old gas burners instead of the modern day diesel engines. They would fill up in McCook, stop in Haigler for gas and again in Fort Morgan.

I can remember the Rigsby Line and the Red Ball Express rolling into town. Alfred Stute's mother had a sister whose husband was involved in one of those lines. I should have paid closer attention to Royce Stute when we were discussing local history. Royce is gone and probably that bit of information is also. Royce, Albert Zuege Junior and I use to go up and visit with Henry (Pete) Sackett about early days in Haigler. I remember stories but "Albert The Historian" remembers facts and tid bits better than I do. I hope Albert will contribute to this blog. I will try to add some stories this winter and Albert can correct my mistakes. HA

We now live northeast of McCook, Nebraska having sold our place west of Haigler in 2005.The decision to sell was dictated by health problems, diabetes and heart, that is another story. Our snail mail address is 72375 Road 394, Indianola, Nebraska, 69034. Our email address is csfree@swnebr.com. I love to hear from people, I don't like lots of "forward jokes etc" but love pictures and real letters.

Calvin and Susan Freehling

The Haigler Fillng Stations

During the 1950s & 60s there used to be several Filling Stations in Haigler. There was the BAY Station on the east side of town, where the new Highway 27 /34 junction is now. It had a cafe in one side. It was a sort of truck stop and repair shop.

The Texaco Station was a block west of the old Hiway 27/34 junction and was run by Jim Dexter, who lived just across the street next door to the Catholic Church. There was also a cafe in the east side of this station.

The Conoco Station was on the corner of Main and Highway 34 and was owned and operated by Buck Ryan. He also had some little motel cabins on the east side. His bathroom had an outside west entrance where you could pop in without him knowing!

The Phillips 66 Station was on Highway 34 just west of Main Street and was also a car dealership. Wally McKay owned it. It seems like he also had a welding shop there.

Then, you could also buy gas at the Haigler Equity, located on the north end of Main Street.

In later years, Jimmy Smith opened a truck stop on the west end of town which had the Texaco sign on it. He also moved one of the schoolhouses from out south of town onto the property and had a cafe in there run by his wife, Velda. (I think it was the West 10 building)

I think there was probably a station at one time where Ward Wonder's shop was. At the old highway 27 and 34 junction.

Haigler was a busy town in those days! It was too far to drive all the way to Wray, Benkelman or St. Francis just for gas.

The gas prices were a little lower then, also. I think gas was about 10 cents a gallon. Then I remember when it went up to 18 cents and an unheard of amount of 26 cents.

These stations were actually called SERVICE stations because, the attendant would come out and wash your windshield, fill you tank, check your oil and tire pressure.

Do you remember GAS WARS? Everyone tried to sell gas at a lower price than the guy across the street, so the business would all come his way. That would be a GOOD thing to get back!

(Comments and corrections are welcome)

Rock Creek Fish Hatchery

The Rock Creek Fish Hatchery isn't far from Haigler. Just a short jaunt east on Highway 34 to Parks, Nebraska, then north about 7 miles will bring you to this spring fed lake and fish hatchery operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

I have memories of the park where we had family and church picnics and trips there to just relax.

My uncle, Lloyd Crabtree, spent many weekends there with his little International pickup and silver camper fishing for trout, bass and blue gill. He didn't much like the carp, but would occasionally bring some of them home, too.

Camping is allowed at Rock Creek State Recreation Area, but it is primitive, so if you plan to camp, take everything you need with you. The only amenity is water. The area offers boating, hiking, camping, fishing and picnicing.

The Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area is also known as a great bird watching site. The 165 acres of sandhills, sandsage and short grass surrounding the 54 acre lake is a stop over for migratory birds. A little known fact is that the last stands of sandsage in Nebraska are protected in this area.

It is a great place to visit. If you haven't been there for awhile, why not drive up and take a tour. Take your pole with you. (there are staff there to sell you a licence if you don't have one.)

The Rock Creek Fish Hatchery
Rock Creek Birding Site
Birding Trail

Snow Storms

I remember a few outstanding snow storms in my lifetime. One that stands out was one that piled snow all the way across the creek south of our house south of Wray. Garry came up with some skis and actually did some short run skiing. The John Deere tractor was buried in a drift with only the top and exhaust pipes showing.

