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.