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Hurry and get your "Haigler on Saturday Night" story written. We have several fun and interesting stories already.

Click here to read all the stories that have been submitted: Haigler on Saturday Night Contest

Just write your story in an email or attach a document to an email and send it to: Sherri

You will be able to vote on your favorite story next week.

Saturday Night in Haigler - LaNeta Carlock

Saturday night in Haigler! What thoughts do you have? What pictures do you see? What memories do you keep? If you are older – like in your 80’s – you may look at the picture of Haigler, Porter Avenue, 1925, and remember. If you are near Medicare age – like in your 60’s or more – you will have memories like mine. And if you are younger --- like 50’s or less – you will have still different memories. But ------we all have memories of Saturday night in Haigler, don’t we? These memories may be the same as others have and/or they may be special ones that belong to just you. But, they are memories, forever in our minds, of “our town,” Haigler.

So, what do I remember? I remember always looking forward all week to Saturday night. This was the night we could go to town. This was the night everyone would be in town. This was the night Porter Avenue, mainstreet, Haigler, Nebraska, USA, would come alive with people of all ages. Parents and grandparents would shop (trade) and visit. Children would run up and down the streets. Everyone always seemed happy.

For our family, it was the night we all had to have a bath – before we could go to town. And, we did not have a bathroom inside until the twins were born in 1953. So, this meant taking turns for the big washtub that Mama would ready for each of us. My sister, Myrna, always was my ‘tag a long.” We would look forward to getting candy at the John Kamla store. Saturday night movies were shown at the old Legion Bldg. south of the old bank on Hwy 34. Neither of these buildings stands today. John Corder would show the movies; and it seems there was a large popcorn popper in the back – so we could have popcorn with our movie. I liked the “Green Archer” movies best of all.

Saturday night in Haigler! Yes, there was a time when the streets were busy; the cars were parked solid on both sides of Porter Avenue; and people were everywhere. Today, the streets are usually quiet on Saturday night in Haigler – unless there is a special event at Jake’s Place or the Community Legion Building, or it is alumni weekend. But, the streets – and you and I – will always have our memories of what Saturday night in Haigler used to be.

-- LaNeta Carlock

Saturday Night in Haigler Contest

How would you like to read stories written by other Haiglerites about their experiences of "Saturday Night in Haigler"? Well, here's your chance to not only read other's stories, but write one of your own.


Contest Rules:

1. Write a short story about "Saturday Night in Haigler."
2. Send it to the Editor
3. Your story will be posted on the Blog.
4. Readers will vote for the best story during the week of February 17-23.
5. Winner will be recognized by submitting their story to the local newspapers and a special recognition on the blog.

• The story can be from any era of Haigler History.
• The story will be edited for language and content that might hurt or embarrass another person.
• The deadline for your story is February 17, 2007.
• Stories will be posted as they are submitted.
• Sending a picture along with your story will make the story interesting and might just earn you "points" with the readers!! So they are welcome!

Saturday Night in Haigler - Eunice

After reading my sister Leone’s message about Saturday nights in Haigler, it brought back many memories to me.

I was the youngest of the five, and all of my siblings were my heroes. I could never think of a better place to be than with them. Something about going to town on Saturday night was a special thing. At a very young age, I remember us all going there as a family.

The main street of Haigler was a mainstream of activity. It seemed like every person from the country and their children were there. All of the parking places along the street were taken and the children ran and played and everyone seemed happy. People were doing their grocery shopping and nobody seemed to be worried about anything. I felt safe and happy.

I sometimes watch the old Andy Griffeth Show and feel that same old nostalgia because that is what life in Haigler was like when I was a child. Anyway, we were allowed to buy candy in Trembly’s Grocery Store, and I can remember Mattie tending to us. I remember thinking that it was the best place on earth to be. I can still smell the odor of Odenbach’s cream station where we sold our cream. And the water fountain in front of the grocery store and how awful the water was… (Sorry, but Haigler water was really ICKY – hehehe) Every single business was active and thriving, at that time. I think there were five gas stations, two grocery stores, Schmutte’s, next to Trembly’s. I remember buying bobby pins there. There was Trembly’s Hardware Store, Schorzman’s Grocery, Bill Wall’s Bar, Dexter’s station with the café.

Some other fuzzy memories of what was there on main street. I guess what made Saturday night special was spending time there with the people. People who I have gone away from, but still remember vividly. That piece of memory of Saturday night in Haigler will never be erased, and it is one of my favorite places to go in my memories.

-- Eunice Richard

Saturday Night in Haigler - Leone

In the early 50's we didn't get to go to town very often. We were pretty self-sufficient on the farm and only went to town for church and to buy supplies. My sister, Sherri, and I learned that going to town on Saturday night was a pretty exciting event, and every week we conspired to get Daddy to take us to town. We thought that he listened to Leah more than us since she was older, so we made her ask him if we could go. Usually, he said yes.

Most of the time was spent with friends we saw only on Saturday night. We walked up one side of Main Street and down the other for hours, sometimes buying a popsicle or candy bar (if we had a nickel). Mamma and the other ladies would sit and visit, usually in the car.

One year Saturday night fell on October 30, the night before halloween. A couple of friends and I decided that we should go "trick or treating", since we never got to go on halloween. At most of the places we went, the people were pretty annoyed (since it wasn't actually halloween), but I still remember when we went to Elizabeth Steidley's house; she and her sister, Thelma Polen, were so nice. They invited us in and gave us popcorn balls.

Saturday night just isn't what it used to be, and I still miss it.

--Leone Carlson

Saturday Night in Haigler - Dallas

When I was a lot younger and more resilient at about age 13 – 14, I stayed home this one Saturday night due to not feeling well.

As you know, my friends were in town with devious minds at planning and hatching mischievous plans. The plan was to go to the Sackett’s house and steal watermelons. This happened on a full moon night and the stars were shining brightly. Several candidates were a part of this ensemble.

Talent followed these grown men (the adults) as they were dignitaries and guests at the Sackett house. They were lying in wait… Amongst the soap weeds and the watermelon patch. Shotguns were brandished and the barrels of the shotguns should have glistened in the moonlight. Waiting… Waiting… and waiting, there were chortles underbreath, with occasional levity amongst them.

The younger paraded up the back pasture way, seeking to get closer to the hilltop where the Sackett house was located. As they got closer and closer, the men stood up and fired with the shotguns. Kaboom! Kaboom! and Kaboom! As the youngsters turned and ran away, there was another Kaboom. Excited and running – full of emotions, they ran through barbed wire fences with pandemonium and ultimate paranoia being present.

The adults chortled with glee and levity carried through the night still air. Hah, Hah, Hah! The youngsters were frightened for their lives, and I was not even there physically, but by proxy, I was there. Whew!!! What is the plan now???

Yes, Saturday Night in Haigler, there were not many dull moments held by anyone!

--Submitted by Dallas Adams

Saturday Night - Leigh (Corder) Renzelman

I always liked to hang out with LaVonne (Smith) Jeager. We went to the movie theater. It cost 5 cents to get in. I had to pay, too, even though my Dad, John Corder, ran the projecter. We sat in the front row and it was always noisy until the movie started. We saw "THE FLY." It was scary!

Those were the days!

Submitted by Leigh (Corder) Renzelman

Saturdy Night - Floy Ruggles

My parents never went to town on Saturday nights but when I got married we often went to Wray and just sat in the car awhile to watch people walk up and down the streets. I remember going to Haigler once in a while. Ramond and Marilyn Jones, our neighbors, always did their weekly grocery shopping at Trembly's grocery store.
--Floy (Crabtree) Fisher-Ruggles