Another time after we had built the new house in 1976. We had a full walk out basement. The electricity and telephone went out and we all went to the basement where we had a wood stove. Providentially, Owney had stacked wood to the ceiling between the two center posts down the middle of the basement. Mel and his wife and 3 children had come from their trailer house and could not get back. We laid mattresses on the floor and had a slumber party for several days. We melted snow for water and were blessed to have a wood cooking range in the basement to heat food and melt snow on. Heidi was in cloth diapers so the melted snow provided the water for that job.

The wind whipped around the side of the basement where the doors and windows were and left a walk-way out to the perpendicular wall of snow about 8 foot high. We could easily step out the basement door and get tubs of snow to melt and we dug cubby holes in the bank to store our food that needed to be kept cold.

Neighbors with snow mobiles and sleds were able to get some feed to the stranded cattle. The guys found a trail to the Beecher road to get to town for milk for the baby and other needed items.

-- Floy (Crabtree – Fisher) Ruggles

1983 Snow Storm

I very much remember the snow storm.

We (Randy and I and family) had come out to Haigler to celebrate Thanksgiving with mother (Maxine Wiley and family) in Haigler and we very much got snowed in. I can't remember if we got to leave on Sunday to go back to Blair, NE or if we had to wait to leave on Monday.

It was quite a snowstorm.

-- Claudine (Wiley) Sterner

Happy Birthday, Floy

Those of you who know Floy, already know what an awesome lady she is. But for those who don't know her as well, I would like to tell you a little about her.

She is the correspondent for the Haigler News that is published in the three towns within 25 miles of our town: Benkelman, Nebraska, St. Francis, Kansas and Wray, Colorado. She is faithful to turn in the news every week and writes in a style that keeps the interest of the reader.

Floy was born in St. Francis, KS and has lived in Cheyenne County, KS, Yuma County, CO and Dundy County, NE area for most of her life.

Floy is a quiet, gentle lady who has many interests and talents. She is a musician, poet, artist and seamstress. Her strength of character has endeared her to family and friends.

She is willing to give her time and talents to make life easier for people around her and her gentle spirit is an example and encouragement to us all.

She is an example of what a true Christian should be; never judgemental; prays for her family and friends; gives of herself and her means.

Floy, Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day!

Snow Storm 1983

We always looked forward to taking at break at Thanksgiving time to come “home”.

In 1983, I was living in Omaha, working for the Union Pacific Railroad, so it was about a 5-6 hour trip to reach “our farm” southeast of Haigler. Leah & Dwight Brewer were farming it then, and mom and dad were living in Tucson, Arizona year-round by that time.

Brenda was home for Thanksgiving break from Platte Valley Academy where she, Sandy and Tad were attending school. Lisa came out from Omaha, where she was attending college.

My husband and my two kids, Sandy and Tad and I arrived late Wednesday night. Dick and Sharon, Sheila, Melissa and Jerrod had driven many hours from California where he was working at Pacific Union College in Angwin. The kids had a great time playing and the adults visiting and preparing food for the next day. Leone arrived Thursday morning from Brush with her husband Kenny Carlson and 3 of her kids Kelly, Shelley and Jeri. OUR first grandbaby, Sarah Beeson was the center of attention. (Kelly’s baby and Leone’s grandbaby). Eunice & Brent Richard and their boys Casey and Shane arrived Thursday morning from Benkelman. We all planned to stay for Thanksgiving Day, help work cattle on Friday and spend Saturday together and leave on Sunday.

We had a wonderful time eating, visiting and playing games on Thanksgiving Day. The next day, Friday, was one of those beautiful Indian Summer days – 80 degrees, just a slight breeze – felt like summer. Dwight needed to take blood samples from some of his cattle in preparation for sending them to market, so we all pitched in and “helped”! We worked most of the day working cattle, and came in that night hungry and tired and excited to be all together again. It was a rare thing for all five of us to be together for a whole weekend and we planned to make the most of it.

We were up late Friday night visiting, playing music and singing as we always do when we get together. About Midnight it started snowing and by morning, our cars were buried, the road was covered and it was still snowing. It snowed all day on Saturday and into the night on Sunday – the day we were all planning to leave for home so we could go to work on Monday.

The men all went out to see if they could get the cars out and check to see if the roads were passable. And of course the cattle had to be fed. It was an all day chore just to get the tractors through the drifts to get hay to the cattle, leaving no time to worry about getting the cars out. We played MORE games – sang MORE songs – Played all the instruments available to us – made up new games to entertain the FOURTEEN kids ranging in ages from Kelly, who was 20 to Sarah who was only a few weeks old. On top it all, Eunice brought her baby puppy, Nipper.

