June Birthdays

Claudine (Wiley) Sterner - June 8, 1940
Karen (White) Lindell - June 13, 1946

Russ & Char's Peonies

Char says 2 weeks to bloom, will keep you updated.

RDH

Old Haigler Newspapers

Does anyone know where the old Haigler newspapers are?

Were any of them put on microfilm?

I love reading the old papers that told of all that was happening in the community. Like who visited who etc. It would be great to see if I could run across anything about my relatives in the past.

Thanks and God bless,
Cliff Davis McCook ,Ne.

Note from Editor: I think many of the Haigler and Benkelman Newspapers were put on microfilm several years ago and are kept at the Benkelman Court House.

The Nebraska State Historical Society also has many of them for inter-library loan. However, they are renovating their building and most of the library is not accessible until they are done. If you want to find out about availability, just email Matt Piersol at: matt.piersol@nebraska.gov

Another source of information about Dundy County is the Genealogy Trails - Dundy County website.

Yet another online source of Haigler News is the Saint Francis Herald. Their paper is archived since January 2001 and includes "The Haigler Happenings".

The Old Opra House

Does anyone have pictures of the old Opra House that used to sit on the lot beside the Golden Inn is now?

I would be very interested in seeing a picture and hearing any stories you may have heard from your parents or the older generation.

What happened to it? Why was it torn down?

-- Editor

Texas Cattle Trail

While visiting the 3 corners area last week, I realized that the Texas Cattle Trail probably moved right through the area where I grew up.

More than likely the cattle grazed up through our east pasture where I played "cowboys and Indians" with my brother and cousins and other friends who came to visit.

The prairie dog town in that valley might not have been there, then, but it was a source of "entertainment" for many years.

Besides the Texas Trail Canyon marker along Highway 34 east of Haigler, there is another marker along Highway 27 north of St. Francis at the corner where the road jogs west for a few miles.

By checking on Google Earth, I can see the route from one marker to the other that they must have taken.

Click on the pictures to see an enlarged version.

-- Editor

High Water Mark - 1935 Flood

May 31, 1935 was a very eventful day for anyone living near the Arikaree, the North and South forks of the Republican River or one of their tributaries. A disastrous flood came roaring down these rivers beginning in eastern Colorado. The lives of people, livestock and crops were destroyed in just a few hours that day. Every canyon, creek and gully became a torrent as the day progressed.

The high water mark at Haigler still sits where it was erected in front of the old power plant (now demolished) as a memorial of that flood.

-- Editor

Susan Freehling

Susan Freehling goes to Omaha on Friday, June 5 for an corneal tissue transplant. Let's keep her in our thoughts and prayers as she meets this new challenge.

Alice's Summer Visit

On May 15 Alice Gregory flew from Tucson, Arizona, where she lives, to Denver. She was picked up by Dwight and Leah Brewer, who delivered her to Floy Fisher's house in Haigler. The sisters spent a few days enjoying each others company before Alice went to Lincoln where she will spend the month of June with Sherri. She will fly to Houston on June 30 to spend a month or so with Dick and his family.

Ever since "the girls" decided she could fly alone if she would get in a wheel chair and "act old", she has been traveling between Nebraska and Arizona and now will add Texas to her itinarary.

On June 20, Alice will celebrate her 75th class reunion at the St. Francis High School Alumni Reunion.

For the last couple of days, Alice has been in the yard pulling weeds from Sherri's flowerbeds almost before the birds woke up!!! She has never gotten over the farm habit of early rising.

Anyone wishing to congratulate Alice on her 75th high school reunion may email her at agregory92@hotmail.com.

Name That 1949 Alumnus

The class of 1949 met at The Golden Inn on Saturday afternoon to visit and get re-aquainted. I crashed their party and took the following pictures.