Brenda and Tad bundled up and went outside in search of the largest snowdrift they could find. Wouldn't you know it; they found it in the middle of the road between the high banks dug out in the 50s when the 'new' road was built. They dug down for 12-14 feet until they hit the dirt and made a snow fort. Of course, the "mothers" in the group made them move to another place to build their fort, since we worried that the snow plow would come through any time.

Brenda had a pet chicken named PET, and she dug herself through the snow drifts to bring PET inside the house where she would be safe. Of course, this caused a problem for Leone, who is deathly afraid of birds of any kind. (We used to accuse her of making it up so she wouldn’t have to gather eggs.)

We ran out of milk for the baby and there was no more bread. The fact that we happened to be at Leah’s house is what saved us from starving to death! Leah always had a big garden and spent hours freezing and canning every fall. Her cupboards and freezer were better than having a grocery store next door. She came up with THREE meals every day for TWENTY-THREE people for FIVE days! What a great cook and person she is!!

Delores Zuege called on Monday to see if we needed anything and Gary Zuege, her son, brought Milk and bread and some other supplies on his snowmobile. What a lifesaver that was!!

Some of the guys finally got through to St. Francis by going around snow drifts, through fences digging with the blade on a four wheel drive pickup. Some of them were out of cigarettes and beer so they HAD to make it to town!!! haha

The maintainer from the county finally got through on Tuesday, so some of us left late that afternoon and some left on Wednesday.

For the whole family, that weekend is one of the happiest memories we have. (All except Leah… It must have been a nightmare for her!)

-- Contributions from Gregory family members

Glen Tracy's Barber Shop

I have read all about Haigler from Don Harford's story on through, but no one has mentioned Glen Tracy's Barber Shop. It was across the street from Andres shop.

Glen was a brother of Harve Tracy and I think Harve's son is still living there.

I was born and raised ten miles north of Haigler. Ed Northrup bought our land and buildings, especially the house and moved it to St. Francis, KS.

I have lived in Nebraska all my life, 42 years in Dundy, 5 years in Hitchcock, 41 years in Sherman county and living now in a Grand Island apartment complex.

I will be 89 on November 6. We have just had an anniversary party; 65 years together, hosted by the two children we have left.

-- John Phifer

Heads up Haigler.

I just wrote about you in my most recent post the the Weatherbug Blog site.

Now everyone across the United States and in England will know about Haigler, Nebraska.

Keep up the good work, you have a nice blog site going there.

--Vernon Whetstone

Goca

Just wonder if anyone remembers Goca, where we used to go up to the standpipe, we had a little shack up there and listen and watch for airplanes, then we called in some where to report the planes.

I can remember doing this and we got awards for the amount of hours put in. It was called the Ground Observers Corp of America I believe. I used to go and serve my time a lot with Myrna Oster.


-- Claudine (Wiley) Sterner

November 16, 1948

Just a reminder to check the comments under the posts. It gives you an opportunity to add your own comments about the subject being "discussed." I was happy to see that Karen (White) Lindell left the following note about the snow storm and Fred Zuege's funereral.

Karen Lindell said...
I was reading through mother's diary and the time
Fred passed away was the evening of Nov.16,1948. The 17th seemed to be a beautiful day except for the bad news about Fred. However, the 18th was a different story, it turned cold, snow was blowing and creating very high drifts and no schools, roads all closed. Roy walked over to our place on the 19th, dad and the boys tried to get him to town without any luck. The drifts were to high so they came back to our place and Roy went back home. The 20th was the same result. Fred's funeral was on the 21st, but seems like our road between Gregory' was still beyond travel so the folks were unable to attend, and still no mention how Roy got to town. According to mom's writings, schools did not resume until Nov 24th but some how the Parks road was opened to some degree of travel. I found these writings of mom's quit interesting and hope the dates are accurate.
7:33 AM - 9/16/06

We Made Headlines

In today's top stories in The Wray Post, Electronic Newspaper, we made headlines!

Will they figure out who "The News Lady" is? Do you know?

The Wray Post

Trembly's Grocery Store

You can't think about Haigler without remembering Trembly's Grocery Store.

After reading Delford Trembly and Lloyd Smith's notes in the Guestbook, I began thinking about that grocery store. It was the center of every trip to Haigler while I was growing up. You didn't go to town unless you needed groceries, was taking wheat to the Haigler Equity, or bringing a machinery part to town to be welded. AND every trip, no matter what it was for, included a stop at Trembly's.

Whenever my dad went to town, we begged to go with him, so we became familiar with all the stores on main street because, of course, he would have to stop and "visit." He was just that kind of person. This gave us alot of time to play!

My brother and I would walk around the streets in town to find pop bottles which we turned in for 2 cents each. Then we would buy penny candy at Trembly's. Sometimes we would find enough bottles to be able to buy a soda pop for 5 cents each.

Since we never had money except at harvest time, my mom would "charge" groceries at the store. Floyd and Mattie carried alot of accounts for people in those days. One year, I remember my mother being very upset when harvest was complete and she was dividing up the money to pay the farm loan, feed bills, the gas man and the "G R O C E R Y B I L L". It was an unheard of amount! $300.00!!! for the whole year.

In my mind, I can still remember what the candy counter looked like. Leah, Leone, Dick and I would study that candy counter for a long time deciding what to buy.

You will laugh at me for telling you this next part: I DREAM about Trembly's Grocery Store. One of my recurring dreams is that I am in Haigler looking for something and invariably, I end up behind the meat counter in the back room searching through boxes trying to find "whatever it is". I told you --- you would laugh!

It seems like only awhile ago that Eunice and I stopped in at the store and visited with LaVonne. I am so glad that the store is still open and being operated by "family."

The Call of the Range

One of the things I enjoy doing is taking "the long way home" on Friday afternoon during garage sale season so I can stop and browse through STUFF! That is what I was doing today when I spotted some old books in a bookcase off to the side of the garage I was browsing through.

One of the books I found was "The Call of the Range, NEBRASKA: History of Its Cattle Industry and the Trials and Triumphs of Its Pioneers" by Nellie Snyder Yost, Written for the Nebraska Stock Growers Association.

This book is a wonderful history of Nebraska from before the Europeans arrived through the Indian wars, cattle drives, the building of the railroads, until the settlers fenced in the open range in the late 1800s/early 1900s.

Naturally, since I am looking for interesting material to post on the blog, I paid the $1.00 they were asking for it and brought it home along with the 1939, 1943, 1944 Capper's Weeklys I couldn't resist.

Beginning on page 107 of Nellie Yost's book, I found the following story about our corner of Nebraska:

"Down in the extreme southwest corner of the state, where the Arikaree flows in from Colorado, Jake Haigler set up a ranch in 1872. Other sources claim that Haigler, a former miner and cowboy, came into that corner of Nebraska in 1876 as a foreman for the Benkelman ranch, an outfit employing about twenty cowboys, thirty during roundups.

There were three Benkelmans, all Georges, in the ranch business in the adjacent corners of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. To keep them straight, their neighbors called them "Big George," "Denver George," and "Little George."

In whatever capacity he came to Nebraska, Haigler did take the first homestead in the region, and proved up on it in 1880. That he ran quite a lot of cattle is evident, for in 1878 Hitchcock county officials questioned the number he turned in for assessment -- and added 550 head at an assed value of $10 each, to his previously assessed valuation. Soon after obtaining a patent to his land, he sold it to Tom Ashton of the American Cattle Company, an outfit headquartered on the North Fork of the Republican, just inside the Nebraska line. Today the town of Haigler, near the site of his homestead in Dundy, the county carved out of Hitchcock in 1884, is all that remains to mark his memory."

I have been skimming through this book and am finding myself stopping to read the interesting stories of cattlemen, cattle drives, how the region was found to be wonderful grazing land for large herds of cattle and how there used to be millions of buffalo grazing these hills.

I'll share more as I have time to read it.

Note from Lloyd Smith

I am one of the Smith twins. My mother and dad's names were Clarence and Phoebe Smith. We lived west of Haigler and went to Sandborn school.

I went to grade 7-9th in Haigler and then moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

I am LaVoine and LaVonne and Lavern and Laveta Smith's uncle. (Gilbert and Violet Smith's twins. ) They lived on the Blanch Rout (sp) farm west of Haigler.

My parents had nine children. Myself and my twin brother Floyd were the youngest.

I will enjoy watching this site. Thanks for the great job!

-- Lloyd Gene Smith (Note taken from the Guestbook)

Haigler Blog Reader's Web Pages

If you would like your website link added to the "Reader's Web sites" section, just email the URL to the blog editor.