The class included:

Joann Adams, Kathryn Beeson, Lee Campbell, Charles Childers, Duane Christiansen, Muriel Douglass, Eugene Glendenning, Lynn Martin, Jr., Danilene McCoy, Dorothy Spears, Conrad Stahly

#1&2: Eugene Glendenning and his wife Velma

#2: Muriel Douglass

#3: Conrad Stahley & wife

#4: Don Webster with Lee Campbell

#5: Joann (Adams) Webster

#6: Danilene McCoy

Visiting Haigler

Dallas Adams, Gene Pennell and Lester Adams

on Saturday, May 23, 2009

at the Haigler Cemetery Directory

Haigler - A Friendly Place

On Saturday May 23 I was passing throught Haigler and I stopped at Old District 67 School. While there I met some very nice people that knew my Grandfather Doc Davis. Unfortunetly and sadly I have forgotten a couple of names, but I do remember Dallas Adams, and his two sisters, then also there was a lady that used to be a McCoy and a lady that used to be a Douglass. It was a pleasure meeting and talking to them, it made a memorable day for me.


God Bless,

Cliff Davis, McCook, Nebraska

Alumni/Memorial Weekend

This coming weekend, May 23, 24, is Alumni weekend for Stratton and Dundy County schools. Even though Haigler has not had a highschool for over 20 years, the Alumni Association always plans a great openhouse on Saturday and a well attended potluck lunch on Sunday every year.

These events are a great time to stop and visit with old friends even if you didn't finish high school there. Other events throughout the county are also opportunities for a social get together.

Monday is a great time to attend the memorial ceremony at the Haigler cemetery.

Dundy County Alumni

Dundy County-Stratton Alumni Association Banquet

Dundy County-Stratton High School Benkelman, Nebraska

May 23, 2009 6 p.m. MDT

Honor Classes 1959, 1984 & all classes ending in 9

MAX: Brunch at Max Community Center – 10 a.m.

PARKS: Morning Coffee & Noon Potluck – Rainbow Fountain Park, Benkelman

BENKELMAN: Noon Luncheon – Lutheran Church Museum Open 1-4 p.m.

HAIGLER: Open House 1-5 p.m. Community Building; Sunday Noon Potluck Community Building

Memorabilia Auction During Banquet

BANQUET TICKETS: $12.00 – SUPPLEMENT: $1.00

For Reservations Contact:

Mrs. Dorothy Jessee

71899 Hwy 61

Benkelman, NE 69021

308 – 423 – 2020

Social Time & Facility Tours

Following Banquet

Postcards mailed to honor & 50+yr classes only –

update your contact information at

dcsalumni@bwtelcom.net

Alumni Honors Classes

The Honors Classes this year at the Alunni Reunion are 1959, 1984 and all years ending in "9".

I went to the collection of Haigler yearbooks that were generously donated to me by the Harford family and see that I don't have 1969, 1979 or 1984.

Maybe one of you could send me a list of seniors for those years so it can be posted along with these from the years 1949 and 1959:

Seniors 1949	Seniors 1959
Joann Adams	Donald Trembley
Kathryn Beeson	Norman Beeson
Lee Campbell	Eugene Schwartz
Charles Childers	Melvin Eugene Mahon
Duane Christiansen	Gwendlyon Dexter
Muriel Douglass	Patricia Wheaton
Eugene Glendenning	Colleen Hoover
Lynn Martin, Jr.	Faculty
Danilene McCoy	Superintendent: Mr. Beller
Dorothy Spears	Principal: Miss Laura Johnson
Conrad Stahly	Coach: Mr. Osborn
Faculty	English: Mrs. Beardsley
Superintendent: Joe Horner	Grade School
Principal: Edward Rowley	Mrs. Powell - Grades 7&8
Genevieve Horner	Mrs. Simonsson - Grades 5&6
Grade School	Mrs. Polen - Grades 3&4
Thelma Polen - Grades 7 & 8	Mrs. Beller - Grades 1&2
Zella Wolfe - Grades 5 & 6	Mrs. Bannister - Kindergarten
Robert Speicher - Grades 3 & 4	Mrs. Finn - Music
Lettie Brust - Grades 1 & 2

Lillian E. Mahon

HAIGLER -- Lillian E. Mahon, 95, died Thursday (May 7, 2009) at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colo.
She was born Oct. 27, 1913, north of Wray, to James H. and Daisy (Boner) Carlock. She started school in a country school in the Haigler area and finished her education in Colorado. Growing up she worked for various farm families doing household chores.