Your links can be to a personal or business website. Every site will be checked for family appropriate content before being posted.

Note from Larry Wall

This site brings back some of my childhood memories.

I have family roots in Haigler. My Grandparents (Bill & Stella Wall) lived there in the early 1900's. They had 13 kids.

My Dad Lyman (Max) Wall was born there in 1928. He got married to Bonnie Peterson from Wray in the early 50's and wound up in Golden Colorado with 6 Children.

As a kid I remember many trips back to Haigler to visit (Pop & Mom). Pop owned the "Bill Wall's Cafe" Us kids called it the pool hall. Good grief ! There were alot of us cousins at some of the Family Reunions we would almost double the population of Haigler! lol! j/k. I'll post again soon, Larry Wall

-- copied from the Guest Book

Submit Your Story about the Snowstorm at Thanksgiving 1983

We are working on a combined story from readers of this blog.

On Friday night, the day after Thanksgiving 1983, there was a huge snowstorm in Southwest Nebraska / Northwest Kansas and Eastern Colorado.

Send us your story of what happened to you when you got snowed in that weekend! (or any other time, that would go good with this subject).

Send a letter to Floy Ruggles or email to the Blog Editor. We'll add them to the stories we have already collected and make a Combined Story about it.

The Fred and Erma Zuege Place

I don't know who the first owner was. The first one I knew of was a Zuege with daughters named Nita and Bertha.

When I was in 5th grade (1923-24), Charlie Armstrong bought it and moved there during the school year. Probably March 1, this was "Moving Day" back then.

They moved from the Boyd/Barber place in Prairie Rose School district #34 in about 1923 or 1924. Della Sims was the teacher. Mildred and Marjorie Armstrong were older than me, but we played together and stayed overnight with each other. I missed them when they moved to the Prairie Bell district. Lloyd Armstrong was younger, about the age of my little brother Lloyd. I don't remember when Fern was born.

That year, Mrs. Gertrude Boyd married Mose Barber and they moved onto her farm. She had a son, Don Boyd, who was in the 7th grade. The teacher was Emma Freehling and by then, my brother, Lloyd was in school, so with us, (Alice, Ethel and Lloyd), Don and the 4 oldest Ritchey kids, there were 8 at Prairie Rose School.

Back to the story about the Armstrong place.(The Fred & Erma Zuege Place) The Charlie and Mae Armstrong family moved to that farm in the spring of 1924. The next fall, their big house burned down so the neighbors took up a collection to help them build a new house. They lived on that place until the fall of 1935 when they moved to St. Francis to run a cafe. One day Charlie stopped us along the road and asked my folks if they would rent it from them. We rented their place and the Kaforke quarter that adjoined it on the north.

My folks took me to find my boarding place near the school I was teaching, on Sunday, and left me there. They moved from Cherry Creek during the first week of school and were all settled at the “Armstrong Place”, as we called it, when I came home on Friday. Floy was in the 5th grade that year. She had gone to Cherry Creek School with the same teacher, Leone Scoby Felzein, for grades 1-4. Then the next 4 grades 5-8 she went to Prairie Bell with Mabel Merklin as teacher. Sometime during those 4 years, Fred and Erma Zuege bought the Armstrong place where my folks were living.

George and Pauline Wall moved onto the place where Fred and Erma Zuege had been living. We moved up the hill to the Ritchey place. Then Marvin Mills and Chris Ferguson bought the Ritchey place the year Floy was in the 8th grade.

In 1939 my parents moved a little while before school was out to a place just east of Haigler. Rich and I were married in April 1939 and settled on the Richey place so Floy stayed with us to finish the school year and take exams to graduate from the 8th grade. Ethel came to take Floy to St Francis early in the afternoon for graduation. Our Mamma was at our place and we planned to go to graduation in the evening but one of those "Memorial Day" flood rains came up. Those rains were also known as "8th Grade Graduation" floods. They seemed to hit every year. So we missed Floy's 8th grade graduation.

Fred and Erma Zuege had Roy, Dale, Doris, and Helen. The Prairie Bell School was closed by then, so they got a house in Haigler but still kept the farm going. The day Fred died in the St. Francis hospital, Roy was snowed in on the farm alone and the rest of the family were stuck in Haigler. A blizzard closed all roads in the whole county. The county finally got a maintainer and with the help of the Douthits and some others, they got the Parks Road cleared from St. Francis to Hiway 34 so they could get Fred to Haigler where the funeral was to be held. Somehow, Roy got to the funeral and back to take care of the cattle. Rich walked around or through drifts to Biers and went to the funeral with them. It was awhile before roads were opened up as far as our place.

Erma Zuege and her family still kept the farm and after she was killed in a car wreck the boys still farmed the place. I don't have the dates that Dale & Idell and Roy & Naomi farmed it. The last I knew, Roy was still taking care of it.

That is the history of that farm as well as I can remember. Through several generations at that!!

-- Submitted by Alice (Crabtree) Gregory

Click HERE to see Google map of area

The Benkelman Post & News Chronicle

I got the approval today to post the information of how to subscribe to the Benkelman Post.

The Benkelman Post is a valuable source of local news, classified ads and advertisments from local businesses. There is a section every week on the Haigler Happenings submitted by Floy Ruggles.

Here is their Contact information and Subscription Rates:

Answer to Trivia Question

No one guessed the answer to Where is the Mongomery Ward's Mail Order House, so here's the answer:

The answer to Montgomery Ward's Mail Order House: It's located between Parks and Doan, just north of Highway 34 about 1/4 mile. Looks to be masonary blocks on the bottom with wooden roof lines.

I was told that once, so I may have to be corrected.

The house looks to be in bad shape, but is still standing.

--Submitted by Dallas Adams

Now, I can't wait to visit the Haigler area so I can go see it!

Another Birthday - Floy Ruggles

Floy (Crabtree, Fisher) Ruggles is Alice Gregory's sister. She is also having a birthday on September 17. She and her husband, Owney Fisher, raised their family (Melvin, Garry and Sharna) on a farm south of Laird CO. After her husband's death, she moved to Haigler to help her sister, Ethel Rath until her death in 1999. She lives in Haigler.

Floy is the Haigler News correspondent for the St. Francis, Wray and Benkelman papers; taking over that job when Opal Collicott retired.

I'm sure Floy would enjoy receiving birthday greetings by email or card. Her email address is ffisher@bwtelcom.net.

-- Submitted by Leone (Gregory) Carlson

Alice will be 92

Many of you remember Alice (Crabtree) Gregory. She has written several blog entries here. Alice lives in Tucson, Arizona, and will be celebrating her 92nd birthday on November 20, 2006. She and her husband, Rich Gregory, lived on their farm 7 miles SE of Haigler for 40 years. They retired to Tucson in 1982.

For several years, all 5 of her children lived in Tucson near her. Later, Sherri and Dick moved for career reasons. Sherri is an office manager at Union College in Lincoln, NE; and Dick is a computer systems analyst in Houston, TX.

Alice is in very good health and still works on genealogy research every day. She has researched her father's (Frank Crabtree) genealogy back for several hundred years.

While there won't be an official birthday celebration this year, she would really enjoy hearing from anyone who remembers her. Her email address is: agregory92@hotmail.com.

Alice Gregory (on left) at her 90th Birthday Party, along with Madge Kohlman, formerly from Haigler and Wray and Lucile (Stute) Brunswig formerly of Haigler.

-- Submitted by Leone (Gregory) Carlson

Sputnik

Where were you when you first heard about Sputnik?

I was in the 3rd grade at East 10 school and the teacher told us all about Spunik and how it had been shot into space on a rocket and that the Russians were the first people who had figured out how to get a space ship to stay up in space.

Dick, my brother, and I would lay out on the roof of our east porch and try to see it fly over.

Dick saved up his cereal box tops to order a telescope and a star chart. He found all the constelations and planets and we learned how to find the north star and big and little dipper. It got both of us interested in astronomy and space.

What an exciting time to be a child!! We have seen so many things change through the last 50+ years.

I remember TV

I remember the first time I ever saw a television set. We were in town on a Saturday night, and there was a tv in the window of one of the stores. I think it was Bill Wall's pool hall. There was a bullfight showing, and it was so snowy that you could barely make out what the picture was. I remember how excited I was!

The first tv that I know of in our neighborhood was at Herman White's house. We used to go visit Karen, who was about the same age we were, and watch "The Little Rascals". We also got to watch tv when we went to visit my aunt, Ethel Rath. She always loved new gadgets, and was one of the first people I knew who had a tv set. When remote controls came out, she was one of the first to have that, too.