On July 22, 1933, she married George Mahon in Sterling, Colo.

She was baptized and became a member of the United Methodist Church on April 9, 1950, in Haigler. She served on the church board and was a member of the Sandhills Butterfly extension club, UMW, and Federated Womens Club. She was also a Sunday school teacher, 4-H leader and served on the cemetery and Golden Inn board.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; infant son, Larry; sisters, Madeline Carter and Mildred Hartman; brothers, Marvin, Dick and Dennis Carlock; sisters-in-law, Daisy Carlock, Harriet Carlock and Jean Carlock; and brothers-in-law, Buford Carter and Erik Hartman.

Survivors include her sons, Gene and wife, Jan of McCook and Wayne and wife, Linda of Haigler; sister, Jo Lorance of Norton, Kan.; brother, Victor Carlock of Commerce City, Colo.; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; and numerous relatives and friends.
Services were May 11,2009 at United Methodist Church in Haigler with the Rev. Carole Coates officiating. Interment was in the Haigler Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the church, PO Box 53, Haigler, NE 69030 or Hospice of the Plains, PO Box 365, Wray, CO 80758.

Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Pearsons

Frank and Bessie Pearson came to the Haigler community from Logan, Kansas in 1914.  With their three daughters, Rossie, Lela, and Eloshia, and son Thomas, they drove from Logan, Kansas to Haigler in a covered wagon.

They settled in the Sanborn community, where Mr. Pearson was employed by W. H. Brown.  Later he was employed on the Thomas Ashton Sr. ranch, where putting up hay and caring for a great number of cattle was the chief occupation.

Still later, he and his family were employed by Lewis and Grace Watson.  Mrs. Watson was the daughter of "Polly" Sanborn.  Watons' daughter Maizie later married Thomas Ashton, Jr.

Mr. Pearson managed the Watson Dairy which was located south and west of the old Sanborn store.  This dairy was a marvel for that day and age, with milking machines and all sanitary methods.

Mr. and Mrs. Pearson's children helped in the MacPherson gardens across the road from the Sanborn store.  This garden supplied tomatoes and other garden produce that was shipped by the train to the cities.

Mr. and Mrs. Pearson moved into the town of Haigler about 1920.  Mr. Pearson was employed as a maintainer operator for Dundy County for years.  I. D. Long was County Commissioner at the time.

Mrs. Pearson, along with her dear friend and neighbor Mrs. Ed (Goldie) Pierson, would help any family in need, in time of illness or death, truly Angels of Mercy.  In those days, the sick and the dead were cared for in the home, and Bessie and Goldie were always ready to aid in any home, doing what they could.

Mrs. Pearson passed away at the age of 62 in 1946.  Eleven months later, Mr. Pearson passed away at the age of 67.
--by Eloshia Pearson Schmutte. Dundy County Heritage. Dundy County Extension Council. 1986

Lillian Mahon

Our prayers and hearts go out to the Mahon family tonight. Lillian Mahon (Mrs. George Mahon) passed away this morning.

Services will be Monday, May 11, 11:00 a.m., MST at the Haigler Methodist Church.

Bluegrass Breakdown Festival Links

Links:
2005 Bluegrass Breakdown
2006 Bluegrass Breakdown
2007 Bluegrass Breakdown
2008 Bluegrass Breakdown
2009 Bluegrass Breakdown
2010 Bluegrass Breakdown








Haigler Bluegrass Breakdown

71062 Green Road
Haigler, NE
(30... Jody Crouse
(30... Deb Stute