We didn't have a tv at our house until I was a teenager. Mamma and Daddy weren't very impressed with it, because we wanted to watch when we were supposed to be doing our chores.
Leone (Gregory) Carlson

Halloween in Haigler

Well, I didn't get any email from any of you today, so decided to sit down and write a couple of memories I have about Halloween in Haigler.

We lived on a farm about 7 miles from town and very seldom came to town to Trick-or-Treat but would often be in town the next day or so and observe some of the pranks the kids had done on Halloween night.

Some of you might remember the Seventh-day Adventist Church when we were having services there. It is now the Golden Inn. We didn't have indoor plumbing, so had an "outhouse" long after no one else in town did. Of course, one of the "FUN" things for pranksters to do is tip the toilet over and they did it EVERY year!! One year, it wasn't tipped over, but set back about a foot so there was an odoriforous ambiance for a block in every direction. Of course, the idea was for someone to step off into the hole, but luckily, that didn't happen.

Another thing that would occur, was large tree trunks blocking the streets. I don't know how they got them pulled up from the river (I aways suspected that was where they came from) I'm sure they just tied a rope on them and pulled them with their "hot cars".

Then there was always the soaped windows on all the cars parked along the street. and the eggs thrown against cars and houses and stores and the sacks of dog doo on the top step of peoples porches.

Then there was the watermelon "stealing" trips into the country. My Grandpa Crabtree always had the best watermelons for miles around and the kids from town would sneak into his watermelon patch and "steal" them. The funniest part of it was that my grandpa would sit up at his house and watch them and just laugh and tell us that he had planted extras just for those guys.

What are some of your Halloween memories?

Baseball before 1920.

I have a picture of the Parks team my dad, Frank Crabtree, and uncle, Frank Wiley were on before 1920. I think if my daddy was playing AFTER 1920, I would remember it.

I do remember that daddy played on the Fourth of July one year with a bunch of the neighbors. He didn't go to the practices because he would get sore muscles that would affect his skill in the real game. I think his farming took all of his time. I remember only one of those games. We played against the Cook team who had enough boys in the family to make up a team. We all went to the game. Lloyd, my brother, was little. The woman who was taking care of Hopey (Ansel Miller's girl) was sitting with mamma in our car. Hopey was crawling over the seat back or something and she was trying to talk her into sitting still. I guess Curtis (Miller) was off with the other boys somewhere. (Hopey is now Hope Bressler)

Anyhow, that is a memory of mine. I don't even know who won the game or which side Ansel Miller was on. He was brother-in-law of the Cooks so might have been counted with them. The field, they played in that day, was on the land just across the road north of his place.

Anyhow I just thought that I could add that little bit of info about baseball around 1920.

Ansel Miller was the kind of person you would never forget. He had an infectious laugh and would slap his leg ‘til I thought he would probably wear a hole in his overalls. His laugh would make anyone around him laugh.

-- Submitted by Alice (Crabtree)Gregory

Haigler People Remembered - Green Muse Collins Hoover Roundtree

The following was submitted by Alice Gregory:

I remember some things that Rich said about Dick and Molly Green and their son.

Rich Gregory was a pre-teenager, full of mischief. A grinnie, time of life when town kids got together every day and played on the streets and around town. Dick & Molly Green were a black couple who ran a cream station on main street in Haigler. The kids would climb a tree and get on top of the building where the roof hung over the sidewalk. They would use a wire with a hooked end to reach down and pull Molly Green’s wig off as she walked down the street.

Rich told that story one time when we were visiting his mom, Mollie Roach, about the time that Bud, Rich’s youngest brother, was a pre-teen. His mom said, “Now Richard, you would think it awful if Bud would do something like that!!!”

Molly Green had worked for a family in a town somewhere east of Haigler and when she got married to Dick Green, her boss got them the cream station. They lived in the house east of town just north of the highway. There was a son, I think his name was Floyd, but he didn’t look very black. I think the town kids teased them a lot.

There was a bridge over the river north of there. In the 40's, my folks lived in the next place north owned by Mrs. Andres. Later Ash Roundtree bought it.

I also remember George Muse, Lloyd Collins and Wade Hoover and that Wade loved baseball. His kids were Russell, Marcia, Wyoma, Rodney, Dick and Colleen. Lloyd Collins married Hollis Clark when she was 15 years old, the oldest of the Nate Clark family. I remember going to their charivari. They had 3 boys. George Muse married Eleanor Wheaton and they ran her café in Haigler.